The Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 Board of Education and the Park Ridge Teacher Assistants Association (PRTAA), the professional organization representing the District’s teaching assistants, have agreed on a new five-year contract ending in June 2027. This is the first-ever five-year contract between PRTAA and the D64 Board.
The Board of Education officially approved the agreement at its March 6th, 2023, meeting.
District 64 employs about 76 teaching assistants who take on a variety of assignments in the District, supporting staff and students in all subjects and at all grade levels.
The agreement will add a little more than $800,000 to the District’s expenditures over the five-year life of the contract.
“We are thrilled to announce another multi-year agreement with our teacher assistants, continuing the Board of Education’s commitment to the taxpayers while recognizing the vital role teacher assistants have in our schools,” said Board President Dr. Denise Pearl.
PRTAA members will receive the following salary increases:
- 2022-2023 - wage adjustment plus 1.75% step equaling 17.4%
- 2023-2024 - 3.25% plus 1.75% step equaling 5%
- 2024-2025 - 3.25% plus 1.75% step equaling 5%
- 2025-2026 - CPI with floor of 1% & ceiling of 2% plus 1.5% step, which will fall between 2.5%-3.5%
- 2026-2027 - CPI with floor of 1% & ceiling of 2% plus 1.5% step, which will fall between 2.5%-3.5%
The base salary for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 is tied to the Consumer Price Index All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which is the same percentage used in the District’s annual tax levy with a floor of 1.5% and a ceiling of 3.25%.
“This contract represents the importance of the services our teacher assistants provide to staff and students,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Olson. “With their dedication and expertise, our teacher assistants make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students every day.”
Extra-duty pay rates for teacher assistants were increased for every year of the contract. Additionally, a stipend was added for Camp Duncan and Great America field trip supervision.
Negotiations started in April of 2022, and a total of 11 sessions were held. Two Board of Education members served on the negotiations team and regularly provided frequent updates and input to the Board.
District 64 serves about 4,500 students in grades K-8 at five elementary schools, two middle schools, and an early childhood center.