August 25, 2006

 

Dear Editor,

 

As president of the Mendota Education Association, and the chair of the negotiating committee, I am addressing the community with the full support and heartfelt encouragement of the 47 Mendota High School teachers who are members of our association.  It is my sincere hope that my thoughts will provide encouragement and bring some sense of hope to what is a difficult situation for all involved.

 

The Mendota Education Association and Board of Education have been negotiating for over six months.  Although we have made some progress and reached some tentative agreements, several issues remain unresolved.  Mutually agreed upon mediation is now in force, with the hope that it will result in a fair contract for everyone.  

 

For all of us involved in negotiations, including, I am sure, the Board of Education and the administration, the lack of progress that has been made has led to frustration and tension.  Our collective inability to settle a fair agreement, one that is equitable for all parties, puts our entire community in jeopardy and strains the relationships that we have all tried hard to build over the years. 

 

We are disappointed that the negotiating process has not led to an agreement and have voted unanimously to send a letter of intent to strike to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.  It has been twenty-six years since the Mendota High School teachers have been on strike and we would do so now only as a last resort.  Another negotiation meeting with the mediator is planned for August 31^st at 7:00 p.m.  We pledge to the community that we will continue to work toward an agreeable settlement – one that is fair to the community and the Board of Education and one that takes into account our dedication, professionalism, experience and service to this community.

 

As teachers, we are proud of the work we do.  We are fellow-parents, your neighbors, your friends, your colleagues and a valuable part of the Mendota community.  Let us not allow this current stalemate to go on much longer.  Let us get back to discussing the issues thoughtfully, fully and justly with the kind of respect for each other that we have always had in the past.  To do less than our very best at this critical time would be a failure for all of us.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kathleen Conner

Mendota Education Association President