advertisement

Batavia teachers union, school board reach new contract agreement

The Batavia Unit District 101 board and the Batavia Education Association - the union representing the district's teachers - have reached a deal on a four-year contract.

The agreement was announced at a special board meeting Wednesday night.

According to a news release from the district, the contract is in effect until June 30, 2027.

This agreement provides a 5% aggregate salary increase in the first two years and a 2% aggregate increase in the last two years. This contract allows for an average annual base salary increase of approximately 6.7% for individual educators, according to the release.

"This agreement is a significant achievement. It highlights our mutual commitment to putting students at the center of our mission and ensuring fiscal responsibility," Tony Inglese, chief negotiator for the school board, said in the release.

Key features of the agreement include:

• A restructured educator pay system that attracts and retains talented educators, rewards experience and promotes professional development.

• Competitive starting salaries to attract the best educators.

• Board-paid matching contributions to 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans.

• A new joint committee to coordinate the work of various teams, driving cohesion across the district for improvement efforts.

"This contract represents a shared vision of elevating educational standards, encouraging professional development and reinforcing community strength, all while living within our means. We want Batavia to be the district where our educators not only begin, but complete their careers here," Todd Swanson, union president, said in the release.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.