What all this fails to address is the other side of the story: the union. The only "on record" statement from Michelle Nevin (in a previous article) is the union is not opposed to hiring experienced teachers at BA1 salary. But the union will not publically come on record addressing the looming question: What happens in Year 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. in accordance to the step/lane changes in the current teachers' contract. Because no language supports otherwise, absent from a pay freeze, these experienced teachers would retain their years of experience and education credit and will be paid according to the lane/step changes as outlined in their contract. It boils down to a contractual issue. Pressure needs to be applied to the union to go on record and clarify the contract to the public. This issue is a big part of this story that is missing missing which may answer why it may not be a feasible long-term solution on whether or not the district can afford to hire back those experienced teachers.

Hard to undertsand how after "considering" candidates with experience that every single one was ruled out and and failed to secure an interview - if we are in fact seeking "the best qualified candidates." If I am wrong, please comment on the number of experienced candidates in the current interview pool. No names, just numbers please. If we are as focused on our kids's educations as we are on finances, I would expect the candidate interview pool would be different. I am still hopeful this will change, It's not too late to do the right thing, 113A.

Ann Paul....I really don't think you know how to read a contract......EVERYONE moves up a step....so year one is year one.....year two is year two....year three is year three. Even if they did bring back everyone with their years, and because it looks like many of these teachers did not have tenure, they would still be building fund balances, and there would be no need to borrow. What bringing back experience teachers at year one means is to start them back at year one, and not say at year five, if that was where they were. Of course, their second year, they would be then at year two, but everyone goes up a year. Even if you hired an inexperienced teacher into the classroom, they would start at year one, and the second year they would be year two, third year they would be year three, so on and so on. So the question is....if you can get teachers in there that are experienced, and no the curriculum and atmosphere already for exactly the same price as an inexperienced teacher who doesn't know the curriculum, technology, and equipment, and would have to be mentored (cost)...why wouldn't you go with the experience? That is just a no brainer, with absolutely no worry to the financial plan.

It should be "know" the curriculum.....not "no" the curriculum.. Sorry for the error.

@ Mary Van, you don't work for this district nor did you negotiate this contract. You also failed to address step/lane changes but that is okay because we all know it affects the finances of the district in upholding pay increases in accordance to the current contract. The answers need to come from (on the record) the appropriate parties, this district's union president Michelle Nevin.

According to Michelle Nevin, the teachers were under a hard freeze this year. No step changes, no lane changes. The only way to change lanes is by acquiring a master's, but that's open to all teachers and the steps are very specifically detailed in the contract.

Hi Amanda, while I appreciate your coming forward, I still find it interesting that Michelle Nevin is absent from making any on the record public comment clarifying the contract. If it is that simple, why doesn't she go on record and say it? I still don't have my question answered as asked in previous comments.

Ann, I put "according to Michelle Nevin" because that's the information she gave me when I asked her. I misunderstood the second half of her comment, so I clarified with a follow-up. I'm not writing another story on this topic—at least not today—so this comment thread was the only place to include the information I have gathered through the reporting process. Again, I don't speak for the union, but she didn't refuse to talk to me when I called. She answered the questions I asked.

Hi Amanda, if I wanted to call Michelle Nevin I would've. But, I asked a specific question on this forum and she hasn't responded. All I have been asking for was her to clarify a specific scenario and how it would be interpreted according to the current teachers' contract. Can you imagine if I talked to her on the phone and commented on this thread "according to Michelle Nevin", you can bet I would get backlash and anything I said would be stated that it was taken out of context. To avoid those circumstances, I have been asking on this forum so nothing can be misinterpreted and/or taken out of context by anyone. Because you are the "press" and can safely say "according to Michelle Nevin" with likely no reprocusions, the same wouldn't apply to me. That is why I enjoy this forum to address issues like these that spark healthy and constructive dialogue without personal attacks. If my question makes people uneasy, I would like to understand why. Thanks!

It looks to me that Ms. Nevin is being professional like she should be, see my previous post. Why do you prefer her answering here, rather than calling her. Maybe you are afraid she will know who you really are. However, with that being said, you are creating a lot of "nothing", and clearly don't understand this contract. Again, call Ms. Nevin. It seems like if you really want to have all of the answers, then you would have contacted her, but you know she won't contact you through this forum, so you just bash her for that......but people are seeing right through that. So most likely, you probably will post again for Ms. Nevin to post something.

This is fun to watch.

I am not bashing Michelle Nevin. Read my comments. Don't imply something that isn't there. I have been asking a question for clarification of the contract so I have a thorough understanding of how it works. Plain and simple. Fact: she has not acknowledged my question at all. Period. Other union presidents who share the same title that Michelle Nevin holds have been forthright and accommodating with answering "on the record" questions to the public, media and the constituents in their repsective districts. The same respect should apply here. We know where you stand. End of story.

Hmmmmm, Ann, I never said you were bashing Ms. Nevin. Read my comments. And I can imply because you want her to post here, and it just looks like she won't do it.....so call her, just call her. Amanda did, and got answers. So why won't you.
This isn't the place for her to respond, and you know that. So I am going to imply things based off of the things you post.....just like you imply things. I am sure other union presidents haven't answered serious questions on comment blogs like this, seriously Ann,,,,,,,what world are you living in.

