Teachers to keep negotiating in Arlington Heights District 25

Negotiations will continue for teachers in Arlington Heights Elementary District 25, and no strike is planned, according to leaders on both sides.

"We're not going to strike," said Kim Dyer, co-chair of the negotiations team for the Arlington Teachers Association. "Negotiations are moving along; we're not worried."

She said Thursday at a break in the Board of Education meeting that all comments would be joint with representatives of the school district, and her statements were echoed by Renee Zoladz, assistant superintendent for personnel and planning.

Although the last four-year contract officially expired Aug. 15, the approximately 425 certified staff members started the school year with an extension of that pact.

"Talking about issues and listening takes more time," said Zoladz. "We hope to have a settlement soon."

According to the teachers union website, salaries is one of the issues presented to the board, and another was class size. Dyer said she could not say which issues are outstanding because the method of negotiation used "looks at the whole picture."

The district's tentative budget, with a deficit of $676,000 in the general operating fund, was released in June showing no increase in district salaries. The district's reserves at that time totaled $53.8 million, and while District 25 is not as reliant as others on state funding, delays and decreases in both property tax payments and state funds do affect revenues, officials have said.

Illinois currently owes the district $1 million, Stacey Mallek, assistant superintendent for business, told the board Thursday. She produced an update to the tentative budget that increased it to $68.6 million, but revenue increases are projected to provide all but $160,000 of the $1.8 million increased expenses.

Mallek said Thursday a settlement of the teachers' contract would be the only thing that would further change the budget before the public hearing on it scheduled for Sept. 9.

The two sides have at least one negotiating session scheduled next week.