Niles Township High School District 219

Niles Township
High School District 219
Location
7700 Gross Point Rd.
Skokie, Illinois
District information
Type public secondary district
Superintendent Dr. Steven Isoye[1]
Other information
Website www.niles-hs.k12.il.us

Niles Township High School District 219 is a public secondary school district in Illinois.

The district serves Lincolnwood and parts of Morton Grove, Niles, and Skokie in Niles Township, which is located in Northern Cook County, Illinois.

The district has had a number of successes in the arts and sciences. In 2007, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts named District 219's arts program the best in the nation.[2] In addition to Niles West's success in Science Olympiad, it is one of the few school districts which can claim two Nobel Laureates as alumni.

In addition to these successes, the district is also known for a long history of labor disputes which have disrupted classes.

Geography

The district is (roughly) bordered by Central Street on the north, McCormick Boulevard on the east, Devon Avenue on the south, and Harlem Avenue on the west.[3]

Among the notable sites within the district are the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, and the Leaning Tower of Niles.

Board of education

There are seven members of the Board, each elected to a four-year term. There is no limit on the number of terms a member may hold.[4]

The Board for the 2016-2017 school year:[4]

Position Board Member Term Expires
President Mark Sproat 2019
Vice President Brian Novak 2019
Secretary Carlton Evans 2017
Secretary Pro-Tem Joseph Nowik 2017
Member Ruth Klint 2017
Member David Ko 2019
Member Linda Lampert 2019

Schools

Former schools

Notable alumni

Labor relations

The district and its employees have had a long history of labor problems, dating back to the 1960s.

The first strike authorization by teachers came in October, 1966, when teachers represented by the American Federation of Teachers voted to authorize a strike in order to secure collective bargaining rights.[5] Teachers again authorized a strike in May, 1967 over salary demands.[6] This time, a strike did take place. 85 teachers crossed picket lines, and over 150 parents entered the school to teach. A court ordered an end to the strike the day after it started.[7] Despite the court order, 200 teachers refused to return to school, with 100 calling in "sick".[8] After two days of disruption, the strike was called off by local union officials.[9]

In May, 1970, the teachers again authorized a strike over salary.[10] While negotiations continued throughout 1970 and into 1971, the authorization to strike was reaffirmed in March, 1971.[11] The strike threat continued into the 1971-72 school year[12]

Teachers again authorized a strike in September, 1973 over payment for non-teaching time.[13] Teachers did follow through with their strike threat despite an offer of 8% increase in salary.[14] After five days, teachers accepted a contract with an 8% pay increase in the first year, and a gradually increasing pay increase throughout the life of the three-year contract.[15]

In September, 1976, the teachers union again authorized a strike, this time at the cost of seven days of school. When the strike took place, teachers were threatened with firing, which a judge requested the school board delay.[16] This strike ended after seven days.[17]

1979 saw another strike, though classes were able to resume on a modified schedule with teachers who crossed the picket line and substitutes.[18] After 15 days, the strike was ended with double digit salary increases for teachers.[19]

A 1985 strike lasting 11 days ended after the teachers and Board of Education submitted to an arbitrator to solve final details of the contract.[20]

