LETTER: In Support of the Teachers Contracts

Submitted by Andy Gushee

Seacoast Education Association president

Letter to the Editor,

On March 13th residents of Hampton will decide the fate of two school budgets and two collectively bargained teacher contracts for SAU 90 and SAU 21 [Editor's note: North Hampton residents will also vote on the SAU 21 contract, as will Seabrook and Hampton Falls residents]. We are asking for your support of both school budgets and teacher contracts. Here are a few reasons why we encourage you to support the SAU 90 school budget and teachers’ contract:
*The negotiated settlement for SAU 90 was unanimously approved by the School Board, School Budget Committee, and Hampton teachers of the Seacoast Education Association.
    *Teacher salaries and steps have been frozen since the 2009-10 school year. 
*The negotiated agreement makes good business sense and allows the district to retain and recruit highly effective teachers.
*The negotiated agreement brands this contract a Hampton contract and revises leave language.
*The negotiated agreement manages rising healthcare costs by eliminating the two most expensive healthcare plans, switching the prescription plan to a less costly driver, and shifting a percentage of healthcare premiums to the employee.
*The negotiated settlement brings cost certainty to the school district.
*The negotiated settlement is fiscally prudent.
*The school budget that includes the negotiated agreement is less than the 2011-2012 school budget.

Support your schools, by voting for the school budget and teachers’ contract on Tuesday.

With Respect,

Andy Gushee
President, Seacoast Education Association

Elizabeth Dowst
Negotiations Chair, Hampton Teachers- Seacoast Education Association

Amy Murphy
Negotiations Committee