This Group Of LTHS Workers To Get Pay Raises

LA GRANGE, IL – The Lyons Township High School board this week approved a new contract with the union for teacher's aides.

This decision followed the union's months-long public relations effort for higher wages. The aides staged a protest outside a board meeting in February.

Under the contract, teacher's aides, officially known as paraeducators, are expected to see a 32 percent increase in their wages over four years.

In November, the school proposed a 25 percent hike over the same period, which the union rejected.

The teacher's aides had been without a contract since August.

Under the contract, the aides are slated to get a $3.25 an hour increase in the first year and 3.75 percent annual hikes for the following three years.

The starting wage for aides had been $15.45 an hour. That is set to jump to $18.70 an hour.

Last week, the Elmhurst School District 205 board approved a 14 percent increase for teacher's aides, moving them to $15.85 an hour, from $13.95.

At Lyons Township, Nick Castiglione, a teacher's aide and union spokesman, said the aides were happy with the agreement.

"We ended up with a fair resolution," he said. "The school will have an easier time recruiting qualified personnel and retaining personnel."

At Monday's board meeting, Superintendent Brian Waterman said the negotiations included 11 sessions, including three with a federal mediator.

The two sides reached a tentative agreement on March 3, he said.

"We truly believe this tentative agreement honors their dedication to our students and to our community," Waterman said.