New Lenox 122 Board Approves Three-Year Contract Extension for Support Staff

New Lenox School District 122 Meeting | March 19, 2026

Article Summary: The Board of Education secured long-term labor stability by approving a three-year contract extension for the New Lenox Professional Support Staff Council, guaranteeing 4.0% annual raises through the 2029-2030 school year.

Support Staff Contract Key Points:

• The Memorandum of Agreement extends the current 2024-2027 collective bargaining agreement by three years, expiring before the 2030-2031 school year.

• Current contract pay rates for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years will remain unchanged.

• The extension provides a 4.0% annual base salary increase for the 2027-2028, 2028-2029, and 2029-2030 school years.

• Flex Club Rates will see an increase in point value to $175.

The New Lenox School District 122 Board of Education on Thursday, March 19, 2026, voted unanimously to extend its collective bargaining agreement with the New Lenox Professional Support Staff Council (NLPSSC), AFT Local 604, securing contract stability through the end of the decade.

The approved Memorandum of Agreement extends the union’s current 2024-2027 contract for an additional three years. The NLPSSC represents the district’s secretaries, non-certified nurses, paraprofessionals, custodians, and occupational/physical therapy assistants.

“President Peltzer thanked the support staff for approving the collective bargaining extension, noting it is super helpful when it comes to planning our budget, and planning for upcoming full-day kindergarten,” the meeting minutes reflected.

Under the terms of the extension, there will be no changes to the current contract pay rates for the ongoing 2025-2026 or upcoming 2026-2027 school years.

Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, the extension implements a 4.0% annual raise across all support staff salary schedules for three consecutive years. By the 2029-2030 school year, the starting hourly wage for a 12-month secretary, paraprofessional, or custodian will reach $19.00, while the starting wage for a non-certified nurse will reach $29.50.

The agreement also adjusts extra-duty stipends for athletics and fine arts, which will increase by 4.0% each year of the extension. Additionally, the district’s Flex Club Rates point value will increase by 6.1% to $175 per point starting in the 2027-2028 school year.

The extension, which was signed by NLPSSC President Rachel Tuley and Board President Stephanie Peltzer, will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on the day preceding the first faculty institute of the 2030–2031 school year.