Naperville Community Unit District 203 students return to school as possible teacher strike looms

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- With their backpacks in tow, students across Naperville Community Unit District 203 walk into school for day one of the new school year.

But as students and teachers get ready to get back into the swing of learning, the prospect of a teacher strike now looms.

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"At the end of the day, if we can't make movement and the board can't see the teachers' position, then that is something that will be on the table and could be a real reality," Ross Berkley, president of the Naperville Unit Education Association.

Berkley said union members vote overwhelmingly to authorize a strike - if need be - as teachers now head back to school contract-less. He says there are no imminent plans for a strike right now.

"It's disheartening to not have a contract, but our teachers are focused on our students," Berkley said. "We have teachers that can't afford to live in the community that they teach. So that's a reality. We are a world class district, but we don't value our teachers as being world class."

Berkeley said at issue is teacher compensation and proposed school day changes that he argues could cause shifts in afterschool activities and leave less learning time during the day for students.

"Know we are going to do everything to get a deal done and we are going to give you plenty of notice if there is going to be any disruption and I hope the board of education sends that same message," Berkley said.

The Naperville Board of Education says they are making the following proposals:

-Raises throughout the life of the contract and a compounded raise of over 10 percent the first two years.

-Continued 85 percent board-pain health insurance premiums

-Starting salaries that increase by over five percent in the contract's first year

The district argues that Naperville teachers would remain among some of the highest paid in the region.

Naperville 203 Board President Charles Cush writes, "We believe we can find common ground that supports our educators, respects our taxpayers, and keeps our students learning without pause...We invite the union to work with us to finalize a contract that benefits teachers, students, and the community alike."

Two Naperville Central High School upperclassmen reflected on the strike authorization before the start of school.

"We're both high level students and it makes us upset that our teachers don't want to come to school because they don't get paid," Declan Boyce, Naperville Central HS junior, said.

"Just give them what they need," Naperville Central HS senior Julian Thomas said. "They should be paid more simply."

The union president says the last time Naperville teachers went on strike was for three days back in 1991.

They are back at the bargaining table next week.