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Strike forces McHenry to forfeit homecoming football game

McHenry Community High School will forfeit Friday's scheduled homecoming football games due to a teachers strike.

Sophomores were supposed to hit McCracken Field for a 5 p.m. homecoming tilt against Dundee-Crown High School. That contest was to be followed by the varsity Warriors facing Dundee-Crown at 7:15 p.m.

Neither of the games will be played due to the continuing teachers strike and already have been chalked up as forfeit losses by the school.

It's the second forfeit loss this season for the Warriors, who are in the Fox Valley Conference. Cary-Grove High School won by forfeit over McHenry last week.

McHenry High School District 156 teachers have been on strike since Oct. 1. The strike has idled 2,550 students at two campuses.

Salary and health insurance premiums have been at the root of the dispute involving 160 McHenry County High School Educators Association union members.

In addition to the forfeit losses for the football squads, District 156 announced Saturday's homecoming dance will be rescheduled.

"As soon as school resumes, the administrative team will meet with student leadership groups to gain input regarding the revision of the school calendar and missed activities," according to the District 156 announcement. "A priority will be to communicate the new calendar that includes makeup days as quickly as possible to the community."

The District 156 school board's last publicized offer was a flat 2.7 percent yearly increase on average for four years, including step and base pay raises.

Teachers countered, seeking an automatic step increase of 3.64 percent plus an extra 1.36 percent increase to the base pay, amounting to an overall 5 percent yearly increase. They also are asking the district to pay 100 percent of the increase on health insurance premiums.

Several proposals have been exchanged since, but details have not been released. Officials said both sides have been negotiating.

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McHenry high school teachers go on strike

McHenry District 156 schools to remain closed Monday

No school Tuesday in Dist. 156, but negotiations resume

Classes off in McHenry again Wednesday as negotiations continue

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