Ratification of teacher deal far from sure thing in U-46

A narrow majority of Elgin Area School District U-46 union leaders voted to accept the proposed teacher contract presented to them Wednesday, setting the stage for a potentially tumultuous ratification vote by the full membership.

Representatives voted 73 to 65 to approve the three-year deal, which would include a 4.2 percent pay bump for all teachers, a new retirement annuity plan and some relief from large class sizes at the middle and high schools.

The outcome of Wednesday's vote disappointed members of the bargaining team -- and left them uncertain of what to expect when the union's 2,400 members weigh in on the contract by secret ballot Oct. 15.

"From the perspective of someone at the bargaining table, with all of the work that went into this contract, we were hoping there would be more 'yes' votes," Elgin Teacher Association President Tim Davis said Thursday.

Wednesday's meeting included emotional appeals by teachers and demonstrations of their "pent-up frustration that has accumulated the last couple of years," Davis said.

Teachers who declined to support the proposal were particularly concerned about the contract's failure to remedy the issue of large class sizes, Davis said.

The proposal includes no new provisions for large classes at the elementary school level.

The contract would provide one teaching assistant at each middle school and two at each high school to help address large class sizes.

District officials have repeatedly said class size caps would be prohibitively expensive and unfeasible, because there is no way to guarantee how many students will attend a given school each fall.

Davis said teachers need to be realistic about the district's finances and what bargaining teams could accomplish.

"The team felt this was the best they could bring back," Davis said, adding that the teachers on the team were some of the district's best and most dynamic.

Davis also presided over the previous round of negotiations, which culminated in the closest ratification vote in the union's history.

One-third of union members four years ago rejected that contract, the cornerstone of which was a new insurance plan that reined in the district's runaway health care costs.

A budget crisis -- the district recently had uncovered a $40 million operating deficit -- loomed over the 2003 bargaining talks.

But with the district now on firmer financial ground, teachers have been calling for smaller class sizes and better benefits.

Discontent peaked after the school board in January approved a lucrative raise and bonus for Superintendent Connie Neale, whose post-retirement benefits package -- which includes lifetime health and disability coverage -- would likely exceed $1 million if she lives to be 80 years old.

Neale announced she would be going on indefinite sick leave just days before current negotiations wrapped up.

"Certainly, all of the news about the superintendent's compensation package could contribute to some unrealistic expectations," Davis said. "Members will have to carefully weigh information and make an informed decision."