The Nashua Board of Education voted 6-1-1 to ratify a new contract agreement with the Nashua Teachers’ Union at a special meeting last week.

The Board approved an $11.1 million dollar agreement, spanning four years including the current school year. The contract provides an immediate increase of more than $3,000 per year for most teachers.

In addition to raises, the contract provides an increase to the school nurses’ compensation by changing the way related work experience is to be calculated into a newly hired school nurse’s starting pay.

Adam Marcoux, President of the Nashua Teachers’ Union, posted on the NTU social media page that 97.9% of the members who voted approved the contract.

“I want to thank the board’s negotiating team,” said Jennifer Bishop, President of the Nashua Board of Education, “who recognized our teachers, nurses, counselors, and school psychologists tireless dedication and hard work these last two years during the pandemic. I am now more confident in our ability to move forward together as we return to a more traditional academic year.”

Members of the board serving on the negotiating team included Jessica Brown, Heather Raymond, and Sandra Ziehm. Several senior administrators of the Nashua School District served on the Board’s negotiating team and as advisors: Garth McKinney, Superintendent of School; Anthony Parker, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary; Kimberly Sarfde, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary; Diane Carey, Human Resources Director; Daniel Donovan, Chief Operating Officer; and Derek Danielson; Assistant Director, Business.

“The work is challenging and our educators have met the added vast and varied challenges during the unprecedented circumstances of the pandemic,” said Dr. McKinney. “Saying thank you is important and providing fair compensation is important also.”

The approved contract will now move forward to the Nashua Board of Aldermen for final ratification.