Tonight, MSEA plans to pack the Mahomet Seymour Community Unit School District 3 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. Parents and community members are planning to speak, as well as the MSEA president.

“Unfortunately, we are still not where we need to be at the negotiations table. The district continues to push for more instructional time, despite having no feedback from parents on the impact of changing the start and end times of their students’ school day,” MSEA spokesperson and high school teacher Cam Zindars said. “They also remain unwilling to discuss class size limits, which we believe are imperative to ensuring our students get the attention and support they need.”

MSEA has been bargaining a new contract with the BOE since March and entered mediation on Aug. 10. The current MSEA contract expired on June 30, and MSEA members are now working without a contract.

“We love this community. In fact, I went to school here. I graduated from the high school I now teach at, and I’m a Mahomet taxpayer. It doesn’t get more invested than that. We want what’s best for our students and our community and that includes attracting and retaining talented educators and staff,” Zindars said.

There are still several issues that need to be resolved at the bargaining table, including: 

• Teacher-directed, collaborative plan time: The district administration wants to make changes to teachers’ planning time. MSEA is pushing to keep their plan time as it is, so teachers can continue to determine how to best meet their students’ needs. Teachers use their plan time to put together lessons, meet with parents and grade assignments. 

• Health insurance: The BOE is not being realistic about how rapidly health insurance costs are increasing.  MSEA is trying to ensure there is enough money applied to premiums that we don’t end up going backwards financially.  

• Wages: According to an MSEA internal survey, the majority of District 3 teachers and staff have considered leaving the district in the last five years, mainly due to financial reasons. Mahomet-Seymour teachers’ salaries are lagging behind several nearby districts including Taylorville, Mount Zion and Urbana. Starting wages for bus drivers are so low the district is struggling to hire the new drivers we desperately need. 

“When it comes to wages, we are not asking for anything the district can’t afford. There’s no way we’d do that. We’re part of this community, too. But what I can tell you is if we don’t do something soon, we won’t have bus drivers to safely transport our students to and from school. We will lose our dedicated teachers to neighboring districts that pay more money, and our administration will continue to give themselves raises at the expense of everyone else,” Zindars said.

MSEA represents more than 250 teachers, counselors, bus drivers, classroom aides, office personnel, custodians and librarians serving the 3,400 students in Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3.

On Mon., Sept. 21, at 6:30 p.m., the BOE will be meeting in the board room at Middletown Prairie Elementary School (1301 Bulldog Dr., Mahomet). The MSEA asks that community members come to the meeting, wear red and show their support for the teachers and staff trying to settle a fair contract.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

“Our teachers and students are seeing mice, fly infestations, feces and urine that’s not being properly cleaned up and even dead animals that are rotting on school grounds. There is no way any child should be learning in conditions like this. These working conditions do not allow teachers to properly do their jobs,” Roozee-Sera said.  

Current conditions at District 130 include (pictures available here): 

• Mold in locker room: After being told that mold was dirt, staff kept pressing the issue and the site was tested. On Monday, testing revealed that Kerr Middle School locker rooms tested positive for mold.  

• Unsanitary/neglected bathrooms: Both student and staff washrooms are filthy. Multiple buildings have reports of overflowing garbage cans and stalls filled with overflowing sanitary products.  Both student and staff bathrooms are frequently out of supplies like paper towels, soap and toilet paper.   

• Filthy floors: Lunchroom and gym floors have not been properly cleaned all school year. There is food and debris stuck to them. They’re so dirty that kids are literally sticking to the floors. Kindergarteners eat breakfast in their classrooms each day, and those carpets are filled with food crumbs and debris. 

• Bathroom Accidents: Our youngest students can have accidents.  Over the past month, student accidents have not been properly cleaned up in a timely manner.  One teacher, out of desperation, put sawdust on a student accident.  It stayed there for several days until someone finally came to clean it.  There are frequently feces on the toilet seats of student bathrooms that are not properly cleaned.  Trained and knowledgeable staff are needed to address bathroom accidents and vomiting.   

• Rodent/insect infestation: All the built-up crumbs and garbage are attracting flies and mice, which have been spotted throughout our buildings. 

• Dead animals: Dead animals have been spotted on school grounds, including near where students board the buses. In one instance, no one removed the carcass for a week. 

