Smethport Area School District teachers will receive a 2 percent raises for this school year and the next, and 2.5 percent in the third year, as part of a new collective bargaining agreement in place through August 2020.

The agreement between Smethport Area Education Association and the district was approved Monday by the school board. The teachers had been without a contract during the 2016-17, and they also had their salaries frozen, Superintendent David London said.

Now the district’s approximately 80 teachers will receive 2 percent salary increases for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years, and a 2.5 percent salary increase for the 2019-20 school year.

Another change in the union contract revolves around health care, which will continue to be provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield, London said. The new options will become effective in 2018.

Teachers will be able to select a zero-deductible, preferred-provider organization plan with a $125 a month premium. The other choice will be a qualified high-deductible plan, with rates set by the Internal Revenue Service, that includes a health savings account or a health reimbursement account. This health plan would be partially funded by the school district, London said.

Currently, teachers can pick a preferred provider organization plan with a zero deductible or a plan that includes a $49 a month premium.

All in all, London said he is pleased that negotiations are over and that the upcoming school year will be starting off on the right foot.

Also at the meeting, the school board approved a cooperative sports agreement with the Port Allegany School District, which is expected to start at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year.

“The agreement still has to be approved by the (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association),” said London. “It pertains to boys and girls’ soccer, boys and girls’ cross country and boys and girls’ golf.”

With student enrollment on the decline, consolidating sports seemed like a good idea, London said, adding that more and more it is difficult for smaller schools to field athletic teams. Smethport’s class sizes range between 60 and 70 students.

In other business, the board:

• Hired Joani Briton as a full-time aid, Bryan Nelson as a technology systems specialist and Breanna Jones as a long-term substitute for second-grade classes.

• Appointed Colby Austin as the head baseball coach, Jon Peterson as the head softball coach and Rick Woodring as the head track and field coach.

• Announced Back-to-School events on Aug 21. From 6 to 7 p.m. there will be an open house for pre-kindergarten through sixth grades, student orientation, parent information, a district emergency plan video presentation, teacher overviews of classrooms, contact information, emergency cards, handbook distribution, announcement sign-ups and transportation verification. Local agencies will also be set up in the elementary school lobby from 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., a marching band performance, introduction of fall sports and cheerleaders, book reading and a book give-away for elementary students will all take place on the football field.

(Era reporter Alex Davis contributed to this story.)