Teachers in River Forest Elementary School District 90 have been working this school year without a contract, and they are not happy about it.
Teachers wearing green union T-shirts packed School Board meetings on Aug. 19 and Sept. 2 to show their displeasure and to demand salaries that reflect the excellence of the district’s schools.
Co-union presidents Lauren Baiocchi, a third grade teacher at Lincoln School, and Cindy Crannell, a STEM teacher at Willard School, said all three of the district’s schools were rated exemplary by the state last year, meaning they ranked in the top 10% of Illinois public schools. They said teacher salaries in District 90 don’t match the excellence of the teaching.
“We deserve a fair contract and compensation that reflects the dedication of our staff that led all three schools to be exemplary,” Crannell told the School Board.
The average pay for teachers in District 90 is $77,630 while the average pay for teachers in the state is $75,978. The average pay for teachers in neighboring Oak Park Elementary District 97 is $85,619.
Crannell said the salaries paid in District 90 make it difficult for the district to attract experienced teachers, and she said that some teachers have left the district for higher pay elsewhere.
“It doesn’t seem like they are attracting teachers that are experienced or with higher degrees,” Crannell said.
After making a statement to the School Board on Aug. 19 Baiocchi and Crannell pointed out that administrators in District 90 are paid about 43% above the state average. According to the Illinois School Report Card, the average administrator pay in District 90 is $170,664 compared to the state average pay for administrators of $119,384.
The union leaders said they have been negotiating since April but little progress has been made. Salary has been the biggest sticking point.
“It was very disappointing and frustrating to reach a point where there’s been so little progress made and we felt that we continue to come to the table trying to make as much progress as possible and not seeing the same reciprocated,” Baiocchi said.
They said it is unusual for teachers in District 90 to start a new school year without a contract in place. Their previous four contracts expired on Aug. 15. Both sides have agreed to work with a mediator to try to jump start the negotiations. The first two mediation sessions were held during the last week of August.
“We have completed two mediation sessions with the board, and still have not reached an agreement on a new contract,” Baiocchi and Crannell said in an email.
The next mediation session is set for Sept. 8.
District officials are saying little about the negotiations.
“The parties are continuing to work toward reaching a final negotiated agreement,” District 90 spokeswoman Stephanie Rath said in an email. “To support an efficient and productive negotiation, District leaders are not discussing the proposed terms outside the negotiating table. While negotiations continue, District 90 schools will operate as usual, and the parties will follow the terms of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement.”
Bob Skolnik is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
