Unit 4 Updates: Taxes and Contracts

There's an upcoming public meeting on the taxes this Monday, December 10th. From the News-Gazette:

Champaign school district seeking an $8.4 million tax boost
The Champaign school district wants to levy for an $8.4 million boost in property taxes next year but is projecting the increase would have a minimal impact on the tax rate paid by property owners.

The bulk of the proposed levy increase would be in corporate and special purpose property taxes tied to operation of the school district, while just a sliver of it would be tied to paying down the debt for the school construction projects approved in a 2016 referendum, according to Tom Lockman, Unit 4's chief financial and legal officer.

"We are projecting the change in the total rate would be minimal and unrelated to the referendum amount," he said.

Property owners saw the major increase from the referendum, which launched $183.4 million in school building projects, on their 2017 taxes paid earlier this year, Lockman said.

The school district plans to hold a public hearing on its 2018 levy for taxes payable next year at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Mellon Administrative Center, 703 S. New St., C.

Full article with more details here.

The deal struck between Unit 4 and the Teacher's union averting what seemed like an imminent strike last month had a quick blurb overview in the paper last week:

Champaign school board, teachers union both ratify new contract
...
Champaign Federation of Teachers President Jen White said 98% of voting members ratified the deal, agreed to in principle last week after six months of talks between the two sides. The Unit 4 school board also signed off on the deal Tuesday in a 6-0 vote.

In an interview Tuesday, White shared highlights of the deal:

— Kindergarten class sizes are capped at 25 this school year, 24 next year and 23 in Year 3. If those limits are exceeded, Unit 4 must provide an aide or sub.

— Teachers will have time during four of seven institute (professional development) days to work among themselves. That's up from two now, White said.

— Teachers on the salary scale who make home or community visits can earn up to 21 hours' pay a year at an hourly rate of $32.50. Teachers off-schedule can earn compensation in the form of up to three personal days.

— Teachers on the salary schedule will be due a 2.5 percent raise in each contract year. Off-schedule teachers will get a 3 percent bump each year.

Full blurb here.