The president of the Champaign Federation of Teachers Local 1925 says a few sticking points remain as talks with Unit 4 administrators continue with a federal mediator. A strike authorization vote is planned for Wednesday, but it doesn't necessarily mean a strike would take place. If no progress is made after negotiations on September 20, proposals from both sides will be on public display for a week, as required by law before a strike can happen.
Champaign Unit 4 School Board President Chris Kloeppel says members heard overall positive results from a phone survey of 100 voters, favoring a bond issue on November ballots, as opposed to waiting until next spring. The board has less than two weeks to decide what language to place on those ballots.
The second of two open house-style 'town hall' meetings over the future of Champaign Unit 4's facilities brought out a lighter crowd than the previous one, but a mostly enthusiastic response to supporting a bond issue of around $200 million this fall. Around 50 attended Thursday's event at Centennial High School.
Unit 4 School Board President Chris Kloeppel came into the WILL radio studios to discuss the committee's report with Morning Edition Host Brian Moline.
Thursday marked the last meeting of the Champaign Unit 4 Tier 2 Facilities Committee, which unanimously agreed that Central High School should remain on site and expand, rather than be torn down and rebuilt. The panel didn't endorse a specific financial package for a fall bond issue that would also include additions at Centennial High School, and work on as many as four other school district buildings.
