District 300 teachers go on strike

H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Striking Carpentersville Middle School teacher Kevin Ballard works on a sign at the union strike headquarters in West Dundee Tuesday. LEAD 300 declared the strike early Monday evening after negotiating with the district board for nearly eight hours.

H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Striking Jacobs High School teacher Robert Frazier takes a call outside union strike headquarters and warming center in West Dundee. District 300 and its teachers union vehemently disagreed on whether lower class sizes or higher compensation derailed a last-ditch bargaining session Monday that led to the first district labor strike since 1972.

H. Rick Bamman - hbamman@shawmedia.com Striking District 300 teachers walk along North Main Street in downtown Algonquin. District 300 and its teachers union vehemently disagreed on whether lower class sizes or higher compensation derailed a last-ditch bargaining session Monday that led to the first district labor strike since 1972.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines off Randall Road near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines off Randall Road near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines off Randall Road near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com Picket signs used for the District 300 teachers strike are piled up near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 3, 2012.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines off Randall Road near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines off Randall Road near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.

Sarah Nader - snader@shawmedia.com District 300 teachers were out of the classroom and in picket lines near Jacobs High School in Algonquin on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. District 300's teacher union announced Monday that all of it's 1,300 members will go on strike. Ongoing differences over compensation and class sizes have prolonged a tentative deal.