Latest Teacher Talks Fail To Produce Agreement
Strike by Lake Forest High School teachers could start Wednesday if no agreement is reached.
No agreement was reached during two hours of contract negotiations tonight between the Lake Forest High School District 115 Board of Education and the Lake Forest Education Association (LFEA) teachers’ union.
With both sides unable to agree on a date for another negotiation session with a federal mediator, the prospect of a strike at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday is getting closer to reality.
Earlier: LFHS Teachers Issue Strike Notice for Sept. 12
The union is willing to meet with the Board Tuesday, according to spokesperson Chuck Gress. The District has offered to continue negotiations Monday, according to Board President Sharon Golan.
“We met and we did not reach an agreement,” Golan said. “We have offered to meet Monday and we are waiting to hear back.”
Gress claims the Board rejected the offer to continue negotiations Tuesday, “The LFEA offered to meet with the Board on Tuesday at any time after the close of the school day,” he said. “The Board refused.”
After the teachers declared an impasse August 10, both sides were required to make their last and final offer to each other public August 24. According to Gress, there was no movement by the Board from that position tonight.
“The LFEA is sorry to report that the District 115 Board of Education did not make any new offers during two hours of mediated negotiations this evening,” Gress said. “However, the teachers remain hopeful that a fair and equitable contract can be reached.”
Golan has previously indicated the Board has a plan in the event of a strike but has yet to make any details public. That could change soon. “I believe we will start to get some information out tomorrow,” she said. She suggested the best place to look will be the school’s website.
The teachers have also started a website to provide information to the public.
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