NSSD-112 Presents Draft Budget Amid Teachers Union Negotiations

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — North Shore School District 112 and the North Shore Education Association, the collective bargaining unit that represents teachers, have agreed to call in a federal mediator to help negotiate a new contract, according to a joint statement.

The existing contract between the Highland Park elementary and middle school district and its teachers expires on Aug. 15. If the parties cannot come to a tentative agreement before the start of the school year, the current collective bargaining agreement will remain in place as students arrive for the first day of school Aug. 19.

The sides held seven bargaining sessions starting in March, according to the statement.

"As the parties approached certain topics, discussions became more difficult," it said. Neither side has specified the sticking points in the negotiation. As of Aug. 1, a federal mediator had been assigned but no dates had been finalized.

"The parties are committed to working together and remain hopeful that they will reach an agreement that will be fair to all stakeholders," the statement said. "There is no reason at this point to expect any delays to the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year."

The existing contract was finalized in 2015 after nearly a year of negotiations including three months of mediation, Pioneer Press reported. It eliminated automatic annual pay raises above inflation but allowed the continuation of 6 percent pre-retirement pay bumps — a practice known as "pension spiking" that significantly increases lifetime pension obligations.

In his first budget last month, Illinois Gov. JB Pritkzer reversed a law signed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner earlier this year aimed at curbing the practice. It required local school districts to cover the pension costs of any raises above 3 percent in the final three years before a teacher retired instead of passing the cost on to taxpayers through the Illinois Teachers' Retirement System, which already has $75 billion in unfunded pension liabilities.

In order for a strike to be permitted under Illinois law, mediation must begin between the parties. Members of the bargaining unit could then vote to authorize a strike. That would lead to a notice with the Illinois Labor Relations Board, the public posting of each sides most recent offer, Highland Park News reported.

North Shore Education Association teachers last declared a strike in October 2012. The union also filed an unfair labor practice charge with the state labor relations board. The strike lasted one day.

Days after its current contract with its teachers is due to expire, District 112 is due to hold a public hearing on its proposed budget for the coming 2019-20 fiscal year. A copy is on display is on display in the district office and online.

The draft includes over $43.28 million for salaries and almost $6.48 million in benefits for educational staff.

Last year's budget had salaries of less than $41.8 million with benefits worth more than $7.95 million.

"We have a balanced budget with our funds outside of the capital projects," Wildman told the board at its June 11 meeting. "We have plans to be on budget for the $75 million for Northwood and Edgewood middle schools."

In November, the District 112 board approved a plan to renovate both schools with the use of $55 million in alternative revenue bonds and up to $20 million from the district's fund balance. The draft 2020 budget includes $19.9 million in capital spending.

Northwood Junior High is first to be renovated, with construction starting earlier this month. Current students will attend Northwood Junior High at Elm Place for two years until they are moved back to the renovated building, one grade at a time, through 2021.