MENDOTA – Mendota elementary schools remained closed through Wednesday after unsuccessful negotiations this past weekend.

The Mendota District 289 Board of Education and Mendota Education Association participated in negotiations on Saturday, Oct. 19. "Several offers were presented by the board, including one, two and three-year agreements which offer a substantial compensation increase coupled with a very generous package, all with the primary goal of getting our students back to school; while maintaining the board’s fiduciary responsibility of allocating tax dollars in a way that keeps the district in a healthy financial position both now and into the future. The single year agreement was presented and rejected four times by the Union over the course of two negotiation sessions; this agreement would end the strike and return our students and teachers to the classroom while negotiations continue," stated the board's most recent press release.

The one-year agreement offered:

• Meeting the teacher’s request for base raise, TRS contribution raise, and maintaining the 4.5% step and lane increment raises.
• Continued single insurance covered at 90%, and family insurance covered at 85%.
• The union openly agreed to these terms, but only if they were part of a three-year agreement. The continued rejection of this offer is keeping students from going back to school on Monday.
• The board is ready to continue negotiations on year two and three as soon as the union is willing to; if the single year contract is accepted.
• The board’s goal remains to get the students back in the classroom; this is the primary responsibility of the public education system.

The two-year agreement offered:

• Year one includes increases in base raise, TRS and step and lane increment raises, totalling the same cost as in the one-year offer.
• Year two includes a 4% increase to base, a 4.28% step and lane increment raises, and an increase to 4% district-provided TRS.
• Single insurance will be covered by the district at 90% in both years, the family insurance plan will be covered at 85% in year one, and 83%percent in year two (based on current rates, the family insurance plan expense to the district is $20,000 per employee).
• This agreement offers an overall raise of 6.15% in year one and 7.19%raise in year two (including base, TRS and step/lane).

The three-year agreement offered:

• Year one includes increases in base raise, TRS and step and lane increment raises, totaling the same cost as in the one-year offer.
• Year two includes a 4% increase to base, a 4.356% step and lane increment raises, and an increase to 4% district-provided TRS.
• Year three includes a 4% increase to base, a 4.188% step and lane increment raises, and an increase to 5% of TRS.
• Single insurance will be covered by the district at 90% in all three years, the family insurance plan will be covered at 85% in year one, and 83%percent in year two, and 82% in year three (based on current rates, the family insurance plan expense to the district is $20,000 per employee).

"The Board of Education continues to offer many options to the teachers, in hopes that we can get our students back in school as soon as possible. The current board proposal remains the largest offer ever presented to the teachers in this district. 

"The Board of Education values the student-teacher relationships developed and strengthened through participation and observation in classrooms and alternate settings. Observation of students in different facets helps inform teachers learn more about student social interactions and behaviors. Recess duty is not requiring work in addition to the contracted school hours.

"The union proposals have included language prohibiting recess duty assignment for certified teachers; which results in less time with students; other proposals have included a request for additional pay for supervising recess during the school day, but not as an assignment, retaining the first right of refusal. 

"The union requested guaranteed plan time in the contract. Teachers have and always will receive a plan time, however restrictive language around the expectations of consecutive minutes per day can have a negative impact on the school schedules and student opportunities.

"The Board of Education has notified the union of our willingness and availability to continue meeting if they are willing to either accept the single year offer to return to school while negotiations continue; or if they are willing to consider or offer any proposals that move below the 4.5% increments in the step and lane salary schedule," the board stated.

After a few hours of bargaining and before reaching a deal, the District 289 Board of Education abruptly walked out of mediation with the Mendota Education Association, noted MEA.

MEA did not accept any of the offers on the table.

MEA co-vice presidents Brandon Scheppers and Rachel Sabin said, “We are so disappointed. The board walking out and cancelling our only other scheduled negotiation session means there is no way we can have school on Monday. This is about our students. They were elected to put our students first. The Illinois school board oath clearly states board members should be looking out for the best interest of their students. That’s not what’s happening here. The board did not come to the table today with a willingness to bargain. Their first offer of the day was the same offer they submitted during last Tuesday’s session. There were no language issues for personal plan time and recess duty addressed in that offer or any of their offers all day. When it was our turn to counter, we offered a four-year contract so our students, the community and teachers will have some stability and peace of mind over the next four years. However, the board had other plans. The board then insisted MEA accept year one of its contract offer, come back to work and continue to negotiate for years two and three of the contract. This is absolutely ridiculous. We want to go back to our classrooms and focus solely on our students. Our community deserves stability. We can and should reach a multi-year contract and put this entire thing to rest right now.

"We are asking the community to reach out to the board members and urge them to come back to the table. We hope they will meet with us, so we can get back to our classrooms to work with the students we care deeply about.”

The MEA hotline has been flooded with phone calls since it was opened on Thursday afternoon. More than 100 calls came in less than 24 hours. The hotline number is 1-844-311-3378. Callers are greeted with a message from Scheppers and then the calls are patched through to the district office.

"The Board does not believe that the union is going to move off of their demands about the salary schedule, so we believe it is futile to meet as no progress will be made," the board told the union negotiator in regards to canceling the Oct. 20 negotiation meeting.

Instead, a rally was held at Strouss Park on Sunday where more than 200 supporters gathered to support the striking teachers. Teachers chanted, "What do we want? A fair contract. When do we want it? Now."

Teachers continue to picket at the district's schools touting signs with "I am worth more," "Support our Teachers," and "Fair Pay = Teachers Stay."

"Our students cannot go back to school until the board comes to the table to negotiate," stated MEA.

The next negotiation meeting is set for Wednesday, Oct. 23.