S.F. teachers approve new contract with 12 percent pay hike

Dennis Kelly, president of United Educators of San Francisco, seen in 2012. “We need to set our sights on the cost of living and work for funding that brings educational workers up to that level,” Kelly said Thursday about the teachers’ new contract. less Dennis Kelly, president of United Educators of San Francisco, seen in 2012. “We need to set our sights on the cost of living and work for funding that brings educational workers up to that level,” Kelly ... more Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle Photo: Lance Iversen / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close S.F. teachers approve new contract with 12 percent pay hike 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

San Francisco teachers overwhelmingly approved a new contract Thursday night that gives them a 12 percent pay increase over the three-year term, union officials said.

More than 78 percent of the 2,799 teachers voting approved the terms of the contract, which United Educators of San Francisco leaders called a good step toward addressing the “affordability crisis” in the city.

“We need to set our sights on the cost of living and work for funding that brings educational workers up to that level,” union President Dennis Kelly said in a statement.

The new contract brings the starting teacher salary to more than $56,000, up $6,000, and the average teacher salary to about $78,000, up $8,000.

The new agreement also more than doubles the amount of preparation time for elementary school teachers, to 150 minutes per week from 60 minutes.

Teacher aides will also get a 12 percent raise.

The San Francisco school board is expected to also approve the contract in a special meeting Friday.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jtucker@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @jilltucker