Rockford Public Schools has increased its offer of pay increases to teachers in an effort to settle a contract dispute days before the union is set to vote on a potential strike authorization.
Rockford Education Association members — the union representing about 2,000 licensed school staff — are scheduled to meet Saturday where a strike authorization vote is possible. Strike authorization does not automatically trigger a strike, but gives union leaders the authority to declare one if they feel it necessary.
However, the district during a Wednesday night bargaining session sweetened its offer, according to a post on the district website. It increased its proposed pay raises beyond what had been included in what was supposed to be the district’s last, best and final offer.
And the district is also now offering teachers a one-time $700 ratification bonus.
“Progress only happens when we engage in honest, meaningful dialogue,” Superintendent Ehren Jarrett said in a district message. “That’s what we saw last night. We’re encouraged by the collaborative tone and remain focused on finding solutions that reflect our respect for educators and our responsibility to the community.”
The distict thanked both bargaining teams “for a productive and focused” bargaining session Wednesday night that was supposed to be from 3 to 6 p.m. but lasted until 8:30 p.m.
District officials say it was a “a clear sign that meaningful dialogue was happening.”
Rockford Public Schools is offering a three-year labor agreement. Teachers have been working under terms of a four-year agreement that expired June 30. The latest offer is for salary increase of 4% in year one “with lane movement,” and a 4% increase in years two and three “with step and lane.”
Teachers get raises for years of service and additional educational attainment known as step and lane movement.
Rockford’s previous offer was said to represent $45 million worth of new money for teachers. And the previous offer represented an average raise per teacher of $10,000 over the three years. The latest offer is an increase from that, but precise dollar figures weren’t included in the release.
“Our educators deserve to feel valued, this proposal reflects that,” the district said in its website post. “At the same time, we are stewards of public funds, and we know our responsibility to taxpayers is just as important. Our goal has always been to offer competitive, fair compensation that honors our staff while keeping long-term stability in mind.”
Rockford Education Association leaders have been seeking 5% annual increases on top of step and lanes each year for three years.
REA President Claudia Marshall in a written statement said that the district’s latest offer shows officials heard the concerns of the 305 teachers who showed up to the Rockford School Board meeting this week. Teachers marched outside the meeting despite bitter cold temperatures, demanding a fair contract.
Marshall said that the district has so far not agreed to retroactive back pay that “honors the work our teachers have been doing all year.” And she said the latest offer would eliminate a step increase that could have financial consequences for the entire career of a teacher in the district. Marshall said that most Rockford teachers are Rockford residents and that investing in them is an investment in the city.
“We are hemorrhaging teachers,” Marshall said. “More than 70% of REA members have considered leaving the district mainly due to financial reasons and increasing workload. That’s why we have more than 70 open positions right now. We need to be investing in our public schools.”
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford Public Schools sweetens offer to teachers
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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