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Macomb teachers, school board ratify new contract

The Macomb School District is starting its new fiscal year with a new contract in place for teachers.

The four-year pact gives teachers a 3.25% pay raise in year one. The raise is 3.5% in each following year.

The new contract also includes salary step increases.

Superintendent Patrick Twomey said contract talks between teachers and the administration went smoothly.

“Both sides treated each other with a great deal of respect. There was never, ever any name calling or finger-pointing. Everything was brought to the table in a very kind and professional way,” he said.

Teachers are not the only ones receiving pay hikes.

Educational support personnel and administrators will also get 3.25% raises in the new fiscal year, which began on Monday, July 1.

Dr. Twomey said the district can afford to give raises because it’s been “extremely fiscally responsible” during the past dozen years.

“We’ve grown those fund balances to the point where the board made a commitment and said that to the best we can, we’re going to reward teachers for the job they do in a more significant way this contract,” Twomey said.

Tri States Public Radio produced this story.  TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.

Rich is TSPR's News Director.