Union Case Against Elmhurst D205 To Be Heard

ELMHURST, IL – An agency that handles union complaints against schools has set a hearing for a case involving Elmhurst School District 205.

In August 2023, the Elmhurst Teachers Council claimed the district retaliated against York High School social studies teacher Kelly DeLoriea after she appealed a one-day suspension.

The hearing, scheduled for May 7-8 in Chicago, is before an administrative law judge for the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.

The board said the parties can also hold an informal mediation conference to resolve the matter.

The district declined to comment Monday. DeLoriea did not return a message.

In addition to the one-day suspension DeLoriea had already served, the union contended the school board gave her a public reprimand in the form of a "notice to remedy." The discipline, the district said, was because DeLoriea revealed information about the child of her critic, Tom Chavez, on social media.

In response to a Patch inquiry, John Brosnan of the labor board said about 35 to 40 complaints go to a full hearing every year. About another 40 get settled, with the parties doing so on their own or with agency assistance, he said.

Patch wrote about the local dispute a year ago.