RIVER FOREST听鈥斕齌he听River Forest听Education Association (RFEA) is听taking steps to prepare for a strike after the听River Forest School District 90听administration signaled an unwillingness to bargain any further on the teachers鈥� contract. District 90听initiated听what鈥檚听known as the public posting process with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, which means the听District听90 administration will send the IELRB听its听last,听best, final offer to the IELRB.听
RFEA听represents听more than 140 teachers and licensed staff serving the听nearly 1,300听students who attend school in District 90. The BOE and RFEA began negotiations in April听2025听and the two parties have met to negotiate听nearly 20听times.听RFEA鈥檚 current听contract expired on Fri., Aug.听15,听which听means听teachers have been working without a contract since the start of the school year.听听
For years,听the district has been building a massive reserve on the backs of River Forest teachers.听According to its own 2025 Annual Financial Report听submitted听to the Illinois State Board of Education, District 90 has听460 days听of cash on hand.听The听state recommends having just听180 days.听听听
The following statement is from RFEA co-president Cindy Crannell:听
鈥淲e are frustrated and disheartened by the district鈥檚 lack of compromise at the bargaining听table鈥� to听resolve the issues that led to a failed ratification vote of the听tentative听agreement听we reached on Nov. 10.听听
鈥淭he district has听460 days听of cash on hand听in reserves听and is more than able to resolve the financial components at the root of the failed ratification vote.听However,听during our last few joint mediation sessions, the district has made little to no movement on their offers,听seemingly unwilling听to move an inch to meet us in the middle.听听听
鈥淥n top of that, the district notified the RFEA bargaining team that they are听initiating听the public posting process, which signals鈥痑n unwillingness听to bargain any more.鈥� This means the district will be issuing听its听听last,听best听and final offer.听听
鈥淲e are left with no choice but to move forward with plans for a strike; although, we truly would much rather be in our classrooms with our students than out on the picket line. Still,听we are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure our students have the best public education possible. To be clear, this does not mean we will go on strike.鈥� We听remain听open and available to bargain with the district and committed to reaching an agreement.鈥�听
The听RFEA plans to attend tonight鈥檚 District 90 Board of Education meeting. The meeting is set for听7 p.m.听in the multi-purpose room听at听Roosevelt Middle School (7560 Oak听Ave.,听River Forest).听听There听are听no future negotiation dates scheduled.听
###
The 135,000 member 黑料视频 (IEA-NEA) is the state鈥檚 largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
