HOOKSETT – Voters enthusiastically backed the town’s teachers on election day, Tuesday, March 13, by approving a new three-year contract 1,206- 315.

Voters nixed a teacher contract proposal last year, and school officials have said the town’s underpaid teaching force would have suffered if left without a contract for another year.

The contract will add about $1.2 million in district expenses over the next three years. Voters also approved a three-year deal for the district’s support staff that will cost about $108,000 over the next two years.

“I’m ecstatic, very pleased about the contracts,” said Hooksett School Board Chairman Joanne McHugh. “It’s a tribute to the whole community, the way they pulled together for this.”

Voters stayed positive, approving the district’s proposed operating budget, which was boosted by $345,000 at last month’s deliberative session of School District Meeting. After the 888-595 vote, the year’s budget will be $23,189,176.

“I think that was the one where I was surprised the most,” McHugh said.

The boosted budget proposal had been criticized by budget committee members, several of whom have said they wanted to trim the budget in order to support the contract for Hooksett’s teachers.

Residents also gave a vote of confidence to the SAU 15 withdrawal committee, formed last year after a citizen petition asked whether Hooksett should look into leaving the SAU, the main administrative office it shares with Auburn and Candia. By a 891-592 vote, residents said they support continuing the work of the committee for another year.

The extension was requested after the committee twice unsuccessfully pitched its withdrawal proposal to the state board of education earlier this year. The state board said the committee’s withdrawal study didn’t give enough consideration to the impact Hooksett’s potential withdrawal might have on the two smaller school districts.