Ware board presents two-year teacher contract as residents weigh tax impact

The Ware School District presented a proposed two-year teachers’ contract at the Feb. 4 deliberative session that would apply a 3% grid increase each year, top-step and step movements, and off-grid increases for veteran teachers.

Board negotiators said the contract is intended to retain teachers and sustain recent improvements in student achievement after a prior, larger contract. The schedule presented starts at roughly $46,004 in year one for a beginning teacher and maxes at about $79,003 for a teacher with 15 years, a master’s degree and additional credits; the second year’s top figures were shown slightly higher (example: roughly $81,700 at the top of the grid). The board also highlighted contract language changes, including a guaranteed continuous prep period and a guaranteed day off before Thanksgiving for teachers.

Tom Flaherty, representing the Ware Finance Committee, urged rejection of the contract, saying the committee voted 9–1 to not recommend it because the two-year package would cost taxpayers over $1.13 million and permanently raise budgets by roughly $746,000. He called the proposed increase substantial during a period when nonunion town employees were seeking smaller raises.

Supporters of the contract said competitive pay is necessary to retain teachers, preserve instructional gains and avoid losing staff to neighboring districts. Several residents said the community needs to invest in teachers to support improved test scores and stability in classrooms.

Questions from voters covered: how many staff are off-grid, the size of retirement/early-retirement insurance buyouts, how the contract interacts with other district bargaining items, and whether cost savings (e.g., retirements offsetting hires) would materially reduce net expense. Administrators said some buyouts and benefits are limited in number (e.g., up to two teachers per year may apply for certain retirement insurance benefits) and noted that the district has been exploring benefit design changes and self-funded options for long-term sustainability.

The deliberative body closed discussion of Article 4 under the moderator’s rules; the contract will appear on the ballot for voters to decide on March 10, 2026.

Key figures

- Average district salary reported during session: $63,067 (district average) vs. New Hampshire average ~$69,051 - Contract structure: 3% grid increase each year, step movement, off-grid $3,375 each year for teachers beyond step 15 - Finance committee: not recommended, 9–1

What happens next: Article 4 will appear on the March 10 ballot where voters will accept or reject the contract.