Naperville Dist. 203 support staff contract OK'd

Naperville Unit District 203 approved a two-year contract with the district's support staff union that freezes base salary in the first year, but keeps the union's benefits stable.

In the second year of the contract, members of the Naperville Education Support Professionals Association, including special education assistants, secretaries and library assistants, will receive a .5 percent base salary increase and longevity raises, according to the contract.

"Considering the economic climate that we're in right now, we are happy that everyone has received a step on the salary schedule and our benefits remained intact," said Cis Meyer, president of the support staff union and special education assistant at Maplebrook Elementary School. The contract was approved by the District 203 school board Tuesday night.

Base pay increases and longevity increases combine to give union members an average of a 2.4 percent total salary increase during the two years, said Russ Fletcher, District 203 spokesman.

The contract removes the cap on sick day accumulation. This allows support staff extra time to put up to a year's worth of sick days as a credit toward retirement benefits, Meyer said. The contract also allows new employees to be credited for up to 10 years of previous work experience when they are hired.

Negotiations began in May and took place during about six sessions, Meyer said.

The union approved the contract Aug. 26, Fletcher said.