The remainder of the 1980s and early 1990s remained relatively quiet. 1996 saw the next strike action.[21] The Board of Education tried to force teachers back to work, claiming the strike was illegal during arbitration sessions, though teachers remained on strike.[22] As the strike wore on, some of the fall sports teams were forced to forfeit their final regular season games and their state playoff games.[23] The situation worsened when it was learned that the federal mediator had taken a week off to attend a conference at a resort. The Illinois Labor Relations Board publicly condemned both sides for failing to work in earnest to end the strike.[24] By November 2, the District began announcing plans to replace striking teachers by as early as November 18.[25] Parental involvement eventually helped end the strike on November 4 after 14 days.[26] The final contract was ratified in January, 1997, with the district stating an estimated cost of the strike at US$300,000, including a need to sweep areas for electronic eavesdropping devices.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Niles Township HS District 219 Administration; accessed 12 April 2009
  2. ↑ "The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and National School Boards Association Announce Recipient of the 2007 Award", the official press released linked from the school's website, accessed 15 April 2009. (PDF File)
  3. ↑ District 219 Boundary Map and Locations; accessed 16 April 2009
  4. 1 2 District 219 School Board; accessed 12 April 2009
  5. ↑ Niles Teacher Union Authorizes Strike; Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 21 Oct. 1966,d7. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  6. ↑ "30 TEACHERS CALL IN SICK IN CALUMETCITY :Only 10 Show Up at 2 Grade Schools. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 20 May 1967,a9. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  7. ↑ "BANS STRIKE BY TEACHERS AT 3 SCHOOLS :Ends Picketing by Niles Union NILES TEACHER STRIKE BANNED BY INJUNCTION Pickets Leave Lines at 3 Skokie High Schools. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 26 May 1967,1. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  8. ↑ CASEY BANAS. . "200 TEACHERS KEEP STRIKE ALIVE AT NILES :Face Possible Contempt Move. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 27 May 1967,3. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  9. ↑ "END TEACHER UNION STRIKE IN NILES TWP :Threat of Suit Is Dropped Union, Board in Tentative Agreement in Niles Strike. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 29 May 1967,1. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  10. ↑ "TEACHERS GIVE NILES UNION AN O.K. ON STRIKE. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 26 May 1970,10. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  11. ↑ "Renew Niles Strike Threat. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 23 Mar. 1971,8. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  12. ↑ "Teachers' Strike Closes Two Glenbrook Schools. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 3 Sep. 1971,3. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  13. ↑ "Teachers in Niles OK strike. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 4 Sep. 1973,1. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  14. ↑ Edith Herman. . "Teachers strike in Niles, Highland. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 5 Sep. 1973,1. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  15. ↑ "Niles teachers OK contract; classes to begin tomorrow. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 10 Sep. 1973,1. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  16. ↑ Jay Branegan, William Juneau. "Niles teachers vote to remain on strike. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 30 Sep. 1976,3. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  17. ↑ "A solution in Niles Township.. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 2 Oct. 1976,s8. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  18. ↑ "7 suburb school strikes continue. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 14 Sep. 1979,d6. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  19. ↑ "Strikes end at two schools. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 27 Sep. 1979,b19. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  20. ↑ "Suburban report :Niles classes open; arbitration OKd. " Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file) [Chicago, Ill.] 11 Oct. 1985,a2. Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1986).
  21. ↑ Gruzen, Tara. . "Teachers' strike called as talks in Niles fail. " Chicago Tribune [Chicago, Ill.] 21 Oct. 1996,2C1. Chicago Tribune.
  22. ↑ Gruzen, Tara. . "Talks flop in Niles teachers strike. " Chicago Tribune [Chicago, Ill.] 23 Oct. 1996,2C3. Chicago Tribune.
  23. ↑ Dennis O'Brien, Tribune Staff Writer.. . "STRIKE SCUTTLES SPORTS SEASONS NILES NORTH, WEST ATHLETES AT A LOSS :[NORTH SPORTS FINAL Edition]. " Chicago Tribune (pre-1997 Fulltext) [Chicago, Ill.] 25 Oct. 1996,3. Chicago Tribune.
  24. ↑ Tara Gruzen, Tribune Staff Writer.. . "TEACHERS, DISTRICT 219 GIVEN A JOLT TALKS RESUME AFTER LABOR BOARD SCOLDING :[NORTH SPORTS FINAL Edition]. " Chicago Tribune (pre-1997 Fulltext) [Chicago, Ill.] 30 Oct. 1996,1. Chicago Tribune.
  25. ↑ Dionne Searcey Tara Gruzen, Tribune Staff Writers.. . "NILES STRIKE TAKES TOUGH TURN DISTRICT 219 BEGINS MAKING PLANS TO REPLACE TEACHERS AS THE LATEST UNION CONTRACT OFFER IS TURNED DOWN AND SCHOOLS REMAIN CLOSED, FAMILIES FEEL CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE :[CHICAGOLAND FINAL Edition]. " Chicago Tribune (pre-1997 Fulltext) [Chicago, Ill.] 3 Nov. 1996,3. Chicago Tribune.
  26. ↑ Gruzen, Tara. . "Parental push helps settle Niles strike. " Chicago Tribune [Chicago, Ill.] 5 Nov. 1996,2C1. Chicago Tribune.
  27. ↑ Cytrynbaum, Pamela. . "Niles Township schools ratify pact with teachers. " Chicago Tribune [Chicago, Ill.] 15 Jan. 1997,2NW, 6:1. Chicago Tribune.


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