Teachers in the Tamaqua Area School District have received a one-year contract extension through the 2017-18 school year that calls for an average increase of $1,700 in their salary.

The school board on Tuesday unanimously approved the Tamaqua Education Association contract extension through the 2017-18 school year.Superintendent Ray Kinder said the extension calls for an average increase of $1,700 in salary, but that not all teachers will receive that much of a raise.Kinder said thatexactly how much each teacher will receive is determined by the individual employee position on the salary schedule.There are 150 teachers in the district, he said."Both parties understood the uncertainty in longer-term, future reimbursement based on proposals coming from the state government," Kinder said."This allows for time to examine the implications of the proposals on our school budget."Kinder added, "The members of the school board and teachers' association worked collaboratively and in good faith."All other conditions of the contract will remain unchanged, he said.Softball field updateAlso on Tuesday, Kinder updated the board on the status of the district's softball field, which was recently damaged after poles fell on the field, backstop and dugouts.Kinder said the district is receiving quotes for the damage.The majority of the debris has been cleaned up, he said.Kinder said last week that the district's hope is to have everything ready for the spring sports season.