After eight months of negotiations, School District 309 and its teachers union have a contract.
The School Board on Monday unanimously approved the five-year agreement, which includes guaranteed raises each year, with the option for merit bonuses. The contract is retroactive to July 1, 2009 and expires June 30, 2014.
“It brings teachers into the fold here at 309 like they never have been before,” said District 309 School Board President Michael Joseph of the contract. “Board administration and faculty have partnered to affect positive changes in student achievement. We’re very pleased that the staff is willing to share that risk with us as proven by their merit increase model.”
For the current school year, faculty received a $1,200 raise, as did district administrators and supervisors in a separate vote taken by the board Monday.
In the 2010-2011 school year, teachers are guaranteed another $1,200 raise, plus have the opportunity to receive a $300 bonus for a possible total raise of $1,500 if the school’s average Measures of Academic Progress score meets the national average.
The same merit increase applies the next three years in the contract but grows to $500. However, the raise drops to $1,000.
Another highlight in the contract puts the teachers union in control of parking space assignments, a duty that has been handled by the district for at least 20 years. The district will retain two spots for visitors and another 11 spaces for administrative staff members.
Representatives from the teachers association, which has about 75 members, could not be reached for comment Monday.
In other business, the board chose not to amend the newly adopted class enrichment policy that goes into effect next school year.
A year ago, as part of the school’s five-year strategic plan, the board determined that only core classes, advance placement classes or dual-credit classes could be enriched. Band and foreign language are some of the classes no longer considered enriched.
Some students and parents objected, saying because fewer enriched classes are being offered, the district should reduce the number of classes eligible for class-rank calculation.
“As with anything, policies are, of course, subject to review,” Joseph said. “This doesn’t close the door. If we see we need to change, we can review that again.”
Leslie Williams can be reached at 686-3188 or [email protected].
Read the original article from Journal Star.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services