By Adam Studzinski
NORMAL – Unit 5 teachers officially have a new contract with the district.
Both the Unit 5 Education Association and the Board of Education ratified the two-year deal this week.
“I think I speak for everyone in the bargaining unit when I say that we have settled what is a fair contract and we’re very happy to be working with a contract again,” UFEA president Karl Goeke said.
The two sides had been negotiating since March. Teachers began work without a contract since at the beginning of the school year.
District attorney Curt Richardson said the first year of the contract calls for a .5 percent base salary increase. He added they would like to do more for the teachers, but under the current financial conditions this is the best they can do.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at adam.studzinski@cumulus.com.
