Bourbonnais Elementary teachers picket
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Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53 teachers, staff and supporters picket along Route 45 on Jan. 26 to raise awareness about their struggle to reach a contract agreement with the school district. About 150 marchers walked in the snow from near Alan Shepard and Shabbona Elementary Schools down to John Casey Road, where the district office is located. READ MORE. 

 Daily Journal/Tiffany Blanchette

BOURBONNAIS — Bourbonnais teachers are asking community members to join a rally today to show their support for the bargaining team in negotiating a contract.

The rally is planned for 4:30 to 5 p.m. in the parking lot directly behind the Circle K gas station located at 655 N. Convent St.

The Bourbonnais Education Association, the teachers union representing nearly 170 members within Bourbonnais Elementary School District 53, is organizing the rally.

The rally follows two informational pickets, the second of which was held virtually last Thursday due to weather.

The BEA asks supporters to dress warmly and bring positive picket signs to the rally. The union also asks attendees to wear face masks and observe social distancing.

Bargaining sessions with the Bourbonnais School Board are scheduled for today and Feb. 25.

The BEA has said it would initiate a strike if an agreement is not reached by March 4. Legally, the union can choose to go on strike as early as Friday.

Negotiations have been ongoing since March 2020.