“It’s like the district is completely ignoring us. No one is listening when we tell them about the terrible conditions. In the meantime, we’re expected to try and teach our students, obviously these poor conditions are a huge distraction to teaching and learning,” Roozee-Sera said. 

The District 130 custodians were laid off by the administration on Aug. 19. Since then, the administration has not met with the custodians to figure out a plan to bring them back. Instead, the district is attempting to outsource the cleaning jobs.  

“The new company was supposed to start on Sept. 8, however they weren’t ready on that day and still do not have the ability to fully staff our buildings. The staff that we have seen don’t appear to know how to properly clean schools,” Roozee-Sera said. “We’re asking the district to revisit talks with our custodians, attempt to resolve whatever issues they are having with them, and bring them back to work in our buildings.  We cannot continue to work in these conditions, and we have lost faith in the district’s ability to resolve this issue with an outside company.” 

The BIEA represents approximately 300 teachers and staff educating nearly 3,000 students who attend one of the 12 schools in District 130. 

Tonight’s BOE meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Eisenhower Cooperative Building (5318 W. 135th St., Crestwood). At least 100 teachers and community members are expected to attend the meeting.  

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

The following joint statement is attributable to IEA President Karl Goeke, Homewood-Flossmoor Education Association President Dana Noble, Homewood-Flossmoor Classified Staff Organization President Paula Snyder, Lincoln-Way Education Association President Patrick Leonard and Lincoln-Way High School Education Support Professionals Co-Presidents Nicholas Albergo and Jeremy Horvath:

“The Illinois Education Association (IEA) condemns the racist harassment directed at Homewood-Flossmoor students during Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Flossmoor football game.  The behavior is completely unacceptable and deeply troubling. No student should have to experience racial slurs, racist gestures or harassment at a school or athletic event.

The Illinois Education Association’s mission is to effect excellence and equity in public education. We believe that commitment requires us to stand firmly against racism and racial harassment whenever and wherever it occurs. Every student deserves to attend school and participate in school activities in an environment where they are safe, respected and treated with dignity, regardless of the color of their skin.

While we appreciate that the offending students were removed from the game and Lincoln-Way East administration has committed to take appropriate disciplinary action,  this cannot be the end of the response. Racist behavior must have meaningful consequences, and schools have a responsibility to ensure their students understand the harm caused by racism and the responsibility we all share for creating school communities where every student is treated with dignity and respect.

The students who were subjected to this harassment deserve to know the public education community unequivocally stands with them. There is no place for racism, racial harassment or intimidation in our schools, at our athletic events or anywhere in our communities.”

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

“We love this community and our students. The last thing we want to do is be out on a picket line instead of in our schools with our students. But we are willing to do whatever it takes to get the best contract in place for our students. We are still hoping we can come to an agreement,” MSEA spokesperson and high school teacher Cam Zindars said.

MSEA has been bargaining a new contract with the BOE since March and entered mediation on Aug. 10. The current MSEA contract expired on June 30, and MSEA members are now working without a contract.

There are still several issues that need to be resolved at the bargaining table, including:

• Teacher-directed, collaborative plan time: The district administration wants to make changes to teachers’ planning time by creating district-directed, collaborative time. MSEA is pushing to keep their plan time as it is, so they can determine how to best meet their students’ needs. Teachers use their plan time to put together lessons, meet with parents and grade assignments.
• Health insurance: The BOE is pushing for higher healthcare costs for all teachers and staff. This comes at a time when medical costs are rising across the country and inflation is up.
• Wages: According to an MSEA internal survey, the majority of District 3 teachers and staff have considered leaving the district in the last five years, mainly due to financial reasons. Mahomet-Seymour teachers’ salaries are lagging behind several nearby districts including Taylorville, Mount Zion and Urbana. Starting wages for Bus Drivers are so low the District is struggling to hire the new drivers we desperately need.

“The district will tell you our wages are average, but our students deserve better than average. We are also in the middle of teacher and support staff shortage. There simply aren’t enough adults to work in our schools and if our wages aren’t competitive we will lose talented educators to neighboring districts,” Zindars said.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provides data to the public regarding educator and administrator pay from around the state. The report card from the state for Mahomet-Seymour shows administrator salaries are much closer to the state average than Mahomet-Seymour teachers’ salaries. In fact, the gap has grown increasingly bigger over the last decade. Now District 3 teachers’ salaries are more than $16,000 behind the state average.

