By AP/KWMU
Collinsville, IL – Teachers in the Collinsville Education Association approved a three-year contract last night with nearly 84% approval to avoid a strike that would have started today.
The new contract will give teachers a 15% pay raise over three years; they had originally asked for 18%. The union settled for the offer after the school board bumped it from 12%.
Union spokeswoman Sandy DiStefano says the agreement isn't ideal, but it's the best teachers could get. Schools Superintendent Dennis Craft says he's pleased the district's 6,000 students won't be affected by a strike.
But he says the district will have to make some cuts. Even before the agreement, the district projected a $4 million deficit for this year.