Contract Reached Between District 99 And Educators

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — After months of negotiations, the Community High School District 99 board of education and the Downers Grove High School Education Association (DGEA) have reached a contract agreement. The five-year contract received unanimous approval from District 99 board members at a May 1 meeting.

Pay increases are one big change teachers can expect to see in the first year after the contract becomes effective on the first day of the 2025-26 school year. Teachers will receive a pay hike of 4.02 percent the initial year of the contract.

According to a news release from District 99, "Savings from retirement will help keep the net increase of the contract in line with the district’s expected budget with an addition of a matching retirement contribution option for our early career educators."

It's anticipated more than 50 district educators will retire during the term of the contract.

"I truly believe this agreement reflects a commitment not only to our collective association, but also to the approximately 425 individual members who bring it to life each day," DGEA President and Downers Grove North High School teacher Josh Bodenheimer said in a statement.

Christopher Esposito, who is DGEA's lead negotiator and a department chair at Downers Grove South High School added, “This contract is a reflection of the DGEA’s and administration’s commitment to our shared value of putting students first and working collaboratively to solve problems.The new contract is a fair agreement that demonstrates the importance our district leadership places on the certified staff members of District 99."