Lawrence’s school board decided Monday night to give Supt. Randy Weseman another three-year contract, plus a 5 percent salary boost.

“There’s no place I’d rather be than in this school district in Lawrence,” Weseman said after the unanimous vote.

Under the new agreement, Weseman will work at least another three years in the district’s top spot. His annual salary will go from $139,770 to $146,760, a 5 percent increase.

He also will get a 2.5 percent increase in his benefits package, said Sue Morgan, school board president.

The contract goes through June 30, 2009.

“He got an excellent performance rating from the board members,” Morgan said. “Things are going well. I think he provides us great leadership.”

She said looking at the research that shows what elements lead to student achievement gains, Lawrence’s schools are right on target.

“He’s got this district very focused, providing the support the administrators and building leaders need,” Morgan said.

In other action, the board heard a report recognizing Lawrence students who are learning Chinese through the Confucius Institute at Kansas University.

Three Free State High School students who are taking Mandarin Chinese this year. The Chinese language class, taught by Jonathan Yi, is offered across the state through the Greenbush Interactive Distance Learning Network.