The Rockford Public School Board approved a three-year labor agreement with the Rockford Education Association (REA) on Tuesday.
Union members approved the agreement last week, following more than a year of negotiations. The contract will be effective from July 1st, 2017 through June 30, 2020.
The agreement includes a total base salary increase equal to 5% over three years.
The contract includes plans to launch a voluntary elementary school pilot program, called Elementary Innovation Zones, which intends to target elementary schools in priority areas with additional funding and staff.
Superintendent Ehern Jarrett says, “This contract represents a significant investment in our elementary schools. It’s a creative, collaborative effort with the REA to really make a difference in teaching and learning.”
The contract also adds an early retirement incentive and scheduled pay scale bumps. The total financial impact of the contract is $20.6 million over the course of three years.
