The Kewanee School Board has submitted its “last, best and final” contract offer to the union representing the district’s teachers and support staff, according to a news release issued by the board Tuesday afternoon.
The release said the offer, if accepted, sets pay increases over the next three years. The increases range from a total of 14.7 percent for beginning teachers to 24.27 percent for more-experienced teachers.
The board and the Kewanee Education Association (KEA) union have been negotiating a new contract since the previous contract expired Aug. 15.Those negotiations have included several joint meetings with federal mediators.
Representatives of the KEA and its parent organization, the Illinois Teachers Association, could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening,
“The main issue remaining between both parties was salary increases over the life of the three-year contract,” the board’s news release said.
Last Thursday the board submitted an offer to the KEA, according to the release, and “After not receiving a counter offer from the KEA during Monday’s mediation session, the board’s negotiating team submitted their last best and final offer.”
The offer sets forth different pay increases which depend on how much experience a teacher has:
— Beginning teacher salaries would be $42,541 for this school year, $44,468 for next school year and $46,454 for 2025-26, for a total increase of 14.7 percent over the three years.
— Teachers with two to eight years of experience would receive increases averaging 8.65 percent, 7.03 percent and 5.27 percent, a total of 20.6 to 24.27 percent for the three years.
— For teachers with 9-11 years of experience, increases would total 20.2 to 22.3 percent for the three years.
— Teachers with 12 or more years of experience would receive a total of 18.5 percent more salary over the three years.
“The board and the KEA have scheduled another mediation session that will take place in two weeks,” the release said. “The purpose of this meeting is to continue discussions concerning placement of certified staff members into the four groupings.”
