Ralston teachers accept contract

Teachers and school board members in the Ralston Public Schools have agreed to a contract for the current school year.

Teachers will receive a 2.6 percent pay increase and an overall package increase of 5.12 percent, when benefits are factored in.

Starting teachers in the district this year will earn $30,745.

According to an analysis by The World-Herald, pay for starting teachers in the Ralston district outpaced inflation between the 1999-2000 and 2008-09 school years. But pay for veteran teachers, those with five years of experience or more, either matched or fell below the 29 percent inflation rate.

Meanwhile, Bellevue school district officials said that the district's teachers have again rejected proposed terms of a contract for the current school year.

The Bellevue teachers' second electronic vote ended Tuesday night. The district has said the total salary and benefits package would have increased compensation by more than 4.5 percent.

— Michaela Saunders