Lincoln-Way Board Ratifies Three-Year Support Staff Contract with Significant Hourly Raises

Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education Meeting | February 19, 2026

Article Summary: The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with support staff that includes tiered hourly wage increases totaling $4.75 over the life of the contract. The agreement also adjusts starting pay rates and retirement incentives for paraprofessionals, custodians, maintenance staff, and other educational support personnel.

Lincoln-Way Board Key Points:

• Contract Duration: July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.

• Wage Increases: Existing employees will receive hourly raises of $2.00 in the first year, $1.35 in the second year, and $1.40 in the third year.

• Starting Pay Adjustments: New hire rates will increase annually; for example, the starting rate for paraprofessionals with zero to three years of experience will rise from $18.50 in 2025-2026 to $20.50 by 2027-2028.

• Retirement Incentives: Eligible employees with 10 years of service can receive a 5.5% salary increase in their final years and a longevity stipend of $125 per year of service.

NEW LENOX – The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education on Thursday, February 19, 2026, voted unanimously to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Lincoln-Way High School Educational Support Professionals (LWESP), IEA-NEA.

The agreement covers a wide range of support staff, including paraprofessionals, custodians, maintenance workers, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, and security personnel. Following a closed session discussion, the Board returned to open session to approve the contract, which runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028.

“Thanks to everyone on both sides. Glad we finally got a deal done,” Board President Aaron Janik said following the vote.

According to the text of the agreement provided in the meeting packet, the contract outlines a specific schedule of hourly wage increases for existing employees. Staff members will receive a $2.00 per hour increase for the 2025-2026 school year, followed by a $1.35 per hour increase in 2026-2027, and a $1.40 per hour increase in 2027-2028.

The contract also establishes new “Starting Rate Agreements” to remain competitive for new hires. For the 2025-2026 school year, the starting hourly rate for paraprofessionals with zero to three years of experience is set at $18.50. This starting base rate increases to $19.50 in the second year and $20.50 in the final year of the contract. Similar tiered starting wage structures were approved for all classifications, including CDL bus drivers, who will start at $22.00 per hour in the first year of the deal.

Financial terms regarding retirement were also codified. The “Retirement Incentive Program” allows full-time employees with at least 10 consecutive years of service to receive a 5.5% raise in their final year of employment. Those with 15 or 20 years of service are eligible for the 5.5% increase over their final two or three years, respectively. Additionally, retirees with at least 10 years of service will receive a longevity stipend of $125 for every year of service upon retirement.

The contract includes specific language regarding health insurance contributions. For individual coverage, the Board will pay a minimum of 75% of the monthly premium for full-time employees. For primary dependent coverage, the Board will also contribute a minimum of 75% of the monthly premium.

The agreement acknowledges a joint committee will be formed to streamline the Maintenance Department’s job classifications and update job descriptions during the term of the contract.