Indian Prairie District 204

The Indian Prairie District 204 Board has approved a new four-year contract for teachers.

The approval at last week’s meeting came after 71 percent of Indian Prairie Education Association (IPEA) members voted in favor of approving the teachers’ contract.

The new agreement calls for an increase in salaries of 4.13 percent in year one, 3.50 percent in year two, 3.43 percent in year three and 3.46 percent in the fourth year.

Additionally, coaches and club sponsors will see an increase in stipends for their after-school work and the starting salary for first-year teachers will increase by $1,000, bringing it to $44,770.

The contract also includes language that either side may terminate the contract after year two if the district experiences significant financial hardship or an increase in revenue due to legislative changes from the State.

Board of Education President Mike Raczak described the agreement as a balance of fiscal responsibility and honoring the work of teachers.

“This contract reflects the positive relationship we have with our teaching staff. It is a fair agreement that allows the board to maintain a balanced budget,” he said.

“The association’s bargaining team entered into negotiations seeking to reach an agreement that is respectful to the teachers in Indian Prairie and the community,” IPEA President Paul Gamboa said.

Indian Prairie students continue to achieve record-setting ACT/SAT scores and perform significantly higher than state averages on standardized tests.

In addition, all three District 204 high schools recently made U.S. News & World Report’s national list of Best High Schools and were ranked in the top 25 for the state.

IPEA has more than 2,000 members, making up close to 70 percent of the district’s workforce. Both the IPEA and the Board of Education continue to focus on preparing students for their futures and inspiring all students to achieve their greatest potential.

–District 204 board approves four-year contract for teachers–