About 200 District 155 Teachers Picket Prior to School Board Meeting

"There hasn't been any progress."

That's the word from Justin Hubly, president of the District 155 Education Assoc., regarding contract negotiations between the teachers union and District 155. 

The 440 members of District 155 Education Association have been working without a contract since July 1, when their last collective bargaining contract expired. 

Negotiations between the association and the board of education have been ongoing since March, but an an agreement has yet to be reached. 

On Tuesday evening, about 200 teachers formed an informational picket line along Three Oaks Road in front of Cary-Grove High School prior to the regularly scheduled District 155 Board of Education meeting. 

Dressed in red T-shirts with "District 155 Education Association" printed on the front and "Proud Member" on the back, the teachers walked for about one hour in the cold weather and darkening skies carrying signs reading, "D155 Teachers for a Fair Contract."

When the Board of Education meeting began, teachers put down their signs and moved indoors to take their message to the board. Hubly estimated at least 250 Education Association members attended the board meeting.

Six people - some parents and one a teacher - spoke before the board. The parents praised the respective high schools and shared stories of how their children - some with learning disabilities and special needs - had flourished at Cary Grove, Crystal Lake Central and Crystal Lake South.

"The way I feel is the teachers deserve exactly what they're getting plus more," said Edward Delaney, a parent two children who attended a District 155 school. 

"Do not underestimate how important this is," said parent Jennifer Piacenza. These schools are amazing." 

Hubly would not specifically comment on the sticking points with the ongoing negotiations with District 155. 

The teachers association has launched a new website: www.D155Teachers.org, where the public can find more information about the association and its members. 

According to the new website, the average District 155 teacher's salary is $94,866. The 2012 Illinois District Report Card shows the average teacher's salary in the state of Illinois is $66,614. (The Report Card also shows the average salary for District 155 administrators is $138,802, compared to the state average of $110,870.

The Education Association's website states that District 155 has $76.3 million in reserves, has abated $6.5 million to taxpayers over the past three years, spent $1.18 million on new bleachers at Crystal Lake South High School and paid $106,000 in bonuses to administrators including a $10,000 bonus to Superintendent Johnnie Thomas.