The District 39 Board of Education unanimously approved a four-year contract with the Wilmette Support Staff Union (SSU) at today’s Committee of the Whole Meeting. The SSU represents 198 non-teaching staff members within the district. This morning’s Board approval follows ratification of the agreement by the SSU on Wednesday, October 12.
This agreement offers a roadmap for increased compensation to achieve the Board’s goals of market adjustment and boosting the District's efforts to attract and retain staff in critical positions. Under the terms of the contract, members will receive a market adjustment in hourly pay in year one, with the remaining years aligning with the Consumer Pricing Index (CPI). With this agreed path, the final year of the contract will put the SSU compensation structure in alignment with that of the Wilmette Education Association structure.
“This multi-year agreement ensures competitive compensation for our support staff members, whose contributions are essential to delivering an exceptional education to the students of District 39,” said Dr. Kari Cremascoli, Superintendent of District 39. “This contract represents a fair and equitable agreement both for the Board and the SSU. It recognizes the hard work and contributions of our dedicated support staff team members while also aligning with the Board of Education’s long-standing commitment to fiscal responsibility. I would like to share my appreciation for both negotiating teams for demonstrating a willingness to truly listen and collaborate and for keeping the shared vision for the District 39 learning community at the forefront. Thank you.”
Several language adjustments within this contract reflect the emphasis in the District’s strategic plan of fostering a professional community that values, supports, develops, and retains highly effective staff. The agreement also aligns with D39 strategies to ensure a differentiated education that provides a strong foundation of rigorous academic learning for students while cultivating a supportive and inclusive learning community.
Under the terms of the contract, parameters are set for tuition reimbursement for education classes for members, a benefit that aims to engage and incentivize employees to work toward promotion to licensed staff positions, and also identifies additional training opportunities for paraprofessionals. Additionally, the agreement establishes a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to give members a framework for helping to advance D39 DEI efforts. The contract also includes several other language adjustments reflecting current practice, assisting both negotiating teams in accomplishing their goals while maintaining a collective focus on the District’s five-year Strategic Plan.
“As a Board, we value and are very grateful for the partnership with our dedicated, hard working and caring support staff team members,” added Amy Poehling, President of the Board of Education. “We are glad to be able to support their work through the terms of this contract and are very happy to have reached this agreement which reflects our mutual goals of excellence in education, safety and services to our community.”
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. Several D39 schools have been designated as Blue Ribbon schools by the US Department of Education and others have attained exemplary status from the Illinois State Board of Education.