Des Plaines District 62 approves 5-year contract with teachers

Des Plaines Elementary School District 62 has agreed to a new contract with its teachers union that will increase the starting salary for certified staff by about $6,400.

School board members on Wednesday approved the five-year contract with the Des Plaines Education Association for the 2018 through 2023 school years. the teachers union ratified the pact Aug. 24.

"Over the last several years, it has been challenging to attract new teachers with the salary schedule that we had in place," Superintendent Paul Hertel said in an announcement of the contract. "A great deal of dialogue and thoughtful discussion took place between both parties. I am extremely pleased with the outcome, for the district and our staff and am confident that it will support the best interests of our learning community into the future."

Officials said the contract establishes a new salary schedule they consider competitive with surrounding districts. The starting salary for the past eight years has been $37,760. The new starting salary will be $44,164, under the deal.

The deal also extends annual salary hikes from an 18-step schedule to a 31-step schedule, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. The step has been reduced from a 4.57 percent to 3 percent increase.

The contract agreement applies to the district's 438 certified staff members.

Catherine Sears, the lead negotiator for the union, said collaboration with the district during eight months of negotiations was critical to the five-year contract, which she called fair.

Officials say the full contract will be posted on the district website, www.d62.org, by the end of the month.