The board of education unanimously approved the negotiated three-year agreement with the West Hartford Public School Nurses Association last month. 

The contract includes a wage freeze for the coming fiscal year followed by wage increases of 2 percent and 3 percent in the following two years. Employee pension and health care contributions are increasing. 

All new hires after June 30, 2010 will participate in a new pension contribution plan and can pay up to 6 percent of their wages toward retirement with the board matching 100 percent of employees' contributions up to 6 percent. Current employees will keep their traditional pension package but will be able to contribute 5 percent of their wages instead of the current 3 percent.

New employees will be able to accumulate sick time according to the current agreement, but will not be paid for unused leave at retirement.