NAPERVILLE — The Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) membership voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike. The vote gives the bargaining team the authority to declare a strike, however, there are no plans to go on strike at this time.
“Listen, no one wants to go on strike. In fact, it’s the last thing we want to do. We’d much rather be in our classrooms with our students than out on the picket line. But we’re also willing to do whatever is necessary to make sure our students have the best education possible,” NUEA President Ross Berkley said. “If we do go on strike, we also want to reassure parents and our community that we will give plenty of notice before, so arrangements for childcare can be made.”
Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Board of Education (BOE) and NUEA have been bargaining since February. NUEA’s current contract expired on June 30, which means there is no contract in place for the start of the school year. Students return to school on Aug. 14.
In July, NUEA initiated the public posting process with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB), which is the first step toward a possible strike.
“We know the district can afford to meet our requests. We would never do anything that would hurt the financial health of the district because ultimately that would hurt our students and our educators. When the district has been in a difficult financial position, we have not taken raises, but we are on solid financial footing now,” Berkley said.
NUEA represents more than 1500 teachers and licensed staff serving the nearly 16,000 students who attend school in District 203.
At issue are:
• Drastic changes to the structure of the students’ school days: The changes to the school day being proposed by the district could move some school day start and end times, causing major shifts in the timing of after school activities and in some cases leave less learning time for students throughout the school day. • Salary: District 203 is falling behind in offering competitive salary packages. Teacher workload has significantly increased with the expectation of differentiated learning combined with increased student academic, behavior and social-emotional needs. Surrounding school districts have a higher base salary. These districts include Indian Prairie School District 204, Elmhurst 204, Barrington 202, St. Charles 303, Wheaton 200 and Plainfield 202 among others.
NUEA has done extensive research to support its proposals, including a cost analysis that shows the district has more than 300 days of cash on hand, which is nearly twice the amount recommended by the Illinois State Board of Education.
“This is about our students. It’s always about our students. We are only asking for the board to make our salaries competitive with our surrounding districts, so we can continue to attract and retain the best staff for our students. Without good teachers, their education will suffer,” Berkley said.
NUEA will bargain with the BOE on Tues., Aug. 19.
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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty and staff, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
Yesterday’s rally was one the district will not soon forget. Thank you to all who came out to support NUEA, and to raise your voice to demand a fair contract. There was a sea of red yesterday evening—about 650 people came to the rally, and demanded something better for Naperville educators and certified staff members.
David Griffith, former NUEA president, kicked things off with an introduction. David talked about how he was not tenured when the district went on strike, but he recognized the importance of the movement, and for standing up for what was necessary. He was followed by Diane McGuire, who was the NUEA president when they went on strike in 1991. She was dressed in the same t-shirt she wore during that strike to remind us all of the importance of the moment. She also mentioned that in that time, the night before the strike, the principals crafted a letter to send to the staff behind their backs.
Next, Tina Dohm, former recording secretary for the NUEA, brought the house down with her stirring speech where she recounted the historical context of previous negotiations, and highlighted the cumulative effect each contract has over the course of an educator’s career through retirement. She brought to light how we have been taken advantage of—not just in this negotiation, but for decades, and it stops now. Following Tina came Amy Vogelsang, an EL teacher out of Naperville North, and a regular speaker at Board of Education meetings. She pointed out the double-standard between the district conduct in negotiations versus our conduct.
Next up was Kathy Griffin, former IEA president, who fired up the crowd and told us to stay united. She also reminded educators that they are the backbone of the school district. Finally, Ross Berkley wrapped up the speeches. He shared the significance of public education in his own life and why he is so passionate about public educators. Ross brought up the email and explained, “Informing is not the same as dividing!” He also refuted the district’s claim that they do not have the money to pay us by citing the increases in local property taxes because of the rise in property values.
