Kaneland teachers overwhelmingly support first step towards strike

Kaneland Unit District 302 officials were seeing red Monday morning fresh off an overwhelming vote by the teacher's union to send out notice of a possible strike.

On Sunday, the teacher's union voted 267 to 11 in favor of sending the district a 10-day notice of intent to strike. The notice does not guarantee a strike will actually occur, but paves the way for a walkout if negotiations tank this week.

On Monday, the more than 360 members of the teacher's union donned red polo shirts with "Kaneland Education Association" on them in a show of solidarity as they have done every Monday in recent weeks. Members have also attended school board meetings and showed up in force outside the district office for every negotiation session.

That will likely be the scene again this Thursday when another mediation session on the contract occurs.

Speaking on behalf of the union, Angie Bateman said she couldn't characterize how far apart the two sides are on coming to terms for a new contract. The teachers are currently working under a deal that expired in June. Negotiations began way back in 2007.

Bateman said the main sticking points are "different philosophical approaches" to how the pay scale is structured and retirement benefits. Namely, the problem is how teachers progress along the pay scale and what an appropriate starting base salary is. The current salary for a first-year teacher in District 302 with no prior experience is about $34,000.

"The most important thing that we would want to get out to the community is the education of the children is foremost on our minds," Bateman said. "Our biggest concern at this point is a speedy resolution that impacts the students as minimally as possible."

Bateman said the teachers are asking for changes to keep the district's salaries in line with neighboring districts and make Kaneland schools an attractive place to lure and keep the best teachers available.

Superintendent Charles McCormick, school board President Lisa Wiet and school board Vice President Elmer Gramley did not immediately respond to interview requests on Monday.