The Lewiston School Board has unanimously approved a new one-year contract with the Lewiston Education Association, a day after association members ratified the agreement.

The contract, which covers the 2008-2009 school year, raises teachers’ base pay by 1.5 percent per year, depending on experience and educational level.

The overall salary costs for the 317 union members will increase from $15.5 million to $16 million, or 3.1 percent, which includes both the 1.5 percent change in the base and the normal step increase for years of service. The contract also raises the insurance co-payment for dependents from 10 percent to 20 percent, and bumps up the pay for some coaches and coaching assistants by about $600 per year.

The board is expected to address wage and benefit increases for non-union employees on Monday.