D46 Teacher Contract Won't be Approved Wednesday

Wednesday night will be the first regular meeting for the District 46 Board of Education since the teacher strike was settled following negotiations on Jan. 20, but don't expect to hear any details of the contract agreement.

Superintendent Ellen Correll told Patch Wednesday's meeting, to be held at 6:30 p.m. at Frederick School, will not include approval of the contract, which has to be ratified by the union first.

"The team hasn't set a date, but with what needs to be done, I would not be surprised if it were (not until) next week," said Jim Pergander, business agent for Lake County Federation of Teachers Local 504.

The next board meeting at which the contract could be on the agenda for approval would be Feb. 6.

The tentative agreement outlines the terms of a new two-year contract.

Board president Ray Millington has stated the agreement, "is indicative of our shared dedication and commitment to working together to meet the needs of all members of the District 46 community - teachers, students, families and taxpayers."

Teacher compensation was the main sticking point throughout negotiations. The district, which is projecting a $2.2 million deficit next school year, repeatedly said it could not spend money it didn't have despite the union's argument that the district had a bloated fund balance and could afford salary increases.

More than 300 District 46 teachers went on strike Jan. 16 following an eleventh-hour negotiating session on Jan. 15. As a result, classes were cancelled for some 4,000 students for three days.

Students returned to classes Tuesday after having Monday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

It is not yet know when students will make up the three lost school days.

Per a statement on the district's Website: "It's too early to say. A determination of whether we will need make-ups and when will be decided once resolution has occurred so we know the full picture."

Updated: Tentative Agreement Reached in D46 Strike