Potential Teachers Strike 'Unsettling,' District 202 Board President Says

PLAINFIELD, IL — Days after the Association of Plainfield Teachers announced that union members voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike should contract negotiations fail, District 202 school board president Greg Nichols issued a statement saying talks are ongoing. The school board will review its latest offer to APT, "as well as the research and findings supporting the offer," at a special meeting on Wednesday, Nichols said.

"The Board and administration know how unsettling this situation is for our students and their families, as well as our teachers and other staff members," Nichols said in a statement issued Tuesday morning.

A bargaining session with APT is also scheduled for Thursday morning, according to Nichols, who added, "The Board remains committed to resolving this matter without disruption to the educational process."

APT on Saturday said 98 percent of members who voted were in favor of authorizing a strike. Contract negotiations have been ongoing since November 2016.

"No one wants to strike," APT President Dawn Bullock said. "Hopefully, with (the board's) commitment, we’ll get this matter resolved fairly and without a job action.”

While Bullock said a lawful strike could be called to start as soon as Oct. 31, Nichols gave the date as Nov. 1 in his statement. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Nichols said public comment will be taken after the board's contract presentation on Wednesday night, but said board members will not be fielding questions while negotiations continue.

"Board meetings are business meetings held in public, they are not public hearings," Nichols said. "As a matter of long standing practice, Board members typically do not answer questions from the Board table. Negotiations are still ongoing, so it would be inappropriate for the Board to answer questions Wednesday. Doing so could potentially subject the District to an unfair labor practice charge. In the interest of transparency, however, the Board intends to respond to all pertinent questions asked via the D202 website to the extent possible."

Wednesday's board meeting is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Plainfield South High Schoo, 7800 Caton Farm Road.

Image via District 202