“This isn’t just about teachers either. Many of our education support staff, including bus drivers, office personnel, custodians and paraeducators, are struggling to make ends meet. The district is offering them a smaller percentage increase than they have historically. These are the people who work with our most vulnerable students. They make it possible for every child, no matter what disability they may have, to attend public school. They are invaluable to the district, and we should treat them as such,” Zindars said.

MSEA represents more than 250 teachers, counselors, bus drivers, classroom aides, office personnel, custodians, and librarians serving the 3,400 students in Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3.

On Mon., Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m., the Mahomet-Seymour BOE will be meeting in the board room at Middletown Prairie Elementary School (1301 Bulldog Dr., Mahomet). The MSEA asks that community members come to the meeting and show their support for the teachers and staff trying to settle a fair contract.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

“I can tell you the absolute last thing we want to do is go on strike,” REA President Kim Jones said. “We’d much rather be in the classroom with our students than out on the picket line, but we’re willing to do whatever it takes to make sure we get the best contract possible for our students, our staff and our community.”

REA declared impasse the first week of August and initiated the public posting process. REA has been bargaining with the Roxana Community Consolidated School District 1 since January, and they are now in federal mediation.

Today is the first day of school for District 1. At the District 1 Board of Education (BOE) meeting on July 24, the district stated they have a surplus in the education fund. REA and the district have been bargaining for nearly seven months and have had four federally–mediated bargaining sessions.

“It’s unbelievable that we’re at this point. Our contract is expired, but our members are still showing up to work, so our school year can begin,” Jones said. “We love our community and want to do what’s best for our students. We are hopeful we can come to an agreement soon, so we can put our sole focus where it belongs: on our students.”

The main issues at the bargaining table are:

• Vacancy language: Currently, teachers in Roxana are given an advanced opportunity to apply for any open positions within the district. The district is looking to eliminate the policy.
• Pay scale: The wages being proposed by the district do not value our experienced educators. In fact, their financial offers do not even keep pace with inflation.
• Respect/communication: The district’s overall lack of respect and communication during the bargaining process have made reaching an agreement extraordinarily difficult.

At the District 1 BOE meeting on July 24, the district stated they have a surplus in the education fund. REA and the district have been bargaining for nearly seven months and have had four federally–mediated bargaining sessions.

“The reality is the district’s proposed wage increases leave our members with a salary increase so small it doesn’t even keep up with inflation,” Jones said. “Meanwhile, the District 1 administration and the BOE are both well aware that we have the funds to settle this. This is not about money, it’s about their lack of respect for our teachers.”

REA is planning a “black out” on Tues., Aug. 18. REA members will be wearing black to school and are asking community members to also wear black to encourage the district to settle this contract as soon as possible.

“We have been overwhelmed by the community support we’ve been receiving. It’s wonderful to know we have so many parents and families supporting us,” Jones said.

REA represents about 140 teachers and licensed educators who support nearly 1,700 students in District 1. There are currently no bargaining dates scheduled, although the REA remains willing to bargain whenever possible.

###

The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

The D7 administration was made aware of the claims this summer, and EEA was notified the claims were substantiated. However on Aug. 7, EEA was notified by the D7 superintendent and director of human resources that the district intends to issue a notice to remedy rather than terminate the principal’s employment.

“The administration’s decision to issue a Notice to Remedy and leave the principal at the building in charge of the educators that came forward is both an incredible injustice to our school community and an unbelievable disservice to our students and staff. The principal intimidated, harassed and bullied staff, and created a hostile work environment,” EEA Co-President Carla Kinsey said. “Our members are not being provided appropriate safeguards as they return to work in the same building. We will not stand for our members being forced to work and our students learning in an unsafe environment.”

