Teachers in District 46 in north suburbs on strike

Teachers who do not agree with union officials’ tactics are forced to cross picket lines.  Students are forced to miss education, and will never catch up if the strike continues.  Amanda Marrazzo has the story in the Chicago Tribune: 

In what has become a familiar scene in the Chicago area this school year, about 330 teachers in Community Consolidated School District 46 went on strike . . . failing to reach an 11th-hour deal after a long negotiating session Tuesday.

“We are facing declining revenues from a lot of different sources along  with everybody else struggling with the economy,” school board President Ray Millington said. “Property values are decreasing, reducing tax revenues … the state has decreased the amount of funding they are giving to us.”

The district serves 4,000 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade at seven schools in Grayslake, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach and Hainesville.

Millington said the district is seeing declining enrollment, which results in even less state aid, he said.

“We did make them an offer, and it was less than they expected,” he said. “We met extensively with them. We respect the teachers and  want them to do well, but again, we just  don’t have the money.”