( KMZA )--The Nemaha Central USD 115 Board of Education has ratified a negotiated agreement with teachers for the 2013-2014 school year. 

The board approved the contract with the Nemaha Central Educators Association following a closed-door session at this week’s meeting.

Under the contract, teachers will see an average salary increase of 1.72 percent plus an increase of $60 per month towards the health insurance fringe.

The district is required to pay the low option, employee only premium for health insurance which increased from $348.56 to $408.95 for the next plan year.

Salary increases for administrative and classified staff were approved at the same percentage as the teachers.

In other business, the board heard a presentation from SBS Insurance agent Jim Ronnebaum regarding the district’s insurance coverage.

He said the district’s annual premium will increase slightly over 11 percent.  The major portion of the increase is for property insurance.  Workers compensation showed a slight decrease.  

All property is insured at replacement cost and there was discussion whether some buildings should be insured at actual cash value. Ronnebaum said the policy could be amended at any time if the board chose to do so.

Superintendent Darrell Kohlman advised the board of the decision by the Prairie Hills USD 113 board last week to deny the land transfer request for property in the Bern area.

Following discussion, the board decided not to pursue an appeal of the decision to the State Board of Education.

Board President Gary Niehues said in his opinion, if anything further happens, it should be on the part of those landowners making the request.