This summer, several staff members brought a long list of substantiated concerns about the principal to the district’s administration. The complaints include:

• Sending demeaning text messages to staff about students and parents.
• Making inappropriate comments about parents during Individualized Education Program (IEPs) meetings, referring to parents as “crazy” and making fun of them during virtual meetings.
• A history of screaming at children who are not following directions or listening. These episodes are documented through employee emails expressing their concerns about the way he speaks to students.
• Creating a hostile work environment for employees through:
  • Frequent use of profanity and abusive language directed at staff;
  • Public humiliation;
  • Retaliatory behavior;
  • Intimidation during private meetings;
  • Speaking negatively about coworkers and parents;
  • Publicly calling out teachers during staff meetings;
    And inequitable distribution of resources.

These actions are in clear violation of multiple D7 policies. D7 board policy 5:20 indicates workplace harassment is prohibited and establishes the district’s expectations regarding workplace harassment and procedures for addressing allegations involving employee conduct.  Board policy 5:120 addresses employee ethics, and the codes of professional conduct and conflict of interest establish expectations regarding ethical and professional conduct by D7 employees.

“A safe, healthy, and supportive environment is a basic right for every student and staff member. Protecting our schools is a priority of the district and the EEA, but a decision to keep this principal in his position directly contradicts this collective commitment. D7 has a clear duty to protect its staff and the children entrusted to them, so we urge the district to uphold this responsibility,” EEA Co-President Mollie Rice said.

There are more than 500 teachers and certified staff in the EEA bargaining unit serving the more than 7,000 D7 students, including the nearly 300 students who attend this elementary school.

Tonight’s board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. The board meeting will be held at Liberty Middle School (1 District Dr., Edwardsville). It can also be live-streamed at this link.  

###

The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

District 1 schools are set to have their first day of class on Aug. 17. 

The following statement is from REA President Kim Jones: 

“We have spent more than seven months at the negotiating table, bargaining in good faith, trying to reach a fair agreement with the district. Still, the board does not seem to be willing to settle this and continues to make offers that are inequitable and do not value the years of service our experienced teachers have given to the district. They have given us no choice but to initiate the next step toward a strike. We will stop at nothing to make sure we get the best contract for our educators and for all of our students.  

“Make no mistake, we would much rather be in our classrooms with our students than out on the picket line, which is why we remain hopeful we will be able to come to an agreement before students return to school on Aug. 17.” 

 Find more background here. 

###

The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

“We want our community to know what’s going on. Parents have a right to be informed, and we are sounding the alarm. School starts in a couple of weeks. We need to get our contract negotiations wrapped up so everyone can put their sole focus where it belongs – on our students,” REA President Kim Jones said.

The main issues at the bargaining table are:

• Pay scale: The wages being proposed by the district do not value our experienced educators. In fact, they’ve made financial offers that would cut wages for some teachers.
• Vacancy language: Currently, teachers in Roxana are given an advanced opportunity to apply for any open positions within the district. The district is looking to eliminate the policy.
• Respect/communication: The district’s overall lack of respect and communication during the bargaining process have made reaching an agreement extraordinarily difficult.

“The district continues to make offers that do not value our experienced educators and have even made offers that would cut wages. It’s insulting, honestly,” Jones said. “This isn’t about money, it’s about respect. We know the district has the funds to meet our requests without raising taxes. We’re teachers. We’ve done the math. We’re asking for fair, competitive wages we know the district can afford.”

At the District 1 BOE meeting on July 24, the district stated they have a surplus in the education fund. REA and the district have been bargaining for nearly seven months and have had four federally–mediated bargaining sessions.

REA represents about 140 teachers and licensed educators who support nearly 1,700students in District 1.

Today’s informational picket begins at 7:45 a.m. and will last until 7:45 p.m. Roxana teachers will be wearing red and taking shifts in front of the District 1 administrative building (401 Chaffer Ave., Roxana). The next negotiation session for REA and the BOE has not been set.

###

The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

WHEN: Sat., July 25 and Sun., July 26 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

WHERE: Pekin Walmart (3320 Veterans Dr., Pekin)

NOTE:  Pekin Public School District 108 serves 3,000 students, of whom 65% live below the poverty line. Rising gas prices and growing inflation are putting an added strain on families as they prepare their children for back-to-school. When students do not have access to proper school supplies, it can negatively impact their academic performance and self-esteem.

This is the second year for the Stuff a Bus campaign, and educators with the EAP will be on hand to collect donations. EAP wants to make sure that every child can start their school year strong with the resources they need to thrive.

