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Negotiations between the Board of Education and Quincy Federation of Teachers is scheduled for Tuesday, September 28 at 5:00 p.m.

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UPDATE: 4:15 p.m. Sept. 20, 2010

We now have more information about what's next for Quincy teachers and the school board.  Both sides plan to meet back at the negotiation table next Tuesday the 28th at 5 p.m. We asked Union President Michelle Eberlin if she believed teachers were perceiving the contract as a paycut.

"There's no way that they feel that any one of us should have to go backwards in our take home pay, and that message is what we've taken with us to the negotiation table," said Eberlin.

We spoke with School Board Vice President Tom Dickerson earlier today. He told us the board has its back to the wall with this contract. Dickerson says the board expects to get another proposal from the union soon.

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UPDATE: 6:00 p.m. Sept. 19, 2010

Quincy teachers "overwhelmingly" voted *down* the contract offered by the school board.

Public school teachers spent the last four days holding meetings and deciding on whether to say yes or no the the contract begin offered by the Quincy School Board. After the fourth meeting Sunday afternoon, Quincy Federation of Teachers officials tallied the votes and found that membership did not want the proposed pact.

Union President Michelle Eberlin would not share details of what was offered by the board and presented to teachers, but said they seemed to be of the opinion, "They don't think they and their families should have to take steps backward economically," Eberlin said.

She pointed out that leadership did not recommend a decision one way or the other, "we simply presented the board's offer and let them make their own decision."

Quincy School Board Vice President Tom Dickerson says the decision is disappointing. He says with the district's current financial state, "our hands really are tied in what we can offer, and there doesn't seem to be a recognition of that state of affairs."

Eberlin and Dickerson said they have already been in contact with the mediator and will go back to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

The Quincy School Board meets Wednesday and the contract will likely be a subject of discussion, albeit in closed session. Dickerson says he wouldn't be surprised to have members of the public comment, though.

Eberlin would not discuss the possibility of a strike, reiterating that the contract proposal is the only current item on which they have sought membership vote.

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More Quincy teachers got to vote on a new contract Friday afternoon at the second of three union presentations.

The Quincy Federation of Teachers is presenting details of the district's contract offer to teachers at its office on South 36th Street.

A majority of the district's teachers heard details about the deal during two sessions Thursday night.

Neither side of the bargaining table will elaborate on specific details.

But school board Vice President Tom Dickerson told KHQA most of the latest negotiations centered around benefits and salaries.

All teachers have until Sunday to vote on the action.

Quincy Federation of Teachers President Michelle Eberlin says that time and understanding are important in the decision-making process.

Dickerson told KHQA he wished all teachers would've been able to hear the information all at one time, rather than breaking the process up into three sessions.

There are three possible outcomes to these contract negotiations.

Teachers could approve the contract.

They could reject the deal and go back to the negotiation table.

There's also the possibility teachers could file an intent to strike.

This wouldn't be the first time Quincy teachers went on strike or planned to strike.

KHQA's Melissa Shriver takes a look back on what's happened in the past.

Quincy is like many districts throughout the state of Illinois, facing huge funding cuts from the state.

That most definitely plays a role in this year's negotiations.

We talked with David Comerford with the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

He said "This year contracts across the state are reflective of the economy. We've seen a number of layoffs statewide."

He added the State Federation of Teachers is available for consultation, but has not been contacted by Quincy's union yet.

Dickerson said if the teachers accept this contract proposal, he'll present it to the full school board next Wednesday.

The Quincy teachers have been working without a contract since last week.