Determined to prevent another teachers strike in Elgin-area schools, a parents group is calling for teachers and the district to finalize a contract before the new school year starts.
But while the district says it is receptive to the group`s ideas on easing the bargaining process, at least one of their proposals raises questions in the minds of some teachers in Unit School District 46.
”I`m afraid it would be a step backward,” said Kathy Hurd, a 5th-grade teacher at Ridge Circle School in Streamwood, of the group`s call for binding arbitration.
”It`s an all or nothing situation and does not follow the spirit of collective bargaining,” she said.
Last summer`s bitter, 21-day strike, the seventh in 20 years, mobilized parents in the district against the administration and the Elgin Teachers Union.
But after picketing, rallying and organizing, the parents were unable to get teachers to agree to binding arbitration and settle the strike, the longest in the district`s history. The strike idled 28,000 students in three high schools, six middle schools, and 35 elementary schools in Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Streamwood, South Elgin, Wayne, Schaumburg, West Chicago and Carol Stream.
Now some of those parents have regrouped, formed the U-46 Parents Action Committee and submitted to both sides three proposals that they hope can prevent an eighth strike when the one-year pact expires this year.
”We`re not saying that the plan is perfect, but it`s a lot better than the way it went down last summer,” said Gary Lichthardt, spokesman for the parents` group. ”It would be wonderful if we can get the schools open on time and keep our children from missing their fall activities.”
The group`s members have submitted the proposals as a questionnaire to the district and the teachers union. The group, which is looking for feedback from both sides, plans to discuss the proposals at a meeting with the school board on Feb. 5, Lichthardt said.
The proposals call for:
– District and union officials to begin the bargaining process by April 1, instead of waiting until the end of May. While some financial issues couldn`t be ironed out until the summer, when the district would know how much state aid it could expect, the parents say language issues and policy matters, at the very least, could be decided early.
– Bringing in a mediator no later than 45 days before the beginning of school if the contract has not been settled. Last year, a mediator wasn`t brought in until about a month before the scheduled start of school.
– Once the union files a five-day strike notice, the two sides go into binding arbitration, in which a third party listens to both sides and then imposes a settlement that both sides must accept.
In addition, Lichthardt said, the parents would offer themselves as mediators during the negotiating sessions. ”We would make sure that the parents and kids win, the teachers win and the school board wins,” he said.
Board President Robert Erickson, who along with other district officials has been meeting with union members in an effort to avert another strike, said the parents` proposals are worthwhile.
”We`ve received it enthusiastically; it`s worthy of our consideration,” Erickson said.
Robert Gilliam, a district personnel official who served as chief negotiator during the strike, said he would support all three proposals. However, concerning the group`s plan to sit in on the sessions, he said, ”I think the job of mediating should be left to the professionals.”
Union officials could not be reached for comment on the group`s plan.
Hurd, the 5th-grade teacher, said she would support the first two proposals but opposes the third proposal because an arbitrator ”has no vested interest in the community. There`s no accountability to the community, on the part of the mediator.”
Lichthardt said, ”I think the teachers might be a little more skeptical about us, but I hope the tone that UPAC sets leads to cooperation and good will.”
