Union Supporters Pack D228 Board Meeting At Bremen

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — Teacher supporters packed the Bremen High School District 228 board meeting Tuesday night at Bremen High School, with several dozen members of the D228 Joint Faculty Association showing up in JFA shirts to support the union as it continues negotiations with the district on a new contract.

Greg Fitch, president of the JFA, told Patch that among the top concerns that persists during negotiations is the base pay for teachers who are first hired into the district.

"If we do not keep up with the surrounding districts, we are going to start becoming less attractive in recruiting teachers," Fitch said.

That feeling was echoed during the public comment portion of the meeting, which included support for teachers through three speeches delivered from two teachers in other districts and one attorney.

"I'm appalled that anyone would imply that teachers only work 9 months out of the year," Kim Tresch, a District 228 parent who teaches special education in another district, said. "An increase in the base salary will bring in quality educators who will want to stay here for the rest of their careers."

Fitch said that among 15 suburban school districts similar in size around Chicago, that only two have a lower starting base pay for teachers than D228.

Teachers in D228 have been working without a contract since the beginning of this school year and have been at the negotiating table with the board since last December. The union has already voted to authorize a strike, but has not filed an intent to do so.

Andrew Manno , an attorney, spoke of how it was his teachers at Bremen who made him proud to be an alum.

Lisa Pringle, a D228 parent and Oak Forest High School alum who is a teacher herself in Evergreen Park, during the meeting's public comment portion talked about how her daughter looks forward to every school day because of her teachers in the district.

"I'm here for my daughter and all of the students who love their teachers," she said.

The Bremen High School District 228 Joint Faculty Association @D228Educators with a large presence at tonight's school board meeting. Negotiations continue as teachers have been working without a contract since the beginning of the school year. pic.twitter.com/0rAajdY5cF
— Tim Moran (@Tim_Moran39) October 15, 2019