Franklin teachers just got a pay bump but say salaries still aren’t competitive with neighboring districts

Caitlyn Greene owed her career to her high school science teacher. She remembered how Roger Shelton, who taught at Newfound Regional High School in Bristol for 34 years, cared for his students on top of being an exceptional educator.

Greene was the first person in her family to consider college, and Shelton helped her navigate applications and financial aid.

“He gave his time freely, without compensation, because he recognized that one of his students needed support,” she said. “Because of his patience and commitment, I was able to attend college and pursue multiple degrees. That opportunity changed the trajectory of my entire life.”

Now a kindergarten teacher at Paul Smith School in Franklin, she reflected Shelton’s dedication and the mold he set. Many teachers around her want to stay in Franklin schools and similarly dedicate themselves to the district, but Greene said that’s not always feasible.

The city council ratified Monday a new collective bargaining agreement between the Franklin Education Association and the school board that, by offering higher wages, begins to close the gap between Franklin teacher salaries and those of neighboring school districts.

The agreement for the 2026-2027 school year secured salary increases from 8.5% to 13%, depending on teacher experience. The salary increases total $601,328.

Jennifer Weaver, president of the Franklin Education Association, said a teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in their first year, or on the first step, currently earns $39,990 annually, which is more than $12,000 under the living wage for Merrimack County. Even with the salary increase, a first-year salary will still come up $7,000 short.

“Although planned salary adjustments represent meaningful progress, these gaps highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring that compensation is efficient to support employees across career stages,” she said. “Teachers should earn enough money so they can afford to live in the area they teach.”

Beginner Franklin teachers are paid less compared to other districts in the region. In the 2025-2026 school year, new teachers earned at least $44,000 in Laconia, Gilmanton and Kearsarge Regional, according to the Franklin Education Association.

That disparity widens with higher levels of teacher education. Teachers with a Master’s degree on the highest step in Franklin earn $67,342. In Gilmanton, a teacher with a similar educational background can earn about $75,000, or about $85,000 in Laconia or at Kearsarge Regional, according to the Franklin Education Association.

Weaver said that about 25% of teaching staff at Franklin schools left the district in the last three years; some left for other positions nearby.

“We want more teachers that want to stay here,” she said.

Some councilors shared concerns about where the money for salary increases would come from, with Councilor Ed Prive suggesting raising could cost the fire and police departments or siphon funds from capital improvement projects.

“I want you to get paid. You are important,” he said at the meeting. “But you got to understand what’s on the other side.”

Budgets are limited under the city’s tax cap, which constrains tax increases to the changes in the Consumer Price Index. Councilor Al Warner said the city may need to discuss adjusting the tax cap in order to accomodate for situations like these.

“People keep talking about adjusting the tax cap. Very few people know anything about how to adjust the tax cap … but there’s got to be one somewhere,” he said.

The collective bargaining agreement passed in a majority vote. The increases didn’t satisfy everyone involved.

Caitlyn Greene, a Franklin teacher with a master’s degree and eight years of classroom experience, said some entry-level educators in neighboring school districts make more than she does with only a bachelors degree.

“Which one are you going to choose?” she said. “They need to recognize that people are not going to just continue to choose Franklin. Franklin needs to choose them as well.”