Jamestown Area School District's good fortune has proved fortunate for the Jamestown Area Education Association.

School directors on Wednesday approved a new contract that calls for pay increases, including step raises, ranging from a low of 3.01 percent to a high of 3.52 percent over the life of the contract that runs through 2007-08.

Voting yes were Directors Kevin Floch, Chris Kneeland, Debbie Miller, John Tucker and Doris Livingston. Opposing the contract were Paul Csonka, James Owens and Jay Snyder.

The vote, which occurred with no public discussion, came at the outset of a special meeting that began within minutes of a nearly 80-minute closed-door session.

The percentage increase for the five years for a teacher that will also be earning a step raise or a raise based on his or her seniority and level of education are: