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mm PAGEM -PLAINDEAI FK -FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER! I»?• < ti-um p«>a« r> •V, THIRD DAY OF STRIKE BJtoinhammer of a Chicago law firm is the professional negotiator for the board. Judy Hamilton, president of the McHenry Classroom Teachers association, heads the teachers' negotiating team. Other members are Don Hodges, Mary Prokuski and Gene Vitale. They are represented by the Illinois Education Association^IEA) Uni-Serv. The following letter went into the mail Sept. 6, sent to parents of * District 15 students by the board of education. v^De^r Parents in District 15: V'As your elected representatives, we feel a sincere obligation to inform you of the board of education's position on negotiations. The teacher's union releases have stated their side of the issues only afed are filled with half-truths and mis-statements. 41 "First, the strike that is now occurring is in violation of Illinois law. It is •rlso in violation of a written pledge made by the teachers tclthe board of education and the community that there would be no grike during the school year. •"Second, throughout negotiations the Teachers' association has sfcown no,real willingness to reach a settlement with the board. The t|achers refused to negotiate during half of June, all of July, and t$lf of August. During the first negotiations session with the federal mediator, the teachers walked out without even telling the board they were leaving. During the negotiations, the teachers ha ve raised their initial demand for a 9.25 percent salary increase to a 10 percent increase. Since the strike began their demand has now risen to 11.2 percent. ' 'The demands of the teachers include: increased salary, class size, planning time, time off for union activities, dental insurance, increased sick leave, sick leave bank, extra-duty pay increases, r$tssignment rights for teachers returning from maternity leave, increased personal leave days, college credit reimbursement and re instatement of elementary team leaders. Some of the specifics are as follows: Teachers' Association Meetings-The demand is for one-half hour of released time eight times per year. This would mean that our four elementary buildings would dismiss at 3 p.m. eight times per year. The board's contention is that union meetings on taxpayer's time is an unfair labor practice. Kru^tatement of Team Leaders at the Elementary Level-Team leaders are the equivalent of department chairpersons who coordinate the teaching team and instruction at a given level. The '.oard of education has agreed to have team leaders at an annual stipend of $600each, for a total of district payment totalling $10,400 per year. The Teachers' association demands that team leaders be paid $1,000 per year, and be appointed by the teachers rather than the administration. {"Class Size -The Teachers' union demand is that class sizes be • iifcited as follows: K-3: 25 students V 4-5: 27students » ' 6,7-8: 28 students V Additionally, this demand is that for each student above these numbers, each teacher be paid $2.75 per child per day. Initially the teachers demand was for $3 per child per day. Class size limitations have got to be a management prerogative, as it is virtually impossible to predict specific growth at various grade levels. The board has addressed itself to class size during the 1978- 78 school year by adding faculty, reassigning first graders to landmark, remodeling the Whitehouse for kindergarten occupation and re-drawing boundary lines in undeveloped areas so 9iat no individual school will be hard pressed for space. If the ribard of education were to agree to the teachers' demands, the costs for increasing student load by one student per classroom would be: Kdgn. • 16 sections times $2.75 equals $44 per day times 180 equals $7,920.00 ^ 1st G. -13 sections times $2.75 equals $35.75 per day times 180 equals $6,435.00 2nd G. -13 sections times $2.75 equals $35.75 per day times 180 equals $6,435.00 3rd G. -15 sections times $2.75 equals $51.25 per day times 180 equals $7,425.00 ' 4th G. -12 sections times $2.75 equals $33 per day times 180 equals $5,940.00 3th G. -12 sections times $2.75%quals $33 per day times 180 equals Totals for grades 1 through 5 only equals $40,095.00 . **It is almost impossible to tabulate 6-7-8th grade costs because 6f the complex scheduling and the uncertainty of what the teachers' union means by a maximum class size-of 28 at those levels. The class sizes as of Aug 31, are as follows: 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5 6th 7th 8th