From there, over 600 of us began our march through downtown Naperville waving signs and chanting. The community was very supportive and many cars slowed to honk for us. When the board finally allowed us into PSAC, the rally outside continued to go strong and chanting and honking could still be heard through the first part of the meeting. Thanks to those members who spoke at the board meeting—the comments were impactful. If you were not at the meeting, make sure to watch it.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate this success and show of unity, as we also prepare for the road ahead. Keep an eye out for communication about next steps. Remember we are stronger united.
D203 Teacher Union Awards Scholarships Students honored for their Community Contributions
Five students from the Naperville area received scholarships from the Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) in the amount of $2000 each in April. The NUEA annually gives four scholarships to high school seniors who are children of NUEA members, and one scholarship to a college student entering an education-related field. Scholarships are awarded based on extracurricular participation and contributions to the community.
The 2025 High School Scholarship recipients are Marc Townsend from Oswego East High School, Lydia Park from Naperville Central High School, Owen Driscoll from Oswego High School, and Santino Dill from Addison Trail High School. This year’s Future in Education collegiate winner is Maddie Sniadecki from the University of Iowa, originally from Naperville.
Please join the NUEA in celebrating the achievements of these five students and their future success as leaders and innovators.
Owen Driscoll
Owen Driscoll will be attending Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee to major in Music Education and Performance. His academic accomplishments are many, including serving as President of the National Honors Society while also joining the BIONIC Club, the Science National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Owen is an accomplished musician on organ, bassoon, and percussion, having received many of the highest honors available in the state. He plays in the Oswego Wind Symphony, the Oswego Marching Band, and the Oswego Jazz Ensemble. He plays in the DuPage Symphony Orchestra and the Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra, where he is the principal bassoon. He auditioned into the IMEA All-District Honors Orchestra, and subsequently made the All-State Honors Orchestra, establishing Owen as one of the best bassoon players in the state. He was also awarded outstanding woodwind student at the Birch Creek Music Summer Symphony Session.
Outside of school, Owen has volunteered at the Kendall County Community Food Pantry, as well as worked with the Kendall County Community Pantry Garden and the SNHS Environmental Action Club. Despite his busy schedule, Owen still finds time to teach private piano lessons to younger students, which helped inspire his passion for teaching music as a career.
Marc Townsend
Marc Townsend will be spending his next 4 years at Purdue University studying Mechanical Engineering. Throughout Marc’s high school career, he has established himself as a leader and innovator in STEM projects, including CAD, robotics, and coding. His robotics team won several local and national awards for design, inspiration, and impact. His team also built special adaptive equipment for children with special needs.
Marc was the lead CAD designer and builder for the First Tech Challenge Team 18183. He mentored younger STEM students and launched several STEM videos in both English and Spanish. He was a state finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition by designing, building, and patenting the Algae Air system, which is an algae-based bioplastic fertilizer.
Marc was also active in several different honorary clubs and activities in high school. He was a member of Mu Alpha Theta (math honors society), and he was a member of his school’s Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo (piano), and Marching Band. His senior year, he was selected to play in the prestigious IMEA District Jazz Combo on piano. These experiences help explain Marc’s statement, “The world is full of nuance. Especially now, with all the world’s knowledge at our digital fingertips, yet buried between misleading advertisements and agendas, it is more important than ever to understand the details of the issues we face today.”
Santino Dill
This fall, Santino will be attending the University of Kentucky and majoring in finance with a minor in marketing. Santino’s high school career was rich in academic, athletic, and volunteer opportunities. As an academic leader, Santino was a member of the National Honors Society (serving as President senior year), an Illinois State Scholar, and the Principal’s Advisory Team. He also served on the Student Council every year while taking several AP and honors courses.
Athletically, Santino was the captain of his football team, having played every year at Addison Trail High School. He was also a member of Blazer Ambassadors, the school Baseball Team, the Basketball Team, and the Letterman’s Club. Additionally, he played travel baseball for three years.
As a volunteer, Santino helped nursing home residents learn and utilize various forms of technology. He also dressed as Santa for the children of his teachers, and he volunteered for two years at Feed My Starving Children. He shoveled snow for elderly neighbors and worked as a volunteer assistant football coach for the youth football team in his community.
