Fox Valley briefs

District 300 staff get increases:

A group of 62 administrative staffers who work for Community Unit District 300 will get 2-percent salary raises this year under a deal approved by the school board this month. The employees recently joined the union that represents District 300 custodians and secretaries. The raises will be retroactive to the beginning of the 2009-10 school year. The new union members will also enjoy the same health benefits as the 237 employees who were members of the union before the new group joined. The district will begin meeting with union leaders in January to hammer out a new contract. The current deal expires at the end of this school year.

Kiwanis grants available:

Grants of up to $15,000 benefiting local children are available from the Kiwanis Club of Elgin. Interested organizations can apply by submitting a letter describing their organization, how funds would be used, how many children will benefit from the project, and what benefits children gain from participation. The organizations whose projects are selected will be awarded a check at the Jan. 19 Kiwanis Club meeting. Applications, addressed to the Kiwanis Benevolent Committee, P.O. Box 5262, Elgin, must be received by 5 p.m. Dec. 18.

Christmas trees for charity:

The Algonquin Lions Club is selling Christmas trees and wreaths at the Algonquin State Bank, at Randall Road and Huntington Drive, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends. This is the lions club's 42nd annual event and the proceeds go to the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Food Pantry and the Fish Food Pantry in Carpentersville.