District 118 Agrees To New Teacher Contract, Announces Promotion

After a lengthy round of negotiations, teachers in have come to terms with the board and have signed off on a new contract. 

In a statement from the district, the new contract is described as providing, "fair compensation to teachers and is a cooperative effort to focus on fiscal responsibility." 

The contract will cover the 2012-2015 school years. Teachers will see a 2.6 percent raise in each of the three years of the contract. 

The contract will place a cap on health insurance increases and the pay rates for extra-curricular activities will be frozen. A joint committee is working to update a new extra-curricular schedule.  

In addition to a new contract, the district will also be welcoming a new administrator next year. 

Kimberly Phelan was named the new assistant principal of at the board's meeting on June 19.

Phelan is a seven-year veteran of the district and has been teaching language arts at Palos South. She has a degree in family science and human development from the University of Illinois and master's degrees in elementary education and school leadership.