D304 Teachers OK Contract; School Resumes Tuesday

GENEVA, IL – Following a weeklong strike, District 304 teachers and students will be back to school Tuesday. Geneva Education Association members on Monday voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached by the GEA bargaining team and the District 304 Board of Education early Monday. The tentative five-year agreement was reached at about 4 a.m. Monday and the GEA’s members voted to in favor of that agreement Monday afternoon.

The GEA, which is the union representing District 304’s 465 teachers, has been on strike since Tuesday, Dec. 4.

“We truly believe this deal will make our students stronger and will make our schools stronger,” GEA President Kevin Gannon said. “We went into the negotiations with a reasonable request: make us average when it comes to our salaries. This contract does that. That said this is not everything. It took us several years to become nearly the lowest paid teachers in Kane County, and it will take several more to make us whole again."

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This contract, union officials said, is a compromise. It will include both the traditional step and lane salary schedule that compensates teachers based on education and experience and also includes the boards’ hybrid salary schedule.

Teachers with advanced degrees will now be compensated for those degrees, according to a GEA statement.

“This deal today has a large impact on me. I earned my masters’ degree in reading at the end of this last summer, and I was prepared to wait until the 2020-21 school year to earn compensation for that degree,” Megan Wassell, a first grade teacher at Western Avenue School, said. “It’s a step in the right direction that the board of education removed the lane governance, and I will start earning compensation for the learning that I’m already using in my classroom immediately.”

Throughout the negotiations process that began in February, GEA teachers received support from parents, students and community members, according to the GEA statement. Parents and community members joined members on the picket line and took part in marches.

“Despite all the amazing support, these past seven days have been filled with uncertainty, fear and at times, anger. Our teachers are people: they are moms, dads, members of our community, just like my family. Now that this is over, we all need to go back to regular routines,” said Alicia Saxton, Geneva District 304 parent. “I knew I had to keep supporting our teachers throughout this ordeal. These are my neighbors, my friends, and most importantly, they are helping shape my kids’ lives. They are extremely important to me and our community.”

The District 304 Board of Education will convene later this week to vote on the agreement.

"The Board would like to thank the community for their ongoing support of our schools and students. We look forward to working together with our teachers to maintain and enhance the high quality education provided in District 304," according to a District 304 statement.

PHOTO CAPTION: Dozens of District 304 teachers march Sunday, Dec. 9, outside Geneva High School ahead of a bargaining session with the D304 school board. PHOTO CREDIT: Amie Rowland

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• Geneva Teachers, District 304 to Meet Monday as Strike Looms
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• District 304 Teachers Strike Continues; No School Wednesday
• District 304 Teacher's Union OKs Strike
• D304 Board Offers New Contract, Hopes To Prevent Strike