The Northbrook School District 28 Board of Education approved a new three-year contract with the Northbrook Federation of Teachers on Dec. 18.
The board’s approval followed ratification by the federation’s membership on Dec. 15, according to a news release.
Under the agreement, teachers will see a 7 % salary increase in 2023-24, 4.25 % in 2024-25 and 4 % in 2025-26. The increases will allow District 28 to stay competitive with surrounding districts while remaining fiscally responsible, accounting for additional professional staff hirings, incentivized higher education, and a new streamlined salary schedule with predictable wage increases for teachers, the release said.
The agreement, according to the release, is the result of more than a year of negotiations in the first-ever labor contract between the 247 certified educators and the Board of Education.
“I am honored to have served on the negotiating team that created a momentous first contract. This agreement is a culmination of many months of hard work and collaboration between NFT28, the board and the administration,” Board President Jennifer Gallinson said in a statement. “This agreement is a culmination of many months of hard work and collaboration between NFT28, the board and the administration. The agreement was guided by the key principles of D28: providing the best educational opportunities for our students while preserving the culture of collaboration and community among teachers, staff and administration. We are proud to be in partnership with NFT28 and look forward to continuing our work together.”
NFT28 is led by an elected Core Council, made up of nine teachers from across the four school buildings, the release said. Some CC leaders worked with other representative teachers to negotiate for the union and its members during this process.
“NFT28 appreciates the work and time that went into the first contract, and we are thrilled with the collaborative effort and relationship-building that occurred during this process. We believe the contract will help to maintain District 28’s ongoing success, with the best possible teaching environment for teachers and learning environment for students,” according to a statement released by the NFT28 Core Council.
The agreement also addresses many procedures and benefits including:
Procedures for teacher vacancies, building transfers, moving classrooms, and annual grade level or related service assignments
Provisions for sick, personal and FMLA leave
Professional learning opportunities and processes including reimbursement provisions for teacher-requested workshops and conferences
Teacher salary upgrade and tuition reimbursement when completing approved advanced coursework
Financial assistance for the certification application fee upon completing National Board Certification
Personnel support for beginning and end-of-year classroom preparation
Dedicated time for school-certified personnel and school-based administrators to meet
Additionally, the contract provides for union and management rights, and a joint committee comprised of the teacher leadership council and district administrators to meet regularly, the release said.
