A proposed three-year teachers’ contract will, if approved by voters, provide an average of 5 percent pay increases each year. The agreement has been ratified by the Pelham School Board and members of Pelham’s teachers union, the Pelham Education Association.

Increases in salaries and benefits under the new contract will cost taxpayers $392,033 in 2007- 08, $396,307 in the second year and $413,038 in the third year.

The town’s budget committee will decide at its Jan. 16 meeting whether to recommend it.

Voters can debate the contract at the school district’s Feb. 7 deliberative session but cannot change it. They will approve or reject the contract when they go to the polls on March 13.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, a new teacher with a bachelor’s degree would earn a starting annual salary of $32,770 beginning this fall.

That teacher, at the same education level, would earn $35,110 during the 2008-09 school year, and $37,565 in the following year.

Likewise, a new teacher with a master’s degree would earn $36,170 during the first year, $38,510 the following year and $40,965 during the third year.

Currently, first-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree start at $31,340, while those with a master’s degree begin at $34,740.

Teachers who move up a year in their career ladder will earn $2,430 more during the 2007-08 school year. Their pay will increase $2,340 and $2,455 in subsequent years.

Brian Gallagher, the school district’s business administrator, said the new collective bargaining agreement is an attempt by the school district to stay competitive with other towns.

“They are trying to keep good retention to avoid turnover,” he said. Teachers will be required to work 187 days annually, one day more a year than they are currently required.

Teachers will each be reimbursed up to $190 annually for workshops and seminars they take. That’s up from the current $150 rate.

The school district is providing more money for professional improvement when educators take courses in their assigned area. Currently, $50,000 is available.

The school district will offer $52,000 in 2007-08, $55,000 the following year, and $58,000 in 2009-10.

According to Gallagher, teachers will pick up a 5 percent increase in their contributions to health insurance.

Currently, the school district’s 85 percent contribution is matched by a 15 percent contribution by teachers. The school district’s contributions will incrementally decrease so that by the last year of the contract, the split will be 80-20.

According to Gallagher, stipends paid to teachers for student extracurricular activities under the new contract are slated to increase 3.5 percent during the first year but remain fixed during the following two years.

The new contract also provides more incentive money to teachers who do work beyond their normal duties, such as committee work, mentoring colleagues and taking on additional tasks.