(KNZA)--The Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education has approved a tentative negotiated agreement with teachers for the 2021-2022 school year.

Superintendent Todd Evans said the action came during the board's August 9th meeting.

Under the agreement,  Evans said teachers will see an an average increase of 4.56 percent.  He said the additional health insurance premium cost to the district reflects one percent of the total increase.

The agreement calls for a $750 increase to each step on the salary schedule, taking the  base pay for a beginning teacher to $39,250.

It also includes premium pay of $500, which is being financed through COVID relief funds.

The agreement must be approved by the Prairie Hills Teachers Association.