There is no shortage of teachers, 160 teacher aides applied for one job. If they do not like their job QUIT.

Ep taxpayer. It is time to value teachers for their service to the children to and
countless hours they give to their craft. The notion that a teacher has less value than other professionals such as a physician, business owner like myself, or another worker is a hallow argument. We need to be respectful of all workers and
the amount ot time invested in their own education and continued education credits.
Many of our teachers are invested in the community because they are tax payers as well which further demonstrates a strong commitment to not only their craft but
to the Evergreen Park community as well as long time supporters. In the long run
a fair contract is a win-win for all parties but most of all the students and community
of Evergreen Park.

Lee, do you LOVE your job? No? Then quit. Geez. This article, nor any of them regarding the possible strike are even about whether or not they like their job. If you have a classroom full of students then YES they would have to love their job. Would you want a classroom full of students? Are you even a parent?
p.s. look back at your comment, i hope you realize how stupid you sound. "There is no shortage of teachers, 160 teacher aides applied for one job" sorry to break it to you but teachers and teachers AIDES are two different things.
Have a great week

I certainly hope that calmer heads prevail and there is no strike. This issue of the contract should be based upon a few sensible, simple principles:

1) The contract should not create a situation where current revenues would not be sufficient to fund the contract without raising taxes or fees, cutting programs, laying off staff, increasing class sizes or neglecting the facilities.This is a finite and definable number, and should be a limitation on the contract increases. With this as a fair basis, the teachers should not walk out on the kids and the highly supportive families. If the union can find a revenue stream or economies that can fund higher amounts, that should be a PUBLIC discussion shared with the community for their approval.
2) Raiding reasonable cash reserves, or borrowing at taxpayer expense, should not be an option. To maintain adequate cash reserves (about $10 million for 6 months operating expenses) and enough for badly needed renovations, the $6 million additional is already spoken for in the best interest of the children.
3) Continuing to serve the children while the union can come up with a way to reconcile their demands with available revenues seems a fair and reasonable approach, and consistent the way the district has kept staffing at the certified, teacher and administrative employee levels certainly speaks well of their commitment to the children and communities.

Our faculty teach the children that "bullying", using power and intimidation to take from others, is wrong. Walking out on the children and community would certainly fit this definition.

I pray the union members practice what they preach and stay in school instead of hurting the children to force others to meet their selfish demands.

TM I am a parent I had 5 kids, put them all tru schools and college, I have lived in EP for 59 years, I have seem it all. Open your eyes.

Back when I was a kid, bullies would hang out around routes to school and demand that kids give them their milk money if they wanted to pass and go to school. Is there really that much difference in what those bullies did and what the 124 teachers would be doing if they prevented the kids from having school tomorrow?

I think every one of them should be fired! My wife hasn't had a raise let alone cost of living in 5 years. There are plenty of willing, unemployed eager teachers waiting for jobs. I have been involved in several collective bargining meetings. Its all about being reasonable.

As a former Evergreen Park taxpayer and district 124 parent, and a teacher, I know the job that teachers do and the quality education my children received, and how much it costs taxpayers. But there is a time when one must consider all factors. My educator pay raise is 2% per year as I continue to nurture, nurse,and teach my students. To lose any of the benefits for the job I do is unacceptable. So many comments seem to disregard the many facets of the job that teachers do, and then tell teachers if they do not like the job then to quit. Really, how many of you are truly happy with your job? Do you quit? The idea of bringing in new teachers, many inexperienced, sounds like a quick solution. How many of them will stay when they do not receive the respect they deserve. A fair contract that reflects the value on the job the teacher does is the only acceptable outcome.

I am a school administrator outside of District 124, and a parent of a child in District 124. It is so aggravating to hear, "the kids are the losers" in every strike. If my kid is out of school for 1 day or 1 month, it is my duty as a parent to make sure he is learning, whether he is inside or outside of school. I would much rather have happy, eager, proud teachers working with my son for the next few years, even if it costs a few days of him being OUT of school. As for EP taxes, while our family complains about them every year, we also realize what a great village we live in, and that we pay for what we get. That includes a great community center and library with tons of activities, holiday celebrations that people from everywhere come to attend, consistent communication, and a great education where my son LOVES to go to school everyday, growing leaps and bounds every week. The only thing that upsets me about the strike is that my son will miss his teacher; but, I know we all want the best for those who serve him so well.

As an EP parent and taxpayer, and as an educator myself, District 124 teachers deserve the minimal requests they are making, and I support them.

Oh wow "Stay Strong".... It looks like you had a bad experience with education, considering the way you write in terms of content and grammatical errors. Clearly you also didn't pay attention in your social studies classes either, because regardless of where I work or what I do, enacting my right to speak (or write) my opinions in a respectful manner would not get me fired if they "figure out" who I am. Teachers who are simply asking for a contract to stay the same IS minimal to me. It saddens me that because others out there, like you, either don't have a job or are miserable in the jobs they have, have decided that the public sector also pay the price of an economy that has soured. What happened to the mentality that the people our children are with at least half of their day aren't appreciated financially and as professionals?

Anyone out there that stands with the board on this one (who are all elected and serve voluntarliy, btw), please take a moment to email Kathy Rohan and tell her so. krohan@d124.org

I stress that the school board are volunteers because I'm trying to get at motives here. The board is being made out by some to be stingy villains. It's important to know that none of the money they are overseeing will ever go to them. They are not going to get a bonus if they save the school district money. Compare their role to the union leadership. It is literally their job, for which they make six figures, to come between the teachers and the board. Why aren't they getting the same criticisms on here for not living in the district? Why does everyone assume they are "for the children" but somehow the board is not? I don't know all of the board members and can't vouch for their behavior behind closed doors, but they are all successful people who are giving back by serving their community. I can't say the same for the union, to whom I indirectly pay, and yet have no recourse when I don't like their plan for my tax dollars.

And your argument is valid. However, I sat on the negotiating team for the first Union contract for Distr 124 support staff and saw first hand the dedication of coworkers making $6-7 / hour, some support staff that had their pay cut when they took a higher level position after working in excess of 10 years with the district. The district would start them at entry level salary for the new position. No longer in this society would I choose to be an "at will" employee.

Additionally, the negotiators are the teachers from each school who have worked with a Union leader for months also voluntarily going over all aspects of this contract some of which you will never really be privy to. These negotiators also are caring, dedicated, taxpaying teachers who know each and every one if their students and never forget them. They take time to follow some students' progress as the student advances grades. Teachers are impacted by their students the same way students are impacted by their teachers. I would hope these posts bring understanding and empathy for all concerned. No parties in either side should feel like a total win when a contract is accepted. But negotiations should remain civil and non threatening.

R - I get it about what the teachers and paras do voluntarily, but there are not two sides to this problem. There are THREE - the teachers, the board, and the IFT. Is this town so pro public sector union that we cant be honest about the union, their motive, and their role in this? It's the teachers union, AFSCME, and other PUBLICALLY FUNDED unions that support Madigan and his machine. It is an unholy alliance, and cannot be allowed to continue.