River Forest District 90 teachers have a new contract that comes with an average salary increase of about 21% over four years.
Union and School Board members recently approved the contract, which is retroactive to the start of this school year and expires at the end of the 2028-2029 school year.
“We believe strongly that (the contract) demonstrates strong value to our extraordinary teachers while maintaining strong financial stewardship,” District 90 Superintendent Ed Condon said.
“I believe it represents a wise investment in the future of the children of our school community and the families of River Forest,” he added.
The contract covers the district’s 145 educators at its three schools.
Under the terms of the contract, teachers will receive an immediate average salary increase of 7.8% retroactive to the start of this school year. Teachers will receive a 4% salary increase in each of the next two school years. In the final year of the contract, salary increases will be determined by the consumer price index though pay hikes will be no less than 3.25% and no more than 5% that year.
With salaries and increased district contributions for health insurance and retirement benefits, the contract is expected to cost $55 million over the next four years, Condon said. The district, which has relied on reserve funds to balance deficit spending, will continue to draw down reserves to cover increased costs, Condon said.
Contract talks started last April and included several meetings with a mediator. In November, members of the River Forest Education Associated voted down proposed contract terms offered by the district.
In January, union officials said they were preparing for a potential strike after the district said it would initiate the public posting process, which would have resulted in the district and union posting their last, best and final offers with the Illinois Labor Relations Board. The district, however, never followed through with the posting as both sides continued talks.
During contract talks, union officials noted that District 90 teachers, on average, make less than their counterparts in neighboring districts. According to the 2025 Illinois State Report Card, the average teacher salary in District 90 was $77,679, or about $816 less than the state average.
Union officials said the contract helps keep District 90 salaries competitive with neighboring districts.
“We feel like this contract is an incredible step toward those goals,” said Lauren Baiocchi, co-president of the River Forest Education Association.
Both union and district officials thanked community members for their support.
Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
