Parents and teachers urge River Forest SD 90 board to settle contract, raise pay

Public comment at the River Forest School District 90 Committee of the Whole on Sept. 2 focused almost entirely on the district’s ongoing contract negotiations with teachers and concerns about compensation.

Lauren Ortiz and Cindy Crannell, identified in the meeting as RFEA co-presidents, opened the comment period and said the district was facing "a discouraging start to the school year without a negotiated contract" and that they "hoped to reach a fair agreement as soon as possible." Multiple parents and teachers followed with anecdotes and appeals for the board to prioritize a fair settlement.

Roosevelt teacher Sonny Mann described a concrete hiring consequence: a student teacher "could not accept a position at District 90 due to its uncompetitive salary," he said, using the example to underline recruitment and retention risks. Parents including Jennifer Mann, Nicole Lennie and Natalie Raghu praised the quality of District 90 educators and urged the board to balance fiscal responsibility with equitable pay.

Several commenters emphasized the link between teacher compensation and student support. Barrett O'Connor recounted how multiple teachers reached out when her child experienced a medical issue, calling the staff's response "above and beyond" and asking that the board value that work in negotiations. Kate Newman, speaking as a parent and PTO volunteer, requested that the district keep the community informed and involved during bargaining.

The public comment period included roughly 14 in-person speakers; the meeting record shows approximately 140 in-person attendees and 34 on Zoom. The board later moved to closed session to discuss collective negotiating matters, where members can deliberate privately under the stated statutory exceptions.