Sunday, November 11, 2012
District 304 will use e-mails, emergency notification system and website to let parents know whether school is a "go" or teachers are going on strike, if Sunday-night negotiations don't come up with a last-minute settlement.
The Geneva teachers union says the School Board's notice that it will not pay teachers' insurance premiums during a strike constitutes a threat and intimidation.
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Sunday, November 11, 2012
The Geneva Education Asssocation issued a press release Saturday saying it has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Geneva Community Unit District 304, saying the board was trying to intimidate the teachers union from going on strike by saying teachers would have to pay for their full health and dental insurance premiums for every day during a work stoppage. The press release says the School Board "sent a threat directly to teachers in an illegal attempt to coerce/intimidate them from their plans to engage in a lawful strike." According to the release published on the GEA website, the dispute arose Wednesday when teachers received letters from the School Board regarding the health and dental insurance premiums and other items that…
Here's a school-by-school checklist for parents of students planning to attend school, including school hours, entrance points, cafeteria offerings, parking, special classes and more.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Despite Friday's declaration that Geneva teachers will strike on Monday, school is scheduled for Monday in hopes that an 11th-hour agreement can be struck.
School District 304 sent an e-blast Saturday saying school is still scheduled for Monday, in hopes of an 11th hour agreement. The Geneva Education Association on Friday set a strike date for Monday, Nov. 12, but the Geneva Board of Education and the Geneva Education Association have a negotiation session on Sunday. In the event of a strike, School District officials "will make every attempt to notify families by 5:30 a.m. on Monday using the district’s emergency notification system," the press release said. Information will also continue to be posted on the Board’s negotiations update webpage, and distributed through 304Connects and the local media. In the event of a strike on Monday: To help school officials with planning, please call…
Parents: What was it like for your kids in school? Did teachers talk about the pending strike? How do they feel about it? Does it register as important, or is it more of a "Yay, no school" situation.
Friday's school day felt a little awkward for a lot of folks. Because negotiations ran late into Thursday night, parents didn't know whether there would be school Friday, the first day the Geneva Education Association had the option to strike. School happened, as they say, but it was an early dismissal day, and still there was no announcement until after 10 a.m. There was a Veterans Day event at the middle schools, students were in the classrooms and everyone tried to go about their usual business. Some teachers talked about the pending strike openly, others didn't mention it at all. I was driving down a Geneva side street about the time school was getting out, and I saw kids, literally, dancing in the streets. For many of them, the strike…
Friday, November 9, 2012
Another negotiation session is set for Sunday.
School District 304 issued a press release and eblast at around 12:05 p.m. Friday indicating the board made "substantial movement" during a 10-hour Thursday night negotiating session and questioning a reason for a strike. The Board of Education and Geneva Education Association reached an agreement on the first year of the contract. "With the current school year resolved, the Board of Education does not understand the GEA’s urgency to strike, as the union is effectively walking out over issues that would not take effect until the 2013-14 school year," the press release says. The board disagrees with the statement in the press release issued earlier today (Friday) by GEA President Carol Young that it “rejected [the GEA’s] offers of …
The Geneva Education Association says Geneva teachers will go on strike Monday.
A Geneva Education Association press release says a teachers strike will happen Monday. Geneva Education Association President Carol Young says Thursday's 10-hour negotiating session was productive but did not result in an agreement. Young said the GEA offered to meet over the weekend, but the School Board task force said Tuesday would be the soonest that talks could resume. The board has a meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday. A press release from School District 304 is expected later this morning. Geneva Patch will update this post when additional information is available. Here's the GEA press release: The following statement may be attributed to Carol Young, president of the Geneva Education Association (GEA). “The GEA negotiation …
School Board President Mark Grosso said Friday morning that no deal had been reached during Thursday night's negotiations between the School Board and the Geneva Education Association.
Geneva School Board President Mark Grosso said at 7:30 a.m. Friday that last night's teachers contract negotiations went past 11 p.m. but no settlement. Grosso said he expected a press release would be distributed later this morning but could make no further comment. "We have not reached a tentative agreement," he said. The Geneva Education Association filed its notice of intent to strike on Oct. 26, and a walkout could take place as soon as today. Information about negotiations and the potential strike will be communicated through emails to families, District 304’s emergency notification system, 304Connects, local media and the School Board’s negotiations webpage. Geneva Patch will update this article as soon as additional information is …
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Here's a school-by-school checklist for parents of students planning to attend school, including school hours, entrance points, cafeteria offerings, parking, special classes and more.
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Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Geneva teachers union announced Friday that a teachers strike would begin Monday, Nov. 12. The Board of Education negotiations task force and the GEA are meeting Sunday, Nov. 11, but in case of a strike, here are links to additional details on what activities will be offered, when and where students will meet, and how best to access schools during a work stoppage, courtesy of Geneva School District 304: Information about negotiations and the potential strike will be communicated through emails to families, District 304’s emergency notification system, 304Connects, local media and the School Board’s negotiations webpage. If a walkout takes place, School District 304 officials intend to provide a safe haven for students during the school…
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
District 304 to parents: "Your prompt attention to its content is appreciated."
Buses will roll, lunches will be served and students will take part in math, writing, reading, art and physical education workshops at Geneva schools should District 304 teachers go on strike. A School District press release issued at around 1 p.m. offers details on the activities it will offer students should a strike take place Friday or later. The Geneva Education Association on Oct. 26 filed its intent to strike. Picketing could begin as soon as Friday, Nov. 9. Teachers have been working at 2011-12 salary and benefit levels since the previous three-year contract expired in August. At Monday's special School Board meeting, officials voted unanimously to accept a new policy on picketing that allows the practice on sidewalks and streets …
Doug Clark
8:20 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
@Dan- Thank you for answering my question. I do have some questions though about your idea regarding changing from the present teacher pension model to a 403B program. I did a little research on this and this is what I found out...teachers pay 9.4% of their income into the T.R.S. (Teachers' Retirement System), the school districts pay another 1.5% and the state of Illinois pays 6.7%. If they went… more ›