Classes to begin Friday as strike ends in Galesburg
Marty Hobe GateHouse Media Illinois
After the seven voting members of the District 205 Board of Education accepted the new contract at 2 p.m. Thursday, board and GEA bargaining team members shook hands and hugged one another.
"Just glad it's over" was uttered by more than one member as they filed out of Superintendent Bart Arthur's office, smiles on their faces.
"We're very pleased that the (union) membership ratified the contract and that the board did the same," Arthur said. "It's good to get it all over with so we can start educating kids."
Meanwhile, the union has yet to talk with reporters after nearly six hours of deliberation with teachers and a vote on the contract. After teachers voted to ratify the contract by a reportedly razor thin margin, dozens of teachers left Galesburg High School looking visibly upset, some even drying tears from their eyes.
Reportedly the contract was approved with just 53 percent of teachers' support.
"This town will never be the same," one teacher said.
"A ridiculous decision was made," another disgruntled teacher said.
Members of the Galesburg Education Association have yet to comment. They locked the high school doors after teachers left the building.
Arthur called a news conference a few hours after teachers approved the contract.
He said both sides understand the implications this strike has had on the community, especially keeping the students from attending school.
"The board gave some things and the union gave some things and that's what collective bargaining is all about," Arthur said.
Arthur couldn't speak to exactly what had gotten teachers so upset, almost enough to shoot down the proposed contract.
"Sadly enough, collective bargaining does that," Arthur said. "You're not going to get both sides super happy about everything. The board gave up some things, too."
However, Arthur said students will attend school Friday with a 55 minute early dismissal, except for the pre-kindergarten students. They will start Tuesday after the holiday.
Also, to comply with Illinois law, the district will make up only four of the missed days from the strike.
"That lost a couple days but we really were starting earlier than other schools so I'm not concerned about the calendar," Arthur said.
He said as part of making up those days, the fall semester won't end before winter break, as it normally does. Instead it will continue in January. Arthur said they are still trying to figure out what to do with high school students set to graduate at mid-term.
Teachers will get paid for those four make-up days, but they won't receive back-pay for the other missed days.
Arthur and the board received a lot of public criticism on social media for calling parents to notify them of the school day, hours before the GEA approved the contract.
"When you're trying to notify 4,500 kids and parents that school's going to begin, I couldn't wait until later in the day," Arthur said. "We knew that the vote could possibly go the other way. I was hopeful that it wouldn't, but in no way did I just assume by sending it out that teachers were going to ratify the contract."
Arthur said the high school football game is set to play as scheduled as well since the students will be in Friday.
"It appears that they've been practicing so by the IHSA eligibility they'll be able to play tomorrow night and the kids will be in school tomorrow," Arthur said.
He said the pressure of the upcoming game was noted in negotiations, but he said both parties stayed focused through it.
Reporters were still awaiting a response from the GEA as of press time.