DANVILLE – Rossville-Alvin Elementary School teachers and noncertified staff are working under a new three-year contract today.

The Rossville school board unanimously approved the agreement earlier this week, Superintendent Randy Hird said. The Rossville-Alvin Education Association ratified it on Aug. 10, chief negotiator Debra Wilson said.

"We're very pleased with the outcome, and I think that was proven by the ratification vote, which was overwhelmingly in favor of it," Wilson said. "I feel that with all of the financial constraints all school districts are under, it is a quality contract."

The education association represents about 45 teachers and support staff in the district. Its old two-year contract expired on Wednesday, and the new one runs through June 30, 2012.

Under the agreement, noncertified staff – which includes secretaries, teachers' aides, custodians and bus drivers – will receive an average 3 percent raise the first year and an average 2 percent raise both the second and third years, Hird said.

Also, he said, teachers' base salary of $25,927 will remain the same the first two years. However, the 20-some teachers will get an average raise of about 2.7 percent each of those years.

The third year, the base will increase 1 percent to $26,186, Hird said.

"Plus teachers will receive a full step, which increases our salaries," Wilson added.

Wilson also said that teachers who are at the top of the salary schedule and aren't eligible to receive any more steps, will receive an extra $400 a year on their longevity bonus.

Finally, the district will pay an additional $10 a month toward employees' health insurance the third year. The district currently pays about $365 for each employee who has health insurance through the district, Wilson said.

Both district and union officials praised the negotiation process, which kicked off in June. The two sides met about four times over the summer and reached a tentative agreement early this month.

"It was a smooth process," Hird said, adding the two sides used a technique called interest-based bargaining.

Unlike traditional bargaining, the two sides come to the table without taking a position on what each wants, focus on problems and then work together to solve them.

Wilson added she's glad to have a contract in place before school starts.

"We're all very pleased this is behind us," she said. "All of our focus needs to be on the kids and getting the school year off to a great start. We're not going to be burdened down with bargaining."