Huntley school board rejects union's latest offer

The Huntley Unit District 158 school board has rejected the latest contract offer from the district's teachers union, board member Larry Snow said today.

The news comes as board and union officials were scheduled to meet late this afternoon for the first time since Aug. 24.

The board rejected the proposal because it doesn't meet the board's "budgetary needs and working condition objectives," Snow said.

Teachers, who have been working without a contract since Aug. 21, authorized union leadership to call a strike if contract talks break down.

The board will discuss the specifics of the union's latest offer, as well as the union's concerns, at tonight's meeting, Snow said.

The union's proposal would give teachers a 6-percent pay raise in the first year followed by 3.5-percent salary hikes for two years after that.

The contract offer also would increase district contributions to teachers' retirement plans. With these increases, total teacher compensation would rise at least 6 percent, 7 percent and 8 percent in years one, two and three, respectively.

Check www.dailyherald.com tonight for more updates.