Mokena District 159 board to vote on teachers pact

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Updated: February 21, 2012 8:42AM

The Mokena District 159 School Board will meet at 8 a.m. Saturday at Mokena Elementary School to ratify a new teachers contract.

Board president John Troy said he will not divulge any details until then but said the Mokena Teachers Association already has approved the new multi-year agreement.

Mokena Teachers Association representative Craig Martinus also declined to discuss details until after Saturday’s meeting.

Teachers have been working without a contract since June 30, and at one point threatened to strike.

Troy said a tentative agreement was reached in December, and attorneys continued to work on contract language that was acceptable to both sides. Last week, the board sent the agreement to the teachers, he said.

“I think both sides are happy with it. It should pass muster with the community,” Troy said.

He said it is not unusual to go six to eight months without a contract.

Supt. Steve Stein said, teachers “overwhelmingly” ratified the new agreement Tuesday. All board members have been involved in the negotiations so there “should not be any surprises.”

“We’re excited,” Stein said. “Hopefully, this will be a quick meeting.”