Kishwaukee College faculty members approved a collective bargaining agreement with the school after voting Monday and Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the college board unanimously approved the contract.

The two sides began negotiating terms of the contract in May, before the contract expired in August.

One of the major factors that dragged out the process was the insurance coverage, said Bill Wilkinson, vice president of business services and finance.

“It was ‘wait and see,’” Wilkinson said.

The insurance proposal was not introduced until October, he said.

The previous faculty insurance plan had a $2,500 deductible and a monthly employee contribution of $61.40.

The new plan will cost employees $33.66 a month with a $1,000 deductible, Wilkinson said.

The college had been dealing with high insurance costs because of the number of high claims filed, he said.

“We hope that the positive trend continues, unlike it had in the past,” Wilkinson said.

Faculty members argued that the administration was among the highest paid in the state, while the faculty was among the lowest paid.

“Yes, we do acknowledge that,” Wilkinson said. “You’re not comparing apples to apples. Some districts simply have more revenue.”

Wilkinson said a major reason for the disparity was the length of service for many administrators.

“A significant number have been here 20 to 28 years. Naturally, they’ll have a higher salary,“ Wilkinson said. “The teachers are generally a younger age group and haven’t been here as long.”

The contract gives faculty a 3 to 4 percent annual raise over the next four years.

The faculty voted 34-24 to ratify the agreement, with 20 members not voting, Wilkinson said.

The contract is retroactive to August and will expire Aug. 20, 2007.