Schools
D218 Approves 4-Year Teachers' Union Contract
Most District 218 teachers will see a 2.7 percent raise in the first year, Superintendent John Byrne said Monday.
The District 218 school board approved a new, four-year teachers' contract Monday night.
Most teachers will receive a 2.7 percent raise in the first year. They'll also need to pay for 16 percent of their health coverage, and 17 percent for each of the remaining three years of the contract
District 218 Superintendent John Byrne called the new contract "fair and fiscally responsible."
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Board members voted 4-0 in favor of the new contract at Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights. The expired on the first day of school.
Teachers' union members overwhelmingly voted in favor of the contract on Thursday. IEA Local 218 president Bradley Wright, who is a science teacher at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, said concessions were made on how much members would pay for health benefits.
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"We're happy to be able to preserve our salary schedule," Wright said.
IEA Local 218 includes both district teachers as well as support staff, nurses, security and technical staff, social workers and guidance counselors. Maintenance and custodial staff in the district have their own union.
Freshmen orientation at Shepard and in Oak Lawn was Monday. Students at all high school grade levels begin classes Tuesday.
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