Message from the President

Tentative Agreement on Clerical Contract

I am pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for our secretaries. I also would like to thank the Secretaries’ Negotiating Team for their hard work and professionalism throughout this process, which helped make this agreement possible:

Cherie Gaudette, Nashua High School South
Kendra Mansfield, Birch Hill Elementary
Allison Lynn, Nashua High School North
Terri Donovan, AFT-NH Attorney
Gary Hoffman, NTU President

Over the next few weeks, both negotiating teams will review the contract to ensure the language is accurate and free of errors. On May 12, 2026, the NTU Board of Directors will receive an overview of the agreement, and I will ask for their recommendation.

The contract ratification meeting for secretaries will be held on May 26, 2026, at the Nashua High School North auditorium. Doors will open at 3:45 pm, and the meeting will begin at 4:15 pm. This schedule allows time to verify member credentials, as only NTU members in the clerical unit are eligible to vote.

If the secretaries vote to approve the agreement, the next step will be a vote by the Board of Education, which is scheduled to meet later that same evening at Nashua High School North. Following Board approval, the contract will be submitted to the Board of Aldermen for final approval, a process that typically takes about one month.

I plan to share additional details about the tentative agreement with the clerical unit prior to the ratification vote. In the meantime, please see the press release below for an overview of the new contract.

Press Release on Tentative Secretaries' Contract

Involuntary Transfers

Last Friday, the window for voluntary transfers for ended. If you filled out a voluntary transfer form, and have not been called for an interview yet, I would check with supervisor or principal who oversees that position. I do know that some interviews for voluntary transfers might be happening as late as Wednesday. However, if you submitted a voluntary transfer request and did not get an appointment for an interview, please let me know and I'll make sure you get one.

Interviews for voluntary transfers should be completed by the middle of next week. Once that process concludes, likely on April 21 or April 22, any remaining teachers who still need to be placed will be involuntarily transferred.

If you are in this situation, the district will provide you with a list of available positions within your designated area. You will then submit your preferences to Human Resources. Final placements will be determined based on seniority among those being involuntarily transferred within each designated area.

For example, I was involuntarily transferred in 2010. At that time, I was the second most senior teacher in my designated area, social studies, among those being involuntarily transferred. I distinctly remember that there were four available positions. My first choice was a social studies position at Nashua North. The teacher who was more senior than I selected a different position, which allowed me to be placed at Nashua North for that year.

Below is a list of designated areas:

Designated Areas

One piece of good news: during the last contract negotiations, we secured moving pay for teachers who are involuntarily transferred to a new building. Under Article 9:7D of the Teachers’ Contract, eligible teachers may receive up to seven hours of moving pay at $35 per hour. To receive this benefit, submit a special payroll request through your payroll secretary.

Lastly, if you believe you are not the least senior teacher in your designated area but have been told you are being involuntarily transferred, please contact a grievance chair or reach out to me directly so we can review your situation.

Here is how to contact the grievance team:

Grievance Team

Gary Hoffman - president@nashuatu.org

Patty Gagnon (Elementary) - eledgrievance@nashuatu.org

Adam Marcoux (Middle) -  msgrievance@nashuatu.org

Ken Heaton (High) - hsgrievance@nashuatu.org

The full Reduction-in-Force process for teachers can be found here:

RIF Process

There are also a small number of districtwide paraeducators who are being involuntarily transferred at the elementary level. Like the teacher involuntary transfer process, that needs to be done by seniority as well. Assistant Superintendent, Jen Scarpati, told me that the paraeducators who are being involuntarily transferred should have several choices regarding where they are transferred to. However, if you are a paraeducator who is being involuntarily transferred, and you feel that your seniority was not taken into account, please reach out to one of your building representatives. 
 
Part-Time Title One Teachers MOU

At last Monday's School Board meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the Part-Time Title I schedule was passed by the Board of Education. This agreement represents the culmination of several years of discussions with the administration regarding the scheduling of part-time Title I teachers.

I would like to personally thank all of the Title I teachers who contributed to this effort. In particular, I want to recognize Kim Silva and Rebecca Lentz for their work in helping to negotiate the language as well as AFT-NH President, Deb Howes, for sharing her input on the schedule of her prior position.

Here is the MOU that was passed. I will also put it up on the NTU website once I receive the signed copy:

MOU on Part-Time Title One Teachers' Schedules

City Budget Process

As I previously shared, I am hopeful that the City of Nashua will approve the Board of Education’s proposed budget. If that occurs, some of the positions currently slated for reduction could be restored, and some laid off teachers may be recalled.

The School Department will present its budget to the Board of Aldermen on May 5, 2026, at City Hall at 7:00 pm. I will be in attendance, but I am not asking members to come to this meeting, although you are obviously more than welcome to do so. The next key date is the Public Hearing on the FY 2027 City Budget, which will take place on June 8, 2026, at Nashua High School North at 7:00 p.m. This hearing is an important opportunity to provide feedback to the Board of Aldermen, and I strongly encourage members to attend.

The Board of Aldermen is expected to hold its final vote on the City Budget on June 23, 2026. Depending on how the process unfolds, I may ask members to attend that meeting as well. At this time, however, the only meeting I am asking people to go to is the Public Hearing on June 8.

Here is the full budget meeting calendar from the City:

Nashua Budget Meeting Calendar

NTU Election

The following candidates have submitted signatures and profiles to run for the Executive Board for the April 22-23, 2026 NTU Election. Please click on the candidates name to read their profile:

President
Gary Hoffman

Secretary
Patrick Johnson

Member-at-Large
Rachel Lively

2026 Spring Election Information

Questions? Comments? Need Assistance?  Contact a member of the Executive Board

Trying to email Gary? Make sure to use president@nashuatu.org