Chicago

No Strike For West Chicago High School Teachers

A deal was reached Thursday to avert a teacher strike in District 94. That means classes in West Chicago High School will take place Friday as usual.

Teachers, parents and community members gathered for a rally outside District 94's administration building.

"I'm here to support teachers of West Chicago Community High School," alumni Juan Fernando Robles said.

The rally came as a deadline for contract negotiations loomed.

If a deal hadn't been reached, teachers would've gone on strike Friday morning, a move affecting about 2,100 students from West Chicago, Carol Stream and Winfield.

Tom Tipton is a parent who supports the teachers.

"They deserve an excellent contract because they're excellent teachers," he said.

Negotiations went on for nearly two years.

The main sticking points were salary, health benefits and retirement.

Gary Saake, president of the board of education, said the board appreciates what the teachers do.

"At some point, there's a fiscal reality that boards have to live with," he said. "Only so much revenue that we receive and we have to live with that revenue."

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