By Bill Raack, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Teachers in Alton voted to approve a new contract on Tuesday.
Ric Stephenson, a representative of the Illinois Education Association, says the vote was close and many were not happy with the school board's offer. The new contract includes a 5.2% raise the first year and a 4.7% raise the second year.
Stephenson says the contract includes an early retirement incentive program for non-certified staff.
A private company, which will take over the custodial services in January, has agreed to offer jobs to all current employees at their existing salaries. The teachers union represents about 800 teachers, custodians, maintenance workers and secretaries.