Idaho Falls School District teachers have ratified a contract for the coming school year that includes a 3.5-percent pay hike.

The contract was approved Thursday by 86 percent of the Idaho Falls Education Association's membership.Grant Martell, the association's vice president, said teachers expressed concerns about an increase in insurance premiums but generally were satisfied with the settlement.

The contract raises salaries for a beginning teacher to $19,950 a year, up from $19,585 during the 1990-91 school year.

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