Cheers filled the boardroom as Ithaca schools approved a long-fought teachers contract, according to The Ithaca Voice. The vote locked in major pay raises and ended nearly a year of negotiations.
The Ithaca City School District ratified the agreement with the Ithaca Teachers Association, restoring a step-and-lane salary system for the first time in decades. Teachers will see average raises of about 7% over the next two years, with no one receiving less than 5%.
The deal also expands paid parental leave and preserves retiree health benefits. Superintendent Luvelle Brown said the district can afford the contract and expects it to help recruit and retain educators.
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