New Dist. 62 pact looks at flexible teaching times

Besides winning pay increases, Des Plaines teachers have a new contract that addresses the growing concerns of the profession, including flexible teaching times and class sizes.

Des Plaines Elementary District 62 this week approved a new agreement with its 400 teachers. The three-year pact that covers teachers through August 2010 includes a 3 percent pay increase each year.

Retroactive to Aug. 21, a teacher will earn between $35,592 to $91,922, depending on experience.

Next year, teachers will collect between $36,660 and $94,680.

In 2009, salaries will range from $37,760 to $97,520.

In addition to the 3 percent, teachers receive an additional 4.6 percent each year for experience until they reach credit for 18 years, at which point they've topped out on the pay scale.

In the new contract, though, teachers at the top of scale also will get a longevity incentive: a payment of $2,500 after their 21st year and $3,500 after their 26th year. Their career must be with District 62 for all those years.

A $1,000 incentive will be awarded for each year a teacher maintains additional certification in a specialty.

Besides pay raises, the agreement creates a committee of teachers and board members to look at other ways to pay teachers for spending time with students outside the classroom. Meeting with students during lunch, or before and after school could be rewarded, officials said.

"If teachers are willing to be creative and spend more time outside the school day, then they would be compensated for those things," union President Naomi Shepherd said.

Under the new deal, Superintendent Jane Westerhold would meet with Shepherd during the school year about school class sizes and possible remedies.

Westerhold said she supports the changes in the agreement since they are "in the best interest of students and learning."

The No Child Left Behind rules calling for federal officials to step in if a school fails to meet guidelines also is addressed.

District officials and teachers have agreed to look at a plan to offer teachers more protection in such cases. Jobs could be shifted at a school that doesn't meet the standard, so the district wants to be prepared, officials said.