The EAP represents the teachers, paraprofessionals, social workers, speech pathologists, secretaries, and other educational support personnel of District 108.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents PreK-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

“It is so important that young people get involved early and make their voices heard,” said NEA President Becky Pringle. “Stephanie has been instrumental in bringing the voices of future teachers to the forefront while serving on NEA’s Board of Directors, and I have no doubt she will continue to lead and grow our movement as chairperson of NEA Aspiring Educators.”

Chávez, a leader on the local, state and national level, has represented aspiring educators on NEA’s Board of Directors for the past year, amplifying the voices of young people. She hopes to use her new role to make membership more accessible and inclusive.

“My goal of making membership accessible and union education a priority will set us up to build the inclusive program we all dream of,” said Chávez. “Coalition building begins with us. Together, let’s build a program that is inclusive for the leaders that will come after us.”

“Stephanie is just getting started, with a promising career ahead of her. Even before reaching this point, she has already established herself as a respected organizer, advocate, and trusted voice, said Illinois Education Association President Karl Goeke. “Whether she’s addressing racial and social justice issues or shaping conversations around education policy, people listen when Stephanie speaks. She is an exceptional leader today, and her impact will only continue to grow. We’re fortunate to have her in the profession.”

The Aspiring Educators Program supports, develops and empowers diverse, pre-service teachers with the resources, networks and opportunities to excel as educators and leaders, both as students and throughout their career. More than 40,000 Aspiring Educators are already part of the National Education Association – the nation’s largest union of 3 million teachers and school staff.

Nearly 7,000 educators, education support professionals, retired teachers and aspiring educators are in Denver for the 169th Annual Meeting and 105th RA, the organization’s top decision-making body, which sets Association policy for the coming year. Delegates will complete an agenda, which includes adopting a budget, electing executive committee members and addressing new business items.

For more information on NEA’s Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly, go to www.nea.org/ra

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest labor union, representing nearly 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.

Students, parents, and educators are counting on Pritzker and other governors to protect public education.

“As it stands now, more than 60 percent of public schools are underfunded in Illinois. The federal plan, much like Illinois’ recently lapsed “Invest in Kids” program, takes tax dollars away from public schools and gives that money to private schools. In Illinois, it drained up to $75 million in state money from schools that educate 90 percent of our students. Our public schools are engines of opportunity, community focal points, and places where every child is welcome to grow and thrive,” Goeke said.

In Illinois, we learned that vouchers:

• Benefit more white students than students of color;
• Fund schools that are not subject to the same testing standards as those in public schools
• Do not hold private school teachers to the same professional standards as those in public schools;
• Fail to show how many students actually switched from public schools to private schools, or whether public money funded students who had been in private schools all along;
  Sent public money to private schools, which can and DO discriminate based on physical or emotional special needs, gender identity issues, moral values and religion.

IEA knows from its own bipartisan polling that 69 percent of residents in Illinois support increasing funding to public schools in Illinois and that 85 percent believe ALL students are entitled to a public education.

“Public money should stay in public schools. We’ve already walked this path in Illinois and we learned that vouchers are a scheme and a scam. Education is the great equalizer for the youth in our state. We owe our children — no matter where they live, the color of their skin, how much money their parents earn — the best we can possibly give them. Vouchers do the exact opposite. We’ve already learned this lesson. Let’s not repeat it,” Goeke said.

Davis Gates agreed, saying this is a test and Pritzker should strive to earn an “A.”

“Democratic governors are being handed a test right now. Will you stand up for public school students or will you help Donald Trump normalize a voucher scheme that Illinois has already rejected? The Democratic Party platform opposes vouchers, our governors should, too,” said Davis Gates. “The Illinois General Assembly already said no to vouchers because they funded discrimination and diverted $315 million from our state’s General Revenue Fund to fund private schools. Now Trump is repackaging the same failed experiment as a federal tax credit, and Democratic governors across the country are being asked to give it a stamp of approval. Every governor who opts in colludes with Donald Trump at the expense of their own public schools. Illinois should not be one of them. The Governor owes our students $6 billion from Pre-K to PhD. Illinois should be making good on what it owes our students, not considering a program that will take even more resources away from them.”

