Crystal Lake District 47, teachers approve contract with ‘new money’ for salaries at 19.5% over four years

After a year of negotiations, Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 and its teachers union have approved a new contract and avoided a strike.

The school district and the union representing District 47 teachers — the Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association (CLETA) — reached a tentative agreement last month. Union members ratified the deal on Oct. 10.

School board members unanimously approved the agreement Monday.

The contract will run until the end of the school year in 2029 and includes what the district called “new money added to the salary schedule totaling at least 19.5% over the next four years.” Other changes include up to 3% to Teachers' Retirement System contributions starting at 1% with 10 years of seniority, increased benefits, and increased plan time, according to a District 47 press release.

“This contract exemplifies our commitment to balancing fiscal responsibility with our mission to provide the best educational opportunities for all students, ensuring that we can continue to deliver a high-quality education for years to come,” District 47 board President Tim Mahaffy said in a press release.

The school district and the union started negotiations for a new contract in October 2023. A federal mediator was brought on in June to help the sides hammer out an agreement, and the teachers have been working without a contract since the start of the school year.

There are 670 educators in the CLETA bargaining unit serving the more than 7,000 students who attend District 47 schools, according to a press release from the Illinois Education Association, of which CLETA is a member.

“When surveyed, a majority of our teachers said they have considered leaving the district. They were citing low pay, expensive family insurance costs and a lack of support regarding safety for students and staff,” CLETA President Jenny Sanchez said in the IEA release. “This new contract addresses a lot of our concerns, but we also recognize there is still more work to be done to truly make Crystal Lake a destination district for educators.”