THURSDAY
November 19, 2015 • 75¢
UPS AND DOWNS
Newark starts on a high note; Yorkville drops opener / 20
SERVING KENDALL COUNTY FOR 150 YEARS
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Public weighs in on strike
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LESSONS IN VALOR Local veterans discussed their military service with Yorkville High School students as part of the school’s Veterans Day observance Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Residents pack forum to discuss negotiations with Dist. 115 teachers By MATT SCHURY mschury@kendallcountynow.com As a strike deadline of Dec. 2 nears, Yorkville School District 115 hosted a nearly three-hour public forum Tuesday night at Yorkville High School to discuss the ongoing contract negotiations between the district and the Yorkville Education Association (YEA). Residents, parents and students of the district packed the school library, peppering three of the seven board of education members and district officials with questions about how a strike can be avoided and a contact approved. Dean Romano, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, and board member Dr. Robert Brenart answered most of the questions. Topics included salary compensation, health insurance, retirement, collaboration time, work week hours and certification. Romano also gave a brief overview of the negotiations and what the district is offering the teachers. The teachers have been working without a contract since June 30. Bonny Mattison, the first person to speak, said she has two students at Autumn Creek Elementary. “I guess I want to know – how far apart are we truly? You hear so much between Facebook and friends and school. That’s kind of why I came here tonight,” Mattison said. “I’m just a mom.” Romano said the two sides are over $1 million apart. “On salaries we’ve offered a little over $3 million and they’re at about $4.3 million,” Romano said. Mattison said she was hoping the teachers would be given a chance to present their point of view. Some teachers did ask questions and members of the YEA attended the meeting but did not formally present.
TOP: Marine veteran and Reservist, Marco Gomez, an Aurora police officer, talks to Yorkville High School students about his two deployments in Iraq. ABOVE: Yorkville High School and West Point grad Dave Orton talks to YHS students about military history, his time at West Point and deployments in Iraq. LEFT: Retired Air Force pilot Mark Benz shows YHS students some of the equipment from his 23-year military career. Photos by ERIC MILLER emiller@shawmedia.com
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WHERE IT’S AT
Keeping the beat
School tax levy
Plano man wants to make a career out of beatboxing / 1
Yorkville School Board members get first look at $58 million tax levy / 9
Fire calls........................................13 Forum ................................................... 5 Library news..................................... 14 Local news .....................................2-15 Opinion................................................. 4 Police reports..................................... 3 Sports........................................... 16-20
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Vol. 151, No. 47 3 sections