During a special meeting on June 28, 2023, the District 97 Board of Education approved the terms of a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with the Oak Park Educational Support Professionals (OPESP), which represents school and district office administrative assistants and receptionists, payroll, accounts payable, the district registrar, technology specialists, media assistants/clerks and multimedia technicians.
Below are several of the outcomes and highlights from the new agreement, which was ratified by the OPESP membership on June 15, 2023, and will run through the 2026-27 school year.
2023-27 Contract Highlights
- Market Adjustment/Annual Rate Increases for All Members
Based on a review of compensation in comparable districts, all OPESP members will receive a market adjustment in the form of set dollar increases in the first, second and third year of the contract. There will also be an average annual increase of 3.25% (3.5% in the first and fourth years and 3% in the second and third years) over the previous year’s base pay.
The increases reflect the district’s responsibility to secure its long-term financial health by remaining within public CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) tax levy expectations, while also taking into account the current market for specific employee positions and supporting the district’s goal of recruiting and retaining dedicated staff who contribute to student success.
- Elimination of Salary Bands Based on Years of District Service
The 2023-27 contract eliminates hourly wage rates based on years of service, and instead includes set starting wages for all OPESP employees who are hired by the district. Existing employees will receive annual salary adjustments as outlined above.
- Post-Retirement Health Insurance Benefit
All retiring employees who have been employed in an OPESP position for at least 10 years prior to their retirement will now be eligible to remain in the group health insurance plan at their own cost until they are Medicare eligible (age 65), or as otherwise provided by the insurance carrier, whichever occurs first. Contribution details are outlined in the agreement.
Joint Statement Regarding New OPESP Collective Bargaining Agreement
The District 97 Board of Education, district administration and Oak Park Educational Support Professionals (OPESP) are pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement on a new four-year contract that is student-centered, recognizes the valued contributions of an exceptional group of employees, and ensures the long-term sustainability and success of the district.
We want to thank the members of the negotiating teams for the time and collaborative efforts they invested in this process over the past several months. Our OPESP members provide critical support to our students and staff, and play a significant role in creating welcoming and inclusive environments in our schools. We are grateful for their service, and look forward to continuing our partnership and shared commitment to our students for many years to come.