They were just there, they said, to show support for both sides in the negotiations, convinced that board members meant it when they said reaching an agreement on a contract was a top priority. Bragdon reinforced that when he spoke with them before entering the negotiating session. It's not a situation we can take for another year. And, Bragdon told the teachers, this year the district had difficulty filling all of its teaching positions. Teachers either would not or could not say what sort of increase they were seeking but contended that in some cases, Milford is far behind other districts in pay.
Teachers say that starting pay stays at that level for the first three years of the contract.
Teachers in other districts, they contended, do much better, particularly in the second and third years of a contract. We've lost a lot of quality people in my department to better paying districts. But, teachers insisted, they don't want to leave Milford. Nadeau, for instance, said she helps to produce 11 musical shows with children each year and receives no extra pay. We're doing the extras we've always done.