KEWANEE, Ill. — Update Thursday, Nov. 16: News 8 received the following statement from the Kewanee Education Association's President Ruth Kapacinskas in regard to the district's offer announced on Oct. 31.
"We reviewed the district’s data and met again with them tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 16). We still have concerns around their latest offer, and do not think it does enough to attract and retain the quality educators students need. It is unfortunate the district is no longer interested in bargaining with us. That said, we do believe the current offer on the table is a step in the right direction and we will take the offer to our members for their feedback."
Previous Story:
The Kewanee school district has given its teachers a new contract offer amid an ongoing dispute regarding their pay.
In a media release dated Oct. 31, district officials said they met with federal mediators and the Kewanee Education Association, where the Kewanee School Board offered what it called its "last, best, and final" offer to the teachers.
The release states that salary increases throughout the three-year contract are the remaining sticking point in negotiations. The increases, which differ based on the number of years a teacher has worked for the district, under the proposed contract can be found below.
Beginning Teacher
- 2023-24: $42,541 (5%)
- 2024-25: $44,668 (5%)
- 2025-26: $46,454 (4%)
- Total increase over three years: 14.7%
Teachers with 2-8 years of experience
- 2023-24: 7.03%-10.28% (8.65% average)
- 2024-25: 7.03%
- 2025-26: 5.27%
- Total increase over three years: 20.6%-24.27%
Teachers with 9, 10 & 11 years of experience
- 2023-24: 6.97%-8.89% (7.93% average)
- 2024-25: 6.5%
- 2025-26: 5.5%
- Total increase over three years: 20.2%-22.3%
Teachers with 12 or more years of experience
- 2023-24: 6%
- 2024-25: 6%
- 2025-26: 5.5%
- Total increase over three years: 18.5%
Negotiating teams for the Kewanee School Board and Kewanee Education Association will meet again for another mediation session in two weeks.
News 8 reached out to the Kewanee Education Association before publishing this story, but as of 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 1, we have not received a response.
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel