Glen Ellyn District 89, teachers union agree to 5-year contract

The Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 school board and teachers have approved a five-year contract that provides union members with average salary increases of 3 percent for each year of the pact.

The deals ends about six months of negotiations between the board and the Community Consolidated School District 89 Education Association, the union that represents 146 teachers. The two sides began talks in April 2017, but did not meet over the summer.

The average pay raises are inclusive of so-called step increases based on teachers' length of service. Under the new contract, 10 more steps have been added to the salary schedule - for a total of 24.

With more incremental step movement, the district expects to save between $500,000 and $750,000 on salary costs over the five years of the agreement, a district spokesman said.

A new teacher hired under the old contract with a bachelor's degree and no previous teaching experience made $47,175. A new teacher hired under the new contract with the same credentials will receive a $48,284 salary.

Union members signed off on the agreement last week and the school board followed suit Monday night. The contract replaces a four-year agreement that expired in August.

School board President Beth Powers said the contract will allow the district to "compete for the best teaching candidates" as student enrollment continues to increase.

"The board appreciates the diligent, collaborative work done by the members of the Education Association and CCSD 89 staff to reach a long-term agreement," she said in a statement.

Union Co-Presidents Sandra Brenner and Rickey Hughes did not immediately return a message seeking comment Tuesday. But in a statement, the association leaders said members are pleased to reach a "collaborative agreement."

"This agreement recognizes the incredible hard work done by CCSD 89 teachers to help students reach their full academic and social potential," their statement read in part. "By continuing to tie teacher compensation to the Consumer Price Index, the leading driver of revenues in the district, we believe that the teachers are doing their part to contribute to the financial stability of the district."

The contract is retroactive to the start of the school year and expires after the 2021-22 school year.