Grievance
Arbitration Binding — Binding arbitration through American Arbitration Association
If the Association is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance at 3, the Association may submit the grievance to final and binding arbitration through the American Arbitration Association.
Compensation
Assignment Notice Deadline — Written notice of tentative class/subject assignments no later than last teacher work day of current school year
All Teachers shall be given written notice of their tentative class and/or subject assignments for the forthcoming year not later than the last Teacher work day of the current school year.
Leave
Association Leave — Up to 2 days per school year for IEA Delegate Assembly
In the event the AEA desires to send a teacher(s) to the IEA Delegate Assembly, the Teacher(s) shall be excused without loss of salary providing: a. The total amount of time so taken does not exceed a maximum of two (2) days per school year.
Compensation
Ba Max Salary — BA Step 23 base salary 2025-2026
B column Step 23: $72,628.61
Compensation
Ba Min Salary — Class size guidelines: K-2: 24 students; 3-5: 25 students; 6-8: 26 students; 9-12: 28 students
K-2: 24 students; 3-5: 25 students; 6-8: 26 students; 9-12: 28 students
Compensation
Base Salary Increase Yr1 — Tuition reimbursement rate for undergraduate course work
Pre-approved course work will be reimbursed upon satisfactory completion at the rate of One Hundred Fifty and 00/100 Dollars ($150.00) per credit hour or the actual cost of the tuition, whichever is less.
Compensation
Base Salary Increase Yr2 — 4.0% increase plus Step
Salary: the following increases for each year of this three (3)-year contract are as follows: 2025-2026 4.0%, plus Step 2026-2027 4.0%, plus Step 2027-2028 4.0%, plus Step
Compensation
Base Salary Increase Yr3 — 4.0% increase plus Step
Salary: the following increases for each year of this three (3)-year contract are as follows: 2025-2026 4.0%, plus Step 2026-2027 4.0%, plus Step 2027-2028 4.0%, plus Step
Leave
Bereavement Days — Up to 2 days of sick leave for death not in immediate family, discretionary beyond that
Each Teacher may use up to two (2) days of sick leave per year in the event of a death of a person(s) not in the immediate family. More days may be granted at the discretion of the Superintendent.
Other
Citizen Complaint Procedure — Teacher has 10-day window to attach written rebuttal to citizen complaint in personnel file
If the written complaint becomes a part of the Teacher's personnel file, the Teacher is required to attend an informal conference with an administrator regarding complaint and the Teacher shall have the opportunity to attach a written rebuttal within ten (10) days.
Other
Class Size Guidelines — K-2: 24 students; 3-5: 25 students; 6-8: 26 students; excludes band/chorus/PE/study hall
K – 2: 24 students; 3 – 5: 25 students; 6 – 8: 26 students. These limitations shall not apply to band/chorus/PE/study hall. If class size exceeds these guidelines, teacher(s), Association representative, building principal and Superintendent will confer and develop a recommendation to the Board.
Other
Complaint Informal Conference — Informal conference with administrator about complaints from citizens
Any complaint by a citizen deemed legitimate to justify investigation shall be brought to immediate attention and appropriate administrator shall relate complaint(s) to that Teacher either in written or oral form.
Other
Complaint Written Rebuttal Days — Teacher has 10 days to attach written rebuttal to personnel file
If the written complaint becomes a part of the Teacher's personnel file, the Teacher is required to attach a written rebuttal within ten (10) days.
Other
Consulting Teacher Assigned — Consulting Teacher assigned to teacher on Remediation Plan
A Consulting Teacher shall be assigned to the teacher on a Remediation Plan as the RP is being developed.
Evaluation
Consulting Teacher Assignment — Consulting Teacher assigned for remediation plan; must meet requirements of ILCS 5/24A-5(j)
A Consulting Teacher shall be assigned to the teacher on an RP as the RP is being developed. The Consulting Teacher shall meet the requirements established in ILCS 5/24A-5(j).
