Lawrence teachers will receive an 8.1 percent pay raise, on average, under a tentative agreement reached this afternoon between Lawrence’s school board and the local teachers’ union.

“This makes up for several years of really bad – or no pay raises,” said Dan Karasek, a negotiator for the Lawrence Education Assn.

But even with this package, local teachers are still behind neighboring school districts, Karasek said.

The raise will cost the district $2.6 million.

The increase will be different for each individual teacher, depending on how long that teacher has worked in the school district and how much education that teacher has received above a bachelor’s degree.

The agreement must still be ratified by a majority of teachers and approved by the school board, but that’s likely to happen in the coming weeks.

Teachers should see the increase on their paycheck next month.

This afternoon’s meeting drew a standing-room only crowd in the board’s meeting room.

Those attending included dozens of teachers, all the school board members and several district administrators, including Supt. Randy Weseman.