The Duneland School Board at a special meeting Friday approved a new two-year contract with the Duneland Teachers Association that keeps the staff among the best paid in the state.
The vote was three board members for the contract with an abstention from Jocelyn Hibshman, because her husband is a Duneland teacher. School Board member Kirk Redman was absent.
School Board President Brandon Kroft thanked the community for making the contract possible.
Duneland voters on Nov. 4 renewed an operating referendum that will raise up to $16.1 million annually for the district. By approving the referendum, residents in effect will be giving most of the property tax savings created by Senate Enrolled Act 1 back to the district.
Kroft said that he also appreciated that all the parties — the administration, school board and teachers association — are “pulling in the same direction.”
Bob DeRuntz, co-president of the Duneland Teachers Association, also expressed his thanks.
“We are exceedingly grateful, not only to our community and their support of the referendum, but to the administration and the school board for your spirit of collaboration to put together a contract that truly puts the focus on our teachers and students in the classroom,” DeRuntz said.
DeRuntz said the contract makes it possible for Duneland to attract and retain a great teaching staff, and that’s a benefit for students.
Board members Alayna Lightfoot Pol and Beth Mehling also noted the importance of attracting and retaining teachers.
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Duneland was 8th in the state last year in teacher pay. Assistant Superintendent Robert McDermott said he believes that Duneland will rank in the top five in the state with the new contract, which raises starting pay to $56,500 for this school year and to $59,000 for 2026-27.
The Duneland Board and administration have made it a priority to significantly improve teacher pay. In 2016-17, the starting salary for a Duneland teacher was $39,000.
The new contract is retroactive to July 1, 2025, and runs through June 30, 2027.
Under the proposed terms, most teaching employees will receive salary increases of $3,000 and a $500 stipend for each school year.
First-year employees will receive a $2,500 increase and a one-time payment of $500.
The contract also carries a provision for a negotiation reopener concerning the health insurance, if the cost goes up more than 4% for the 2026-27 school year.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.