The teachers at District 155 have been working without a contract since July 1st of 2013. After eight months of discussion, still the Board of Education and Association have not come to an agreement on a new, reasonable contract.

Earlier in the year on October 22, 2013  about 200 d155 staff members lined up by Three Oaks just outside of Cary Grove High School prior to the board of education meeting to protest against a lack of a new contract deal. They marched for about an hour or so before the meeting with red shirts stating “D155 Education Association” on the front and “proud member” on the back.

In the meeting supporters of  the D155  Education Association spoke,one a retired teacher and the others were parents. Edward Delaney, a dad of two kids who went through District 155 said,“The way I feel is the teachers deserve exactly what they’re getting, plus more.”

More recently on November 3rd, a vote was surveyed of the members of District 155 Education Association, and about 99.4 percent of the members approved of going on strike for this matter.

The Crystal Lake-Cary Patch reported that at the October 22 board meeting, another parent  proclaimed,“Do not underestimate how important this is, these schools are amazing.”

I would certainly agree with the parent, for what our district teachers have brought to the kids at PR and across D155. Our ACT test scores in 2012 on average were 22.9, compared to the state which is 20.6 and the national average which is 21.1. Without our staff at PR teaching these kids valuable studying skills and prep work these scores would indubitably be lower.

Many kids at Prairie Ridge are curious about the contract agreement.

“This is a big concern to me and my family if this problem is not resolved soon,” said Steven Ladd a senior at Prairie Ridge.

“What if the teachers at Prairie Ridge decide to go on strike because the problem is still unsolved? What will that do to me for my senior year?” questioned Ben Kenny, another senior.

This problem needs to be taken more seriously and not avoided any longer by the Board. Our teachers at District 155 deserve their demands. If the board members are not going to listen to the staff, maybe they’ll listen to  the students.

Let’s fight for our teachers just like they would fight for us.

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For more information:

Board of Education’s negotiations website

District 155 Education Association negotiations website