Without any fanfare, the Ironton Board of Education Tuesday evening gave its blessings to a new contract with the Ironton Education Association.

The city's approximately 120 certified personnel will receive a 1-percent pay raise immediately. Teachers could also get another 1-percent boost if student enrollment figures show stability.

If student enrollment remains at or above 1,450, based on formula average daily membership (ADM) during the annual October report, the teachers will collect the additional 1-percent raise.

During the first week of October each year, an official head count of students is conducted in each school district across the state. These figures are used to calculate state funding to the districts.

The new contract also includes two additional days of severance pay for teachers and makes a seven-period instruction day official.

School Superintendent Stephan Kingery said even though the teachers started the new school year without a contract, he was confident the two sides would be able to reach an agreement. Now that the

contract is signed, it's back to business as usual.

"We have a good staff, very dedicated to what they do. And we all have the same attitude that we're all in this together and we want what's best for the student," Kingery said. Teresa Moore/The Ironton Tribune