D219 And Teachers' Union Enter Mediation

Teachers and the board of education at Niles Township High School District 219 have entered into mediation over the teachers' contract, which expires Aug. 20. 

Typically during contract negotiations, teachers seek greater increases in salary and benefits and better working conditions, while school boards try to hold down costs.

Patch reported earlier that District 219 teachers , which is higher than the state average, but not far off from some neighboring districts.

When property tax bills came in the mail about two weeks ago and some homeowners in District 219 found their bills had gone up by as much as 13 percent, the

The following statement was issued by the District 219 board of education and the teachers' union: 

The Niles Township High School District 219 Board of Education and the Niles Township Federation of Teachers (NTFT) have mutually agreed to engage the services of a federal mediator to help both sides come to agreement on a new contract. The mediator’s first session with the negotiating teams was July 13. The current contract expires on August 20. 

“We are very pleased with the way both parties are working together, and hope we will continue to make progress,” said D219 Board President Bob Silverman. 

The board and union agreed to engage a mediator through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which will provide the mediation service at no cost to the district or union. 

Since formal negotiations started in March, the negotiating teams for the NTFT and D219 Board have made progress on a wide variety of issues. Unresolved issues include: teaching and learning (areas such as school day and teacher evaluation); salaries; benefits; pensions; and extra-curricular pay. 

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