Other
Consulting Teacher Required — Consulting Teacher assigned during Remediation Plan; must meet ILCS 5/24A-5(j) requirements
A Consulting Teacher shall be assigned to the teacher on an RP as the RP is being developed. The Consulting Teacher shall meet the requirements established in ILCS 5/24A-5(j).
Workday
Contract Days Teacher — Teachers shall not be required to work more than 180 days per school year without extended contract or extra-duty pay
Teachers shall not be required to work more than one hundred eighty (180) days per school year without extended-contract or extra-duty pay, provided that newly hired Teachers shall be required to participate in the New Teacher's Workshop.
Other
Contract Duration — August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2028
This Agreement is in full force and effective between 01 August 2025 and 31 July 2028.
Workday
Daily Work Hours — Teachers shall be required to work no more than 7 hours and 45 minutes each day
Teachers shall be required to work no more than seven (7) hours and forty-five (45) minutes each day. Teachers will be required to work a longer day, on occasion, to accommodate faculty/staff meetings, parent/student/administrator conferences, open houses, staffing, extra duties for which compensation is paid, emergencies, and field trips.
Insurance
Dental Coverage — Dental and vision programs available; difference between monthly premium and allotted dollars applied to monthly premium
If the teacher wishes to participate in the dental and/or vision programs then the difference between the monthly premium amount and the allotted dollars (if any) shall be applied to the monthly premium of the dental/vision programs with the teacher having the remainder deducted from his/her monthly paycheck.
Other
Discipline Association Representation — Teacher has right to Association representative at formal discipline conference
When a Teacher is required to attend a formal conference regarding possible disciplinary action, the Teacher shall have the right to have an Association representative present.
Other
Discipline Gross Misconduct Definition — Includes violating safety standards, child abuse/neglect, theft, fraud, felony convictions
Gross misconduct shall include such conduct as, but not limited to, violating safety standards that threaten safety of others, child abuse or neglect, theft, fraud, or felony convictions.
Other
Discipline Just Cause Requirement — No tenured teacher discharged, suspended or written notice without just cause
No tenured Teacher shall be discharged, suspended or given a written notice of remediation or letter of reprimand without just cause.
Other
Discipline Levels — Verbal warning in writing, Written Warning, Suspension without pay, Discharge
A. Verbal warning in writing (date, infraction) B. Written Warning C. Suspension without pay D. Discharge
Other
Discipline Progressive — Progressive discipline except for gross misconduct
Disciplinary action will be progressive, except for gross misconduct, which the Superintendent or official designee may elect to proceed to the level appropriate given circumstances of specific case.
Leave
Donated Sick Leave Pool Max Nontenured — Non-tenured teachers may not access more than 10 Pool days in any given school year
A nontenured Teacher may not access more than ten (10) Pool days in any given school year. A tenured Teacher may not access more than thirty (30) Pool days in any given school year.
Leave
Donated Sick Leave Pool Max Tenured — Tenured teachers may not access more than 30 Pool days in any given school year
A tenured Teacher may not access more than thirty (30) Pool days in any given school year.
Leave
Duty Free Lunch — Every Teacher with 4+ clock hours per day entitled to duty-free lunch of at least 30 minutes
Every Teacher whose duties require attendance at school for four (4) or more clock hours in any school day shall be entitled to and be allowed a duty-free lunch period equal to the regular local school lunch period, but not less than thirty (30) minutes in each school day.
Retirement
Early Retirement Increment Compounding — 3% increment raises are compounded in each notice year
The 3% incentive raises are compounded in each of the notice years.
Retirement
Early Retirement Increment Pct — 3% annual increase in nonexempt TRS creditable earnings
The Teacher leaves the salary and extra duty schedule and, in exchange for performing same duties as base year, receives a three percent (3%) increase in nonexempt TRS creditable earnings for each year of notice.
