Prairie State Wire

Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board met Oct. 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Attendees –

IELRB Chairman Lara Shayne; Board Members Steve Grossman, Chad Hays, and Michelle Ishmael; Executive Director Victor Blackwell; General Counsel Ellen Strizak; Staff Attorneys Steven Shonder, Ryan Sinclair, and Nick Gutierrez; Staff Members Meredith Dean and Cathy Banks.

Advisory Committee Members N. Elizabeth Reynolds (Allison, Slutsky & Kennedy); Colin Burns (IEA-NEA); Josiah Groff (Dowd, Bloch, Bennett, Cervone, Auerbach & Yokich); Tom Riley (University of Illinois); Tyler Redd, Charles Harper, and Nick Christen (IFT-AFT); Edward Wong (DLG Law Group); Tom Riley (University of Illinois System); and Amanda Clark (Asher, Gittler & D’Alba).

I. ADVISORY COMMITTEE

A. Chairman Shayne opened the meeting and welcomed attendees. She noted recent amendments to the IELRA per HB 5324. She further noted updates the Board made to its rules and regulations since the last advisory committee meeting.

B. Chairman Shayne introduced new IELRB staff attorneys Ryan Sinclair and Steven Shonder, followed by introductions of the Board and all those in attendance.

C. Executive Director Blackwell presented an overview of agency case processing statistics.

D. Executive Director Blackwell presented an overview of strike related data. 

E. Attorney Gutierrez reported on relevant legislation.

F. Questions and Comments from Committee Members

Nick Christen (IFT) thanked the Board for posting its opinions on its website and suggested the same be done for certifications. He expressed his organization’s desire that the Board accept electronic cards per Section 1110.80 of its rules and regulations and not require Board agent verification that is required per subsection (l) of Section 1110.80. He asked when or if the vacant Board Member slot would be filled.

Charles Harper (IFT) reported concerns over procedures in representation petitions seeking to combine professional and non-professional employees into the same bargaining unit.

N. Elizabeth Reynolds (Allison, Slutsky & Kennedy) asked about the status of the Board’s hiring process.

Executive Director Blackwell gave an update on the agency’s hiring process to fill vacant positions and to update its database.

Chairman Shayne thanked all for attending. A short recess followed, and the Board resumed with its regular meeting.

II. REGULAR BUSINESS

A. Open Session

1. Chairman Shayne called for a motion to approve the open session minutes from the September 18, 2024 Board Meeting. 

Board Member Hays so moved. Board Member Ishmael seconded. The Board passed the motion unanimously, by voice vote.

2. Semi-Annual Review of Closed Session Minutes

Chairman Shayne called for a motion to allow the closed session minutes from the last six months to be open. Board Member Grossman so moved. Board Member Hays seconded. The Board passed the motion unanimously, by voice vote.

3. Cases

Chicago Board of Education/Chicago Teachers Union, 2022-CA-0028-C 

Chairman Shayne called the case. The case is before the Board on exceptions to an Administrative Law Judge’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented a memo on the case and recommended that the Board overturn the ALJ’s finding that the parties’ collective bargaining agreement did not apply to probationary PSRPs and affirm the ALJ’s dismissal of the Complaint. Chairman Shayne directed the General Counsel to draft an opinion and order consistent with her memo.

Reitman/District 65 Educators Council, IEA-NEA, 2024-CB-0011-C 

Chairman Shayne called the case. The case is before the Board on exceptions to an Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order dismissing the charge. General Counsel Strizak drafted an Opinion and Order based on the discussion during last month’s meeting. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board to adopt and issue the draft Opinion and Order affirming the Executive Director’s Recommended

Decision and Order. Board Member Ishmael so moved. Board Member Grossman seconded. The Board passed the motion unanimously, by voice vote.

4. Final Order Cases

Prairie Grove Educ’l Support Prof’ls/Prairie Grove CSD No. 45, 2023-CA 0039-C

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Hays so moved, and Board Member Ishmael seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Hweih/Evanston CCSD 65, 2024-CA-0063-C

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Grossman so moved, and Board Member Hays seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Kirsch/Waukegan Teachers Council, Lake Cty. Fed. Of Teachers, L 504, IFT-AFT, AFL-CIO, 2024-CB-0012-C

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Ishmael so moved, and Board Member Grossman seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Hweih/District 65 Educator’s Council, IEA-NEA, 2024-CB-0017-C 

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Grossman so moved, and Board Member Hays seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

LaGrange SD 102/Education Ass’n of Dist. 102, 2024-UC-0028-C 

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Hays so moved, and Board Member Grossman seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

College of DuPage/College of DuPage Classified Ass’n, IEA-NEA, 2024-UC 0038-C

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Ishmael so moved, and Board Member Grossman seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Ridgeview CUSD 19/Ridgeview Educ. Ass’n, IEA-NEA, 2025-UC-0001-C 

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Grossman so moved, and Board Member Ishmael seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

New Berlin CUSD 16/New Berlin Educ. Ass’n, IEA-NEA, 2025-UC-0002-C 

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Grossman so moved, and Board Member Ishmael seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Northbrook Elementary SD 27/Dist. 27 Faculty Ass’n, IEA-NEA, 2025-UC 0003-C

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Grossman so moved, and Board Member Hays seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Chicago Board of Education/SEIU, L. 73, 2025-UC-0004-C 

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Ishmael so moved, and Board Member Grossman seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Opdyke-Belle Rive CCSD #5/ Opdyke-Belle Rive Educ. Ass’n, IEA-NEA, 2025-UC-0005-C

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Grossman so moved, and Board Member Ishmael seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Centralia SD #135/Centralia Elementary Educ. Ass’n, IEA-NEA, 2025-UC 0006-C

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented the case. Chairman Shayne called for a motion for the Board not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order. Board Member Hays so moved, and Board Member Grossman seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously, and the motion passed by voice vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

5. Public Comment

None

6. Budget/Fiscal

Staff member Meredith Dean presented budget and fiscal information.

7. Litigation Update

General Counsel Strizak advised the Board on updates to cases in the courts.

B. Closed Session

Chairman Shayne called for a motion to go into closed session to discuss items 1 and 2 below. Board Member Ishmael so moved. Board Member Grossman seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously by voice vote to go into closed session and the motion passed.

1. Litigation 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)

2. Personnel Issues 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)

C. Reconvene

Chairman Shayne called for a motion to reconvene the meeting. Board Member Grossman so moved. Board Member Ishmael seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously by voice vote to reconvene the meeting and the motion passed.

D. Adjourn

Chairman Shayne called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Board Member Hays so moved, and Board Member Grossman seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously by voice vote to adjourn the meeting and the motion passed.

https://elrb.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/elrb/documents/meeting-minutes/10-16-2024-meeting-minutes.pdf