UPDATED 3:05 P.M. 8/13/25

Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Two days before District 186 teachers return, and six days before class is in session, Springfield Public Schools and the Springfield Education Association have a two-year contract.

A highlight is a four percent raise in the new school year and a 3.5 percent raise in 2026-27. Board member Micah Miller noted before the vote that this is greater than the rate of inflation.

At a special board meeting Tuesday night, the vote was 5-0 with board members Kristin Barnett and president Erica Austin absent. SEA president Aaron Graves says the union vote was 250-125.

Superintendent Jennifer Gill, who earlier Tuesday became a first-time grandmother, said wrapping everything up before the start of the school year was key. “Every teacher gets their first paycheck for the new school year with the new salaries on the 28-th of August, so this gives our payroll department plenty of time to get that plugged in and processed, so we can cut those checks to all the employees, and it’s going to represent their new pay on their very first paycheck for the school year.”

Gill said a brand-new teacher in District 186 will earn more than $50,000 a year. There is also a pay bump in the future for teachers whose assignments do not meet class size standards set out in the contract.

Class begins in District 186 Monday, Aug 18.

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