Overview

Teachers have been working without a contract since Aug. 20, despite talks that started in April.

The union voted Jan. 18 to file an intent to strike.

The Dixon School Board declared an impasse in negotiations Jan. 29.

Superintendent Michael Juenger said the board declared the impasse because members believe negotiations are at a standstill. He said offers were being returned with little to no changes.

Sandra Sodergren-Baar, president of the union and a teacher at Dixon High School, said in a video posted on YouTube that little progress has been made, despite calling on a federal mediator.

"Yes, we're asking for a raise," Sodergren-Baar said in the video. "We took a soft freeze. We agreed to take the freeze to save the district money. Our efforts did not help, because over 20 positions have been eliminated that same year."

Teachers are asking for a salary increase, adequate staffing in classrooms, updated textbooks, improved training and upgraded technology.

Juenger said that the district is dealing with a revenue loss of about $700,000 from decreasing property values and cuts to general state aid, and that he expects to continue to slash the budget for the next few years.

"We can think of no viable solution to pay for their demands. We operated $57,000 in the black this past year, pretty much a balanced budget, and it won't get any easier," Juenger said.

Specifics

Salary:

The Dixon Education Association is asking 3.75 percent new money to be added to the salary schedule. Under its last contract, many teachers received built-in pay increases based on experience or education; this would be a 3.75-percent increase to those raises. Teachers are against getting rid of built-in raises.

The Dixon School Board is offering 1 percent pay increases for 2 years and wants to do away with the salary schedule, and wants teachers to agree to add 10 days to their contract and work 40 more minutes per day. The cost of this proposal is about $75,000 per year.

Health insurance:

The school board is asking teachers to pay $85 a month for a single plan and $331 a month for a family plan, and it wants teachers with a spouse to agree to take their spouse's insurance plan if they are eligible for family insurance.

Teachers are opposed.

Staff:

Teachers informally asked for five more teachers to meet special education needs at an estimated $40,000 to $55,000 per teacher.

The board is not in favor of adding staff.

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Articles

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March 21, 2013

Making it official: Board finalizes Dixon teachers contract

March 20, 2013

It's official: Both sides ink new teachers contract

Teachers ratify new contract

March 19, 2013

Union to vote on contract today

March 16, 2013

Contract with teachers to be made public

March 15, 2013

District might share contract after Monday

March 14, 2013

Early-morning deal brings end to 9-day strike

March 13, 2013

Dixon students, teachers happy to be back

Dixon schools strike over

Dateline Dixon: Community wants a resolution

Waiting for the phone call

March 12, 2013

Talks going late into the night, no agreement yet

Frustrated teachers leave meeting at 5 p.m.

March 11, 2013

Teachers say no to "cooling off period"

Superintendent tells audience revenue not there

Strike has attention of districts

March 9, 2013

Superintendent: No talk of replacements

12 hours of talk, no agreement in Dixon

March 8, 2013

Board waiting on state ruling

March 7, 2013

Teachers: 'We're stuck'

Dixon schools: Kids will take ISATs next week

March 6, 2013

No snow day for negotiators

Answers to frequently asked strike questions

Dateline Dixon: Should contract talks be open?

March 5, 2013

Union makes new offer

Two more days, and strike will cut into financial aid

March 4, 2013

Talks go late, again

In 1983, judge killed strike

March 2, 2013

Let's talk again on Sunday

Analyzing the proposals: How do Dixon class sizes compare?

District's child care to start Monday

March 1, 2013

Talks resume on second day of strike

Most sympathize with teachers

Mayor staying neutral on strike, not on TIF

Feb. 28, 2013

Dateline Dixon: Lessons from Ottawa teachers strike

Feb. 27, 2013

Union decides to strike

When will it end? Parents preparing for kids out of class

District to open free K-5 child care next week

Feb. 26, 2013

Talks go well into the night

Where would the kids go?

Feb. 25, 2013

Union: Tonight's talks crucial

Feb. 23, 2013

Dixon district's finances central to talks

Comparing Dixon's salaries, offers to other districts

Feb. 22, 2013

Board encouraged by Dixon teachers' new offer

Feb. 21, 2013

Teachers' leader questions Dixon district plans

Feb. 20, 2013

Dixon School Board met Tuesday to discuss negotiations

Feb. 14, 2013

Union wants more meetings

Feb. 13, 2013

Teachers ask for more staff

Feb. 12, 2013

Teachers question board spending

Feb. 8, 2013

Board releases its last offer

Feb. 7, 2013

Strike not inevitable

Feb. 1, 2013

Clock begins on possible strike

Jan. 28, 2013

Board decides it wants to buy land

Jan. 26, 2013

Dixon teachers' option to strike "set in motion"

Jan. 17, 2013

Sales tax referendum going back on the ballot

Dec. 12, 2012

Teachers union says it tried to negotiate

Dec. 7, 2012

Still no teachers deal

Nov. 8, 2012

Talks continue over expired teachers contract

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saukvalley.com

Editorials

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March 14, 2013

Release contract details to the public

Congratulations to the Dixon teachers and school board for negotiating a contract agreement. But why keep it a secret? Let the public see it. Now.

March 12, 2013

Release contract details before approval, not after

Negotiators for Dixon teachers and school officials eventually will reach a tentative contract agreement. At that point, the tentative contract should be released to the taxpaying public. It's the public's obligation, after all, to pay for it.

March 8, 2013

In search of cooler heads on the 7th day

Contract negotiations resume at 1 p.m. today in the Dixon teachers strike. The walkout has frayed nerves. Seven days of lost educational opportunities for students is enough. Let negotiators not rest until a deal is reached.

March 2, 2013

Like it or not, strike all about the money

Both sides posture during a strike. Some Dixon teachers say their strike is about more than money. Come on. The strike is all about the money. Let negotiators focus on that and find common ground.

March 1, 2013

Daily negotiations, please

Dixon teachers are on strike. Students aren�t being educated. Contract talks have transitioned from important to urgent. Negotiations should be held daily until an agreement is reached.

Feb. 27, 2013

Snow and strike and sequestration, oh my!

With a winter storm bearing down Tuesday, a Dixon teachers strike set for Thursday, and federal budget sequestration cuts due Friday, area residents had good reasons to feel uneasy. All may yet be well.

Feb. 23, 2013

End pension sweeteners; help save pension system

The pension-sweetening, end-of-career pay increases, received by school administrators and teachers across Illinois, put further stress on a weakened state pension system. We propose that Dixon School District administrators and teachers renounce them.

Feb. 12, 2013

Unfair funding system shorts schools and hinders students

Illinois' financial crisis means local schools receive less money from the state. Students in schools that rely heavily on state aid will feel the impact most of all. That�s not fair.

Jan. 31, 2013

Open talks to public scrutiny

Rumblings have been heard of a possible teachers strike after 11 months of contract negotiations between the Dixon School Board and the teachers union. The time is right to open those negotiations and contract offers to full public scrutiny.

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saukvalley.com

Following the Dixon Schools Teachers Contract Negotiations

Overview

Articles

Documents

Editorials

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Multimedia