FPS School Contract Signed

By Gordon HopkinsWhile negotiations were reportedly strained, the contract between the Fairbury Public Schools Board of Education (BOE) and the Fairbury Education Association (FEA) was approved at a meeting on Monday, March 10, 2025. At that same meeting, the resignation of nine FPS staff was also approved. One of those was teacher Dr. Emily Winter, who also served as head negotiator for FEA.Winter told FJN, “I have been a secondary science teacher at Fairbury Jr. Sr. High School for 13 years. I have served on the negotiations team for many years, personally negotiating with three different superintendents at FPS. Negotiations do have the potential to get tense, as both sides are advocating for their perspective on the district’s best interests. FEA works hard to represent the teaching staff. We are understanding of the district budget and work to support teachers in our district, all while struggling with retention in a national teaching shortage.” A total of 20 teachers and other staff have resigned thus far this school year. According to FPS Superintendent Dr. Devin Embray, 14 of those positions have been filled.A major sticking point with the contract this go-around was paid time off (PTO). The negotiating team was also unhappy that an attorney was brought in to negotiate for the school board. Winter said, “This year, the Fairbury BOE pushed to place six restrictions on how teachers can use their personal leave. Fairbury teachers prioritize their instructional time in the classroom with students and try to avoid missing instructional time. Teachers are also humans with families of their own, doing a difficult job that often takes its toll on a person’s mental health. When anonymously polled, 97 percent of teachers were against the leave restrictions pushed by the FPS board negotiators. After several in-person meetings, the FPS Board of Education negotiators and Dr. Embray were unwilling to sit at the negotiations’ table with FEA negotiators. The teacher negotiators were only allowed to communicate with the school’s attorney at taxpayers’ expense.”

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