KARNS CITY — The Karns City School Board and the district's teachers are closer to a contract after meeting Monday night.

But they remain apart on elements of an early retirement incentive.

That is according to information released today Thomas Breth, the district's solicitor.

The two sides have agreed on most points in the board's proposed five-year contract, including employee health care contributions, salaries for new teachers, and salary step scheduling.

But they differ on three elements regarding early retirement incentives.

First, the board is offering up to eight years of employee and spousal coverage, while teachers want 10 years.

Second, the board's proposal stipulates that to be eligible for the incentive retirees must have 20 years of employment with the district and 20 years with the state Public School Employees' Retirement System.

Teachers want eligibility after 20 years in the state system and 15 years with the school district.

Finally, teachers want a $2,500 cash payment in addition to continued coverage, while the school board is offering no cash payment.

The two sides have agreed on other elements of the early retirement incentive.

The district's 123 teachers have set a strike date of Sept. 1, the first scheduled day of classes, if no agreement is reached.