River Bend, union reach tentative contract agreement

By Danica Baker
Herald Staff Writer

October 20, 2005 09:55 am

— FULTON, Ill. — A tentative agreement was reached at the Tuesday negotiation session between the River Bend School District Board of Education and River Bend Education Association with the assistance of a federal mediator.
“The process this year was impacted by new laws recently passed by the state Legislature,” said Jane Orman-Luker, school board spokeswoman, in a press release issued by the district. “We appreciate the efforts of both parties as this final agreement was truly one that was based on collaboration.”
More than 50 union representatives picketed at the district administration building before the board’s regular meeting Monday night to draw attention to the drawn-out nature of the contract negotiations.
“We are happy that this process has come to a conclusion as it has taken much longer than it needed to or should have,” said River Bend Education Association spokesman Nick Crosthwaite. “As teachers, we can now return our complete focus back to the education of the children of our community.”
The union plans to consider ratification of the tentative agreement within the next week. The board plans to establish a special meeting to consider ratification in the near future. Terms and conditions will be released to the public following ratification by both parties.