JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley teachers voted Monday evening to ratify the five-year contract the school board approved last Monday night.

A district statement said the early bird contract, which takes effect July 1, 2011, and expires June 30, 2016, includes an annual pay increase averaging 3.48 percent and health care modifications like increased premium contributions, deductibles and copays.

Butch Santicola, Pennsylvania State Education Association spokesman, said teachers informed him just after 6 p.m. Monday they had approved the contract.

He said he was happy the contract could be hammered out nine months before the expiration of the current contract, which was only settled after a strike last year.

"It's good news," Santicola said.

School board president Robert Hill was pleased with the ease both sides experienced in reaching a mutually satisfying contract.

"We are pleased with the cooperative spirit in which the negotiation team worked to finalize this contract settlement," he said. "Having this vitally important agreement in place allows us to move forward with the business of education."