District 115 Approves 3-Year Teacher Contract

board members approved a 3-year teachers union contract Monday. Here is the news release the school district provided Tuesday:

The Yorkville District 115 Board of Education approved a three-year contract with the Yorkville Education Association (YEA) at its Board of Education Meeting on May 7. This marks the first time in three negotiations that completion has taken place prior to the end of the current contract, according to Dr. Scott Wakeley, Yorkville Superintendent of Schools.

“We are pleased with the quality of trust and collaboration between the District and the teachers,” said Wakeley.  “These relationships have been fostered over the past two years and we are reaping the benefits of mutual understanding between all parties involved.” he said.

“I was pleased we were able to communicate openly and effectively at the bargaining table. We believe we have a contract that is fair to everyone, recognizes the current economic and educational circumstances we face, and allows us to move forward together to continue to provide the best possible education to the students of our District,” said Martha Venetucci, President of the YEA. 

Details of the contract include an adjusted equalized salary structure, with average flat increases of $2485, $2300, and $2200 for the life of the contract, this takes into consideration that teachers and in Yorkville 115 will have longest school year in the area.

Other details of the contract include an agreement by the teachers to participate in two additional non-student contact days, which will be structured by the District for training and additional staff development opportunities.  These days will enable staff to work toward strategic goals and initiatives, as set forth in the new Strategic Planning process. Furthermore, teachers who earn National Board certification receive recognition on the salary schedule once they verify completion of the requirements of the program,

“This collaboration by both sides of the table enables District 115 to continue to be fiscally healthy,” said Dave Dockstader, President of the Yorkville 115 Board of Education.  “Great work was conducted by both sides and a good agreement was reached,” he said.

The YEA and the District continue to work on the impact that rising insurance premiums have on the District including a district insurance cap cost of 10% for each of the next three years, as well as, TRS employee contribution capped at 9.4%, subject to re-opening if employer or employee contributions are impacted by changes in the legislation. Additionally, the new contract eliminates the Early Retirement Option.

“We are pleased,” said Dockstader, “that this contract allows Yorkville District 115 to be comparable with other school districts in the area.”