District 203 reaches five-year agreement with transportation union

The Naperville Unit District 203 school board announced a new five-year contract agreement with the district's transportation union.

The contract with members of the Naperville Transportation Association, unanimously approved at Monday's board meeting, runs through 2026 and includes a one-time payment of $1,000 to bus drivers and mechanics that matches a similar payment made to other employment groups.

The contract increases wages by $1.50 to $3 in the first year and increases the starting hourly pay for bus drivers from $17.41 to $20.67 to make District 203 more competitive with surrounding districts.

"We are so pleased to have reached an agreement with NTA that both fairly compensates our current employees, who work so hard for us on a daily basis, and provides Naperville 203 with the ability to offer a competitive starting wage that will attract more drivers and allow us to address a current shortage," board President Kristin Fitzgerald said in a statement.

All wages are retroactive to July 1.

"In the end, Naperville 203 and NTA members know there is a huge shortage of bus drivers," NTA President Mark Hanson said in a statement, "and it is imperative that we keep Naperville 203 competitive in attracting excellent and loyal drivers who will continue to responsibly drive students to and from school and events safely and securely."