Elgin teachers to vote on new contract Friday

The Elgin Teachers Association representative assembly said it has approved a tentative agreement on a new three-year teachers contract.

The current three-year contract for Elgin Area School District U-46 teachers expires Monday.

The proposed new contract runs through the 2016-2017 school year. It spells out a base salary increase of 1.5 percent in the first year plus an extra 1 percent increase to compensate for additional days teachers spend on collaborative activities and meetings.

Increases in the following two years would be based on the consumer price index plus a half percent bump for the 2015-16 school year and another 1 percent increase for additional teacher time, and consumer price index plus 1 percent for 2016-17 with no additional teacher time compensation. The combined increase would be no greater than 2.8 percent for 2015-16, and 3.8 percent for 2016-17, per the proposed agreement.

"We're always looking for ways to improve the instructional environment for students," said Kathy Castle, union president. "(The contract) is pushing for more clarity and more consistency throughout the district in supporting students."

The roughly 2,500 union members will vote on the tentative agreement Friday.

The teachers contract is expected to be on the agenda for approval at Monday's school board meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at 355 E. Chicago St.

For the full text of the tentative agreement, visit theeta.org.