The Peoria Public Schools board approved a new two-year contract with the Peoria Federation of Teachers Monday night.
The new contract gives teachers a 4.25 percent raise with steps in the first year, and a four percent raise in year 2. Those are the biggest raises Peoria teachers have received in years.
Union president Jeff Adkins-Dutro says 98 percent of union members voted to ratify the contract.
"There were a lot of years of sacrifice, and I think it got us well behind other districts. And now we're kinda trying to climb the mountain to become equal with them," he said. "And that's especially important given the teacher shortage."
School board members praised administrators and the union for working together to get to an agreement.
Board president Dan Adler says it was a great day for Peoria Public Schools, which has faced protracted contract negotiations with its teachers' union in previous collective bargaining cycles.
"I don't think there's anyone that can remember a time that we've accepted a collective bargaining agreement before summer. Much less before spring break," Adler said.
The new contract takes effect July 1.
