District 146 Educators Ratify New Contract, Call It A 'Strong Step' Forward

TINLEY PARK, IL — Certified teachers in District 146 voted Wednesday to accept the tentative agreement reached with the Board of Education last month that averted a work stoppage, the Illinois Federation of Teachers said Thursday.

Frustrated by months of ongoing negotiations, last month nearly all — 99 percent — of the district's teachers had voted to strike if an agreement couldn't be reached. The community rallied behind the teachers, calling on district administrators to make a deal happen.

District 146 Educators Council (Local 604) issued a statement following the ratification.

"When we started this bargaining process, we knew that teacher recruitment and retention had to be a main focus in order to best serve the students in District 146," the statement reads. "This agreement is a strong step towards that goal. By removing a limit on when educators must retire, and by bringing compensation closer to neighboring district standards, our district can better compete for teachers looking for jobs and ensure teachers who work here want to stay and build their career in our community."

More than 70 percent of members voted in favor of the agreement, the IFT said.

"We are proud of our members, who stood strong and united to get this done, and thankful for our students and families who joined us in calling for real solutions that would ensure a secure, stable future for District 146," the union's statement reads. "We are grateful to have reached this agreement and look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Board of Education and administration to give our students the high-quality education they deserve."

Patch has reached out to district administration for comment.