Barrington School District 220 and its teachers union recently reached a contract agreement that will increase teachers’ salaries by an average of 4.4% annually over the next five years and provide more maternity leave and sick days, according to district and union officials.
“The Barrington Education Association is pleased with the collective bargaining agreement reached with the Board of Education,” said Melissa Atteberry, president of the Barrington Education Association in a statement to Pioneer Press. “In addition to competitive salaries, the agreement includes 15 additional days of maternity leave covered by sick days, an enhanced sick bank, creation of a special education workload committee and increases in summer school pay, tuition reimbursement and internal sub coverage.”
Atteberry said additional time was also secured for more parent-teacher conferences, and the contract negotiations resulted in revising over 100 language items in the contract.
“While the process was long, it was productive,” Atteberry said. “The conversation yielded a better understanding of the priorities and concerns of both sides.”
Ninety-eight percent of the 700 union members in the school district ratified the contract on Oct. 11 and the SD220 school board approved the collective bargaining agreement at its Oct. 17 meeting. The contract is effective immediately and runs through the 2027-2028 school year.
“Based on our Consumer Price Increase (CPI) assumptions, the average salary increase for Fiscal Year 2024 is 5.7%,” said Samantha Scheinman, district director of communications. “The 4.4% is the overall average annual increase of the total package.”
According to both Scheinman and Atteberry, the first and second years of the contract will cost the district more than the 4.4%, and the annual CPI will dictate salary increases beginning July 1 in 2026, 2027 and 2028 and are subject to a minimum increase of 1% and a maximum increase of 4%. Scheinman confirmed the current district budget will cover the salary increases in the new contract.
According to a news release, new teachers will have a starting salary of $58,138. Teachers will also receive an increase in co-curricular stipends and enhanced professional development and training across all levels, the release stated.
Fall and spring conferences with guidance from district leaders will also be introduced at all levels. The district also plans to introduce three early release days for comprehensive staff development, according to the release.
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“I am grateful for the collaborative discussions between the BEA, the board of education, and district administrators that helped us reach this agreement,” Superintendent Craig Winkelman said in a statement to Pioneer Press. “It will help us to achieve our mutual goal of providing an outstanding education for our students through the hiring and development of high-quality teachers.”
SD220 enrolls approximately 8,000 students across one high school, two middle schools, eight elementary schools, one early childhood center and a transition center for special education students.
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.