The Washington Township School Board approved a new contract for Superintendent James Mervilde.

Mervilde’s salary will increase 2.1 percent from $171,600 to $175,204.

In the future, Mervilde will receive the same pay percentage increases that the teachers will, district attorney Chuck Rubright said. The district has not started contract negotiations with teachers and won’t until at least October.

Teachers and Mervilde will receive any retroactive pay when contract negotiations are settled.

“This is almost identical to the way other districts in Marion County do this,” said Rubright, who represents several other Marion County school districts. “This maintains this superintendent as middle of the pack in Marion County.”

In addition to his salary, insurance and retirement benefits, Mervilde receives $700 a month for car payments and maintence.

There is no increase in length of Mervilde’s contract, said Cheri Harris, board president. The original three-year contract automatically rolls over each year unless the board takes action otherwise, making it good through 2012.