District 116 staff pay to be restored earlier than anticipated after year of financial adjustments
Round Lake Area Unit District 116 will begin restoring owed teacher and staff pay earlier than anticipated following an unexpected $11 million budget gap discovered last summer.
Committed but deferred pay for members of the Education Association of Round Lake will begin being restored in the 2026-2027 school year, according to the district.
Union members this coming school year will receive a contracted 5.5% pay increase as originally scheduled. Last summer, the 923-member union overwhelming voted to take 2.5% rather than the 5.5% increase due this past school year to help resolve the budget issue.
The salary reductions were to have been for two years but after adjusting operations, spending and strengthening long-term financial planning, they will be reinstated sooner than originally anticipated, officials said.
In the coming year, the district is moving from the 2024-25 salary schedule to the 2025-26 salary schedule reflecting the restoration of deferred salaries and standard step increases.
“This progress reflects the shared commitment and partnership” between the district and union, “as well as the professionalism and dedication our employees have continued to demonstrate throughout this challenging year,” Superintendent Donn Mendoza said in a recent announcement.
In partnership with union leaders, the district spent the last year reviewing and adjusting operations and spending, including for staffing, programs, and other areas. As a result, 65 staff positions and 13 administrative positions were cut — a decrease of about 28%.
The union represents teachers, teacher assistants, secretaries, and personnel in related services, technology, custodians, maintenance, grounds, bus drivers and mechanics.
Affected staff were placed when feasible as positions opened due to normal turnover, according to the district. Since Dec. 3, 13 certified and three noncertified staff members have been offered jobs.
“Our staff remained focused on supporting students throughout this process, and we are grateful for the continued support our families, employees and community,” said union President Krissi Gatlin.
District 116 has more than 6,300 prekindergarten through 12th grade students in 10 buildings. Tuesday was the last day of school.
Money was never missing but district officials said a nearly $11 million budgeting error was made by a former business manager when developing the 2024-25 budget. It was discovered in late July 2025 in preparation for the 2025-26 budget.
The error involved under-budgeting in salaries and public/private tuition, Heather Bennett, deputy superintendent said at the time.
The district said educational programming and student support services have been maintained throughout and additional financial monitoring and planning will continue.