Glenbard Education Association (GEA) agreed to extend a union contract to get teachers to agree to participate in a saliva screening once school returns for in-person learning.
During a recent board meeting, Judith Weinstock, Mireya Vera, Bob Friend and Margaret DeLaRosa voted to approve a one-year GEA contract extension to June 30, 2025, in exchange for the teachers agreeing to participate in weekly saliva COVID-19 screening. Members John Kenwood and Jennifer Kendras voted no.
“The balance between community/public health, social emotional issues associated with remote learning, academic excellence for our kids, and economics drove me to support this program on a mandatory basis…” Kenwood said during the vote. “So, I will be voting no on this contract.”
Kenwood said he wanted teachers to be aware that it was not a reflection of their effort or the quality of work they have been doing.
“But rather a disappointment or what I view as an opportunity to leverage the pandemic for personal gain,” Kenwood said. “These teachers asked for a testing program. We gave them one at an extreme expense to the district. And I just do not think that it's proper that I vote and support this.”
Jendras called the plan excessive.
"I feel that demand was excessive for the amount of work it takes to do the saliva test,” Jendras said during the meeting.
GEA also recently endorsed three of the District 87 board members, all of whom voted yes on the agreement to extend the contract — Weinstock, Vera and Friend.
Glen Ellyn started COVID-19 testing on Jan. 19, after the Illinois Education Association (IEA) called for COVID-19 screening to protect schools in December.
District 87’s board adopted and mandated COVID-19 screening on Dec. 14 for students and staff, but details weren’t shared with the community. The board made the decision without even hearing opinions from parents, students or staff.
Alerts Sign-up