Elmhurst Teachers Pact Nears End

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst School District 205's three-year contract with its teachers union expires June 30.

On Wednesday, the school board plans a rare midday meeting to discuss union negotiations. No action is expected.

It's not unusual for a public body to let a union contract lapse before striking a new deal. In such situations, raises are typically retroactive.

Under the current contract, employees received 1.2 percent annual raises. The agreement was struck before the effects of historically high inflation set in.

In summer 2020, the Elmhurst Teachers Council's relationship with the district grew tense. The union was vocal in its opposition to the district's initial plan for a hybrid of in-person and remote learning.

At the time, the union wanted to start the year with only remote instruction and repeatedly criticized the district's leadership on its Facebook page.

But shortly before school started in August 2020, the district decided to go entirely remote for the first few weeks. The union praised the move on Facebook and then went radio silent on social media for three months.

The union later filed a complaint with the state Educational Labor Relations Board, accusing the local district of starting in-person learning "regardless of circumstances" and in violation of its own metrics.

The district prevailed in that battle. The union later deleted its earlier critical social media posts.

In the 2023 school board election, the union supported incumbents Courtenae Trautmann and Beth Hosler and newcomers Kelly Asseff and Kelly Henry.

In so doing, the union rejected local conservative leader Tom Chavez and his allies. Chavez alleged the school district was teaching critical race theory. The union-backed candidates won.

In the last three years, the district's relationship with the union appears to have improved.

The board meets at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the district's central office.