Multiple Naperville Unit 203 educators told the school board on Aug. 4 that they need higher pay and a fair contract, saying morale and financial stress among staff are undermining their ability to serve students.
Colin White, a nine-year teacher at Naperville North High School, told the board the district has “lowballed the union” in prior talks and that educators have effectively taken a pay cut relative to inflation. “So why is fair compensation necessary now?” he asked, adding that teachers are being asked to take on extra duties to cover basic family expenses.
Nandini Asar, who identified herself as a NESPA member and union treasurer and a Naperville North teacher, said recent district messaging and negotiations fell short of what staff deserve and urged the board to “pay our teachers what they are worth,” calling fair pay “not a luxury. It's a necessity.” Amy Vogelsang, a Naperville North teacher, said uncertainty about salary “creates unnecessary anxiety” and said negotiations should not leave teachers starting the year “unencumbered by the stress of working without a contract.”
Other speakers including Erin Meehan Browning, a fifth‑grade teacher at Elmwood Elementary, and Diane McGuire, a retired district teacher and former Naperville unit education association president, described long-standing morale issues and recalled past contract disputes to underscore the personal and professional consequences of failed negotiations.
The board did not take action on those comments during the meeting; superintendent and staff are designated by board policy to respond to operational matters raised in public comment.
Why it matters: Educators' compensation affects staffing, recruitment and retention, and teachers told the board that pay and communications during bargaining are directly tied to morale and the district's ability to meet its educational goals.
Discussion and next steps: Speakers asked the board to prioritize compensation at the bargaining table and to align district messaging with the realities of negotiations. The board did not debate or vote on bargaining positions during the Aug. 4 meeting; the superintendent was designated to coordinate responses to public comment and to apprise the board under board policy 2.23. The public-comment exchanges were recorded and will be available with the meeting minutes.
Ending: Several speakers urged the board to “remember your why” and to show that district statements valuing staff will be reflected in compensation decisions.