School board walks out on negotiations with teachers’ union, cancels future meetings
Online Staff Report
The Rockford Board of Education terminated the negotiation session with the Rockford Education Association (REA) Feb. 9 after five hours of discussion. The board also canceled all future mediation and negotiation sessions with the teachers’ union.
REA President Karen Bieschke said in a press release: “The board’s action in walking out on Thursday was unwarranted, arbitrary, harmful to the entire Rockford community, and may be unlawful. Their unilateral withdrawal from discussions exacerbates problems and drives a wedge between us. It’s a deliberate abandonment of board duties. That’s not the way to solve problems and build better schools.”
Bieschke said in a press release that the board’s withdrawal came after parties had been meeting for about five hours Feb. 9. At approximately 10 a.m., she said, the REA presented the board with a complete package of negotiation proposals, including new proposals and significant revisions designed to move the parties closer to an agreement.
Union officials said the board’s termination of the process came without warning. The only explanation given came through a federal mediator who told teachers the board saw no reason to negotiate unless teachers accepted the last board offer in total.
“That’s the same offer that teachers rejected on Jan. 28,” Bieschke said.
REA officials said the board has given no indication of its next actions. REA has contracted legal counsel and is considering its options, according to Bieschke.
The Board of Education has its regular meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14, in room 207 of the Administration Building, 201 S. Madison St., Rockford.
“The board’s deliberate abandonment of the negotiations process and unwarranted escalation of tension today has potential to harm the entire Rockford school district and all its stakeholders, including students, parents, taxpayers, the school district as a whole and the REA,” Bieschke said.
The REA will hold an all-teacher meeting after school Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center. REA members will decide their next course at that time, she said.
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7 Comments
RPS205 never had any intention of coming to agreement on a contract. The BOE and master-manipulator Dr. Willis are out to break the union. Bad move dudes.
The real question is why do we continue to get incompetent administrators. The pay for quality of work is way too high. The last three superintendents not including the temps other than the current one, have tried to break the teachers’ union. Why is it we get people on the Board who do not care about children, but only saving money? What have we gotten, buildings falling down, poor curricula that ensures failure, the middle class flight, and hostility and disrespect toward professional teachers dealing with a poorly run district. In the long run because of the administrators incompetence and Board personal agendas, we pay more in taxes and the children lose. The Board of RVC is of the same ilk.
Maybe the board of ed isn’t negotiating because they have already presented their final offer? I don’t understand why the REA is confused. If someone says “This is our final offer”, and you don’t accept it, what do you think happens next? They revise their final offer and present you with a newer, more final final offer next week? Get over it REA, you will have to start paying for health insurance like the rest of the world. I’m sure filet mignon is delicious, but the rest of the country has been living on ground beef. Join the rest of us. It’s not so bad, most of you tenured teachers still make double the average working stiff and get a retirement plan to die for.
And Susan, you really think the RVC board is full of the same crazy people as the 205 board? Really? 2 boards are all full of crazy people? Couldn’t it be that the teachers and faculty, represented by a union, are still living in the golden, pre-recession days? Instead of the boards being full of crazies, maybe they are laying out contracts that face TODAYS reality.
Whatever happens, I hope these parties eventually find themselves in arbitration. I have a feeling that a level headed, rational arbitrator would laugh at the union. The union pretends to have the kids best interests in mind? Please. Thats why you are fighting so hard to spend LESS time with kids and still make MORE money?
“The only explanation given came through a federal mediator who told teachers the board saw no reason to negotiate unless teachers accepted the last board offer in total.
“That’s the same offer that teachers rejected on Jan. 28,” Bieschke said.”
That = no negotiation! What kind of board do we have??????????
I am so sad for my city. Prayers for all teachers and children.
Actually some of the Board members at RVC served on the RPS Board or have a wife serving on the RVC Board. The college board has been one of those elections that one does not pay much attention to and this is the result.
I do agree however, binding arbitation would be a good solution. However, as someone else pointed out the figures from the school district are very fluid.
I think that the Rockford Register Star did a misservice to the community with its constant anti-union rhetoric. Have you seen the old plan insurance plan or the new proposed one? Have you seen what the teachers’ have proposed. I have not.
Not related to this article, but there seems to be differing info on what’s happening with the old Kennedy bldg. I’ve heard Washington Gifted is moving in but a RPS205 electrician told me Auburn is so overcrowded and the incoming freshman class is larger than ever, so the thought is to move freshman back into old Wilson building and move Kennedy back where it came from. Wish the district could figure out what they’re doing.
Thats news to me. The 2 plans I’ve heard for old Kennedy was a) D205 warehouse, or b) consolidate all of early childhood at the 1 location.
Plan b makes sense to me. Montessori is right next door, and EC is currently spread out over several buildings (Summerdale, Riverdahl, Fairview, others?).