'Cautious optimism' for U-46, teachers union to reach early deal

Union leaders and Elgin Area School District U-46 remain tight-lipped about the status of teacher contract negotiations.

The sides will enter into the last of five scheduled bargaining sessions Thursday, facilitated by an outside lawyer.

District spokesman Tony Sanders said Tuesday officials were "cautiously optimistic" that negotiations would finish within schedule.

Elgin Teachers Union President Tim Davis said the group is "prepared for either eventuality"- wrapping up talks in five sessions "or whether we need to find time to get another one or beyond."

Davis said the outside facilitator, a new feature this year, has been helpful.

"He can help the team when things get bogged down. And he played that role."

Davis and Sanders each declined to elaborate on any sticking points that have arisen during talks.

"We need to share information first with our membership, and it's not time to do that yet," Davis said.

If the district and union can reach a tentative agreement in five sessions, the contract will come then before the union's board and representative assembly for a vote.

The union's 2,693 members could vote on the deal by the end of May, around the time teacher recalls could begin to occur.

Uncertain state funding and negotiations on salary and benefits could all impact the amount of teachers the district will hire back.

Superintendent Jose Torres had originally hoped to begin the recall process in late April, but with no state budget on the table, that has been postponed.

U-46, which expects to begin next year with a $41 million deficit, announced $29.6 million in cuts March 15. They included layoffs for more than 1,000 employees - 732 of them teachers. That number included all first-, second- and third-year teachers, and roughly 70 tenured teachers.

District officials said then they were intentionally "over-RIFing"- cutting more individuals than necessary to pad against state cuts.

Torres said April 21 he hopes to call back several hundred teachers if revenue improves.

Legislation that would help U-46 recoup some of the state aid it has been losing out on each year because of estimated limiting rates passed the House last week, and awaits Gov. Pat Quinn's signature. Rep. Keith Farnham believes the legislation will hand U-46 $22 million more in state aid than it expected to get next year. Even with that increase, Sanders pointed out, the district would still see an $11 million reduction to general state aid.

"We're going to be very cautious about recalling positions. Once you recall you've got the person for the year," Sanders said.

Along with more state revenue, negotiating an increase in class sizes, instituting pay cuts and raising individual insurance contributions could all factor into bringing back teachers.

In January and February, parents, teachers, local leaders and union officials all got the chance to cast anonymous, computerized votes on how budget cuts could be made.

Voters were given the task of selecting items to cut until they reached a $40 million total.

Of 459 votes, 439 opted for increasing employee contributions for insurance at some level. Raising individual insurance contributions from 10 to 20 percent would save the district $4.3 million. Bringing the contribution up to 30 percent would save $8.7 million.

Similarly, 453 voted for decreasing employee pay between 1 and 5 percent.

Reducing pay by 5 percent across the board - which would save $11 million - received 197 votes. Cutting pay 2 percent - saving $4.4 million - got 99 votes. A 1 percent pay cut would yield $2.2 million in savings.

Votes cast on each of the cuts were broken down into two groups - employees and others. Of all the pay cut scenarios, a 2-percent pay cut received the most support from employees - 82 of 99 votes.

The average teacher salary in U-46, according to 2009 state report cards, is $66,489.

Negotiating $10 million in salary and/or benefit cuts could save about 150 jobs.