With the beginning of the fall semester only a few days away, top school administration and teaching staff have come a compensation agreement for the upcoming school year.

The Dowagiac Board of Education approved a one-year contract with Dowagiac District Education Association during a special meeting Thursday morning. The new deal calls for no raise for the  128 educators employed by the district, though teachers eligible for a step upgrade will receive an increase averaging around $800 across 26 pay periods, according Superintendent Paul Hartsig.

The previous year’s contract expired on June 30, shortly before Hartsig officially took over as the new superintendent. Like this new deal, it too was only good for a single year.

“A lot of one-year deals are signed across districts these days, due to variances in state funding and the volatility with student populations in Michigan,” Hartsig said.

Negotiations were handled between representatives of the union and a group of four administrators: Hartsig, Deputy Superintendent Dawn Conner, Director of Finance Stacy Ritchie and Director of Human Resources Jennifer Daly-Thies. The two groups met seven times between July and August to hammer out the conditions of the contract, Hartsig said.

“Overall, there was a positive atmosphere of collaboration,” Hartsig said.

The increase to the step was only half of what the teacher’s union was calling for. Both sides agreed meet in the middle, allowing for teachers to receive additional pay while keeping this year’s budget under control, Hartsig said

“It was a nice compromise on both sides that works for teachers and students,” he said.

With the pay schedule finalized, teachers and administrators are fully focused on the first day of the 2014-2015 year on Tuesday.

“I think everyone is ready to continue our recent successes and build on them,” Hartsig said.