Raises, potential performance bonuses in District 128 teachers contract

Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 teachers will receive raises and have a shot at performance recognition bonuses under a new three-year contract.

District 128 board members approved the contract during a special meeting Wednesday. Members of the District 128 branch of the Lake County Federation of Teachers union approved their end of the deal before it went to the school board.

In a statement, District 128 Superintendent Prentiss Lea complimented the union, school board and administration for working to achieve a deal “that is fair to teachers and taxpayers.” The contract runs from the 2012-13 academic year to 2014-15.

Teachers will receive a 3 percent base raise in the contract’s first year, followed by a 2 percent hike. They won’t receive base pay raises in the deal’s third and final year.

District 128 spokeswoman Mary Todoric said the instructors will remain eligible to receive increases based on years of experience and additional education, on top of the base pay hikes. Partial tuition reimbursement benefits will be available for approved continuing graduate coursework.

Instructors will be eligible for performance recognition bonuses under the contract. Teachers can receive the bonuses for hitting significant student achievement targets.

District 128 board President Pat Groody said the teachers, administrators and elected officials put in long hours of negotiations and handled difficult issues in tough economic times.

“Throughout the process, there was great collaboration, open discussion and a genuine effort to work collectively to do the kind of things we need to do to ensure the long-term success of our district,” Groody said.

In the last contract, teachers received 0.37 percent base salary increases for the 2009-10 school year, 1 percent in the 2010-11 term and 1.5 percent for 2011-12 school year.