Teacher Contract Averages 4 Percent Increase

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Both the Du Quoin Education Association and Board of Education recently ratified a new three-year agreement that averages 4 percent wage and salary increases over the next three years.

The agreement was inked early and commences in the 2009-2010 school year.

Supt. Dr. Gary Kelly, Ph.D said the agreement addresses several items. First, there were a few language items that were addressed to benefit both groups in the operation of the district. The language items addressed included use of dock days, probationary periods for non-certified staff, sick leave bank uses, mileage reimbursement, etc.

The agreed upon salary package for certified and non-certified staff is greater than the last two contractual agreements yet, does not cause a greater outlay than the previous contract.

This is accomplished by the savings the district will experience through the planned retirement of staff. In the first, the certified staff will benefit from a compacted salary schedule that provides for a step down in experience and the movement of two steps up on the same schedule which equates to a $1,310 increase plus the step increase.

The benefit for the district includes two less salary steps that allow for the reduction of long term costs.

In years two and three the increase will be $1,100 plus a step down the salary schedule.

In a slightly higher package for non-certified staff, in year one a 50-cent per hour raise will take place for each non-certified staff member while in years two and three a 45 cent per hour raise will occur.

In examining the overall salary package there will be average 4 percent increase over the course of the 3-year contract with year one being a higher percentage and years two and three being less. Both groups are content with the current health insurance program that is in place which that has not seen tremendous increases in the past 3 years.

This agreement was passed by the DEA by a 2 to 1 margin with a unanimous vote of the Board of Education.