Board approves ESP job-category memorandum and administrator contract amendments

The District 128 Board of Education on Aug. 25 approved a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Educational Support Professionals (ESP) union that formalizes job categories and positions, and it approved contract amendments for 10- and 12-month administrators that reflect terms in the recently settled teacher collective-bargaining agreement.

Why it matters: The MOA updates classifications for support staff and puts agreed job categories into the negotiated contract. Administrator amendments align administrative benefits and salary treatments with provisions negotiated for teachers, which can affect compensation and benefits administration.

Kurt Hinsburger, vice president of the District 128 Educational Support Professional union, summarized priorities from the union side and said members look forward to more information about the district's health savings account benefit and additional ESP-focused professional learning opportunities. "Our members are looking forward to receiving information on the health savings account soon," Hinsburger said.

Board materials and committee discussion: Board members said these items were discussed in committee earlier in the month and at previous meetings. The MOA was described as entering the second year of a three-year collective bargaining agreement for ESP employees; the administrator amendments were presented after settlement of the teacher agreement to extend comparable provisions to some administrators.

Actions: The board voted to approve the MOA and the administrator contract amendments by roll call; both motions passed with all members recorded as voting yes. The board then approved a set of employment items outside the consent agenda.

What happens next: Staff will finalize job descriptions and implement changes as described in the MOA; the administration will apply the negotiated benefits to affected administrator contracts. Union and district leaders said they will continue collaborative work on ESP training and Grow Your Own opportunities.