District 46 teachers approve contract, ball now in board's court

Grayslake Elementary District teachers have given a thumbs up to what officials said would be a new three-year contract.

But the teachers' new deal won't become official unless the Grayslake Elementary District 46 board ratifies it. Board President Michael Linder said he expects a vote in favor of the contract at a meeting Dec. 8.

Negotiators from the school district and teachers union reached a tentative agreement on Nov. 1. The deal came after roughly 330 teachers voted Oct. 27 to strike over salary issues.

Linder said the Grayslake Federation of Teachers union voted Friday in favor of the new three-year contract. Precise numbers for annual raises were not immediately available Monday.

Arnavaz Mistry-Mujthaba, field service director for the Lake County Federation of Teachers, said she couldn't provide the exact vote by the members of the Grayslake union local. She declined to comment on the deal.

Although a contract settlement is preferable to a strike, said Linder, the higher payout to District 46's instructors could create financial stress down the road.

Linder said an expected drop in developer fees and the possibility of reduced assessed valuations - which would cut the amount of property tax collected - are among the financial dangers.

"One of the problems we've got is a lack of construction in our district," Linder said. "It won't be there next year."

Linder said District 46 board members are committed to approving balanced budgets.

District 46's teachers contract expired June 10. Both sides worked for about 10 months for the new deal awaiting formal school board approval.