Teacher Strike Cancels School

School was canceled for East St. Louis’ 12,000 students after teachers went on strike. The 920-member East St. Louis Federation of Teachers Local 1220 voted to authorize the strike. The teachers’ contract expired just before the start of classes Aug. 26. Teachers’ demands include smaller classes and an 8% annual pay raise. For the 1996-97 school year, salaries ranged from $25,057 to $46,483, said Everett Stuckey, Local 1220 president. The average salary for all teachers in Illinois last year was $40,890, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.