Flat Rock-Hawcreek Schools’ teachers would see a pay bump under a two-year contract approved last night by the school board. Board members said that the collective increase of about 4 and a half percent would hopefully bring the teachers back to par after several recent years with pay freezes.

Superintendent Shawn Price said the district kept with its basic pay schedule for teachers.

Price said that this year’s raise is about double last year’s 2 percent increase, but it is meant to make up for other recent years where there was no pay increases.

Price said that the negotiations started in mid-September and went quickly, in what he said was a pleasant process.

Price said the district is growing by about 26 students, which means more state funding to help cover those costs, Price said.

That is on top of last year’s growth of about 20 students He chalks that up to improvements at the elementary school.

The district has 49 teachers.