Voting to strike on Feb. 27, after working 242 days without a contract, teachers and other staff at Zion-Benton Township High School hoped to accelerate the progress of negotiations with the administration. Within a week, there was a tentative deal.
Developing a pay scale competitive with school districts similar to Zion-Benton Township High School District 126, as well as other working conditions, took nearly two more months to complete.
The District 126 Board of Education unanimously approved a four-year contract Tuesday resulting in increased pay for teachers and other staff represented by the Zion-Benton Federation of Teachers union.
A four-year agreement, the contract is retroactive to July 1 and expires on June 30, 2027, according to its terms. The teachers and other staff worked without a contract for 298 days. Union President Kelly Regnier said Wednesday that 83.5% of the members voted yes on the proposed deal.
Along with the district’s teachers, Regnier said the 270-member union represents teacher’s aids, clerical staff, information technology workers and employees other than maintenance staff, cafeteria workers and bus drivers.
Teachers will receive a raise in the first year of between 3.2% and 10% — increasing salaries to between $44,993 and $114,145 — based on experience and education, according to the contract. The percentage variance aligns with one of the key goals of all parties involved.
“We wanted to make salaries competitive with other districts in the area to attract and retain teachers,” Regnier said. “This is why some of our more experienced teachers are getting a lower (percentage) raise.”
District 126 Superintendent Jesse Rodriguez said Wednesday that keeping experienced teachers and bringing well-qualified teachers to the high school amid a national teacher shortage is important.
“People are our most important asset,” Rodriguez said. “The reality of the market means we have to find many ways to achieve success to provide the best possible education for our students.”
District 126 Board of Education President Jerry Nordstrom said in a statement collaboration between all parties led to an agreement aligned with the district’s strategic plan with “a positive and supportive environment for both students and staff.”
“The finalized contract terms demonstrate a collaborative effort between the Board of Education, school district and our dedicated staff, emphasizing improvements in working conditions, fair compensation and enhanced educational outcomes,” Nordstrom said.
Taking a less rosy tone, Regnier said the contract offers positives like improved conditions surrounding sick leave or bereavement leave giving teachers sufficient time to return to the classroom fully ready to teach their students, but drawbacks remain.
“They say a good contract is one where both sides walk away unhappy,” Regnier said. “This is a good deal, but our membership is not jumping over the moon.”
Rodriguez said the final outcome produced an agreement that supports education within the resources of the district. It is fair for the teachers and other members of the staff.
“It was done in a way that was responsible and sustainable for our community,” Rodriguez said. “It provides for professional development and supports for education. It’s an investment in our students.”
A 25-year veteran teacher in the district, Regnier said the rough edges still need to be smoothed into a feeling of unity between all stakeholders.
“Zion-Benton is a community school,” Regnier said. “This has always been a tight-knit community and it does not feel like it used to.”
Both Rodriguez and Regnier share one goal they consider vital—providing the students with the best possible education is paramount.
