by the Journal-Opinion

Teachers and support staff in Washington Central Unified Union School District have new contracts, according to the Times-Argus.

The new contract for the 250 teachers is “substantially similar” to the contract ratified three years ago and which expired on June 30.

It has 5.5% in new wages for the year which started July 1, followed by back-to-back 6% increases in the next two years.

“[Board Chair Diane] Nichols-Fleming said the board considered settlements in other districts when it came to compensation,” the paper reported.

Nichols-Fleming said the contracts were comparable to what was happening in neighboring districts.