Dist. 211: Salary demand too much

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 Superintendent Roger Thornton says raising teacher base pay more than 2.5 percent this year would be reckless.

Union President John Braglia says the district isn't negotiating in good faith and doesn't fully appreciate teachers' work. He says there's enough money to pay teachers what they deserve.

So rose the rhetoric Tuesday in the increasingly heated teacher negotiations in District 211, one day after the union voted to file intent-to-strike papers.

"It's appeared for sometime that at least part of the union has felt that a strike has been what they wanted to do," Thornton said. "While I'm not surprised, I'm disappointed."

The latest teacher compensation stalemate in District 211 began in August when union officials rebuffed what Thornton called the district's "final and best" offer after several months of talks.

The existing three-year pact doesn't expire until next July, but the two sides agreed salaries could be renegotiated for this, the final year, and talks began in May.

"We agreed to take a modest salary increase in the last contract in an effort to boost revenue," Braglia said. "We helped the district improve their financial health."

But district officials say giving the union what it wants -- what amounts to a 4.1 percent base-salary raise, versus the 2.5 percent the district offered -- would seriously undermine this financial health.

"The board's offer is as far as the district can go while keeping its commitment to taxpayers," Thornton said.

A federal mediator arrived last week, but talks failed to progress. That led to Monday's intent-to-strike vote that, according to the union's tally, 855 members voted for and 28 against.

There are about 1,100 teachers in the union representing District 211, the state's largest high school district.

Teachers have been working under the terms a contract approved in 2005, which provide yearly step increases based on seniority but no base-salary raises.

Strike not a given

A strike is not a foregone conclusion. The intent-to-strike papers haven't been filed. Braglia said that could happen Thursday.

That would start the clock ticking on a 10-day waiting period. After that, the union could set a strike day but still wouldn't necessarily strike.

The union also filed intent-to-strike papers in 2005 but never had a work stoppage.

"I'm hoping the board comes to their senses," Braglia said. "This is not a bargaining ploy, contrary to what they believe."

He's repeatedly said teachers aren't interested in a multiyear deal, saying class sizes, schedules and other problems need to be hammered out in separate talks.

Another issue is health insurance, the increased costs of which have eaten into actual net earning increases for teachers, they say.

The district had earlier offered a three-year deal that included a 3.4 percent salary hike for this year.

Some who side with the district point out that when you factor in the step increases with the 2.5 percent base-pay raise in the one-year deal on the table, most teachers would see actual raises of between 5 percent and 7 percent.

Average teacher pay in District 211 -- $84,185, according to 2006 figures -- is among the highest in the Chicago region and the state.

Starting teachers with bachelor's degrees earn about $44,000 in District 211, with high-end teachers with the most education and experience topping out at about $107,000.

Thornton quashed any talk that money from the tax-rate increase voters approved in 2005 would be spent on teacher raises, saying that would be "betraying" voters.

Braglia said teachers never asked for that, adding they support responsible spending.

Still far apart

The union wants to be paid closer to salaries in Northwest Suburban High School District 214, whose instructors will earn 4.25 percent hikes this year.

Braglia said his teachers aren't asking for that but want something better than 2.5 percent.

Thornton defended the district's pay.

"We're not at the top, but we're close to it," he said.

Meanwhile Braglia accuses the board of pushing a multiyear deal only because Thornton has announced he's retiring in 2009. Braglia said the board doesn't want to deal with labor talks with a new superintendent.

"The superintendent is always a part of the discussion at times like this," Thornton said, shrugging Braglia's comments off. "I have no view either way."

Several students and parents outside Hoffman Estates' Conant High School said they were unaware of a possible teacher strike.

Christine Petrowich said one of her teachers told students about the news in class.

"He told us the board of education refuses to cooperate but none of them really want to go on strike," said the junior from Schaumburg.

Some upperclassmen said they're concerned they won't be prepared for Advanced Placement exams or won't get college recommendations from teachers if they go on strike. Some students worry a strike could cut into next summer vacation.

Parent Joyce Jones of Elk Grove Village remembers the last round of negotiations and said the issues remain the same. She said the teachers deserve a raise, but the board is handcuffed by fiscal responsibility.

"It worries me. I can see it from both sides," said Jones as she waited for her daughter Jayne. "You wish you could grow a money tree."