Union approval means McHenry students will return to class Tuesday

Students will return to McHenry Community High School on Tuesday, ending an eight-day strike after the teachers union ratified a contract Monday afternoon.

McHenry Community High School Educators Association members gave a majority vote, approving a contract that puts more than 2,500 students back in District 156 schools.

The school board is expected to formally approve the agreement at its Monday, Oct. 19, meeting. East students will begin classes at 8:20 a.m. and West students at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The strike began Oct. 1.

Sticking points were salaries and health insurance costs. The district had offered a flat 2.7 percent yearly salary increase on average, using step and base pay raises.

Teachers had requested an automatic step increase of 3.64 percent plus an extra 1.36 percent boost to base pay, equaling a 5 percent yearly increase. The union also wanted the district to cover 100 percent of health insurance premium increases.

The agreement was reached at 1 a.m. Saturday after intense discussions. Neither side provided specifics on the deal.