The District 46 teachers' union has officially ratified the new contract.
Jim Pergander, business agent for the Lake County Federation of Teachers Local 504, said the union voted 247-60 to ratify the two-year contract. The District 46 Board is anticipated to vote on the contract at its next meeting, slated for Feb. 6.
"It has been a long road," said Pergander. "(It's) a bit of relief and a bit of satisfaction to come to a conclusion."
Teacher compensation was the main sticking point throughout negotiations. The district, which is projecting a $2.2 million deficit next school year, repeatedly said it could not spend money it didn't have despite the union's argument that the district had a bloated fund balance and could afford salary increases.
More than 300 District 46 teachers went on strike Jan. 16 following an eleventh-hour negotiating session on Jan. 15. As a result, classes were cancelled for some 4,000 students for three days.
Students returned to classes Tuesday after having Monday off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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