Santino believes that his generation needs to push for better access and acceptance of mental health issues. He believes that reducing the stigma surrounding mental health challenges is necessary for everyone to lead happier and healthier lives.
Lydia Park
Lydia Park will attend St. Louis University, where she will study Occupational Therapy. Lydia was very active at Naperville Central High School as an athlete and as a volunteer. A passionate runner, Lydia participated on both the Cross Country and Track and Field Teams for all four years of her high school career. She was a state qualifier for three years, and as a leader, she helped establish team events, trips, and various group activities.
Lydia also worked as a Sunday School Teacher at Redemption Church. She was a nanny, caring for three children, and she was a volunteer at the Hesed House, where she helped prepare meals for over 100 homeless people. She also organized daily sports activities for a class of 20 athletes with disabilities.
She stated that time management was one of the most crucial skills she learned in District 203, having to juggle coursework, projects, and jobs. She also cited communication and self-advocacy as being equally important for continued success, especially as an occupational therapist.
Future in Education Award Winner Maddie Sniadecki
Maddie Sniadecki is currently enrolled at the University of Iowa studying Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. As a straight A student, Maddie is a regular on the Dean’s List and the President’s List in her school. She is enrolled in the Clinical Linguistics and Disparities Lab in the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County (NCJC) Project, which is where she found her calling while working with underprivileged groups of multilingual preschool children. The scope of her work includes providing multi-tiered systems of support, dynamic assessments, and the integration of resources fit for a variety of languages.
Maddie stated that she loves the process of learning by seeking out every opportunity to make the most of her educational experience. As a researcher, Maddie understands that critical thinking skills are necessary to interpret the data she is given. When she is not sure, she takes advantage of the resources available to her, such as relying on colleagues and teachers to help her. These skills are only a few that she learned as a student in District 203.
Maddie also takes advantage of other networking groups on campus. She is a member of the Optimist Chapter, the CSD research club, and the Dance Marathon, where she surrounds herself with other like-minded students interested in service and professional growth. She is proud of her growth as an academic risk-taker, and is planning on eventually continuing her education in graduate school.
About the NUEA
The NUEA is the association of 1500 certified staff members who work in Naperville School District 203. They are a unified voice advocating for students and the teaching profession. Led by President Ross Berkley, they work with the community, administration, students, and parents in District 203 to help provide the best educational experience possible to residents of Naperville, Bolingbrook, and Lisle with District 203.
Twice each year, the IEA Foundation funds SCORE grants of up to $1,000 to IEA members who have ideas for community service or school projects. Those members collaborate with our community partners to organize anything from food drives to outdoor classrooms to blanket-making parties for nursing home residents. These projects unite students to communities, teach the value of service, fill the needs of schools that may not otherwise be being met and deepen relationships in school buildings.
Since 2013, more than $360,000 worth of these grants have been awarded across the state of Illinois. To see a list of those projects, videos, photos and more, you can visit the SCORE page on the IEA website.
Thousands of students have benefited from the program – from ideas as simple as “birthday parties in a bag” for kids who may not otherwise have had one to a snow-shoveling program in northern Illinois where grade-school students shoveled the drives of elderly neighbors.
And communities have benefitted, too, like the Bloomington-Normal area where ISU students set up their sewing machines and did quick clothing fixes for people for free – sewing on buttons, fixing holes, hemming pants.
THE STUDENTS AND IEA MEMBERS NEED YOU and here is why: The IEA Foundation funds these grants and it relies on donations.
Join the Foundation as we rally around our students, teachers, aides, bus drivers, librarians, nurses, secretaries, support staff, higher ed faculty and support staff, schools and community. Your support helps build relationships between schools and communities and within school communities. Every dollar counts, because every student and every good SCORE grant idea counts!
