District 99 Approves Support Staff Contract

The District 99 Board of Education approved a three-year contract with the D99 Support Staff Association June 20 that includes a 3.3 percent annual increase, including salaries and benefits, in the support staff salary budget. 

The association includes includes non-certified staff at , and the Administrative Service Center.

According to a district press release, starting July 1, support staff will receive a 3.4 percent salary increase in the first year and a 3 percent increase in each of the subsequent two years.

Support staff received a 1 percent increase raise for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the release said. 

"Savings from retirements and staff turnover will help keep the net increase of the contract in line with the District’s expected budgetary constraints over the next three years," the release said. 

“While many other districts in the state have reduced staff or cut wages to balance their budget, we at District 99 have worked hard to reduce and control costs in many significant areas, including our transportation and employee benefit costs, which puts us in a stable financial condition,” said District 99 Controller Mark Staehlin in the release.

“We are pleased that we are in a position to share a small portion of these savings with support staff, who will receive a very modest raise that is only slightly above the cost of living increase for each of the next three years.”

“It was a pleasure working with leaders of the association,” said Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Lisa Smith, who was also part of the negotiation, in the release.

“Everyone at the bargaining table recognized our financial limitations and current state of the economy. We identified our collective interests and worked collaboratively to reach a favorable agreement to everyone involved.”

“The Association feels the three year agreement is very amicable,” said Association President Mark McConnell in the release.

“Our members appreciate a fair deal while allowing the district to work within its budget. We are looking forward to bringing our best efforts, as we always have, to the workplace in order to benefit the children in the community and their education.”