A new seven-period day remains on schedule for the coming academic year at Lawrence and Free State high schools.

The new schedule is accounted for in a renegotiated work agreement between the Lawrence school district and the Lawrence Education Association.

The LEA ratified the agreement this week, with more than 700 teachers and licensed personnel — a full 79 percent of the more than 900 eligible voters — cast ballots in support.

“We are very pleased with the turnout of the vote, and very pleased with the strength of which it was ratified,” lead negotiator Lois Orth-Lopes said. “It was not a close vote, so we feel very good about that.”

Members of the Lawrence school board had approved the agreement Monday night.

The document calls for a number of changes, all related to an ongoing reconfiguration of schools on track to take effect for the 2011-12 school year. Among the changes included in the work agreement:

• Elementary teachers will receive a 10 percent increase in planning time.

• High school teachers will get another 11 minutes of planning time per week.

• Nearly half of all teachers — 464 who have not reached the top of their pay scales — will see pay increases for the remainder of the year ranging from $250 to $700.