The District 150 school board meeting was uncharacteristically empty. Extra security guards stood around a board room free of teachers despite the District's plan to impose a teacher's contract unacceptable to many 150 union faculty members.

"Getting up there and just venting on them and them not having the ability to respond to us, we thought it wasn't a very good idea, so we decided to not attend the meeting", said Bob Darling, President of the Peoria Federation of Teachers.

Last month, the District's negotiating attorney offered a contract that would freeze salaries, put a cap on tuition reimbursement and allow teachers to be transferred between schools- something Peoria Federation of Teacher's union members particularly had a problem with.

"We think the employer ought to be able to put teachers -that is- assign teachers where it is in the best interest of the students", said Dennis Triggs, Negotiations Attorney for District 150.

Triggs says although the union came back with a counter offer more financially acceptable to the District, they still missed other core issues. "It was that proposal that led the District to come to the conclusion that this isn't going anywhere", said the attorney.

Last week the District announced it was at an impasse, and would implement its version of the new teachers contract at the end of this school semester.

Bob darling said, "we don't feel like we're an equal member at the table when it comes to making decisions".

And during a Sunday night closed door meeting, teachers authorized their union to strike if the District's contract is enforced. "We really have too much work to do at this time to have a work stoppage and we're hoping that we don't", said the Union President.

The District 150's attorney says changes need to be made to improve education in the Peoria school district, and things like longer work days and financial accountability are the only ways to do that. Triggs says it needs to happen now, strike or not.

"If you combine it with what we need to do in terms of improving attendance, what we need to do in terms of controlling class sizes, what we need to do relative to tuition reimbursement, when you throw in other things, absolutely", said Triggs.

But Darling said, "we understand that we have challenges and we're ready to work with the board and the school district. If this goes to a strike, it could get nasty."

The union president said the ball is in the district's court, but he hopes that talks can occur over the Christmas break to ensure everyone shows up to work after the new year.