The 90 local teachers -- part of the 200-plus Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) members who work in schools for the deaf and blind and in correctional institutions -- voted to accept the new agreement last week.

It includes a three per cent pay raise each year in the four-year term -- which starts September 1 -- and provisions for additional staffing and benefit improvements.

"The members are happy that a collective agreement was reached before the expiration of the current one," said Al Pagnan, president of the OSSTF Provincial Schools Authority Teachers.

"This is the first time in the history of the bargaining unit that this has happened. The government worked to effectively address our local priorities in a co-operative manner."

The current contract expires on August 31.

OSSTF president Ken Coran said the agreement demonstrates how successful local collective bargaining should work.

"Our members and the government made this work for the teachers and students in provincial schools," Coran said.

"OSSTF now calls on the government to commit to that successful model in all other school boards and settle contracts through local bargaining."