No deal for District 158, teachers, but talks continue

The Huntley Unit District 158 school board and the district's teacher union were meeting late Saturday in hopes of reaching a deal and avoiding a strike.

The sides began meeting at 11 a.m. and were still at it more than seven hours later.

The union announced Thursday teachers will walk out Monday unless the board offers teachers a fair contract this weekend.

The parties were unable to reach a deal after meeting for more than seven hours Friday night.

But statements from the parties provided a glimmer of hope, indicating they reached tentative agreement on several contract items, including health insurance.

Friday's meeting, which stretched past midnight, was the first in seven months at which the sides were able to reach tentative agreement on any contract items.

But there was still no sign the sides had closed the gap on two of the most costly items - salary and retirement benefits.

Teachers have been working without a contract since Aug. 21. Classes started Aug. 25.

The board and the union planned to meet through the weekend. Sunday's meeting may be their last chance to avert a strike.

Teachers plan to hold a rally at 1 p.m. Sunday before the board and the union are scheduled to meet.

At Friday's meeting, board members said their proposed salary schedule could be adjusted to give the most experienced teachers bigger raises.

Union leaders criticized the board last week for offering those teachers only 2 percent raises.

Under the board's proposed contract, most teachers, however, would get a 5.43 percent pay raise this year. For the next three years, teacher pay would go up .65 percentage points above the rate of inflation.

The union's contract offer would increase teacher compensation by at least 6 percent, 7 percent and 8 percent in years one, two and three, respectively.

Both offers have been rejected by the other side, but board members and union leaders say they're still on the table.