New Lenox District 122 Approves Full-Day Kindergarten for 2027-2028, Extends Teacher Contract

New Lenox School District 122 Meeting | February 17, 2026

Article Summary: The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education took major steps toward long-term educational planning, passing a resolution to implement full-day kindergarten in 2027 and securing a three-year contract extension with the district’s teachers’ union.

Full-Day Kindergarten and Contract Key Points:

• Full-day kindergarten will officially launch in the 2027-2028 school year to comply with an Illinois state mandate.

• The expansion is projected to add approximately $2 million in annual operating expenditures.

• The Board approved a Memorandum of Agreement extending the collective bargaining agreement with the New Lenox Council AFT Local 604 through the 2029-2030 school year.

• The contract extension includes a 4.0% annual base salary increase for the extension years, while leaving the current 2024-2027 pay rates unchanged.

On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution of intent to launch full-day kindergarten beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, simultaneously passing a critical union contract extension that stabilizes the district’s labor costs through the end of the decade.

The kindergarten resolution directly responds to a mandate passed by the State of Illinois in 2023, requiring all school districts to offer a full-day kindergarten program—defined as no less than four clock hours of schoolwork per day—by the 2027-2028 academic year.

According to Superintendent Dr. Lori R. Motsch, the district’s transition plan will heavily utilize the Cherry Hill and Spencer Trail facilities. During the upcoming 2026-2027 school year, programs will remain as they are, with Spencer Trail operating a half-day program. Beginning in 2027-2028, both buildings will be utilized to support the full-day model.

“While some programs may be relocated to other buildings in the District, the District is committed to ensuring that any transitions are handled with care, and that all programs remain high quality and successful for students and families,” Motsch told the Board, adding a specific reassurance for families utilizing special education services. “We want to make sure our special education programs know we will take care of them.”

Specific details regarding changing kindergarten boundaries, schedules, and logistics will be discussed during the next school year. Financial planning documents provided to the Board estimate that implementing full-day kindergarten will add approximately $2 million in annual operating expenditures.

To help solidify the district’s long-term financial picture ahead of the kindergarten expansion, the Board also voted 7-0 to approve a Memorandum of Agreement with the New Lenox Council AFT Local 604.

The agreement extends the current 2024-2027 collective bargaining agreement for an additional three years, expiring just before the start of the 2030-2031 school year. Under the terms of the memorandum, current contract pay rates for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years will remain unchanged. For the three extension years (2027-2028 through 2029-2030), the base salary schedule will increase by 4.0% each year, along with corresponding increases to extra duty stipends.

“President Peltzer thanked the Union for extending their agreement, noting the Board really appreciates it as they move forward with planning for big things like full-day kindergarten,” meeting minutes reflected.