Classrooms were empty and athletic events were canceled a second day Tuesday for students in Huntley-area schools as contract talks grew more divisive.
See photos from the Huntley teachers strike
Negotiations resumed Tuesday between the school board and the Huntley Education Association, which represents 500 teachers.
But it wasn't clear whether there would be classes Wednesday.
Huntley High School has called off golf, tennis, boys' soccer and volleyball contests. The 3-0 Red Raiders football team realized their matchup this weekend against rival Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin was in jeopardy.
High school math teacher Kris Grabner, a boys soccer coach, said he would prefer to be teaching and coaching but thought striking would help the district retain and attract quality teachers.
"If we're striking we can't play any of the games," Grabner said at a teachers rally outside the headquarters of Consolidated School District 158 in Algonquin. "I hate it because the kids work so hard for it."
About 300 teachers marched outside the administrative offices to protest an order from the school board for teachers to pay their health insurance premiums by Tuesday or lose their coverage. The district typically deducts the premiums from teachers' paychecks.
Shouting through a megaphone, music specialist Brent Mullane criticized the district's poor management, which he said has tainted the talks.
"In the last five years we have had three different superintendents in charge of our district. In the last six months, the chief operations officer has resigned. And in the last two years, not one but two chief financial officers have resigned and no permanent replacement has been found," he said.
District officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Athletic games scheduled for Wednesday will be canceled if the strike continues, teachers said. Classes for the district's 8,200 students were canceled Monday after teachers went on strike.
"I've heard other parents express concern that kids aren't getting sports, but to me that's inconsequential," said Jim Olofony, whose daughter plays soccer. "As a parent of an athlete, you have a student first."
Salary and retirement benefits are the primary unresolved issues.
The district serves students in kindergarten to 12th grade in Huntley, Algonquin, Lake in the Hills, Union and Lakewood.
The teachers deserve everything they are striking about. The school district won't let anyone know the teachers side and they are making them all look greedy, which is probably Board Member Snow's idea. There is no reason to slam the teachers. They work hard and work a lot of hours they do not get paid for, such as before and after school, being in the building for those extra hours. All of the after school events, not to mention the homework and tests they grade at home.
I have 3 kids who are at home right now, and I want this settled as bad as anyone does, but only if the teachers get what they need to survive. If you want the best, you need to pay for the best. I want the best for my children and so should everyone in the district.
maybe, at a time when people are losing jobs and homes and lives,the teachers should learn to be a little more conservative themselves and actually be happy they have a job they love, -- teaching the the children -- 'their whole reason for being a teacher!'
These teachers have no right to use my children to get a raise. I took the job of being an at home mom. I raise my children to be respectful of other people, to be productive, and to be accountable for thier own actions. I have done my job as a parent and belive me it has come at no small sacrifice. I get no raises, no time off and no retiremnet fund. I am not complaining. I t was the job I choose. I knew this before I made my choice. These teachers made the choice of being a teacher. The only teachers that are so called under paid are the 1st and 2nd year teachers!!! They took this job not more than 2 years ago. Did they not know the pay when the sighned on??? Now they act out of selfishness and greed. I hope the school board gives them what they deserve alright!!! In my opinion that would be the opportunity to find a better paying job some where else! To give them any thing more would say that what they have done is ok.They have disrupted an entire district. To those families who are loosing income from this in an already stressful economy, you have my prayers.
Wow.. Some of the responses I have read and the ignorance contained within simply amazes me. As an involved parent in the district I cannot believe the school district has let things get so out of line comparitive to other districts in the surrounding areas. What some fail to realize is that if we do not have a sense of equity amongst other districts we will simply be the training ground and will always be working with the less skilled teachers right out of college. When you look at the more tenured teachers, they have really tolerated a lower wage base knowing that Dist 158 was a growing district and could not afford to give much more. But the time has come to where we look across the surrounding districts and close the gap. It is the school district and its poor management that has brought this upon themselves, not the teachers. I respect that there are some families having to make arrangements for this inconvenience, but we are parents that will often make sacrifices for our children. Teachers - this parent is behind you 100% .. Remember, the sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar.