After seven months of negotiations, River Forest School District 90 and the River Forest Education Association have reached a tentative agreement for a new four-year teacher contract. The pact followed a mediated bargaining session on Nov. 10.
According to a joint statement by Supt. Ed Condon and RFEA co-presidents Cindy Crannell and Lauren Ortiz, the tentative agreement is subject to review and ratification by union members, as well as final board of education approval.
Crannell said Tuesday that “voting will start on Dec. 1 and be open for a few days.”
Terms of the agreement were not available Tuesday. The joint statement noted both negotiations teams agreed not to release details until final ratification and approval.
The main point of contention in the negotiations, which included two mediators this fall, was teacher compensation. While administrative salaries in District 90 have kept pace with comparable school districts, Crannell and Ortiz had said, teachers’ salaries in River Forest have fallen behind. Without a new contract, the district runs the risk of losing teachers to higher-paying districts, which could lead to increased teacher turnover.
“We are pleased that the parties reached a tentative agreement through a collaborative effort,” the statement added.