School Warrant Information

Teachers, professional staff, and aides have not received salary increases since 2008, and secretaries and custodians have not received increases since 2007.  In the northeastern United States, the cost of living rose 0.5% in 2008, 3% in 2009, and 1.6% in 2010, for a total of 5.1% in the past 3 years.  The proposed salary increases range from 1.58% to 2.75%.  Some are making less net salary now because of rising costs and no pay increases. In addition, many teachers spend their own money on certain classroom supplies and educational materials, further reducing their disposable income. 

  

It is difficult to continue to work in an environment where employers cannot acknowledge efforts with monetary rewards.  Our school employees do not work in the private sector where opportunities for promotion regularly exist.  They work for modest compensation to help educate our children.  We need to support them with salary increases.

  

  

Whether or not you have children in school, our schools are the foundation of our community, and we are all responsible.  Investing in our children benefits all of us because they are the future leaders, business owners, and voters.   Reinvesting in our schools also benefits us because our community remains vital, retaining families and attracting new ones.  It's also good for businesses, home values, and increasing the tax base.

  

The proposed increases are very modest.  Salem has one of the lowest tax rates in southern New Hampshire.  We have favorable class sizes and the second lowest cost-per-pupil of 12 comparison communities locally in NH.

  

Our district has historically been able to offer above-average salaries to attract above-average teachers.  But average salaries are starting to fall behind those of comparable neighboring school districts.  Taking the risk of losing our valuable teachers and staff to those districts doesn't make sense.  We can't afford not to approve these increases.