Spec. Ed. Edgebrook 23 24 22 25 25 24 24 21 25 25 %. V, 22 23 23 24 25 20 22 '25 25 . • ;:V. • w ' 21 22 25 24 • '• ¥ ̂ 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th " T • • * ' Hilltop 26 27 27 26 28 26 25 25 26 26 28 28 S- ' / •• 25 24 26 26 27 28 ~"T ' Land­ mark A.M. Kndg: P.M. Kndg; 22 21 23 23 22 24 23 23 24 26 4 aA 4 23 23 25 26 25 24 23 5 McHenry Jr. High Parkland School 6th >57 180 7th 140 170 8th 138 174 M 'Planning Time -The teachers' demand is for a guaranteed 120 minutes per week at the elementary level. The elementary teachers currently have a minimum of 120 minutes of planning time while their students are in art, music, P.E., and learning center. Therefore, what they are demanding is basically what they already have, i ; . "Increased Sick Leave -The teachers' demand calls for 15 days per year per teacher to be cumulative to 150 days. The teachers' present contract grants 12 sick days per year, cumulative to 140 days. The board wouldv like to point out that the cost for this includes the teachers' regular salary plus the cost of a substitute, or an average of $105.50 per teacher per day. "Sick Leaveffank -The teachers' demand that they be granted a sick leave bank that would enable each teacher to contribute a' certain number of days to a "bank", so if any teacher needs additional sick days, he-she can borrow from the bank instead of having pay "docked" for each day in excess of the accumulation. This would insure teachers of 100 percent of their salary over a long period of time instead of collecting the 60 percent guaranteed disability insurance sum. "Extra duty Pay Increase - The teachers' demand is for a 10 percent increase in all extra duty stipends. Examples of extra duty assignments are playground supervision, bus duty, coaching, etc. The total amount of money paid by the board for the 1978-79 school year was $47,432.58. "Increased Personal Business Leave -The teachers' demand is for unrestricted use of 2 days paid personal business leave at the teachers' discretion. Currently, teachers are granted one day's personal business leave with no questions asked. In addition to paying the teacher's regular salary, the district pays for the required substitute. "We are aware that this letter is long and involved, but we have tried to be succinct while including information you have a right,to know." "Sincerely, "District 15 Board of Education" Valley 24 24 26 27 26 View 24 25 23 27 27 24 24 27 28 25 21 27 27 25 25 24 FORMAL WEAR RENTALS for ALL OCCASIONS 1214 N. Creep 9t~ McHenry (Continued from page 1) MUSIN' AND MEANDERIN' seems there must be better ways of doing it than stopping the driving public where congestion is heavy and there is a need to think and move quickly. Hats off the city fathers of McHenry for ruling this procedure out! K.A.F. (Continued from page 1) FILE SUIT OVER AREA DEVELOPMENT superintendent of public works, and any officer who can issue building permits, from per­ mitting any use of the land other than single family residence under R-l, R-2 or R-3. The City has 30 days to respond to the summons or risk a judgment against it. (Continued from page 1) COUNCIL UPDATED ON PROGRESS OF PARK cost of the footage on their property. Mayor Stanek also reluc­ tantly accepted the resignations of William Thomas from the Plan com­ mission and Ron Wilkins from the Zoning Board of Appeals. (Continued from page 1) CTEP TO RESUME FOR THIS AREA CTEP was initiated in Sep­ tember of 1977, and is staffed by state troopers on their off duty time, vacation days or holidays. Twenty-eight five man teams, consisting of a supervisor and four troopers will participate in the program in the months of September, October, - November and December of 1979. HOTTEST ITEM ON THE MARKET S f 0 : ; • i1 gB| i ffei .* '•'< • ' » « •v •:g .< ' - - .. o m \:X • y • : * mm o i For the Home Decorator who wants to achieve the relaxed, unhurried 'Tropical Look INTRODUCTORY SALE MANY STYLES NOW DRASTICALLY REDUCED! • : w e r s PICKET IN FOG-Early morning fog Wednesday fails to discourage teachers of Elementary School District 15 as they picket at Parkland school. