BALDWIN-WHITEHALL

The district and the teachers union have agreed on a five-year contract that includes average annual raises of 2.5 percent.

The school board voted 7-2 to approve the agreement at its Wednesday meeting. Board members Martin Schmotzer and Elliot Rambo voted against the pact.

The Baldwin-Whitehall Education Association, which represents 262 teachers, social workers, nurses, guidance counselors, and other professional employees, ratified the agreement last month.

Under the contract, which is retroactive to July 2015 and runs through June 2020, union members will receive an average raise of 2.94 percent over the life of the contract, which includes average annual increases of 2.5 percent for each step movement. All members will also move up a step.

Also, union members will pay an increase in health care premiums from the 2014-15 rate of 6.5 percent to 8.5 percent by the end of the contract.

Teachers and other staff also will have to shift this year to an in-network Exclusive Provider Organization plan from the out-of-network Preferred Provider Organization plan they had previously. The district will save about $1,200 per person annually with changes to family coverage.

“We didn’t get all we wanted, and I’m sure they didn’t get all they wanted,” said superintendent Randal Lutz.

“But we do have labor peace.”