Board submits NHSBA resolution opposing open enrollment, cites funding and transportation concerns
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Summary
The board approved a resolution for the New Hampshire School Boards Association (NHSBA) opposing mandatory open enrollment, arguing local property‑tax funding structures, special education cost allocation, administrative burdens including transportation logistics, and existing local tuition processes make statewide open enrollment problematic.
The board voted to submit a proposed resolution to the New Hampshire School Boards Association opposing mandatory open enrollment statewide.
Board member Gianna presented draft resolution language and a rationale the board edited in discussion. The final rationale reads in part that open enrollment “will cause significant financial difficulties for public school districts” because New Hampshire relies heavily on local property taxes, the state provides inadequate per‑pupil funding relative to actual per‑pupil costs, and no current legislation meaningfully addresses budgetary shortfalls or special‑education differentials that would follow a mandate.
Board members added language to note the administrative burden of continually tracking and advertising classroom and enrollment space, and to call out transportation costs and logistics as part of the unfunded burden on districts. The motion to approve the proposed resolution as amended passed with six board members and the student representative voting in favor.
Board members said the resolution will be submitted immediately to the NHSBA so it can be included in the packet for the association’s October meeting and that the language may be negotiated among districts at that meeting.