New 5-year contracts approved for Winnetka School District 36; raises included

The Winnetka District 36 school board has approved a new five-year contract with the union representing its teachers highlighted by annual salary raises of up to 4.5%.

School board members unanimously approved the new pact set to run through 2027 with the Winnetka Education Association at their May 24 meeting, according to a Winnetka 36 statement.

The current agreement concluded at the end of June 2022.

Under the pact, teachers will receive annual salary raises of between 3 to 4.5%, which is similar to the expiring contract.

Teaching associates and entrance monitors will also see a 4% raise, the statement noted.

The contract also creates cost sharing for the most expensive health insurance plan, provides incentives for ongoing professional growth (specifically in instructional areas deemed most needed and a decrease in retirement track incentives intending to reflect the overall market, according to the statement.

The average teacher salary in the 2022-23 school year is anticipated to be $95,555, according to District 36 spokeswoman Kate Hughes. She said there are 215 certified staff members.

District 36 President Emily Rose was pleased with the new contract.

“I am grateful for the collaborative effort demonstrated by the school board, WEA, and administrative team throughout the negotiation process. This agreement values the collective work of our teachers, associates, and entrance monitors for the students of Winnetka, while upholding our responsibility to taxpayers in our community,” Rose said in a statement.

WEA President Stacey Wellman offered a similar sentiment.

“The teachers and associates are pleased that an agreement has been efficiently reached, and we look forward to continuing to focus on our students and on delivering an exceptional education program,” Wellman said in the release.

Winnetka 36 has three kindergarten through fourth grade schools, the Skokie School for fifth and grades and Carleton Washburne for seventh and eighth grades.

The school district will have a new superintendent in 2022-2023 as Kelly Tess has been promoted upon the resignation of Trisha Kocanda.