POLL: How Will You Vote on Teacher Raises Today?

Since Bedford is a Charter Community, the lone issue Bedford residents will have a voice on this Municipal Town Meeting season – aside from a handful of zoning ordinances – will be the town's operating budget when voters convene at Bedford High School on March 7 for the Bedford Budgetary Town Meeting.

On the school side, however, there are 10 warrant articles up for vote on election day, March 13.

The lone item that provoked extended discussion at the Deliberative Session of was the article which calls for $1,003,466 to fund an increase in teacher salaries.

School board members, at the deliberative session, explained the number was reached through a collective bargaining agreement between the school district and the Bedford Education Association.

In exchange for the salary bump, teachers are willing to increase their insurance contribution, a step that lowers the school district's obligation on a family plan from 94- to 88-percent.

Residents overwhelming backed the article, voicing support for the high quality of education provided by the Bedford School District.

"Bedford is also known for bad traffic on 101, but that's not what brings people to this town," said one resident, who noted he moved his family to Bedford last year. "We came here for the education, and if the education goes down, we'll move elsewhere."

We want to know how you feel on the subject. Vote in the attached poll and let us know why you support or oppose the article in the comment section below.