Teachers, School Board Hunker Down

The fate of whether 1,800 students attend school tomorrow or stay home hangs in the balance as the D124 school board and Evergreen Park teachers union try to work out their differences over a new contract.

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The teachers union's negotiating team entered Central Junior High School at 5 p.m. Monday on a wave of community support and before a phalanx of TV news cameras for one last shot at negotiating a new four-year teachers contract.

Community support for the teachers and paraprofessionals from Dist. 124's five public elementary schools swelled over the weekend with parents wrapping trees with blue ribbons to show their solidarity with the teachers union.

The teachers union and Dist. 124 school board are in contract talks. There is no word if they will work throughout the night to reach an agreement to avoid a strike that has been called for Tuesday morning.

An Illinois Federation of Teachers source told Patch that a top D124 official said to expect an announcement at 8 p.m. Monday. He did not specify what that announcement may be.

Both sides have been in contract negotiations since April. Sticking points are salary, benefits and retirment packages.

Evergreen Park Patch will update throughout the evening and the wee hours of the morning on the outcome of the contract negotiaions.

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