Itasca District 10, teachers approve 3-year pact

Teachers in Itasca Elementary District 10 will receive average raises totaling between 8 percent and 13 percent over the course of a new three-year contract that won unanimous approval Wednesday from the school board.

The contract, which will be posted in full next week on the district's website, calls for average 4.1 percent salary increases in the first year of the pact and 4.8 percent in the second. The third year's increase will be based on 97 percent of the Consumer Price Index, or rate of inflation.

The Education Association of Itasca, which represents the district's roughly 75 teachers, had ratified the agreement on June 6.

Superintendent Craig Benes said the agreement protects the district's financial stability in both the short- and long-term and represents a "significant commitment" to maintaining the quality of the district's teaching staff.

"It helps bring our teachers up to a comparative level" with other comparable area districts, he said.

The agreement also increases the number of sick days for veteran teachers, doubles the tuition reimbursement pool for teachers and continues to pay 100 percent of health premiums for individuals.

In addition, Benes, who is in his first year with the district, said the agreement calls for greater collaboration between himself and the union on issues concerning teaching, scheduling and salaries.

District 10 serves roughly 900 students at three schools.