Same salary argument as Board of Education approves Richard as South principal

NASHUA – Another administrator’s hiring produced another argument about salaries at the Board of Education meeting Monday night. Keith Richard was officially approved to be principal at Nashua High School South starting July 1, but board member Sandra Ziehm had a problem with his approved starting salary of $103,000 – a raise of about $20,000 from his salary this year as assistant principal at Nashua North. “I’ve heard wonderful things about him, I just don’t think we can continue these salaries at a time when people are lucky to have a job,” Ziehm said. “I don’t think we can afford it. We need to start bringing these salaries down so we can start putting these services in the classroom.” However, the rest of the board took turns sounding off against Ziehm’s opinion, noting the importance of paying market value for crucial leadership positions, like a high school principal. “We cannot expect him to accept the salary he’s getting now for increasing responsibilities,” board member Thomas Vaughan said. “I am already convinced Mr.