U-46 board approves contract changes for administrators

Next school year, Elgin Area School District U-46 administrators will get fewer sick days, must pay more toward their health insurance premiums, and will receive a district match toward a new retirement plan.

The U-46 school board Monday night approved changes to the administrators' contract for 2017-18.

"Every year the administration reviews the administrators' employment contract. Rarely do we propose changes," U-46 Chief Executive Officer Tony Sanders said.

The approved changes - resulting from discussions with the Association of Elgin School Administrators - include requiring administrators to work a minimum of 194 days and a maximum of 239 days on a 10-month calendar, as determined by the CEO.

"If we are going to terminate an administrator's contract, the administrator must request a hearing within five school days from receiving the discharge notification," Sanders said.

Among the benefits changes for 12-month administrators is they will no longer receive days off for spring and winter breaks and instead will receive vacation days.

Administrators paid sick leave will be reduced from 14 to 12 days, according to new Teacher Retirement System requirements.

Personal days for all administrators will be reduced from four to three days. For health insurance, their premium rate will increase from 10 to 15 percent from January 2018, aligning with other employee groups, Sanders said.

The district will implement a new 403(b) retirement plan providing up to a 5 percent matching contribution of the administrator's salary or a maximum of $4,000 "provided the district is solvent and not in deficit," Sanders said.