Union Ratifies Pact With 109

Thursday ratified the tentative agreement reached April 13 with the giving the parties labor peace through the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

On Monday, the District 109 Board of Education set a special meeting May 14 to approve the contract in the event the union gave it a positive vote. The teachers approved the pact by a comfortable margin, according to union President Dennis Jensen.

“Now that these long negotiations are over and we have reached an agreement, the teachers hope that this is the beginning of a collaborative relationship with the administration that is going to have a positive impact on everyone but particularly the students,” Dennis Jensen said.

Jensen recognized the tensions between his group and the District leading up to the agreement but is now satisfied he and his colleagues will have significant input into issues effecting teachers and students.

“It is our wish that this can be the beginning of a new relationship for the benefit of everyone in the school district,” Jensen said.

In other action at its Monday Board meeting, work to be done this summer on the Caruso Middle School parking lot and the Kipling Elementary School playground was approved.