District 25, union reach contract agreement
After working without one since August, more than 400 teachers and support staff members at Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 have a new contract.
The District 25 school board and the Arlington Teachers Association announced an agreement at Thursday’s board meeting.
“I want to extend a thank you to the many members on both sides of the negotiating teams for the more than 110 hours put into reaching this tentative agreement,” said Peter Reckard, association president. More than 50 members were at the meeting and greeted the announcement with applause.
The teacher’s previous contract expired Aug. 15. Negotiations were delayed last month by the government shutdown, as a federal mediator was being furloughed.
Negotiations began in March, according to an earlier statement from the district.
“Now it’s on to the big job of presenting it to our members and hopefully ratifying an agreement that is mutually beneficial to both the board and our teachers, but most importantly to the community and students of Arlington Heights,” Reckard said.
“The feeling is quite mutual,” said board President David Page.
The association will vote to ratify the contract by the December board meeting.
Neither side commented on the specific issues that got in the way of negotiations under an agreement that any statement released to the public would be made jointly.
Details about the tentative contract were not immediately available. Page said more information would be available once the school board approves the contract on Dec. 19.
District 25 has nine schools with an enrollment of more than 5,000 elementary and middle school students.
Teachers: School board will officially approve contract Dec. 19