Rather than engaging in traditional collective bargaining, the teachers-- who are represented by an affiliate of the National Education Association-- and administrators formed joint committees to draw up the agreement. They decided to eliminate all work rules set in previous contracts and replace them with statements of principles and a system of checks and balances to make sure the principles are upheld.
A version of this article appeared in the November 01, 1989 edition of Teacher Magazine as NEA Local in Illinois Geta A Lot, Gives A Lot