Overview

• On the first day of classes under an expired contract, Naperville teachers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, though union leaders promise advance notice before any walkout.
• Bargaining teams have met since February without a new agreement and are scheduled to resume talks on August 19.
• Core disputes include wages and the district’s proposed block scheduling and revised start and end times, which the union says would shorten instruction and disrupt extracurricular activities.
• District 203 has offered an average compounded raise exceeding 10% in the first two years, a more than 5% increase to starting salaries and continued 85% board-paid health premiums, while warning that the union’s full demands could strain its budget.
• The union cites a cost analysis showing District 203 holds over 300 days of cash on hand—nearly double the state recommendation—to argue it can afford steeper pay increases.