Arlington Heights District 25 teachers, board approve 4-year contract

The Arlington Heights Elementary School District 25 school board approved a new 4-year teacher contract at its meeting on Thursday after several months of negotiations.

The contract, which was approved unanimously, allows for salary increases that average 3 percent each year for teachers on the salary schedule. Those who are beyond the schedule get a 1 percent longevity increase each year, according to district officials. The contract will cost the district 2 percent to 2.25 percent more each year, officials estimated, declining to give a dollar amount.

“The negotiations process was extremely positive in nature and both groups put in countless hours to make sure that a fair and equitable agreement would be ratified,” said Jake Chung, assistant superintendent of personnel and planning.

Kelly Drevline, president of the Arlington Teachers Association and teacher at South Middle School, said that an overwhelming amount of union members voted in favor of ratifying the agreement, which runs until 2020.

“We believe this is a great contract,” she said.

The District 25 contract was available to all board members before the vote and officials said it would be posted on the district website www.sd25.org on Friday.

“This was the best negotiation process I've been a part of and more than anything else, this is a fair agreement between both groups,” said board member Charles Williams, who was part of the negotiation team. Board member Erin Johannesen was also part of the negotiating team. The complete text of the contract is at dailyherald.com.

The agreement comes after neighboring Palatine Township District 15 approved a 10-year agreement. Last year, a breakdown in negotiations led to a 7-day strike in Prospect Heights Elementary District 23.