The Rockford School Board and teachers' union have agreed on a two-year contract that gives teachers raises and a temporary freeze on health insurance premiums.
The Rockford Register Star reports that Rockford Education Association members ratified the contract Monday and the school board approved it Tuesday. The contract gives public schools teachers a 2 percent raise this coming school year and 1 percent next year.
The union represents about 2,000 teachers. The contract will cost the district $5.9 million. It is retroactive to July 1 and expires June 30, 2017.
Teachers will have to pay health insurance increases after a six-month freeze. The contract also includes a reduction in maximum kindergarten class sizes.