FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- November 30, 2001
NAPERVILLE COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 203
203 W. Hillside Road, Naperville, Illinois 60540-6589 FAX 630-420-1066
Contact: Melea Smith, Communications Coordinator / Phone 630-420-6412

District 203 Board, NUEA tackle financial issues during negotiation talks

In the latest round of meetings between the Naperville School District 203 Board of Education and the Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) negotiating teams, the focus was financial issues.

Both teams made the conscious decision to make this difficult topic a priority. "Tackling the question of salaries and benefits early on in the process provides maximum time for discussion and thoughtful consideration," noted Russ Bryan, Associate Superintendent for Secondary Education, who serves as lead negotiator and spokesman for the Board of Education team. The teams will revisit this topic at various points in the remaining sessions.

Also on the Dec. 3 discussion agenda are: developing and fostering a positive relationship with District stakeholders; looking at efficiency through the standardization of operational services (for example, streamlining pay procedures); the adequacy and use of the resource of time; and examining ways to expand the partnership between District 203 and the NUEA in an effort to improve communication and collaboration.

On Dec. 10, the session will focus on students with special needs and the staff that services them, as well as consideration of a system to recognize and compensate teachers for contributions to district-wide and school-based initiatives.

Final negotiations, scheduled for Dec. 12, will culminate in a discussion of all previous topics and allow the teams to remain on target with their goal of completing this process by the Dec. 14 deadline. At this time, both sides have expressed satisfaction that continuous progress is being made.

Representing the Naperville Unit Education Association are: Joyce Speer and Sandy Hill, elementary teachers; Wayne Anderson and Sonja Cappelleri, junior high teachers; John Cotton and Bo Vossel, high school teachers; and Ed Rosenthal, a teacher at Naperville North, who is serving as head negotiator and spokesman for the Association team.

NUEA president Dave Griffith is serving as an ex officio member of the team and spokesman for the Association. Bob Ray is the Illinois Education Association/UniServ Director assigned to the Naperville Unit Education Association.

Members of the District 203 Board of Education team are: Debbie Shipley and Bill Steinke, board members; Allen Albus, Assistant Superintendent for Finance; Gayle Wahlin, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources; Ron Gibson, Associate Superintendent for Elementary Education; Don Weber, Superintendent; and Russ Bryan, Associate Superintendent for Secondary Education, who is serving as head negotiator and spokesman for the Board team.

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