Oct. 17--Prospect Heights School District 23 officials say while the recent teachers' strike could double the bill paid to the legal team this school year, seven days of canceled classes will not decrease state funding.
Business manager Micheal DeBartolo estimates legal costs will be at least twice the $26,713 paid to Chicago-based Scariano, Himes and Petrarca during the 2014-2015 school year, although no bill has yet been received.
The last year the district had teacher contract negotiations, the 2013-2014 school year, DeBartolo said the district paid the law firm $59,711.
Federal mediators who were hired to oversee contract negotiations during the strike -- which included a 12-hour overnight session -- were funded through the U.S. government's Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, he said.
"The service was offered to the school district free of charge, but had the contract negotiations taken place during a shutdown of the federal government, we would have been affected because we would have had to hire and pay for our own mediators," DeBartolo said.
While some parents expressed concerns that the district could lose state and federal funding because of the strike, DeBartolo said that won't happen since the district is making up the days.
Representatives from the teachers' union, the Prospect Heights Education Association, were not immediately available for comment.
School Board President Mari-Lynn Peters said the transition back to classes after the strike ended in late September has been smooth, with both teachers and 1,500 students excited to return.
"I think for the most part, everyone is moving forward," Peters said. "But I did hear from people who felt a lot of sorrow for the parents and kids in the McHenry district that was on strike, which I think shows after our own strike, we've become a more educated community."
Still, Peters said the district has yet to receive a completed application from candidates seeking to fill the seat of former school board member Judi Zimmerman, who abruptly resigned after voting against the new four-year teachers' contract, which the board approved on Sept, 29.
"The due date is still about two weeks away, Oct. 28, so people still have time to submit applications," Peters said.
Parent Kathleen Muglia, whose seventh grade twins attend Douglas MacArthur Middle School, said her children are delighted to be back in the classroom.
"I think things are completely back to normal, and everyone seems to be happy, which is a good thing," Muglia said. "I think the teachers' contract that was approved was fair, and I'm happy the (union) didn't get the salary schedule and that the board stood firm."
kcullotta@tribpub.com
