A two-year teacher contract in the Rugby School District is one step from official approval, and that could come at a special school board meeting this Tuesday, June 2, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The Rugby Education Association (REA), the group representing teachers during contract negotiations has met and approved the terms. It’s now up to the full school board to give its OK.

REA representatives and school board members met five times in the past two months to agree to a new contract. The highlights include bumping the starting salary to $27,500 in year one – an increase of $3,000. Also, all existing teachers under contract with see a $3,000 raise. In year two, the starting salary will increase by another $2,500 and existing teachers will also see that increase.

Jeff Lind, school superintendent, said the board was aggressive to see to it the district’s base pay rivaled that of larger ones, and hopefully draw more applicants in the future. Lind said the it’s becoming increasingly difficult to fill positions as the number of applicants, especially in some fields of education, are fewer.

Along that vein, the new contract also gives the board and administration more flexibility in filling positions that are designated as hard-to-fill, and a critical need.

The contract also made room for an additional position under the extra-curricular salary level for a web master. That position would be paid to update information and data on the school’s website. Currently, those teachers which are performing those duties, are not paid.

The June 2 meeting will be held in School Superintendent Lind’s office.