Impasse was declared today by the teachers in an effort to end their ongoing contract negotiations and arrive at an agreement with the , according to Lake Forest Education Association (LEEA) teachers’ union President Richard Moore.
Though the members of the LFEA want to start the school year with a new contract and without the pressure of ongoing talks, today’s move clears the way for a strike as early as Sept. 10. Representatives of both sides hold their next negotiation session August 23.
“I’m a teacher. I just want to teach,” Moore said. “I left the business world because I want to help raise the next generation.” He wants a contract sooner rather than later so the teachers can concentrate on educating “It has to be fair and equitable,” he added.
With impasse declared both the union and the Board must exchange their final offers by August 17 and their positions must be disclosed to the public by Sept. 24. After that, no further action can be taken before Sept. 7.
No strike can occur until 10 days after the LFEA declares a notice of intent to strike. It has not done that yet but can do so at any time meaning the teachers could be out of their classrooms Sept. 10.
According to Moore, the primary purpose behind declaring an impasse is to assure the public the positions of both the teachers and the Board will be before the public so the entire community understands the differences.
“We hope this will speed up the process and encourage everyone to come to the table,” Moore said. “We want a contract because it removes the pain and gives us stability. It also commits us to our (teaching) responsibilities without a painful process.”
Board Vice President Jim Carey agrees with Moore’s desire to accelerate the process. He too wants to see a reasonable agreement that is fiscally responsible.
“The Board of Education welcomes the opportunity to present its final and best offer by Friday August 17,” Carey said. “The Board will continue to work hard to achieve a settlement that balances its educational and financial commitments to the community with a salary schedule that is competitive with similar school districts.”
. In the last 35 years, the LFEA has negotiated between seven and 10 contracts with the Board and all but one have not been inked without a declaration of impasse, according to Moore.
Late last year, the teachers declared an impasse and in less than two weeks they agreed to a one-year deal with the Board with a pay freeze. That agreement expired June 30.
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The Moore mentioned in the Patch story is Richard Moore whose base salary during 2011-2012 was $105,334. Not bad considering that he also receives full family health benefits!
Lake Forest CHSD 115 2011 - SALARY Abrams, Ryan $90,802 Alexander Collier, Cindy $93,208 Antrim, Wendy $132,483 Aronson, Steve$81,721 Barndt, Darren $103,829 Bassill, Robert $91,500 Benson, Rhonda$151,701 Berkshire, Jacqueline$125,969 Bielski, Carolyn$98,605 Birtman, Amy $104,321 Bower, Diane $120,567 Brandes, David$142,452 Brown, Denise $121,219 Burkhalter, Timothy $137,306 Chantler, Julie $113,140 Christofylakis, Elizabeth $88,433 Clark, Carol $101,263 Clark, Diane $151,530 Clegg, Laura $112,843 Clegg, Stephe$133,945 Coad, Daniel $130,594 Cooney, Tama$134,325 Davenport, Candice $110,663 De Rosa, Joseph $96,025 DeBartolo, Laura $82,809 Del Fava, Raymond $116,977 Donlon, William $124,643 Doucette, Melissa $105,762 Douglass, Stephen $101,430 Dukats, Mara $94,973 Dunn, Stephen $93,551 Eccleston, Jane$102,732 Ferges, Lance $111,065 Ferrari, Matthew $102,452 Filippo, Anthony $168,740 Finley, Christopher $109,777 Flangel, Laura $107,596 Freedman, Keith$128,428 Gantt, Lloyd $135,403 Gatta, Jennifer $78,243 Gibson, Laura $142,201 Gigiano, Thomas$104,785 Gilbert, Scott $118,609 Goldstein, Paul$84,295 Gress, Charles $149,852 Haskett, Timothy$130,099 Hawkins, David$127,865 Heroux, Kathryn$130,695 Hoak, Bradford$129,221 Hoffmann, Joseph $184,733 Horan, Sandra $122,846 Jensen, Elizabeth $127,347 Jerch, Janie $134,242 Johnson, Pamela $131,344 Johnson, Steven $143,36
http://www.familytaxpayers.org/salary.php What you do not see just by looking at the list is the number of years experience and degrees held. Also, this is a gross salary list. From this number 9-13% (depending on pension tier) is deducted for retirement, then depending on the health plan chosen, $2000-$8000 is deducted for the teacher's contribution. Also, what isn't shown here is if a teacher is coaching or sponsoring clubs. A teacher may be spending 20 hours a week extra coaching for 3 seasons of sports and at LFHS would be receiving anywhere from $6000-$10000 more in stipends per season. For example, a new football coach sees $6000 for the season for 12 weeks, 20 hours per week, or about $30/hour, a weak overtime rate. My two best friends, one a senior manager for Ernst and Young, the other a network storage architect, have the freedom to negotiate their compensation packages based on their worth to the company. Teachers do not. My friends made more right out of college than most of these teachers made after teaching for 25 years or longer. They will collect social security and a 401K that was matched by their company, and have car and meal allowances as well. If we truly want to compare teachers to the private sector, don't just look at salary and health. The highest paid are the most educated with the most experience and the most time spent at work.
For what it is worth-employees at EY etc. do not have the protection of tenure after 4-5 years of work experience. They are employees at will and are paid based on performance. Are the LF teachers ready to give up tenure and accept merit pay? Private industry employees also work 11 months per year not 9.
Do you realize that in the private sector, there is no guarantee of even the cost of living increases that the highest wage earners receive? Last year my increase was nothing. Nil, zilch, nada, ZERO. This was tied to the economy. In addition, our insurance costs went up and my premiums went up significantly. You also have the audacity to complain that you are forced to contribute tou your pension. Guess what. I put in 16% of my salary and the company matches at a whopping 4% I would venture to guess that nearly everyone in the private sector would gladly swap their pension for your.
First off, yes I agree, there is way too much administration and they are bloated and top heavy. However, they are not threatening to go on strike. Also, most people people in Lake Forest would love to pay 9% of salary to get a guaranteed pension approaching six figures. To buy an annuity that would pay that much starting at age 55 would cost a couple of million dollars. Quit your whining and get to work or go find a job elsewhere that will pay you 100K, offer free health care, and gives you a lavish pension for life. Oops, that other job is not out there! The high school would be much better off if all you bitter old, unrealistic crones just retired.