Parents, educators, and community members across our region are watching what’s happening in Cahokia Heights—and it raises serious concerns that go beyond one school district.

Teachers have now worked an entire school year without a contract. At the same time, union leaders have raised questions about financial oversight, missing records, and administrative spending decisions that they say deserve independent review. District leadership disputes these claims, but what remains undisputed is this: trust has broken down, negotiations have stalled, and students are caught in the middle.

When teachers don’t have a fair contract, classrooms suffer. When there are unanswered questions about how public education funds are managed, communities deserve clarity—not conflict. And when negotiations drag on for months without resolution, it signals a deeper failure of accountability that no school system can afford.

This is about restoring transparency, protecting the integrity of public education, and ensuring that educators are respected as professionals.

We are calling on the Cahokia Unit School District 187 Board of Education, Superintendent Curtis McCall Jr., and relevant Illinois state lawmakers—including Rep. Katie Stuart, Rep. Jay Hoffman, Rep. Kevin Schmidt, and Sen. Chris Belt—to take immediate, good-faith action.

That means agreeing to an independent audit of district finances, ensuring full compliance with public records laws, and returning to the negotiating table with a clear commitment to reaching a fair contract for teachers and staff.

Students deserve stable classrooms. Teachers deserve fair treatment. And communities deserve honest, transparent leadership.

Sign this petition to demand accountability, transparency, and a fair contract now.