Goeke said the governor’s rejection can send a powerful statement to all Illinois students and families by saying “no.”

“This is a moment to lead, once again, like you have on the statewide ban on book bans, free universal mental health screenings and expanded pre-school, and prove to our students and their families that you have their backs. Be like the governors of Wisconsin, Kentucky, Minnesota and Arizona and reject vouchers,” he said.

Proponents contend that this is “free money” for states. That’s not true. While the tax credit is federally funded, participation carries real and predictable fiscal risks for states and local school districts. Because public education funding is tied to enrollment, if vouchers incentivize some students to leave public schools, that will mean losing vital funding while leaving behind fixed costs — threatening key programs and school personnel needed to adequately support our students.

Vouchers are unpopular with voters across political parties and threaten the stability of the state budget and the strength of public schools. They harm the vast majority of students who continue to rely on public education. Those harms are particularly acute in rural areas, where public schools serve outsized roles as employers, community focal points, healthcare providers to children and adults, shelters in emergencies, and a major source of pride. The future shouldn’t be gambled on promises made by an unpredictable and unreliable administration. Rejecting the Trump administration’s voucher program preserves state and local budget predictability and protects the future of public education for Illinois’s students, families, and communities.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

The following statement is attributable to IEA President Karl Goeke:  

“The bill came about through a direct request from our membership, and is a huge win for educators all over Illinois. As soon as this bill becomes law, teachers and school staff who are wrongfully accused, will no longer have to worry about false accusations following them throughout their careers. Our school workers will now be ensured a fair, due process when accused of any wrongdoing. We are so grateful to the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel and Rep. Anna Moeller, who have been working with us on this legislation for years. We are looking forward to Gov. JB Pritzker signing this bill into law.”  

For more information and background on the bill, click here.  

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

IEA seeks safe public schools for every student and every school employee and supports accountability for misconduct. This bill includes a right to challenge issuance of the warning, or allegations in the warning, to the school board and allows the facts to be reviewed by a non-biased third party, if necessary.

School management associations, including the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Large Unit District Association, Illinois Principals Association and others have launched a disinformation campaign against the bill.

“Think about this: School management is fighting to keep false accusations against educators in their permanent employment record. No wonder we have a teacher shortage. No teacher deserves their career and reputation taken from them based on unsubstantiated, faulty claims,” said IEA President Karl Goeke.

The bill does the following:

• Seeks to ensure that when a Notice to Remedy is used, the allegations included in the warning are factual and substantiated. It does NOT change current practice in issuing a warning or limiting management’s decision-making authority on addressing misconduct.
• Keeps students safe. These warnings are issued for behavior that is considered “remedial,” and are not intended as an avenue to address misconduct that impacts student safety. If misconduct rises to the level of student safety, it is NOT impacted by this bill.
• Allows a non-biased third party to assess the allegation to prevent frivolous cases and hold everyone accountable. Arbitration is not the goal, but is necessary when a warning cannot be supported by fact. The cost of the arbitrator will be split between the union and the district and NOT on the district alone.

“We ask lawmakers to support this bill, which applies a reasonable application of due process,” Goeke said. “Every school employee should be given a right to challenge the issuance of a warning or an allegation with their own school board. And, if necessary, to have an unbiased, trained third party review the claims. If deemed not credible, those false accusations should not follow a person for their career. That’s patently unfair.”

The bill passed out of a House committee last week on a 7-2 vote. It is awaiting a vote on the House floor.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.

WHO: Members of a coalition of five local unions: District 65 Educators’ Council (DEC), Evanston Teachers’ Assistant Association (ETAA), Evanston Association of Childcare Professionals (EACCP), District 65 Educational Secretarial and Clerical Association (DESCA) and Evanston Custodial Maintenance Association (ECMA)

WHEN: Mon., May 4, 5 p.m.

WHERE: Board Room at Joseph E. Hill Education Center (1500 McDaniel Ave., Evanston)

NOTE:  The SACC program is not just an auxiliary service. It is a vital, deeply integrated part of our school community. Its closure will directly impact more than 350 school-aged children, effectively displacing what amounts to an entire school population. Beyond the numbers, this decision disrupts families, undermines student support systems, and weakens the very fabric of our district.

Read the full letter from the coalition of unions here.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.