CARPENTERSVILLE – The new, three-year teachers contract at District 300 will cost $13 million total, nearly half of which will go toward more than 60 additional teachers to lower class sizes.

The district will use about $4 million in reserves to cover the deficit the new contract creates, board members said Thursday in a news conference with union leaders. Teachers ratified the contract Wednesday and the school board approved it, 5-1, in a special session Thursday.

The deal lowers class sizes to between 27 and 32 students from kindergarten through the 12th grade in 26 schools in southeast McHenry and northeast Kane counties. It calls for hiring 63 teachers to lower classes and includes an 8 percent total salary increase for existing teachers.