Board of Education Public Update 8.12.25

Dear Naperville 203 Families, Staff & Community Members,

As you know, the Board of Education and the Naperville Unit Education Association (NUEA) are engaged in ongoing contract negotiations. While the school year will begin for students on Thursday, August 14, the NUEA has informed us that they are conducting an internal vote with their membership related to the negotiations. We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached soon; however, this afternoon, the NUEA presented proposals that increased their overall financial request.

The Board of Education’s latest proposal to the NUEA was made on behalf of the community and would be funded by our taxpayers. We take seriously the responsibility to use these resources wisely, ensuring they benefit both students and the educators who serve them every day.

• Educators would receive an average compounded raise of over 10% across the first two years of the contract.
• The district would maintain 85% board-paid health insurance premiums.
• The starting salary would increase by over 5% in the first year of the contract.
• Naperville 203 teachers would remain among the highest-paid and have the highest board-paid benefits in our region.

It is important to note that even the board’s proposal will necessitate budget cuts and/or reductions in staffing, as the proposed increases will outpace both inflation and district revenues. However, adoption of the NUEA’s proposal would damage the district's long-term financial health and put us on an unsustainable fiscal path. 

Our focus remains on reaching an agreement that puts students first, honors the dedication of our exceptional educators, and reflects the values of the Naperville 203 community. We are deeply grateful for the passion and commitment our educators bring to their work. This belief is demonstrated by our competitive compensation, as our educators’ salaries were in the top 3% of large unit districts across the state for 2024.  

Throughout the last negotiated contract, the approximate average percentage raises for each year were 4.29% in 2021-2022, 3.69% in 2022-2023, 6.10% in 2023-2024, and 6.10% in 2024-2025. Additionally, our class sizes are consistently on the low end of the range recommended in Board Policy. 

As a board, we believe that our latest offer provides a competitive increase in compensation while protecting our community’s money and investment in our local schools. We hope to come to an agreement so that we can focus on what matters most—a successful start to the 2025-26 school year for our students.

We are grateful for our community’s patience and understanding as negotiations continue, and we remain committed to keeping you updated every step of the way. Bargaining teams will meet again on Tuesday, August 19th. For ongoing updates regarding NUEA bargaining, please visit our website.

Sincerely,

Charles Cush

President

Naperville 203 Board of Education