Orland Park High School District 230 arrived at an contract agreement with its teachers union after a conversation of over nine months, including federal arbitration.
According to a statement by District 230, the salary cost will increase by 19.5% in three years from the contract, which is 8% higher than the previous contract. It includes high salary for teachers who also lead co-reading activities.
The school board approved the agreement on Tuesday. The District 230 Teachers Association held a board meeting at the beginning of the school year to protest against working without an updated contract.
The board chairman Lynn Zedar said in the district statement, “This agreement is a financial investment among our teachers, which will affect students in the present and future without the need for additional efforts from local taxpayers.” “This contract underlines our collective goal of the board’s dedication to our teachers and to inspire and empower all eagles, chargers and T-bolts.”
They represent three schools in the Shubhankar district, Andrew High School at Tinal Park, Sandberg High School at Orland Park and Stag High School in Palos Hills.
In the next three years, salary will increase by 4%, 4.5% and 3.6% respectively, which the district has an average as compared to other schools in the Chicago-region.
District officials said that they have made a budget as per the required contract and it is expected that a large number of retired people will help cover the additional cost in the coming years. The district said, additional retirement benefits, and high co-scriptures, all are all involved in those costs.
District spokesperson Jennifer Waterman said, “The final contract was a five -year contract which was signed during low inflation and before epidemic.” “This new contract allows us to remain regional to remain competitive and creates flexibility in recruitment which we need to compete during the worst teacher deficiency seen in our lifetime.”
The district administration is also committed to tuition reimbursement for the existing employees with a professional teacher license to help the district administration fill the posts and provide years of experience to fill those difficult posts.