District 109 board claims union has ‘distorted’ proposals

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Updated: February 22, 2012 12:13PM

The president of the Deerfield District 109 School Board says the district’s teachers union has “drastically” distorted the board’s proposals on a new contract.

In a statement Sunday, Board President Ellen London said the board is “confused and concerned that the issues the Deerfield Education Association has presented on its website do not accurately reflect the proposals that it has presented at the negotiation table.

“In addition, (the union) has drastically distorted the board’s proposals, and that misinformation has reached not only the community, but also the teachers,” she added.

London also expressed surprise and disappointment at a strike vote taken Friday by the teachers union membership.

The union on Friday authorized a strike if its negotiating team believes negotiations have reached an impasse.

“Based both on Illinois law and the parties’ positions at the bargaining table, the vote was precipitous,” London said.

Under Illinois law, a union cannot strike for at least 21 days after an impasse has been declared — and neither the board nor the union has declared an impasse, she noted.

“It appears that the vote was designed to frighten parents and pressure the board into agreeing to an unreasonable settlement,” London added.

However, the board will not waiver in reaching an agreement that meets its two primary goals — a respectful salary and benefits package that is financially responsible, and the highest quality instruction, she said.

The board made a “reasonable” salary and benefits proposal three months ago, to which the union has not responded, she noted.

London added that the union’s last proposal was:

A salary increase of 19 percent during the next three years;

No changes in a board-paid retirement plan that can cost the district more than $100,000 for each retiring teacher;

No change in a health insurance plan that provides a $200 deductible and copays that are among the lowest on the North Shore.

“In the current economic climate, it would not be fiscally responsible for the board to agree to that proposal,” London said.

She also added that the board is committed to providing the best educational opportunities for the children.

“We will not agree to proposals that impair our ability to provide that education,” London said. “It is to that end that the board (also) has made significant proposals in both teacher evaluation and special education, in both cases addressing all concerns expressed publicly by the DEA, and those expressed by many community members.”

London noted that the board is still hopeful it can make progress at the negotiating table.

“(The board) wants to reach a fair settlement that preserves the financial integrity of this school district and enhances the ability of our teachers and administrators to work together in meeting the needs of our students,” London said.