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD Knox Park Plan Underway It's At Home When Doreen Lent, of 1717 Rogers avenue, McHenry, was stopped by Sheriff's police for speeding, she told the officer she had left her license at home. She had not. Ms. Lent was arrested for driving with a suspended driver's license, false repor­ ting, fictitious license plates and speeding. Bond was set at $1,105. A Wonder Lake youth was arrested after Sheriff's police responded to a report of youths drinking and interfering with traffic at Wondermere and Thompson roads. V The youth was arrested for illegal possession of alcohol and cannabis, with, bond set at $2,000. cSe BIBLL BRIEFS ) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 For many Christians, life seems to be a pattern of sin, re- pentence, forgiveness and restoration. How wonderful it is that the almighty God is so tolerant, so understanding, so familiar with the weaknesses of human nature. Can it be that our quickness to sin is not a measure of faith but a recognition of God's for­ giving countenance? If so, we need to adjust our thinking and our attitude -- pray for and strive for a clean heart and a new spirit. The City recently purchased Knox park, south of the McHenry, and over the last month's time, Park Director Peter Merkel, in cooperation with Burnidge, Cassell and associates, drew up the preliminary plans which have been submitted to the state for grant approval. The City has applied for a $200,000 development grant from the state to offset the cost of the estimated $585,000 project. Included in the preliminary plans are facilities designed to meet the City's need for year- round recreation. The facilities proposed for the park are an outdoor swimming pool, three lighted tennis courts, two Softball diamonds-one of them lighted, a combination football and soccer field, a picnic shelter and picnic areas, and playground areas. Also, the plan includes the use of the hillside area during the winter for sledding, tobogganing and tubing. The athletic field area could be flooded in the winter for skating and the open space could be used by cross-country skiers or local snowmobile clubs. The swimming pool design is similar to one recently built in Dwight, 111., by Jensen Pools of Lake Barrington. The design calls for a 25 meter, L-shaped pool and also includes a wading pool for smaller children. " Merkel over-estimated the cost of building the pool at $350,000 to provide a safety margin because if the cost exceeds what is spelled out in the grant request, the state will not make up the difference. The estimated cost for the project of $585,000 includes all of the mentioned facilities as well as utilities and road and parking lot construction. Before the grant is approved, the City has to show that it can pay for everything outright. The grant is reimbursement in nature and no money will be received from the state until the project is completed and paid for. Funding for the project will come from a number of sources: $180,000 from revenue sharing allocations,- $395,000 j from the various developer donations and interest on ili-: vestments and $10,000 from the general funds allocated for fiscal year 1980. Mayor Stanek said that regardless of whether the grant is approved, the park will be developed. Stanek also ex­ pressed some appreciation at the amount of work that has "been done in a short time. "Two months ago we didn't even know about the grant," Stanek said. , ^ Farmers View Changing Policies The routine of developing policy resolutions to guide Farm Bureau leaders is changing. Policies concerning agriculture have pretty much been determined by farmers since government involvement in agriculture became dominant in the 1930's. But now, others are clamoring to mold and change policies concerning agriculture, and McHenry County Farm Bureau members may get involved in the changing tide when they hold their sixty-seventh annual meeting^ Monday, Sept. 19, at Richmond.^ In addition to national farm programs, two other topics of growing concern will be discussed at the Illinois Farm Bureau annual meeting, and they may also come up Monday night. They include: 1.-Illinois legislative single member districts vs. the present multi-member districts with cumulative voting. 2. - Incentives to encourge the development and sale of alternate fuels, and whether this should be done with government involvement or by free enterprise initiative. Larry Harris, Farm Bureau manager, explained some of the forces fomenting change in the farm policy as reflected in the Illinois Farm Bureau tentative resolutions com­ mittee report to members, a report members are en­ couraged to study and come up with their own evaluation for policy consideration. "Food prices and how to hold them down is a matter on which groupa are demanding Department of Agriculture action," said Harris. "Food programs now take up two-thirds of the USDA budget so the USDA is more a Ministry of Food than a Department of Agriculture. This issue has been placed on the agenda by what is known as the hunger lobby," Harris