A three-year contract that includes 1.85% increase in salary for each year has been agreed to by Mackinac Island Public School teachers and the school board. The contract was approved by the board Wednesday, December 9, and expires June 30, 2011. The teachers have accepted it and the document is expected to be signed this month.

The teachers have been working for about six months without a contract. The agreement includes retroactive pay for teachers dating to July 1, when the contract expired. The contract date coincides with the end of the next school year.

Teachers will receive the retroactive payment this month.

"We're both glad to come to an agreement," said teacher Susan Bennett, who led the teacher's union, Mackinac Island Education Association, during the negotiations.

The teachers volunteered to a change in insurance package, which includes a higher deductible that will allow the school to save approximately $24,000 annually in health insurance costs , said interim superintendent Michael Bootz, who represented the school board in negotiations.

When hired in September, reaching an agreement with teachers was one of the priorities Mr. Bootz said he would complete before leaving the temporary post in December.

"I think both sides are quite happy to get the contract in place," said Mr. Bootz .

The 10 teachers employed at the school were represented in the negotiations by teachers Mrs. Bennett, Laura Eiseler, and Karen Allen.