Blue Ridge Board approves new contract

Teacher
The Blue Ridge board also during Wednesday’s special session approved salaries for non-union personnel including three percent increases for principals and the curriculum coordinator. (Photo Pixabay)

 

By Greg Halbleib

FARMER CITY – The Blue Ridge school board has unanimously approved a three-year contract with teachers and staff.

The agreement was approved Sunday by the teachers union. It calls for pay increases of 2.75 percent each year and an increase in starting teacher pay to just over $37,000. The district will increase its contribution to health savings accounts to $2,500 and sick days are increased from 14 days to up to 21 days depending on years of service.

The Blue Ridge board also during Wednesday’s special session approved salaries for non-union personnel including three percent increases for principals and the curriculum coordinator. Other department heads and non-union personnel receive raises similar to those under the union contract.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…