Support Staff Urge Lincoln-Way 210 Board for ‘Fair Contract’ During Public Comment

Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Meeting | November 20, 2025

Article Summary: Three members of Lincoln-Way District 210’s support staff addressed the Board of Education, voicing frustrations over working without a contract since the school year began. Speakers, including bus drivers, highlighted concerns about non-competitive pay, benefit levels, and tiered pay rates they feel hinder the district’s ability to retain experienced employees.

Public Comment Key Points:

• Support staff, including bus drivers, custodians, and paraprofessionals, have been working without a contract since the beginning of the school year.

• Speakers stated that negotiations have been ongoing since February.

• Key issues raised included non-competitive wages compared to other districts and tiered pay structures for bus drivers that reduce hourly rates for extra work.

• Staff expressed a desire for a “fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work” to improve employee retention.

NEW LENOX — The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education on Thursday, November 20, 2025, heard from three public speakers representing support staff who are currently working without a contract.

Jim Irvia, a 30-year district resident, spoke on behalf of bus drivers, maintenance staff, custodians, paraprofessionals, and cafeteria workers, noting that negotiations have been ongoing since February. “Our work is essential to the school day running smoothly and safely,” Irvia said. “We just want to make sure that we get a fair contract so we can serve the students.”

Michaelen Lazarski, a bus driver for the district since 2016, detailed a history of accepting non-competitive pay with the promise of improvements in future contracts. She spoke of a change in sentiment among her colleagues. “I don’t hear the fear anymore from my co-workers,” Lazarski said. “I believe with the tentative contract vote of no, many agree that it is time to make our positions competitive, appealing, and worth holding on to.” She urged the board not to “take advantage of their love for this community” and to make wages and benefits competitive to retain good employees.

Fellow bus driver Tall Chat echoed these concerns, explaining the pay structure that affects drivers. “I make 22 and a quarter an hour my first five hours,” Chat said. He described how taking on extra work or driving for a trip can cause his hourly rate to drop significantly to as low as $17 or even $9 for certain hours. “We’re a part-time job, but we’re working full-time hours… we just want a fair day’s pay for that,” he stated.

Chat also raised the issue of employee retention, noting that the district invests time and money to train drivers who then leave for better-paying positions elsewhere.

Board members listened to the comments but, following policy, did not respond directly during the public comment portion of the meeting.