elaborated. "Ecological questions are placed on the agenda by en­ vironmentalists. "Rural development is a program by the 80 percent of the rural people who are non- farmers. "Land use questions are raised by those who oppose the long held idea that farmers have first claim on the use of the land. We see this force at a serious point in McHenry county now. "Collective bargaining for hired farm labor is placed on this national farm policy agenda by organized labor," continued Harris. Harris said the IAA report concludes that the agriculture establishment has lost control of the farm policy agenda, and farmers should confront the matter, or they will surrender their traditional ideas. "Cooperation is the attitude most prevalent among far- For the conservation- minded who desire an alternative to costly air conditioning and heating COOL YOUR HOME ... SAVE ENERGY! • Save up to 44% on Cooling Costs by Increasing Thermostat Setting From 75 to 0O BUY NOW BEFORE PRICES GO UP WARM YOUR HOME ... SAVE ENERGY! • Save 38% on Heating Costs by Reducing Thermostat Setting From 72 to 68 BUY NOW SAVE MONEY THIS WINTER FANS and THINGS 3106 W. Route 120 - Circle Building - McHenry, Illinois 60050 (JUST EAST OF BRIDGE) LAHGEST SELECTION OF CEILING FANS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS 385-8560 HOURS: TUES-THURS 10-5 FRI 10-» SAT. 10-5 LARGEST SELECTION OF CEILING FAMS IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS McHENRY OPTICIANS 1301 RIVERSIDE DR [815] 385-1 -- McHENRY, ILL. -- (Across from the Fox Hole) • 18151888-9241 - [BIS] 388-82421 OVER 3,000 FIRST QUALITY FRAMES ON DISPLAY! ALL FRAMES METAL OR PLASTIC 9 16 EACH ALL KIDS FRAMES METAL OR PLASTIC *S.V. ONLY SENIOR CITIZENS RECEIVE FREE FRAMES with Purchase of Lenses! Eyes ^ Examined By Appointment Only! Let Us Show You Tiffany & DeLaRenta's FOR ONLY OPEN DAILY 8:30 TO 5:30 WED. 8:30 TO 1 CLOSED SUNDAY ;-:- i :1 "• mers," he observed. "Agricultural committees in Congress are stressing working with non-agricultural groups in such matters as rural development, environmental programs and reducing world hunger." k The proposal about cutting back the number of people in the Illinois , House of Representatives from 177 to 188 originated with Stan Johnson, Malta farmer, at a county Farm Bureau policy resolutions discussion meeting. Harris said Farm Bureau has studied the issue and it was discussed last year at the IAA annual meeting. Farmers are being asked to consider a proposal to place the amend­ ment on the ballet in 1980. The amendment concerns dividing the state's 59 Illinois legislative districts into two Represen­ tative districts each, with one Representative to be elected from each district, starting with the 1982 election. The 1980 ballot would be the logical place to act on this, Harris said, so that redistricting can coincide with the requirement that the General Assembly must redraw its districts in the year following the decennial census. Farm Bureau has intensified efforts to encourage development and use of alternate fuels, some members advocating it be done without subsidy or tax advantage because government deficit spending is a major reason for economic problems confronting the United States. "Farmers are confident private industry will have the capacity to develop adequate alternate and synthetic fuels if price regulations on existing fuels are removed and private industry has a chance to make a profit for its risk and its in­ vestment of capital", explained Harris. At the National Corn Growers annual meeting in July, many farmers discussed the need to develop synthetic fuels from farm products as corn stalks, whey, wood pulp, beet pulp, and surplus corn. At that time farmers were urged to develop their own sources of energy and not be so dependent bn'TiS-' ported petroleum products. Whether Gasohol or a similar product produced from syn­ thetic products will be endorsed either at the County Farm Bureau meeting or the state Farm Bureau convention awaits floor discussion as policy development time ap­ proaches, concluded Harris. C O U R T H O U S E S Q U A R E S I find I have to put off some chores several times before they completely slip my mind U.S. clears DC-10s for flight. Nixon visits with Shah of Iran for 12 hours. f COUPON SAVINGS a |A11 Donuts each Limit 2 dozen I I I I I I I I I I THIS COUPON NOT VALID IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER COUPON GOOD Thursday, Sept. 6th thru Sunday, Sept. 16th IOUNKIN' •DONUTS | Its worth the trip. mcnenry I at participating Dunkin' Donuts Shops only I I I I I I I I I I I I 4504 W. Illinois I Rte. 120 | McHenry