‘They've earned it. They deserve it’: 2-year contract extension ratified for Oak Grove District 68 teachers
Teachers in Oak Grove Elementary District 68 have agreed to a two-year contract extension well before the current agreement ends.
The contract recently ratified by the school board calls for an annual 5.5% salary and benefit increase for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years. These benefits also apply to paraprofessionals, custodians and clerical staff, according to the Oak Grove Education Association.
The unexpected but welcomed move was initiated by Jim McKay and Lonny Lemon, who are contracted as co-interim superintendents for 2024-25.
They were hired at Green Oaks-based Oak Grove in July. During the same meeting, the school board approved a separation agreement with former Superintendent Allison Sherman and selected a search firm to find a replacement.
At the time, Lemon was retired from District 68 and McKay had just completed a stint as interim superintendent at Zion Elementary District 6. Sherman took over full-time for the 2020-21 school year upon Lemon's retirement.
During his tenure, Lemon negotiated a five-year contract with 90 teachers that runs through the current school year. After researching salaries elsewhere, Lemon and McKay determined 5.5% would work for all parties.
“We just said, ‘This is what we think is fair and we can afford,’” Lemon said. “We had some past trust built up (and) I think they know we were shootin' them straight.”
According to Lemon, the contract cost will increase $428,298 in 2025-26 over the current year and up $617,893 in 2026-27 from 2025-26.
Starting teachers with no experience or education beyond an undergraduate degree will start at $47,357 with the increase.
Having a contract wrapped up in advance is beneficial for the entire district, Oesch said.
“It enables the board of education and administration to dedicate more time and resources to addressing the superintendent vacancy, while allowing teachers to concentrate exclusively on their students,” he added.
Lemon said the intent was to alleviate potential stress related to negotiations and have a contract in place when a new superintendent starts. The action, he added, resulted in “a huge sense of satisfaction on everybody’s part.”
“That was a big, big, box to check. They’ve earned it. They deserve it,” Lemon said of the contract extension.
As for the superintendent search, surveys regarding qualities sought in a new superintendent have been completed and focus group meetings conducted.
A specific reason for Sherman’s departure was not given publicly. The board on May 23 sent a lengthy message to staff and families to clarify misinformation in the community and about Sherman, other administrators and the strategic planning process.
A review found no wrongdoing, cause for administrative leave or ethics violations by Sherman or school staff.