District 300 board inks new 2-year agreement with teachers and non-certified personnel
The Du Quoin Board of Education Thursday approved a new two-year contract with the 98 certified teachers and 54 non-certified staff members in District 300.
The Du Quoin Education Association approved the contract at a meeting on Wednesday by a vote of 72-20.
The contract provides for a $780 increase for teachers the first year and an $1,180 increase the second year.
The increase amounts to a 1.5 percent increase the first year and a 2 percent increase the second year.
Non-certified personnel will receive a 20-cent per hour increase the first4 yer and a 25-cent per hour increase the second year.
The increases mirror the teacher increases--1.5 percent the first year and 2 percent the second year.
Supt. Dr. Gary Kelly said there are handful of other less significant contract items like flex time.
ŅIf a teacher is gone they have to find a sub,Ó he said.
Open house in the district will return to a week night.
Maternity leave will be 12 weeks (60 days).
Dr. Kelly said he and board members met with representatives of the association only three times. Everyone understands the challenges of the current state financing and budget climate.
He was grateful for the cooperation in achieving a new two-year contract long before the opening of school next fall.
The board approved a maternity leave for Jennifer Craft which would tentatively begin August 16, 2016 and run through October 14, 2016. Jessica Hamburger will be on a maternity leave that would begin August 17, 2016 and run through September 30, 2016.
Dr. Kelly and DHS assistant principal Jeff Gossett advised the board in a letter of their intent to retire at the end of the 2018-2019 year.
The board heard the update on an amended 2016-2017 school budget with revenue of $13,740,000 and expenses of $13,648,000, which would end the year with a surplus.
The FBLA trip to nationals in Atlanta was approved as was a 2017 band trip to Disney World in Orlando, a trip planned once every four years so members of each DHS class get to go once.