Proposals and counterproposals go on in Deefield District 109

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Updated: March 10, 2012 8:14AM

School District 109’s teachers union is not excited about the new School Board proposals on special education and teacher evaluations presented during contract negotiations Jan. 31.

“These proposals will require us to make significant counter proposals in order to continue to address the priorities we have identified in these two areas,” said Dennis Jensen, president of the Deerfield Education Association.

“We had hoped to make more progress. However, we are continuing to work with the board toward a timely resolution of the issues.”

School Board President Ellen London said the hour and a half session was cordial and the board is hoping for a positive response. The proposals were substantial and will take time for the union to review.

“The board’s proposals to the DEA on both evaluations and special education promote collaboration between teachers and administrators,” she said. “They keep true to one of the board’s primary goals: encouraging and maintaining the highest quality instruction. While we expect the union to offer counterproposals, we know that both sides agree that we must focus on what is best for students.”

The board had said its proposal called for retaining the current teacher evaluation plan in the contract for the current year and the next, while the board, administration and teachers work together on a new evaluation plan for the 2013-2014 school year.

The board members and teachers have been working on the issues that have separated the two bodies since before last August, when the teachers contract ended.

The next meeting was scheduled for Feb. 8.