The Collinsville Unit 10 teacher’s union voted today to approve the latest contract offer from the School Board.

The Collinsville Education Association approved the one-year contract by a “comfortable majority,” co-bargaining chair Mark Schusky said. The CEA had rejected a previous offer by a 167-86 vote on Aug. 7.

The new contract includes a small raise. Schusky declined to comment on the specific amount until the School Board approves the contract. The Board cannot ratify it until their next scheduled meeting on Sept. 23, unless a special meeting is called. Because the Board has already agreed to the specifics of the contract, the vote is expected to be a formality.

Teachers will receive an additional personal day as part of the agreement. The union also accepted a 9.4 percent cap on the district’s contributions to the Teacher Retirement System, despite earlier indications that they would not.

Illinois law requires teachers to contribute 9.4 percent of their salary to the TRS. Collinsville Unit 10 pays the teacher’s TRS contributions as part of their collective bargaining agreement. Speculation that Illinois pension reform may include a mandated increase to the contribution percentage made this a point of contention during negotiations. If an increase becomes law in the next year, Collinsville teachers will have to pay the difference between 9.4 percent and new rate.

The new contract comes two days after the School Board approved the tentative 2013-2014 budget that includes a shortfall of about $2.25 million in the Education Fund, from which teacher salary and benefits are paid. The fund had a balance of $3.6 million on June 30, the end the district’s fiscal year.

“The district is receiving about $400,000 in additional funding this year,” Schusky said. “That should cover our raise.”