The crowd that came to the John Stark High School gym for Friday night’s deliberative session were almost unified in one opinion: Voters in Weare and Henniker shouldn’t reject the teachers contract again this year.
After hearing a presentation outlining comparative salaries between John Stark and other high schools in the region, a dozen speakers came to the microphone to support the proposed one-year contract for teachers and were applauded. In particular, several expressed concern that salary differentials would lure teachers away to other districts, hurting students.
“They say … if my go-to teacher is not going to be here next year … they might not show up to school anymore,” said Adam Bogle, a senior who is one of the student representatives on the John Stark school board.
The contract has an average of 9.5% increases in salaries, costing an extra $488,810. Board member James Newcomb said the increase reflected the fact that teachers worked this year with no contract and were getting two years of raises at once.
The town Finance Committee opposed the contract on a 6-3 vote, saying it was “more than taxpayers can afford.”
The contract, like all warrant articles, will be voted on Election Day, March 10.
Other articles discussed Friday include:
A $16.15 million proposed operating budget, 4% higher than last year’s $15.52 budget. If it fails, a $16.04 million default budget will go into effect.
Among the major cost drivers are health insurance premiums. The contract also would create an out-of-district transition coordinator to oversee special education and other special student needs.
The Finance Committee opposed the budget on a 9-1 vote. “A majority feels that the John Stark district can operate on a default budget in the coming year,” it said in its report, specifically rejecting the idea of creating the new position.
Another warrant article seeks $111,000 to pay extra tuition for more students to attend the Concord Regional Technology Center, which accepts students from a variety of sending schools.
As explained at the meeting, state law requires the sending school to pay 25% of the CRTC tuition, but doesn’t specify that the state will pay the remainder. The legislature has cut the reimbursement in recent years. “They currently pay 38%,” said Board Member Jill Dagenais.
The $111,000 will allow more of the students who have requested classes at CRTC to attend. It was supported by the Finance Committee, 9-1.
A two-year contract for support personnel, from para-professionals to maintenance to cafeteria workers, would cost an estimated $142,000 in its first year. It would give a $1 an hour raise and make some other changes. It was supported by the Finance Committee.
A warrant article asking $65,000 to hire an athletic trainer was supported by several speakers, including several student athletes.
Currently, EMTs are hired to be at games to handle injuries, and coaches and teachers have some training to deal with athletic injuries or preparation.
Another article would designate John Stark as an open-enrollment school, but prevent the district from having to pay for any students who attend other districts. The legislature is in the process of debating a law that would override that action, forcing all districts to pay for students who decide to enroll in other public school districts.
If the budget and all warrant articles pass, it will increase the tax rate by an estimated 63 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, costing $252 a year for a $400,000 home.
Weare School Deliberative Session
On Wednesday, voters discussed a $21.4 million school operating budget plus new contracts for teachers at the Weare School District’s deliberative session. One proposal to trim $980,000 was rejected by attendees.
The budget for the next school year is 3.66%, or about $650,000, higher than the one approved last year.
A proposed two-year contract for teachers will be on the ballot. Its first-year cost is $384,000.
About 70 people attended the meeting. Much of the discussion concerned open enrollment.
On Election Day, March 10, voters will also cast ballots on a petitioned article asking legislators to limit Education Freedom Accounts, the state’s school voucher program, and make them more accountable.