Elgin-area teachers reject 3-year deal

Elgin Area School District U-46 teachers rejected a tentative three-year deal between the union and the school board Monday night, setting the stage for a return to the bargaining table.

The vote was 1,025 in favor and 1,183 against. About 90 percent of the state's second largest teacher's union voted, according to union statistics.

The deal, which was forged after months of bargaining, would have guaranteed teachers average raises of 6.1 percent in the first year of the contract, and raises tied to the rate of inflation in the second and third year of the deal. Teachers had complained that the contract did not do enough to address large class sizes across all grade levels.

In a memo to members, Elgin Teacher Association President Tim Davis said union leadership would begin considering next steps Wednesday.

Teachers have been working under the terms of the expired contract since school began this year.