Gee, I have to ask this question again....why aren't you calling her?

I hope she never acknowledges you. Truth is......can't find you as an employee, a board member, and can't even find your name in tax rolls for Lemont Schools....so she really doesn't have to answer to you! Enough said!

I am a real person, sorry to disappoint. I think the real bullying and harrassment has been against me in previous name-calling, personal attacking comments from SURNAMES all because I asked a question. You wouldn't happen to know who owns those surnames would you?

Never said you were bullying...see how you spin things?
. Oh Ann....I haven't even called you names, except for what you now claim as your own. But I have to say, you call yourself in previous posts a Lemont taxpayer....but I still can't find you in the rolls. I am sure you have tried to find my name in Lemont....but good for me, I still have my maiden name......and my husband owns the home we live in, and only his name is on the title......so you won't find my home...and then film it and put it on youtube....you know that website, don't you?

And I have to ask you.....have you reached Ms. Nevin yet?

How about hiring the best candidates for the positions? Experience is good but experienced in some , not all cases can mean complacent. The best and the brightest of new graduates certainly are not dedicating themselves to teaching for the money. I have had both "new" and experienced teachers throughout my education , some very good, some not so much. Actually the fresh-faced just coming off student teaching internship have turned out to be some of the best I've ever had.. I have also had final exams which were passed out ahead of time by upperclassman , because the professor, with one eye on retirement hadn't bother to change it in 5 years. It should be merit based.

I am well aware of that , and also acutely aware of the fact that a referendum to increase school taxes will not fly in this town. That being said let us choose from the brightest and best of the entry level teachers and leave the tenured out of the hiring process. Let the criticism begin.......

Hank....whenever you start for a different district other than the one that you worked in.....you give up tenure, and start all over again. Also, I believe from previous Patch articles that the majority of the teachers that were cut from 113 DID NOT have tenure, and as a matter of fact, many of them were under the age of 30......so, in my mind, still very "fresh faced"....in the mind of this 60 something year old. However, to state that only young teachers are good is discriminatory. Why would the state of Illinois have a required manadate that the veteran teachers mentor the new teachers. And really, depending on their university/college and cooperating teacher during student teaching, the entry level teachers can be real duds. I'm not saying all are, just like you possibly aren't saying all veteran teachers are duds. However, with 10 positions to fill...one would think the administration would take a balanced approach to get the best of the best.....experience and not experience. And let's remember folks......THEY WOULD ALL BE ENTRY LEVEL PAY.

Bruno....yes the "somnambulist soccer mom" does understand the nature of the system. You are degrading them by that comment. Many of these moms volunteer is the system, and many of them are in the work force, and understand contracts. The 113 contract is online......and this is all about the kids, that is why people are upset. All 10 right out of college? Bruno....when you hire at your charter school...do you only hire teachers right out of college?

How do we know Hank is your real name?

Yes, Hank.....a teacher with experience can go to another district and get entry level pay, and a teacher once laid off and returns can also receive entry level pay (if that laid off teacher was not tenured and had no "recall rights") Recall rights are for tenured teachers, and there is a time limitation to those recall rights....typically it is for one school year, but again....only for tenured teachers. Now 113 has no "experience credit" provision in their contract, and because of that, the union would not fight the experienced teachers coming in at entry level, and because each teacher signs a contract....that contract is binding, so the union can not fight for all those years to come back to them when a new contract is negotiated. I was an experienced teacher who accepted entry level pay. It can happen, and it does, and with no fight from the union.

Why would the union sue the district? There is nothing to sue the district over. The union can't sue if they hire experience or inexperienced teachers.

I'm not sure what you mean by "hiring their friends back"......I'm confused by that. Certainly the teachers laid off all know one another. of course they do....they all worked together.....but is it possible that they also understand that their experience is good? They also understand the system well, and know the atmosphere and the curriculum....that's is a win win......

Mary Van is my name.....I kept my maiden name when I married.

You make statements Hank, that you have made up and are your opinions. I am stating facts because I have lived it, and know what can be done. I am a retired teacher, and have negotiated contracts with outstanding BoE's and administrations. Please understand that I stand for a "balanced" staff. I just don't believe hiring 10 brand new teachers with no experience besides student teaching can benefit the students in those classrooms. My niece told me 5 new teachers in second grade, with a grade level of 8 homerooms. Hank....that's scary. I am all for inexperienced teachers, but let's make sure it's all balanced.

And again....Mary Van is my name.....my legal name....I don't think I'm hiding anything. Ann Paul on the other hand.......well, what can I say....not much there.

New, fresh , vibrant , willing teachers, how lucky your niece is ! My second grade teacher was my mother's third grade teacher by the time I hit that classroom she had checked out years before. I know it's all about the $$$$ and the unions but at some point we do have to consider education.

Hi, everyone. I'm going to shut down the comments on this thread for a bit. A healthy debate is always great, but I've followed the updates the past day and it's turned into personal attack after personal attack, and that's not what this forum is for. I will review the comments tomorrow and consider opening the forum again.

Thanks,
Amanda

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How nice it would be if those fifty people just let the elected Board make the decision on hiring...that is what we elected them for! As for all that UNION interference/contract that leads so many teachers to say "it's not about money, it's about the kids"...why don't you all vote to decertify the union and go on your merits?