Retirement
Early Retirement Letter Deadline 1yr — December 1st one year prior to retirement
The Teacher may submit his/her letter of resignation/retirement to the Board of Education by December Pt one year prior to his/her retirement.
Retirement
Early Retirement Letter Deadline 2yr — December 1st two years prior to retirement
The Teacher may submit his/her letter of resignation/retirement to the Board of Education by December Pt two years prior to his/her retirement.
Retirement
Early Retirement Letter Deadline 3yr — December 1st three years prior to retirement
The Teacher may submit his/her letter of resignation/retirement to the Board of Education by December Pt three years prior to his/her retirement.
Retirement
Early Retirement Letter Deadline 4yr — December 1st four years prior to retirement
The Teacher may submit his/her letter of resignation/retirement to the Board of Education by December Pt four years prior to his/her retirement.
Retirement
Early Retirement Minimum Age — At least 60 years old by end of last school day, or at least 55 with 35 years of service
At the time of actual retirement, the Teacher must be at least sixty (60) years of age by the end of the last day of the school year, or must turn at least fifty-five (55) with thirty-five (35) years of creditable service.
Retirement
Early Retirement Notice Advance — Up to four years advance notice allowed
A Teacher may give notice of retirement to the Board up to four (4) years in advance of the expected retirement date.
Retirement
Early Retirement Service Requirement — Fifteen years continuous service with Arthur Community Unit 305, Lovington 303, or Atwood-Hammond Unit 39
The Teacher must have fifteen (15) years of continuous service with Arthur Community Unit School District No. 305 and/or Lovington Community Unit School District 303 and/or, Atwood-Hammond Community Unit School District 39.
Retirement
Early Retirement Severance 1yr — 20% of nonexempt TRS creditable earnings from one year prior minus increases
For a Teacher electing a one-year plan, the severance payment will be equal to twenty percent (20%) of the Teacher's total nonexempt TRS creditable earnings one (1) year prior minus Teacher's nonexempt TRS creditable earnings increases.
Retirement
Early Retirement Severance 2yr — 20% of nonexempt TRS creditable earnings from two years prior minus increases
For a Teacher electing a two-year plan, the severance payment will be equal to twenty percent (20%) of the Teacher's total nonexempt TRS creditable earnings two (2) years prior minus Teacher's nonexempt TRS creditable earnings increases.
Retirement
Early Retirement Severance 3yr — 20% of nonexempt TRS creditable earnings from three years prior minus increases
For a Teacher electing a three-year plan, the severance payment will be equal to twenty percent (20%) of the Teacher's total nonexempt TRS creditable earnings three (3) years prior minus Teacher's nonexempt TRS creditable earnings increases.
Retirement
Early Retirement Severance 4yr — No severance payment for four-year plan
For a Teacher electing a four-year plan, the Teacher shall not receive a severance payment.
Other
Evaluation Committee — District evaluation plan developed by joint committee with equal District and Association representatives
Certified employees shall be evaluated according to the evaluation plan set out in the District evaluation plan developed by a joint committee composed of an equal number of District representatives and Association representatives.
Other
Evaluation Conference Location — Evaluation conferences may be held in teacher's classroom/work area if requested by teacher
Evaluation conferences may be held in the teacher's classroom/work area if requested by the teacher.
Evaluation
Evaluation Cycle Years — Tenured teachers with excellent or proficient rating: at least one formal observation and at least one informal observation every other year
Tenured teachers with an 'excellent' or 'proficient' rating in last evaluation: Each summative written evaluation shall be preceded by at least one (1) formal observation of at least one (1) class period or forty-five (45) consecutive minutes and at least one (1) informal observation every other year.
Evaluation
Evaluation Formal Observation Duration Excellent Proficient — Tenured teachers with excellent or proficient rating: at least one formal observation of at least one class period or forty-five consecutive minutes
Tenured teachers with an 'excellent' or 'proficient' rating in last evaluation: Each summative written evaluation shall be preceded by at least one (1) formal observation of at least one (1) class period or forty-five (45) consecutive minutes.
