Bourbonnais teachers urge board of education to take the deal, say “Yes to Less”
BOURBONNAIS – The Bourbonnais Education Association (BEA) is urging the Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 Board of Education (BOE) to take the current two-year contract offer proposed by the BEA bargaining team. Financial comparisons show the BEA’s two-year deal will actually cost almost $27,000 less than the first two years...
Illinois Education Association Statement on Governor Pritzker’s 2021 Budget Address
SPRINGFIELD – The following statement is attributable to Illinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin: “We appreciate that the governor is willing to look at a variety of ways to continue the state’s funding obligations by closing tax loopholes rather than increasing taxes on all struggling families and we urge state...
Bourbonnais teachers, community members to rally as potential strike date looms
BOURBONNAIS – The Bourbonnais Education Association (BEA) will be hosting a rally today at 4:30 p.m. The BEA can legally go on strike as soon as this Fri., Feb. 19. Tonight, following the rally, the BEA has its last negotiation session with the Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 Board of...
College of DuPage Faculty Association Recommends Board of Trustee Candidates
GLEN ELLYN – Today the College of DuPage Faculty Association (CODFA) announced its support for College of DuPage (COD) Board of Trustee (BOT) candidates Don Potoczny, Flo Appel, and Nick Howard. The following statement is attributable to CODFA President David Goldberg: “We truly believe Don Potoczny, Flo Appel, and Nick Howard are...
Southeastern Illinois College faculty and students to hold Save Our School Rally
HARRISBURG – The Southeastern Illinois College Education Association (SICEA) will be hosting a rally this afternoon at 5:15 p.m. to raise awareness about program and staffing cuts. Rallygoers plan to attend the Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) Board of Trustees meeting immediately after the rally. “We are losing students. Enrollment is declining....
Adjunct faculty vote overwhelmingly to reject City Colleges’ “last, best offer”
CHICAGO – The membership of the City Colleges Contingent Labor Organizing Committee (CCCLOC) voted overwhelmingly to reject City Colleges' "last, best offer.” By a margin of nine to one, CCCLOC members came together and said no to a five-year deal. CCCLOC negotiators are urging City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) to join the union...
Bourbonnais teachers host virtual rally, could strike as early as next week
BOURBONNAIS – The Bourbonnais Education Association (BEA) will be hosting a virtual picket this afternoon at 4:15 p.m. The picket was originally supposed to be outside but was moved online because of dangerously cold temperatures. “We are so grateful to work in such a wonderful community that continues to support us...
Illinois Education Association releases statements on death of Karen Lewis
SPRINGFIELD – Today the Illinois Education Association (IEA) released the following statements on the death of Karen Lewis: The following statement is attributable to former IEA President Ken Swanson: “I’m very saddened to learn of Karen Lewis’ passing. Karen was a tenacious advocate for teachers, support staff and students. She was...
Education rule changes will provide students with a more equitable education
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) announce their support for the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Standings (CRTLS), a rule change before the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules (JCAR). The change was proposed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)...
Unanimous support for resolution calling for equal pay at City Colleges of Chicago
CHICAGO – A resolution with unanimous support from City Councilors across Chicago calling on City Colleges to provide adjunct faculty equal pay for equal work was introduced at yesterday’s City Council meeting by Ald. Sue Sadlowski Garza. The resolution seeks to close the pay equity gap between adjunct faculty members...
MEDIA ADVISORY: Bourbonnais teachers to hold informational picket after negotiations stall
Contract negotiations between the Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 Board of Education and BEA teachers have stalled. The BEA can legally go on strike as soon as Feb. 5. The BEA represents 167 teachers, speech pathologists, psychologists and social workers who serve more than 2400 students.
Bourbonnais teachers take initial steps toward strike after contract negotiations stall
BOURBONNAIS – The Bourbonnais Education Association (BEA) submitted the organization’s last contractual offer to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) for public posting. Once the IELRB posts the last offer from BEA and the Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 (BESD 53) Board of Education (BOE) on the IELRB website,...
IEA President Kathi Griffin congratulates State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch on election as Speaker of the Illinois House
SPRINGFIELD – The following statement can be attributed to IEA President Kathi Griffin: “The Illinois Education Association would like to congratulate one of the top public education advocates in the Illinois General Assembly, and the 2018 recipient of the IEA Friend of Education Award, on his election as Speaker of...
Elgin teachers, community plan to rally in support of safe schools, call for stronger return to learn plan
ELGIN – Tonight, teachers and other supporters plan to gather at a safe social distance before the School District U46 Board of Education (BOE) meeting to push for a more robust return to learn plan that ensures safe schools for all. "We are calling for our safety plan to be...
IEA issues statement denouncing riot in Washington, D.C.
SPRINGFIELD – The following statement is attributable to IEA President Kathi Griffin: “As educators, we are tasked with the aftermath of what happened yesterday in Washington, D.C. – a day that brought out the darkest side of America. In our country, we hold tightly to our freedom. As we should,...
Education Unions Call on the Illinois State Board of Education to Postpone Standardized Testing
ILLINOIS – In a joint letter with the Chicago Teachers Union, the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the Illinois Principals Association, and the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) is calling on the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to postpone standardized testing via a...
Education unions call for lawmakers to make schools safe for all
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) are calling on the state legislature to address the issues outlined below that would make Illinois schools safe for all. School district failure to implement and enforce the IDPH guidance and requirements for schools puts the...
Rockford Education Association will call on Board of Education to allow educators the choice to work from home
ROCKFORD – Tonight, the Rockford Education Association (REA) will call for the Rockford Public School District No. 205 Board of Education (BOE) to allow educators to choose whether they want to teach from their classrooms or from their homes. "The district finally did the reasonable thing and granted an adaptive...
Dunlap teachers will call on Board of Education to responsibly spend taxpayer money, will virtually pack board meeting
PEORIA – Tonight, the Dunlap Education Association (DEA) will call for the Dunlap Community Unit School District 323 Board of Education (BOE) to responsibly spend taxpayer dollars instead of cutting millions from the budget, which could mean cutting 60 teachers from the district. "The district has the money to close...
One-third of Illinois educators considering leaving profession in midst of COVID-19 pandemic
SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the largest education organization in Illinois, announced that a poll of its membership showed one-third are considering leaving the profession, amid an already existing teacher shortage, over concerns of safety and stress. “This should sound the alarm for every person in Illinois...
