New Dist. 203 contract calls for freeze, then 2 raises

Naperville Unit District 203 has inked a new contract with its teachers union that calls for average pay increases of 2 percent for the next three years.

The school board voted 6-1 in favor of the deal Monday. Officials said they expect to have a balanced budget for at least the next five years.

"The goal was fiscal responsibility, the goal was clarity of language and the goal was to build for the future," Superintendent Mark Mitrovich said. "I think we have more than accomplished those."

The new deal freezes salaries for most teachers during the first year with the exception of those getting more education or nearing retirement.

In the second year, teachers will receive average pay increases of 2.84 percent.

Base raises in the third year will be 75 percent of the 2010 rate of inflation, which is not yet known. With the additional "step" increase for experience, officials estimate the average increase will be 3.14 percent.

The contract also gives teachers pay increases of up to 6 percent in each of their last four years before retirement.

In addition, the district and teachers will form a committee to develop a new compensation system.

No layoffs are planned for the coming school year.

Board President Mike Jaensch, Vice President Jackie Romberg and board members Suzyn Price, Terry Fielden, Jim Dennison and Susan Crotty voted in favor of the contract.

Crotty called it a "seismic shift in how business is done" and "truly a look to what the economy looks like and what we can afford going forward."

Dennison said he had expected a "WWE throwdown" but wound up being pleased with the professionalism of the teachers and that there is no deficit spending.

Dave Weeks cast the lone "no" vote. He applauded teachers for accepting the one-year pay freeze but criticized the salary bump for retirees and what he saw as a lack of transparency in the contract process. He also believes a three-year deal is too risky given the economic unknowns.

"I just think it's unwise for us to commit to a future that we don't understand," Weeks said.

Last week, roughly 91.8 percent of the union's 1,350 teachers approved the deal that goes into effect July 1.

Contract: Deal goes into effect July 1