Teachers Vote to Approve Tentative Agreement with D86 Board

The Hinsdale High School teachers of District 86 approved the tentative agreement that was reached last week between the teachers and the school board.

The majority of the teachers, 85 percent, voted “yes” to ratify the agreement, according to an HHSTA news release. The next step is for the school board to vote on the agreement. The next board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 20.

According to the news release, John Bowman, president of the teachers’ association, said the teacher ratification of the agreement isn’t a victory. “The school board met many of their goals in this negotiation, including reductions in retirement incentives, increased health-care costs for teachers, and structural changes to the salary schedule,” he said in the release.

Jeff Waterman, chief negotiator for the teachers, said in the release that the teachers are ready to end negotiations and return to the classroom.