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School board chair asks Bristol council for cost-of-living raises to retain teachers
Summary
At the April 1 meeting, the Board of Education liaison urged city council to consider additional funding to help schools match regional pay and retain teachers, citing teacher pay compression and competition from neighboring districts.
Board of Education Chair Mr. Cuddy asked Bristol City Council on April 1 to consider adding a cost-of-living component to next year’s city budget to help the school system retain teachers and staff.
“I'm in the schools a lot because I have children that are in the schools,” Cuddy said. “The more that I talk to our teachers ... I don't want to lose any of them.” He told council that the district is now among the lower-paying districts in the region and said restoring an annual cost-of-living increase could help keep teachers from leaving for higher pay elsewhere.
Why it matters
Council members noted the city is one of many funding partners for the school system; council members also pointed to county funding decisions and the broader regional context. Cuddy said the board is budgeting raises to align with the city’s planned employee increases and has approved $2,000 bonuses for full-time school employees and $1,000 for part-time staff, matching a statewide payment tied to recent state legislation.
Council reaction and context
Mayor Hutton and other council members asked whether the school board planned to ask the county as well; Cuddy confirmed the district would pursue funding from Sullivan County in addition to requesting city support. Council members emphasized that additional funding would come from taxpayer dollars and asked for clarity on the intended amount and how it would be budgeted.
Several council members stressed coordination: aligning city and school pay increases, reviewing budget capacity, and considering the county’s role. The council did not take an immediate vote on new school funding at the meeting; city and school leaders said they intend to continue the conversation during the city's budget process.
Ending
The school system’s request will be considered as part of the city’s upcoming budget work sessions; the liaison asked council to evaluate cost-of-living increases and to coordinate with county officials on shared funding responsibilities.
