Chicago Heights School District 170 and its teachers union
have reached a tentative agreement to extend the current teachers contract
for an additional three years.
Members of American Federation of Teachers Local Council
604, the District 170 teachers union, voted 134-15 June 19 to accept the
terms of a contract extension offered by the Board of Education. Official
ratification by both parties is expected.
The current three-year teachers pact was set to expire
after the 2000-2001 school year.
The Board of Education last month offered the teachers
union the opportunity to extend the contract with two changes: a salary
incense and an early retirement option.
When the agreed-upon contract extension goes into effect
beginning with the 2001 school year, teachers will receive annual 5% salary
increases for three years.
The early retirement option allows teachers who meet,
certain age and years-of-service criteria to receive annual 20% salary-
increases for the final two years of their employment. The 20% raise will
affect a teacher's pension, which is determined on average earnings over
the employee'" last four years of work.
"The agreement achieves a win-win outcome for both parties,"
said District 170 Supt. Dorothy Helsel..
"The Board of Education's projections, based on expected
retirements, are that the early retirement plan will save our district
between $2 and $3 million over the next six years," Helsel said.
"Also, having a contract in place for the next four years
provides the district with the opportunity to fine-tune its long-range
financial planning, the superintendent said.
Rhonda Sneed, teachers union president, also praised the
benefits of the new agreement.
"This is a very good package," Sneed said. "It provides
the teachers with an early retirement plan, which we did not have. We also
will have a competitive salary schedule to help attract and keep good teachers,"
Sneed said.
"Most importantly, with a three-year extension teachers
can concentrate on their commitment to our students," Sneed said.
In the 2001 school year, when the extended contract begins,
a starting teachers with a bachelor's degree will earn $27,500.