I agree with you Chuck. I understand one major problem we have here, and in Keene as well, is because of health care insurance. It's not just a problem for our schools, but also for many businesses and the country as a whole. Our for-profit health care industry costs far more per capita than the health care systems in the rest of the industrialized societies in the world and delivers health care that is ranked far lower than most. We badly need a sytemic change and a well run single payer system (rather than a national health care service I think) would permit private practice (which we don't really have in the US), universal health care and cost less than what we have. But in the US the false slogans about "socialized medicine" and mythology about health care in other countries prevents any real consideration of the needed reforms. Of course the refusal of NH to seriously consider the need for forms of taxation for education other than just property tax will keep the problem of properly financing education in ths state an ongoing problem, in my view. About 70% of our property tax has been for education. I think that is especially unfair for older folks who want to continue to live in their family homes. So I suggest the problem goes beyond just the local contracts and there is need for pressure at both the state and federal levels for reform.

I also agree with you Chuck. While one major problem is health insurance costs, ( that is also a problem for many businesses}, teachers in Walpole have not had a raise in 3 years. Do the tax payers expect them to eat higher insurance costs as well??? Tax payers need to get real if they expect to keep good teachers in the Walpole schools.

Believe it or not, I also agree with other comments in this post. The teacher contract should be settled. However in this day and age the reality is that everyone must contribute to the high cost of insurance and I don't think it is unreasonable to suggest that teachers pay a fair portion of their coverage. I also do not feel it is right to ask them to continue serving 3 years without a contract. HOWEVER, neither is it fair to ask our SUPPORT STAFF to work 3 years without a raise or contract either! Support staff do not have the opportunity to "work to rule" as their work MUST be done. So let's encourage all parties involved to come to an agreement. Personally I feel part of the problem is the union negotiator, whom is dragging this out! BIll Moses