Teachers approve U-46 contract

At 6:50 p.m. today, the Elgin Teachers Association announced its membership approved the second tentative contract agreement reached last week between union and Elgin Area School District U-46 officials.

According to the agreement, teachers will receive, on average, 6.1-percent raises this year, 5.7-percent raises in 2008-2009, and between 4.4 and 5.7 percent raises in 2009-10. All classes of 30 or more kids in elementary schools will require a teachers aide, and physical education class sizes will be reduced starting in January.

A total of 2,090 votes were cast, representing 85 percent of the union's membership.

Approximately 76 percent "yes" votes were cast in support of the contract, with 24 percent rejecting the agreement, according to an e-mail sent by union leaders.

"It is anticipated that the School District U-46 Board of Education will take action on approving the contract at their next regularly scheduled meeting January 14," the email said.

If approved by the school board, retroactive pay raises would begin sometime in January.