SD 229 teachers reject revising contract

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Updated: April 7, 2011 12:23AM

Teachers at Oak Lawn High School District 229 have overwhelmingly rejected the administration’s proposal to renegotiate the remaining two years of their contract.

Union members on Friday voted 133 to 43 against doing so, despite the administration’s plan to lay off 27 teachers and six support staffers if the pact is not reopened.

Union president Kelly Rumel said the union “will initiate discussions with the administration in an attempt resolve financial concerns and save 33 jobs for next school year.

“The union feels that a workable solution can still be reached with the administration and the (school) board,” Rumel said. “The results of (Friday’s) vote dishearten us all because of the potential job loss and resulting loss of student opportunities. The union will work ceaselessly to find a remedy.”

District 229 Supt. Michael Riordan said he was disappointed with the vote but remained hopeful the union and administration can renegotiate the remainder of the contract, which expires June 30, 2013.

“I need to talk to Kelly to see what her proposal would be. She seems to be leaving the door open,” Riordan said.

The teacher layoffs would hit nearly all departments, including three art and industrial technology teachers as well as two each in the art, English, foreign language, physical education/driver’s ed, family and consumer education, social studies and student services departments. Math, music, special education, media services and science teachers as well as two full-time substitutes also would be cut.

The district is required to notify teachers of layoffs by April 15. If they occur, students would be limited to six classes per day instead of seven, and class sizes would increase, according to district officials.

Riordan said the district has to either renegotiate the contract or make the cuts to achieve a balanced budget and healthy cash reserves over the next five years.

The existing contract includes a 4 percent raise for teachers next school year and a 6 percent increase for 2012-13. Support staff will get raises from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent each year.

About two-thirds of District 229’s budget goes for payroll. Less property tax revenue, less state aid and canceled state grants are primarily responsible for the district’s budget problems, Riordan said.

The school board has previously approved an administrative restructuring, cutting utility costs and eliminating extracurricular pay for teachers to reduce expenses.