Employees of Lake Tahoe Unified School District will soon have a heftier paycheck.

The board of education on Feb. 11 approved 3 percent raises for certificated and classified workers that are retroactive to July 1. Another increase takes effect July 1, 2014. That comes in the form of a 6.5 percent raise. The contract, though, goes through June 30, 2016.

For certificated staff two staff development days will be eliminated in the 2014-15 school year. This means they will work 182 days, plus one professional development day.

Representatives from both unions shared their appreciation for the cooperative negotiating process. Board members in turn praised the quality of teaching and work of staff.

“Everyone agreed we are coming out of some dark times into some light,” board President Wendy David told Lake Tahoe News after the meeting.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report