BREAKING NEWS (UPDATED): D181 Board, Teachers Reach Tentative Agreement

UPDATED: 1:08 p.m.

The District 181 Board of Education and the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Teachers' Association (HCHTA) have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract more than seven weeks after the last contract expired on Aug. 24.

According to a joint statement from the board and union sent out by District 181 director of communications Rita DuChateau, the agreement was reached during Wednesday's mediation session. The agreement is tentative until it is ratified by the teachers' union and approved by the board. 

"Neither party will comment further until after the HCHTA ratification vote and Board approval," the joint statement reads.

The release gave no details on teacher salaries going forward, which had been the sticking point in negotiations. 

proposed a base and step freeze during the first half of year one before step increases kick in the second half of the year. In year two, there would another hard freeze during the first half of the year, then a 1.75 base increase plus step during the second half of the year. In year three, teachers would get a 2.2 percent base increase plus step.

The board has only made public one offer, which would include a base and step freeze during year one, step increases only in year two, and a base increase equal to 50 percent of the Consumer Price Index (though not to exceed 2.25 percent) plus step increases in year three.

HCHTA President Justin Horne said over the phone Thursday that the union has yet to schedule a meeting date for ratification.

DuChateau said in an email that she had no information about the board's timeline for approval. 

The next board meeting is Monday night, but it is a Committee of the Whole meeting, not a business meeting.

"The Board does not take action at a Committee of the Whole meeting," DuChateau's email reads.

However, a special meeting can be called so long as the community is given 48 hours' notice, according to DuChateau.

Earlier: BREAKING NEWS: Tentative Settlement Reached Between District 181 and Teachers Union

by Sabrina Wu

The Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Teachers Association and District 181 negotiating teams have reached a tentative agreement, according to a joint statement released by the HCHTA and District 181 Thursday. 

, which went into mediation in early August .

The current contract between the school district and teachers union expired on Aug. 24.

"Neither party will comment further until after the HCHTA ratification vote and Board approval," the joint statement reads.

The agreement is subject to teacher ratification and school board approval.

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