Teachers in River Forest School District 90 reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract on Nov. 10, wrapping up four months of negotiations over pay, benefits and other issues.
The terms will be released once the tentative agreement is reviewed and ratified by the River Forest Education Association (RFEA), the union representing teachers, and approved by the District 90 Board of Education. At press time, the contract had not yet been ratified. District 90 spokesperson Stephanie Rath said, “We are pleased that the parties reached a tentative agreement through a collaborative effort.”
Throughout the negotiations the RFEA has contended that teacher salaries in District 90 have been below comparable districts, “making it harder to attract and retain great educators.” The RFEA argued that because District 90 consistently ranks among the top 10% of Illinois schools, an achievement that RFEA co-president Cindy Crannell attributed to “the skill, creativity and dedication of its teachers,” teachers must be compensated fairly in order to avoid losing these educators to comparable districts. Additionally, in a prepared statement the RFEA argued that a fair contract must be reached in order to “ensure stability for students, respect for teachers and continued excellence in our schools.”
River Forest teachers first began working without a contract in August 2025. District leaders and the RFEA took part in multiple mediation sessions aimed at finding common ground.
RFEA members, including co-presidents Cindy Crannell and Lauren Baiocchi, attended board meetings, made public comments and participated in informational picketing sessions during the months they worked without a contract.
Before the tentative agreement was reached on Nov. 10, the last mediation session was held on Oct. 29. Significantly, in both the Oct. 29 and Nov. 10 sessions, a new mediator was brought in due to the previous mediator being furloughed due to the government shutdown.
During the contract talks, both sides recognized how vital teachers are to the River Forest community. At a recent Board of Education meeting, Crannell told the board, “Our educators are the heartbeat of this community. They guide students, support families and contribute to the excellence that defines District 90.”
The union represents approximately 140 teachers and licensed staff, according to the Illinois Education Association.
The district has also recognized the key role of teachers in the District, as Superintendent Ed Condon said, “The district is eager to reach a final agreement that reflects financial stewardship while emphasizing the extraordinary value of our teachers.”
