Dist. 158 wants teachers' raises tied to inflation

Increases in teachers' salaries would be tied to inflation under Huntley Unit District 158's proposal for a new teachers contract.

The proposal was contained in the district's and the teachers union's first update on contract negotiations, released this week.

The joint news release outlined the district's and the union's goals for the contract that will replace the current two-year deal.

The update did not contain the parties' comprehensive proposals, which they are scheduled to present at their next joint meeting April 7.

The proposal to tie teachers' salary increases to inflation would seem to be a sweet deal for the district.

Under the current teachers contract that expires June 30, salaries for most teachers and support staff rose 4 percent last year and 5 percent this year.

In comparison, the Consumer Price Index -- a measure of inflation the district wants to tie to salary raises -- rose 4.1 percent last year and never went up more than 3.4 percent during the five years before that.

The Huntley Education Association is seeking competitive compensation and benefits, according to the bargaining update.

The document did not provide any details on the scope of salary increases the teachers union is seeking.

Both sides have agreed not to comment publicly on negotiations until a contract has been finalized.

The bargaining update also reveals that the district's negotiating team has expanded to include six school board members, Superintendent John Burkey, Chief Human Resources Officer Lauren Smith and the board's attorney.

The district's negotiating team originally included only two board members: Aileen Seedorf and board President Shawn Green.

Board member Mike Skala is sitting out contract negotiations and will not vote on the contract because his wife is a teacher in the district.

The negotiating team for the Huntley Education Association includes union co-presidents Christy Henderson and Carmen Tontillo, as well as two advisers from the Illinois Education Association, the local union's parent group.

District 158 is also seeking more staff development and more teachers with master's degrees -- while maintaining current class sizes.

The Huntley Education Association, which represents more than 500 teachers and support staff, wants to improve working conditions and student achievement.

One month ago, the district and the teachers union agreed to issue joint news releases every two weeks to keep the public informed on the status of negotiations.

The idea was a compromise measure agreed to after some District 158 board members initially proposed holding public teacher contract negotiations.