Milford Schools Staff Absences Jump 1,000 Percent

MILFORD, N.H. - The Milford Board of Education is looking into what can be done after 4,462 staff absences were reported in 2018, up from 400 from last year. According to the Nashua Telegraph, that includes teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, custodial, administrative and kitchen staff and includes sick leave, as well as personal days, unpaid family leave, workshop days, bereavement leave, unpaid leave and jury duty.

The school board started looking at absenteeism after the district raised the pay for substitute teachers and found the extra $10 a day didn’t bring in enough substitutes to significantly decrease the number of unfilled classes.

Board members also assured union representatives that they are not looking at individual staff members, but only numbers.

Last year Milford increased the pay from $65 to $75 a day, bringing it in line with SAU 39 – the Amherst, Mont Vernon schools. They also started a bonus. Those who have worked more than 50 days a year earn $85 a day.

To read the full story, visit the Nashua Telegraph.