FRANKLIN — Students will return to school as scheduled Wednesday after teachers overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract Sunday.

        Teachers are scheduled to meet with Interim Superintendent Bill Wood at 7:30 a.m. today in the high school cafeteria to officially notify school officials of the ratification vote.

        Th contract approval averts a strike the teachers' union had scheduled today.

        Veteran teacher Tom Benjamin said members of the Franklin Teachers Association approved the contract with a vote of more than 140 for and only 15 against.

        “I think the vote indicates the teachers in the district were happy with it,” said Mr. Benjamin, who chaired a crisis committee when negotiations hit a standstill.

        The contract gives teachers increases of 5.75 percent this year; 5.25 percent next year; and 3 percent the third year.

        “In my 21 years in the district, it's the biggest increase we've received,” said Mr. Benjamin, chairman of social studies department.

        The annual salary for a starting teacher had been $26,764.

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