Schools

Should Taxpayers Determine Teachers' Salaries and Contracts?

One Patch reader thinks so, arguing that the new three-year agreement between Consolidated High School District 230 and its teachers should have had more say in the matter. Tell us what you think.

The Consolidated High School District 230 Board of Education approved a new three-year contract late last month for its teachers after three months of negotiations. 

The highlights of the contract include the following, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune:

  • An average salary increase of 3 percent in the first year, with increases following inflation based on the consumer price index for the rest of the contract.
  • Stipends for coaches and extracurricular advisers are on a soft freeze for the first year, with CPI-based increases for the rest of the contract.
  • Teachers have a higher pay-in for health insurance.
  • Teachers receive an $850 annual stipend to offset additional classroom teaching time because of a 35-minute extension to the school day except on Wednesdays.
Patch reader james urban, however, took issue with the new contract, particularly the salary increases based on inflation. Here's an excerpt of what he wrote on the Tinley Park Patch Speak Out Board:

"It is so nice that us taxpayers do not get raises for inflation and the values of our homes keep going down but these people who are paid by our taxes keep demanding more. I as a taxpayer do not believe these people should get any raises, should all take pay cuts as they were off all summer and when their contracts come up for renewal we the taxpayers should be the ones saying yes or no NOT THE SCHOOL BOARD."
What do you think of this reader's assessment of the new contract? Should taxpayers have more control over approval of a teachers' contract? And should teachers not get raises because they are off during the summer?

READ: Check Out the Full Tribune Article for More Details

YOUR TURN: Share your thoughts in the comments section.


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