The District 39 Board of Education unanimously approved a five-year contract with the Wilmette Education Association (WEA) this evening at a special meeting. This marks the first time since 2016 that the full WEA contract was reviewed, as only financial issues were addressed in the last two negotiations of 2019 and 2021. This evening’s Board approval follows ratification of the agreement by the WEA, which represents 350 teachers within the district, on Friday, Sept. 22.
The five-year agreement, which runs from 2023-28, provides faculty with annual salary raises between 2.5-5.0%, tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Other key terms of the agreement focus on the identified needs of increased time and wages and include increased plan time for special education teachers, increased opportunities for support when assisting students in crisis, redesigned meeting schedules to support more purposeful meetings with targeted audiences, added stipends for service recognition, and increased stipend amounts for extra duties and educational advancement of teachers.
“I believe that this new agreement addresses the needs identified by both the Board and Union leadership,” said Dr. Kari Cremascoli, Superintendent of District 39. “We are incredibly proud of the work that our teachers and faculty do within our schools, and are grateful to the WEA for their partnership and collaboration throughout the negotiating process. It was through this collaboration and a genuine commitment to open dialogue and shared goals, that our negotiating teams succeeded in reaching a deal that honors, celebrates and rewards the hard work and contributions of our teachers and faculty while also maintaining fiscal responsibility and long-term planning objectives.”
“We are proud of the efforts of our bargaining team and of the progress that we have made in this contract,” said Anne Bishop, President of the WEA. “The professionals that make up our membership work hard to make a difference every day in our schools; we appreciate the Board’s collaboration in negotiating a contract that reflects the value our community places on education. Over the next five years we will continue to advocate, as always, for the best possible working conditions for our members, in order to create the best possible learning conditions for our students.”
The President of the District 39 Board of Education, Erin Stone, added her congratulations to the teams and expressed her appreciation for their work. “The Board values the partnership with our talented and dedicated educators,” stated Ms. Stone. “We are grateful for this agreement and look forward to continuing to work together toward the common goal of providing an outstanding education for the students of District 39.”
Wilmette Public Schools District 39 serves approximately 3,500 students in PreK-8th grade throughout Wilmette and in parts of Glenview. A District 39 education engages, empowers, and inspires students to lead academically successful, socially responsible, compassionate, and purposeful lives. District 39 is committed to providing a safe and equitable learning environment that fosters a mindset of empathy, respect and belonging for all students and staff.
The four District 39 elementary schools – Central, Harper, McKenzie and Romona – as well as Highcrest Middle School and Wilmette Junior High School are among some of the most distinguished schools in the state. Romona was recently designated as a National Blue Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education for the third time, one of several D39 schools to have attained exemplary status from the Illinois State Board of Education.