Crystal Lake High School District 155 approves teachers' contract
The Crystal Lake High School District 155 school board Tuesday night approved a new three-year teachers' contract guaranteeing yearly salary increases of nearly 4 percent on average.
The new contract - affecting 431 certified teachers at the district's four high schools - runs July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2019. It calls for a 3.97 percent salary increase on average for each of the three years and additional personal and sick days.
In the 2016-17 school year, teachers will receive step and lane movement plus a .25 percent increase to the base salary.
In 2017-18, the first semester includes step movement only, and a lane change is permitted for teachers who have completed the requisite education credits or degree; the second semester includes step movement only. Teachers not eligible to move on the step and lane scales are eligible for a one-time $1,500 longevity bonus. There is no increase to the base salary that year.
In the 2018-19 school year, teachers will see step and lane movement (if eligible) and one-half of the tax cap percentage (based on the Consumer Price Index) added to the base.
Benefits in the new contract include one extra personal day for a total of three personal days - only two personal days may be used consecutively - and two extra sick days for a total of 14 sick days.
The district's bargaining team and the teachers union reached a tentative agreement Dec. 10. The District 155 Education Association ratified the agreement last Friday.
"We are especially proud of the collaborative nature of these negotiations, and we are pleased that this agreement will allow us to continue impacting our students with the highest caliber staff each and every day," said Justin Hubly, union president.
Both bargaining teams agreed to a letter of understanding allowing them to reopen contracts if there are major changes to state and/or federal funding. Two joint district committees also will be established to review salary structure and workload.
"I am glad the board has recognized the work done by our incredible teaching staff. Our students excel because of our teachers' enthusiasm and dedication. We feel this tentative agreement will allow us to continue to retain and recruit the best educators," Superintendent Johnnie Thomas said.