New proposal would still put District 158 in red, officials say

The newest contract proposal from the teachers union in Huntley Unit District 158 would still put the district in a deficit - even though the new proposal cuts the union's original proposal in half, according to a Monday news release from the district.

The new proposal from the Huntley Education Association would cost the district at least an additional $2.8 million, according to the release, an increase of 9 percent over the current contract.

The district's tentative budget for this year contains a $1.7 million surplus without any increases in teacher compensation.

The district's claim that the new proposal would still put the district in the red comes in response to a statement released by the union last week saying its July 14 proposal was "affordable" and "fiscally responsible."

The union said it stands by its claims.

"The union is making movement from our initial proposal," union spokeswoman Britt Crowe said Monday. "We're hoping the board will do the same."

The original proposal would have given teachers at least a 23-percent increase in compensation over the current contract of more than $30.23 million.

In comparison, the district's initial proposal would raise teacher costs by at least $1.25 million, or 4 percent.

The union declined to comment on whether the district has made a counteroffer.

While district officials could not be reached for comment, they did issue a prepared statement declining to release the union's new proposal, saying that could "potentially damage the negotiating process." Monday's statement instead called on the union to release the proposal.

The union declined to release any details of its new proposal.

"We want to try to keep the numbers at the table," Crowe said. "We feel that's in the best interests of settling the contract."

But the union spokeswoman also indicated releasing the proposal was not out of the question.

"That's something that we're going to discuss," Crowe said.

The sides have been meeting with federal mediators since the beginning of June.

The current contract expired June 30.