Good evening, everyone. My name is Mary Kate Schoenbeck, and I am the Vice President of the D128 Federation of Teachers. Thank you for hearing me tonight.
We are the Union that represents the 300+ certified classroom and non-classroom educators in this district. We are proud to be a part of an organization that is dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of educators and, by extension, the quality of education our students receive.
We are affiliated with the Lake County Federation of Teachers, the Illinois Federation of Teachers, and the American Federation of Teachers. These affiliations bolster our strength which lies in our collective commitment to advocating the interests of educators and staying informed about policy changes and educational best practices to ensure the success of both our teachers and students.
Our partnership with this School Board is fortified by our collective bargaining agreement that remains in effect through May 2025. In Article I, Section L, the agreement states, “The President of the Union or designee shall be accorded the privilege of addressing Board meetings for a reasonable period of time allocated by the Board upon request prior to the Board meeting.” I am pleased to speak to you tonight as a fulfillment of that section of our contract.
As an integral part of our commitment to collaborate and communicate with the Board, our Union resolves to address the School Board at each regular meeting. Our intention is to provide informative insights about our members and collective experiences as a group. We also anticipate asking general questions about the District’s policies and decisions though we understand that we won’t receive an immediate response due to the format of Board meetings. We certainly will adhere to the second part of Article I, Section L, that disallows discussion of collective bargaining or legal grievances.
While we look forward to positive communications with District administrators at the Labor Management Committee and during all the informal conversations that happen on a regular basis, we recognize the value of establishing a direct line of communication with you, the School Board. This forum allows us to offer a distinct perspective on pressing matters that directly affect our membership, to pose thoughtful questions to you to clarify details of the District’s action plan and share more about what we do and who we represent.
In closing, we look forward to continuing our work together and we appreciate the respectful way our request to speak has been accommodated. We also want to take this opportunity to thank Casey Rooney for her service to the Board and wish her well in her continued public service to the village of Libertyville.