Hearing dates have been set in April for the charges of unfair labor practices brought against DeKalb Community School District No. 428 by the DeKalb Classroom Teacher’s Association.

April 8, 10, 15 and 16 have been set by the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board. DCTA representatives appeared before the board to make a charge against the district on “a series of actions” taken by the district administrators in response to “a singular incident,” said Jerry Miller, president of DCTA.

Miller said this incident increased the problem of mistrust throughout the district. This “critical lack of trust” was found to exist by a North Central Evaluation, performed last year in District No. 428. It was perceived by the Evaluation Committee that this lack of trust was a “paralyzing factor and was keeping the District from being completely effective, Miller said.

Miller said on April 1 the district and DCTA will meet for a settlement hearing. He said DCTA already has taken steps to settle the charges earlier. DCTA has accepted from the district a “letter of assurance” to end actions which resulted in two of the unfair labor charges, he said.

Miller said the hearings in April are for a final charge against the district prepared by the board. He said he did not want to make public the specifics of the charges because it would make it difficult to reach an internal solution.

A settlement proposal was made by DCTA last month at the request of the district attorney Robert Ellch, Miller said.

“We made the settlement proposal … but we have received no response from the district. At least there (at the settlement hearing) we will hear their reaction,” Miller said.

Miller said while no response has come in from the district concerning the proposal, he has continued to receive counter charges from the district regarding his position as president of DCTA.

“These are charges against me as a teacher. They are harassing me as to the things I’ve done as president of the association,” Miller said.

Jack Deere, DeKalb superintendent of schools, said the only thing the district has done in defense is send Miller a remediation notice by the Board of Education. He said this notice covers areas of concern in which the Board of Education thinks Miller has to improve.

Miller said he would prefer a mutually acceptable resolution. “A labor board ruling will only serve to polarize sides,” he said.