Evaluation
Evaluation Formal Observation Duration Min — Each formal observation lasting at least one class period or forty-five consecutive minutes
at least two (2) formal observations each lasting at least one period or forty-five (45) consecutive minutes and at least one (1) informal observation.
Evaluation
Evaluation Formal Observation No Christmas — No formal observations during two school days immediately before or after Christmas break
No formal observations shall occur during the two school days immediately prior to or after the Christmas break.
Evaluation
Evaluation Formal Observations Min — Minimum two formal observations for non-tenured and 'needs improvement'/'unsatisfactory' rated teachers
Non-tenured teachers and tenured teachers with a 'needs improvement' or 'unsatisfactory' rating in last evaluation: Each summative written evaluation shall be preceded by at least two (2) formal observations each lasting at least one period or forty-five (45) consecutive minutes.
Evaluation
Evaluation Formal Observations Spacing Min — At least ten working days between formal observations unless otherwise requested by teacher
There shall be at least ten (10) working days between formal observations unless otherwise requested by the teacher.
Evaluation
Evaluation Informal Observation Feedback Timeline — Feedback following informal observation provided orally or in writing within ten working days
Following an informal observation, the qualified evaluator shall provide feedback to the teacher either orally or in writing within ten (10) working days and if the feedback is in a written format.
Evaluation
Evaluation Informal Observations Min — Minimum one informal observation required
at least two (2) formal observations each lasting at least one period or forty-five (45) consecutive minutes and at least one (1) informal observation.
Evaluation
Evaluation Observation Feedback Timeline — Copy of evaluator's written notes/feedback given to teacher within ten working days of observation
A copy of the evaluator's written notes/feedback will be given to the teacher within ten (10) working days of the observation and with at least two (2) days prior to the post-observation conference.
Evaluation
Evaluation Observation Minimum Nontenured — At least two formal observations lasting one period or 45 consecutive minutes minimum
Non-tenured teachers and tenured with needs improvement or unsatisfactory rating: Each summative evaluation shall be preceded by at least two (2) formal observations each lasting at least one period or forty-five (45) consecutive minutes.
Evaluation
Evaluation Post Informal Observation Conference Timeline — Post-informal observation conference held within five working days of request
A post-informal observation conference, if requested by the teacher, shall be held within five (5) working days of the request.
Evaluation
Evaluation Post Observation Conference Timeline — Post-observation conference held within ten working days of formal observation unless absence
The post-observation conference shall be held within ten (10) working days of the formal observation unless either party is absent.
Evaluation
Evaluation Pre Observation Conference Required — Pre-observation conference shall precede a formal observation
A pre-observation conference shall precede a formal observation. A pre-observation form may be completed prior to the pre-observation conference by the teacher and taken into the conference to facilitate the professional conversation.
Evaluation
Evaluation Probationary Minimum — Probationary teachers evaluated at least once per probationary year
A probationary teacher shall be evaluated at least one (1) time during each probationary year.
Other
Evaluation Signature Not Agreement — Teacher's signature on evaluation signifies acknowledgment of material reviewed, not agreement with contents
A copy signed by both parties shall be given to the teacher at the conclusion of the summative conference. The teacher's signature signifies that he/she has been shown the material and does not necessarily indicate agreement with its contents.
Evaluation
Evaluation Steps — Formal observations preceded by pre-observation conference; post-observation conference within 10 working days; written summary provided within 10 working days; teacher may attach written response
A pre-observation conference shall precede a formal observation. Post-observation conference within ten (10) working days. Written summary of post-observation conference provided within ten (10) working days. Teacher may submit written response.
Evaluation
Evaluation Summative Conference Required — Summative evaluation conference held to discuss draft summative evaluation
The information, including the ratings, on the summative evaluation form may be amended based on the professional conversation in the summative evaluation conference and any additional evidence provided by the teacher.