Bargaining Process: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Naperville Unit Education Association?

The Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) is the local teachers’ union that represents educators in Naperville 203. This makes up approximately 59% of the employees in Naperville 203. The NUEA serves as the collective bargaining representative for district teachers, negotiating on their behalf regarding wages, benefits, working conditions, and other terms of employment. 

What is the status of negotiations between Naperville 203 and the teachers’ union?

Negotiations are ongoing between the Naperville Community Unit School District 203 and the NUEA. The talks entered mediation beginning Tuesday, July 8, with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) providing the mediator. We continue to make steady progress and hope mediation will help expedite the development of a mutually acceptable agreement.

When does the current contract expire?

The current contract expired effective June 30, 2025. While there is no current agreement in place between the district and the teachers’ union, the parties will continue to honor the expired contract while bargaining is ongoing. 

What is mediation?

Mediation is a process through which a neutral third party helps facilitate discussions between the district and the union to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

In this case, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is providing the mediator. The mediator does not make decisions for either side, but rather helps guide the conversation, clarify issues, and explore potential solutions upon which both parties can agree.

Will school start on time if an agreement has not been reached?

Yes. We can confirm that the 2025-26 school year will begin as planned on Thursday, August 14. This will be the case even if a formal agreement has not yet been reached between the NUEA and the school district. 

What is the financial uncertainty the district is facing?

Naperville 203 receives 85% of its funding from local property taxes, which are capped under Illinois state law. Any spending increases will largely be paid by Naperville taxpayers. Naperville 203 only receives 2.7% of its overall funding from the federal government and 2.5% from state sources outside of Evidence Based Funding. For fiscal year 2026, projected property tax revenue increases for ALL district expenditures are $11.5 million.  The largest portion of district expenses are educator salaries and benefits. However, the additional $11.5M must cover ALL increased expenses, including increases in salaries and benefits for all staff (transportation, maintenance, educational support professionals, non-union and administrators), curricular resources, technology advancements, transportation costs, infrastructure maintenance, utilities, etc. To maintain the long-term financial health of the district, salary increases must be tied to property tax revenues. 

What is the NUEA’s current proposal?

The current financial proposal from NUEA includes compounded compensation increases of more than 31% over four years.

How would the union’s proposal impact the district?

Based on an analysis of the district’s revenues, implementing the full NUEA proposal as presented would necessitate significant changes to the district budget.  The two most impactful ways to increase revenue or reduce spending are to attempt to raise property taxes or substantially reduce staffing.  

Is the district committed to competitive compensation for teachers?

Yes, Naperville 203 is committed to maintaining competitive compensation for educators while ensuring the district’s long-term financial health. In fact, Naperville 203 educator salaries are among the top 3% of salaries in large unit school districts in Illinois. Our financial decisions must reflect both our commitment to students and our long-term fiscal responsibility to all stakeholders.

How is the district ensuring transparency throughout this process?

We believe in transparency and open communication throughout the bargaining process. The district has shared detailed financial data at recent board meetings, sent internal and external communications, and will continue to provide clear information to our staff, families, and community members. 

What changes is the district proposing to the school day?

The district has proposed adjustments to the school day through the Innovating the School Experience (ISE) initiative to better align with student needs, research, and practices in surrounding districts. The Board of Education’s proposals allow for flexibility should innovative structures be approved by the Board of Education at a later date. 

Will the negotiation process impact the quality of education in Naperville 203?

Our focus throughout the negotiations is on improving the school day for students and supporting instructional excellence. We are committed to maintaining the high-quality learning environment for which Naperville 203 is known. 

What can the community expect moving forward?

We will continue to engage in good faith negotiations with the NUEA and maintain open lines of communication. The district will provide regular updates to the community as negotiations progress. 

Where can community members get more information?

The district will continue to share information at Board of Education meetings and provide updates to staff, families, and the community. Community members are encouraged to stay informed through official district communications and our webpage, at https://www.naperville203.org/Page/10939.

How does the Innovative School Experience (ISE) impact educators’ time? 

The Innovative School Experience (ISE) is designed to improve the day for educators, providing additional planning and collaboration time or lunch time. Both negotiation teams have had extensive conversations to ensure that, should the ISE move forward, the contract language would fully support this model and its benefits for educators.

Has the district prioritized additional district office staff over support for school buildings after the pandemic?

Since 2019, the district has added 105 licensed staff assigned at the school level in response to the pandemic and other needs.

While the total number of district level administrators has fluctuated slightly, overall it has remained steady since 2018. 

Did the district refuse the union's attempt to start negotiations early?

No. The district received the NUEA’s demand to bargain on December 6, 2024. The demand stated the union would be prepared to bargain on February 5, 2025. The first bargaining session did indeed take place on February 5, and the teams have met a total of 18 times since then.

What is the breakdown of salaries and benefits in the district's annual budget?

Our certified staff’s salaries and benefits account for over 52% of the district’s annual budget. In comparison, administrative salaries and benefits comprise 4.6% of the budget. In total, for all of our staff, including licensed educators, educational support professionals, transportation, maintenance staff, non-union, and administrators, salaries and benefits consume over 75% of the total annual budget. 

Are administrators overpaid and teachers underpaid in our district compared to others in Illinois?

We would like to offer some clarification and additional context to support a full understanding of the compensation structure in Naperville 203.

Comparative Salary Data: According to the most recent data provided by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for fiscal year 2024, Naperville 203 teacher salaries are among the most competitive in the state:

• 91st percentile when compared to all school districts in Illinois
• 99th percentile when compared to all unit school districts
• 97th percentile when compared to large unit school districts

Administrator salaries are also competitive but more moderate by comparison:

• 65th percentile relative to all school districts in Illinois
• 86th percentile relative to all unit school districts
• 69th percentile relative to large unit school districts

It is also important to acknowledge key differences in the scope and duration of roles. Most administrators typically work a 260-day year and regularly engage in responsibilities beyond the school day, including supervision of extracurricular events, evening board meetings, and summer leadership obligations. Certified educators work a 183-day calendar, which is generally typical across public education settings in Illinois.