Budget Season

It's that time of year again...Budget Season.

This year has started a little differently and the School Board budget workshops are being televised-something I advocated for and am thrilled that the SB decided to do. If you remember, last year many people in the school community were surprised by the proposed cuts-all of which were included in the final budget that passed and was eventually approved by the voters. 

I think it's important to note that our district has cut a total of 15.5 positions in the last 3 budget cycles. But again, this year seems to be different. At the beginning of his initial presentation to the School Board on October 24th, Dr. Hayes made the statement that we have tightened our belts as much as possible--there is no more room to cut. 

But, if everything presented were to pass as it is right now, it would represent a 6% increase in the operating budget. The community needs to know why. 

So what is in the budget? 

• An additional first grade teacher at NES due to increased enrollment.
• 2 mobile laptop carts for NES.
• 18 document cameras for the classrooms at NES-the PTA and other donations purchased some that are currently starting to be used, but each classroom should have one. 
• The replacement of 56 desktop computers for the classrooms and media center at NES--many of the computers at NES are 8-10 years old.
• 4.5 new paraprofessionals as a result of 12 unanticipated students with IEP's moving into our district.
• 5 Smartboards for the High School.
• Approximately $25,000 to replace and update textbooks for the High School-these funds will be used to replace Math textbooks that are damaged or worn out for multiple classes/levels, purchase Adobe photoshop textbooks and to purchase supplemental titles for the Jr. and Sr. High School. 

This is just a little taste of the proposed budget. You can look through the full document here. I also encourage you to watch the last budget presentation and to tune in to Channel 13 on Thursday to see the Elementary School and SAU budgets discussed in detail. If you have questions or want to support an item, email the School Board members or plan to attend one of the November meetings on the 7th or the 21st. 

The final budget goes to the Budget Committee by November 25th. 

Weighing In

I've been asked a few times what I think of the proposed tuition agreement structure between Newmarket and Oyster River, and I've struggled with my answer. I've tried to be politically correct and not take sides just yet. 

But the truth is, I support tuitioning. 

Dr. Hayes' presentation to the Newmarket School Board last week showed that either option will be expensive. And of course, at the end of a tuition agreement, ORCSD might decide that they don't want to continue a tuition agreement with Newmarket and we'll be in the same position as we're in now. That's one of many real concerns. What happens to the teachers, how will our kids transition, and will our kids be accepted are some of the others that have been raised. 

Right now, I look at combining resources with Durham and I see more academic and extracurricular options for my kids, an increase in my property value and a relatively long-term solution that will benefit the town as a whole. 

If you've read this blog before you know: I've advocated for a safe learning environment for Newmarket's children. I've advocated for an educationally appropriate facility. I've advocated for adequate technology for all students. I support an auditorium. It's hard to ignore that Oyster River has these already.

Maybe a new Jr. Sr. High School is the ideal solution for many, but could it possibly get the 66% needed to pass? And then what if it doesn't?

Doing nothing is NOT an option. (And yes, when I say NOTHING I mean fixing the fire and life safety concerns. The argument has been made that $2 million worth of work isn't nothing. But let's face it, that is only the bare minimum to keep the doors open--it's a far cry from solving the other issues with the building.)

We need to balance what our community values, our long term goals and what our community will support. 

There will be a chance for public input in the coming weeks. As always, I urge you to attend these sessions, ask questions, and let your opinion be heard. 

Tuition?

A lot of information was presented at last night's school board meeting and my head is swimming. 

I encourage everyone to visit the school district's website and look at all of the information, but also watch the school board meeting to see the presentation. It is complicated and if you're not a numbers person (I'm not) having the explanation and the benefit of questions asked by school board and community members was invaluable.

The biggest point made last night is that it is going to cost a lot of money to tuition grades 9-12 to ORCSD. It is not simply a matter of writing a check to another school district and being done with it. There are many factors that will impact our children's education and our taxes for years to come. 

So get your questions ready---there will be public hearings in September and as those are scheduled, I'll be sure to post that info here. 

Electioneering

And just a couple other thoughts about my last post....

• Handing out cards so that people would have information handy when they went into the voting booth is legal and, if I do say so myself, a pretty good idea. We need more informed voters. I would absolutely do it again.

• Rallying around something you believe in and trying to gain support for it respectfully and in public, is every person's right. Let's elevate the conversation.

• Newmarket Solutions has been and will continue to be appropriate and respectful in all of its publications and advocacy efforts.  

• I don't think that the person(s) who complained to the AG was really trying to stop "electioneering" at the time it was happening. If they were, they would have reported it to the Moderator or to the police. Instead, they reported it to the AG, after the fact, in a blatant attempt to discredit Newmarket Solutions and me. 

I believe that it's healthy for members of a community to have differing viewpoints and important for us to be able to express them in a constructive forum. I urge everyone to attend meetings, write to the School Board, Town Council and other committees and begin an open dialogue about the many issues facing Newmarket. 

Our tax dollars hard at work.

Remember this post? I had forgotten about it myself, but then this came in the mail yesterday....

Breaking the silence.

It's been quiet here. There hasn't been a whole lot that's caught my interest the past few weeks and even when there has been something, I've been busy keeping my boys busy. 

Town Council meetings have been a little heated lately (proposed rezoning of the M2 district has been a hot topic), the Charter Commission has been plodding along and the School Board has been on break for the month of July.  

But the issue that has my attention now is the proposed tuition agreement between Newmarket and ORSD. As stated in the School District newsletter:

Superintendents Jim Hayes and Jim Morse will jointly make presentations to the Oyster River Cooperative School Board on Wednesday, August 14, and to the Newmarket School Board on Thursday, August 15. These meetings are the regularly scheduled Board meetings for both Boards.

Whether or not you support the idea of a tuition agreement, these are the facts we have all been waiting a long time for. The meeting will be August 15th at 7:00pm.

Getting old

Just read this article on Seacoastonline about the consequences of the "graying" of New Hampshire. Newmarket is no stranger to many of these concerns. 

Here's an excerpt:

"They suggest that the growing older population will reshape how the state of New Hampshire pays for health care, shifting much of the burden from private to public sources. It will put additional financial pressure on the state budget and increase expenses for state employee and retiree pensions and health care," Johnson wrote recently in a study he published on the demographic trends in the state in the 21st century. 

The report also states that local governments will face challenges in providing social and health-care services to a growing population of seniors, and they will need to consider implications for education of granting tax exemptions to seniors, when seniors exceed the school-age population. The report also voices concerns about the state's ability to retain and recruit a high-quality health-care labor force, when both the health-care work force and the population that needs its services are aging rapidly. 

Johnson and Francese agree the state needs to find ways to repopulate the state with families of young adults and their children.

Shouldn't Newmarket focus on bringing and keeping families in Town?