Valley View Board Of Ed, Valley View Council Reach Contract Agreement

BOLINGBROOK, IL — The Valley View School Board of Education and Valley View Council Local 604 have finalized the contract which covers over 1,800 members including teachers, nurses, paraprofessionals, security and maintenance employees, according to a news release.

Negotiations began in January, and despite a strike date being set, an agreement was reached last week and finalized Thursday.

“I want to thank everyone involved in this negotiations process for their thoughtful contributions,
dedication and patience,” VVSD Board President Steve Quigley said in a release. "In particular, a big thank you to my fellow Board members and the VVSD administration leadership team for their collective commitment to getting an agreement that respects the needs of the Valley View students, staff, and the community as a whole. The collective bargaining process can be difficult and contentious at times, however, the process is ultimately designed to bring people together, to communicate face-to-face on a path to finding common ground and working solutions.”

The Board approved the contract agreement in a vote taken during a special board meeting on Thursday, the District said. The Local 604 voted to ratify the contract on Wednesday.

“Throughout the entirety of this lengthy negotiation process, I was incredibly impressed by the high level of professionalism demonstrated by our educators, who never wavered from providing world class learning environments for all our learners," VVSD Superintendent Dr. Keith Wood added. "We look forward to renewing our focus on helping our students learn and grow while also supporting VVSD families.”

The contract is in effect immediately, according to the District. It will last through the 2028-29 school year.

“We can confidently say that we’ve reached a contract that benefits students and shows that the District values the people who teach, assist, support, prepare for, and safeguard those students every day,” said Valley View Council President Jared Ploger. “This process is a testament to how much our members care about their students and their outcomes. Our students and their families deserve a District that invests thoughtfully and responsibly in them while ensuring a strong future. Through this contract, our District commits to ensuring compensation is better aligned with the essential work staff do every day. In doing so, Valley View will be more competitive as an employer and stronger when it comes to retaining the great staff who work in our schools already. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Board and District, with the shared goal of always delivering high-quality, well-resourced education to our students.”

The exact terms and conditions of the contract can be found on the District website.