Waukegan teachers approve new contract agreement
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) -- Waukegan teachers have approved a contract agreement with the school board, but all schools will remain closed Thursday and Friday.
The Waukegan Teachers Council approved the agreement Thursday evening with an 86 percent affirmative vote. The agreement was reached just before midnight Wednesday between the council and the Waukegan Board of Education.
Teachers will return to school Friday, while classes will resume Monday for all students.
"We're just hoping to get back into the classroom and hope that our kids haven't forgotten everything that we taught them a month ago," said Allison Herrmann, a teacher.
"The biggest thing is the three-year contract, that's what we were holding out for for so long," said Heather Mader, Waukegan Teachers' Council. "To be able to get a three-year contract would give us stability, we'll know what we're going into, people will be able to plan financially."
Sources said there was compromise by both the teacher union and the Board of Education regarding salary increases and insurance contributions. This compromise is the other side of the - at times - heated and emotional debate over the contract negotiations.
"We're hoping that the passion that people had during the course of this strike carries over, and that that passion could be seen in the classroom," said Nicholas Alajakis, Waukegan School Board spokesman.
Salary raises were a big sticking point during the negotiations, with the teachers asking for a 9 percent raise in the first year of a new contract and the district offering only 1 percent. The parties met near the middle, with longtime teachers in the district receiving a nearly 6 percent raise in the first year of the three-year deal.
Health insurance was also a contentious issue. The tentative agreement shows the district has agreed to pay for teachers' premiums and part of any coverage plan that extends to teachers' family members.
Meanwhile, parents were notified early Thursday morning that school may begin on Monday - a relief to parents juggling child care.
"It's been terrible. The kids are out of school," said Jesus Munoz, a parent. "It's been a hard time finding babysitting. It's been really difficult right now."
"It's been totally different and disruptive, changing plans, making new plans, trying to keep them steady," said Renwick Cornelius, a parent.
"I'm happy they're going back, because my son misses school, he loves school, so I'm just happy that they'll hopefully be back in school Monday," said Kenyota Hayes, a parent.
The 20 school days missed during the strike will be made up by teachers on mutually agreed upon holidays, school breaks and non-attendance days. Anything left over will be made up in June.
