Winfield teachers get new contract

As far as contract negotiations go, this one focused on just the money.

Both the school board and teachers union at Winfield Elementary District 34 agreed on a new three-year contract this week that will bump starting salaries for teachers in the district to $40,908 by 2010.

Teachers at the two-school district will return to their classrooms this fall with a 3 percent salary increase.

The pact also calls for a 3.25 percent increase in the second year and 3.5 percent bump in the third year. Benefits, including vacation and sick time, will remain the same.

The salary for a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree will increase from $37,165 to $38,281 next school year.

The average teaching salary in the district is $58,555, according to the district's 2007 state report card.

Contract talks, which both teachers and administrators said were cooperative, began in December.

"We value our teachers and were pleased that we were able to work together to offer this agreement," school board President Craig Martin said. "Teachers are the key to quality instruction in the classroom."