The Williston Public School District #1 School Board approved salary increases to administrators, teachers and staff, as well as approving a request to apply for grant dollars during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon.

School board President Dave Hanson said the increases in salaries had been talked about for several months during a series of meetings involving collaborative bargaining. Hanson said they came up with an idea on what both sides were looking for and then proceeded during the bargaining process to come to the best agreement they could.

“We worked to create a package that was competitive with other similar-sized school districts throughout the region. We wanted to reward and retain teachers pursuing higher education and improving quality,” said Hanson.

Hanson said the agreement is for teachers to receive total salary increases of a combined 10 percent over a two-year period. The overall increase in teachers’ salaries for the district amounts to $1.67 million, said Hanson.

A two-year agree with administrators was reached for a salary increase of a combined 12 percent over the next two years at a cost of $100,000. Hanson said there was a reason for the higher percentage for administrators. “There’s some additional duties they have to perform now,” said Hanson.

Hanson said salaries for other staff such as aides, assistants and others are to be increased by 6 percent next year. He said the reason that increase is for one year is because a contract isn’t involved.

Hanson said the agreements were unanimously passed by the school board and he thinks they are good ones for the various staff.

“I think from the board’s perspective, it went very well and I think for the teachers it went pretty well, too,” said Hanson.

In an unrelated matter, the board unanimously approved a grant proposal by Head Start Association President Julie Quamme to apply for one-time funds for textbooks, equipment and other items for program improvements. The total funds are around $170,000.