We did it!!! Together, we finally repealed GPO and WEP, the unfair penalties that denied retired educators, first responders, and other public service workers their full Social Security benefits. The Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act today in a historic 76 to 20 bipartisan vote. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation into law. Soon, Martha Karlovetz from Missouri will be able to get her full Social Security payments—benefits she paid into for 15 years before she became a teacher. Gayle Harbo in Alaska will be able to finally receive her late husband’s Social Security—payments the government has taken from her just because she was a teacher. And now, educators can enter the profession mid-career or work a second job without jeopardizing their retirements.
This victory for retired educators, both current and future, was only possible because of your advocacy and the collective voice of our union. For decades we have lobbied Congress, telling our stories about how these unfair penalties hurt retirees and the education system. Together, you contacted Congress more than 430,000 times with messages, calls, and in-person visits to pass the Social Security Fairness Act. Now, millions of educators, first responders, and other public service workers will get their full Social Security, benefits they and their spouses earned.
We did this, together.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your tenacity and righteous activism.
In solidarity,
Becky Pringle
President
National Education Association
Breaking news from the U.S. Senate, as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has teed up a vote on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, as early as Monday to once and for all fully repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)! As you know, repealing these unfair penalties that take away earned Social Security benefits from millions of educators, first responders, and other public service workers has been an NEA priority for 40 years. Now, thanks to your incredible advocacy and that of our members, we are on the cusp of history. But we have to close out strong.
Every single senator needs to hear from you and your members right now that they need to vote yes on H.R. 82 next week. (We expect multiple rounds of votes, with the first procedural or cloture vote needing 60 to advance). Senators who are co-sponsors need to hear from you. Senators from fully impacted states need to hear from you. Senators who have not co-sponsored the Social Security Fairness Act need to hear from you.
NEA members have made hundreds of thousands of contacts on GPO-WEP repeal this year. The NEA Board of Directors has lobbied on repeal 3 times this Congress. NEA and our labor and retirement security allies rallied at the rainy Capitol on Wednesday to push the Senate to finish the job, which is when Schumer made the commitment to force the vote.
A reminder that the House passed H.R. 82 by a vote of 327 – 75 in November. This bill has broad bipartisan support and the time to finish the job is now.
Flood the Senate phone lines! We have 3 ways you and your members can call your senators:
Let’s keep up the pressure until the final vote. We are on the verge of history for our members – current retirees and future retirees. And repealing these penalties will make it easier to recruit and retain future educators too. Help us end 2024 with an incredible win.
The Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) is offering five scholarships to children of current members. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is 3:00 pm on Monday, March 3, 2025.
These scholarships are not need-based. Winners are selected on the basis of academic success, school activities, volunteer/work experience, and thoughtful responses to essay questions.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR SCHOLARSHIPS
Four scholarships in the amount of $2000 each will be given by the NUEA. Applicants must be in their senior year, attending a post-secondary school next year.
FUTURE IN EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP
One scholarship int he amount of $2000 will be given to a student enrolled in an undergraduate program who will be starting their 3rd year or later in an education-related field of study.
NUEA members joined NESPA members in a rally held at PSAC on Monday, November 18. NESPA members include District 203 aides, secretaries, and support personnel. They have been working without a contract since June.
After the rally, several union members, community members, and parents spoke at the school board meeting. They talked about how much we all value the important work provided by NESPA members, and how it does not serve the community well to drag out negotiations.
Special thank you to the NESPA Executive Board, the bargaining team, and NESPA members for continuing to fight for fair wages and decent working conditions.
On Friday, August 9, NUEA and District 203 co-hosted a breakfast at Meson Sabika to welcome new educators into the district. Attendees heard from Board President Kristine Gerike, Asst. Superintendent for Human Resources Meredith Haugens, Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Jayne Willard, NUEA President Ross Berkley, NEF Co-Chair Julie Beehler, and Superintendent Dan Bridges.
NUEA serves certified staff members at all levels in District 203, including teachers, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and more!
New teachers have been attending professional development activities all week. On August 12-13, all district certified staff attended professional development, and the first student attendance day was Thursday, August 15. NUEA is looking forward to a great year!
