District 300, union OK 3-year teacher contract with 3% raises yearly
The Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300 school board has approved a new three-year contract with the district’s teachers union.
The new contract with the Local Education Association District 300, also known as LEAD 300, will run from July 1 through June 30, 2028. The new agreement includes “competitive salary increases over the three-year term” and an “increased number of sick days available each year, based on existing unused leave and increased district contribution to the Teachers’ Retirement System,” according to a District 300 press release.
According to district documents, District 300 will increase contributions to the TRS, starting at 1.5% and ending at 4.5% for the 2027-28 school year.
The contract also includes expanded tuition reimbursement benefits and higher compensation for additional responsibilities, such as sponsoring clubs or leading student activities.
LEAD 300 members ratified the agreement in May, and the school board approved it on May 19. All board members voted in favor except board President Nancy Zettler, who said she abstained from voting because her daughter is in the union.
“This agreement reflects our shared belief in the power of strong partnerships to support staff and student success,” District 300 Superintendent Martina Smith said in the press release.
The new contract provides 3% raises in each of the three years for certified staff members, according to a salary schedule included in the contract.
For 2025-26, the starting salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree is $51,661, or $56,770 when the district’s TRS contribution is factored in. At the high end — a teacher with a doctorate and 30 years’ experience — those figures are $124,093 or $136,366 with retirement contributions.
In the third year of the pact, the starting salary is $54,807 and $60,227 with TRS, and the high-end pay is $131,650 and $144,670 with TRS.
According to the press release, District 300 serves more than 20,000 students, and LEAD 300 represents about 1,670 certified staff members, including teachers, social workers, counselors, psychologists and nurses.