Prairie State Wire

Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board met Feb. 19.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

1. Present

Chairman Lara Shayne (Chicago); Board Member Steve Grossman (Chicago); Board Member Michelle Ishmael (Springfield); Board Member Chad Hays, having given advance notice to Chairman Shayne, participated via telephone due to an emergency pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/7(a)(iii). General Counsel Ellen Strizak (Chicago); Executive Director Victor Blackwell (Chicago); Staff Members Meredith Dean (Springfield), Nick Gutierrez (Chicago), and Cathy Banks (Chicago).

2. Opening Statement and Board Member Attendance

Chairman Shayne made a statement regarding the meeting venue then took attendance. All Board Members present.

3. Approval of minutes

Chairman Shayne called for a motion to approve the minutes from the open session of the January 7, 2025, Board Meeting. Board Member Grossman so moved. Board Member Ishmael seconded. The Board passed the motion unanimously by roll call vote

4. Cases

Forest Park Education Association, IEA-NEA/Forest Park School Dist. 91, Case No. 2023-CA-0061-C

Chairman Shayne called the case. This case is before the Board on exceptions to an Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. General Counsel Strizak presented a memo on the case recommending the Board overturn the EDRDO and defer this charge to arbitration. Chairman Shayne directed the General Counsel to draft an opinion and order consistent with her memo.

Ross/Sauk Village Education Association, IEA-NEA, Case No. 2025-CB-0001-C

Chairman Shayne called the case. This case is before the Board on exceptions to an Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. 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 EDRDO. Board Member Hays so moved, and Board Member Grossman seconded the motion. The Board voted to issue the Opinion and Order affirming the EDRDO unanimously and the motion passed by roll call vote.

Howard/Peoria Public Schools District 150, Case No. 2024-CA-0020-C

Chairman Shayne called the case. This case is before the Board on exceptions to an Executive Director’s Recommended Decision and Order. 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 overturning in part and affirming in part the EDRDO. Board Member Ishmael so moved, and Board Member Hays seconded the motion. Chairman Shayne, Member Ishmael and Member Hays voted to issue the Opinion and Order overturning in part and affirming in part the EDRDO. Member Grossman voted against the motion and indicated his dissenting opinion that he would have overturned the EDRDO in its entirety and issued a complaint. The motion passed by roll call vote of 3 to 1.

5. Final Order Cases

Federation of College, Clerical and Technical Personnel, Local 1708, IFT-AFT, AFL-CIO/City Colleges of Chicago, District 508, Case No. 2021-CA-0078-C

This case is before the Board on an unappealed Administrative Law Judge’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 roll call vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Bellwood School District 88/ Rusike, Case No. 2025-CA-0023-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 roll call vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

Ransom/Sauk Village Education Association, IEA-NEA, Case No. 2025-CB-0007-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 roll call vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

JAMP Special Education Services/JAMP Education Association, IEA-NEA, Case No. 2025-UC-0013-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 roll call vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

McHenry CCSD No. 15 and McHenry CHSD No. 156/McHenry School Transportation Association, IEA-NEA, Case No. 2025-UC-0018-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 roll call vote not to take the case up on its own motion and to issue a final order.

6. Public Comment

None

7. Budget/Fiscal

Staff member Meredith Dean presented the expenditure report.

8. Case Status Report

Executive Director Blackwell presented the case status report.

9. Strike Report Update

Executive Director Blackwell reported current strike activity to the Board.

10. Legislative Update

Staff Member Gutierrez gave a legislative update.

11. Litigation Update

General Counsel Strizak provided a litigation update.

12. Agency Operations

Staff Member Cathy Banks presented the personnel report. Executive Director Blackwell relayed plans to look into relocating the agency’s Springfield office to a yet to be determined location in Springfield. Executive Director Blackwell reported on the agency’s ongoing efforts to fill open positions.

13. Closed Session

Chairman Shayne called for a motion to go into closed session to discuss personnel issues pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). Board Member Grossman so moved. Board Member Hays seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to go into closed session and the motion passed.

14. 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 roll call vote to reconvene the meeting and the motion passed.

15. Adjourn

Chairman Shayne called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Board Member Ishmael so moved, and Board Member Grossman seconded the motion. The Board voted unanimously by roll call vote to adjourn the meeting, the motion passed, and the meeting was adjourned.

https://elrb.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/elrb/documents/meeting-minutes/2025/02-19-25-meeting-minutes.pdf