Prairie Grove Teachers Union Ratifies New Contract Agreement

After nearly two years of negotiating, Prairie Grove teachers are one step away from finalizing a new contract with School District 46.

The 73 members of the PGTA met last week to hear details of the tentative agreement - reached after teachers held a strike on Friday, Oct. 12. The strike ended after about eight hours of discussions between negotiating teams for the PGTA and School Board. A mediator was called in to assist with the bargaining.

On Thursday, Oct. 18, instructors met again to vote on whether to accept the new deal.

"The PGTA voted yesterday,  Oct. 18, and by a majority vote, ratified the contract," the union issued in a statement. "We look forward to the Board approving it soon. More information will follow at that time."

To date, the terms of the new agreement have not been released by the union. That information - which likely involves salary and insurance benefits - will be revealed once the District 46 School Board approves the deal, the PGTA said. The board is expected to vote on the measure at an upcoming meeting in November.

Prairie Grove School District 46 is located at 3233 Route 176 on the far east side of Crystal Lake. Its two schools serve about 900 students.

Teachers in District 46 have been without a contract since August 2011. Without a finalized agreement, instructors have been working under imposed conditions not agreed to by the PGTA since July 27, the union representatives said.

Related Patch Article: How Much Do Educators Earn at Your School?

More about the Prairie Grove School District 46 teachers contract negotiations can be found in these Patch articles:

Video: Picket Line for Prairie Grove Teachers Strike

Prairie Grove District 46 Teachers Strike

Progress Reported in Prairie Grove School District 46 Teachers Negotiations

Prairie Grove Teachers and District 46 to Meet for Negotiation Session Thursday

Prairie Grove District 46 Teachers Union Files Impasse