After a relatively short period of mild sacrifice, there are indications those in the education field believe the rest of us are ready to tolerate a return to business as usual.

Teachers’ labor discussions have been more contentious. Locally, a teacher strike in Geneva was avoided at the last second. But this academic year, there have been strikes in Chicago, Grayslake, Evergreen Park, District 300 (which encompasses northern Kane County and southern McHenry County), Lake Forest, Highland Park, Dixon and West Chicago.

Another example of contention was on display Monday night in Sugar Grove, when the Kaneland School District 302 board approved a raise for Superintendent Jeff Schuler, boosting his base salary to $175,000 from July 1 to June 30, 2014. School documents indicated he made a base salary of $158,525 during the 2011-12 school year.