Teachers in Albert Lea Area Schools will be paid 2.5 percent more in the 2016-17 school year under a tentative contract agreement.

Under the tentative agreement announced last week, 287 teachers represented by the Albert Lea Education Association will receive a 3 percent raise, retroactive to July 1 for the 2015-16 school year.

Albert Lea Area Schools Superintendent Mike Funk and Albert Lea Education Association President Al Helgerson released a statement Tuesday supporting the deal.

Funk and Helgerson said the deal includes step advancements for both years of the contract based on years of experience, pay increases for teachers who attain more college credits and language that provides more flexibility in teachers’ daily schedules to possibly increase educational opportunities for students.

Funk and Helgerson said they remain committed to working together to meet the needs of students.

Albert Lea Executive Director of Administrative Services Jim Quiram supports the agreement.

“I think it’s a fair agreement which meets many of the priorities both sides have,” Quiram said.

There will be a motion to approve the contract at the March 28 school board meeting.

The agreement was reached after approximately 10 bargaining sessions. Negotiations began in September, and the district and the union entered state mediation last week. Teachers have worn red throughout the budget process to bring awareness to the sessions.

The district has not entered negotiations with district office administrative assistants and district coordinators.

Three separate union contracts were approved in February, each retroactive to July 1, 2015:

Seven district practical nurses represented by the Albert Lea Area Schools Licensed Practical Nurse Association received a 3 percent raise for the 2015-16 school year; under the contract the nurses will receive a 2.75 percent raise for the 2016-17 school year.

Ninety-six district paraeducators represented by the Albert Lea Paraeducator Association received a 3.75 percent raise for the 2015-16 school year; under the contract they will receive a 3.5 percent raise for the 2016-17 school year.

Twenty district food service workers represented by the Albert Lea District 241 School Food Service Workers Association received a 3 percent raise for the 2015-16 school year; under the contract they will receive a 3 percent raise for the 2016-17 school year.