TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE FINDINGS OF
THE SCHOOL WITHDRAWAL COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 20, 2024
Selectboard Present: Cheryl Mayberry, Chair; Steven Dalessio and Carolyn Vose
Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
Residents and Non-Residents Present: Twenty-seven in person plus four via Zoom
Call to Order: Ms. Mayberry called the Selectboard meeting to order at 7:05 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.
Carolyn Vose summarized the Committee’s work and recommendation as presented at the previous public meeting on September 19th. Article 11 passed with a majority vote in March 2024, and thus the Committee was formed. They were charged to study PreK – 8th grade educational opportunities. In weekly meetings over about four months, different areas impacting education and funding were discussed including working in the current structure or creating an alternate structure.
Areas of consideration include SAU vs School District:
- An SAU (School Administrative Unit) includes the Superintendent and Business Office. It is responsible for managing the educational system to comply with regulations, including special education within the school districts.
- A School District manages the education of the children through a School Board. Districts create budgets, contracts, do hiring, organize buses and maintain buildings to provide educational services
- An SAU contains one or more School Districts
- A School Districts is made up of one or more towns
The Committee considered related RSA’s, related financial data and statistics from FMRSD and statewide, structure of multi-town districts in NH, discussions with knowledgeable individuals within FMRSD and other multi-district SAU’s. The Committee recommended the Selectboard issue a warrant article to form an official sturdy committee to pursue withdrawal from FMRSD. There were discussions relating to finding a means for the five towns in FMRSD to address the dissatisfaction between towns and to reexamine how to best meet the needs of the students, staff and taxpayers.
There was a discussion to understand why we want to vote in March to go forward with the next Study Committee. Tom Aldrich asked why we are not hearing from unsatisfied families. One father said he has two students, one at each end of the spectrum and neither is getting what they need. Another father knows several families who are taking kids out of Walpole schools, and he may have to do the same. Diana Watson Petrie stated that the Committee did talk to a lot of unsatisfied people, but they are not going to talk negatively in a public meeting about the school, which might also be their employer. She recommended private discussions to get a more personal view.
A discussion of high school followed. If the Town moves forward, the next study committee will need to provide detailed plans for everything (all ages and all services). Josh Beer was concerned we would have little or no control if our students were tuitioned to FMRSD. Mr. Varone replied that the Town has one of seven seats on the schoolboard. The Town does not have control now. There was a comment that the Town has trouble getting someone to run for the Schoolboard. Mr. Varone stated that the Keene School District will take Walpole students only if they get them all. However, families need the option to choose what is best for their students. There are currently about 285 students in Walpole Schools and 115 in high school. Jackie Ronning talked about the math teacher, 5th grade teacher and support staff that were removed from Walpole. Teachers are sometimes relocated to other towns. PreK – 8 is when the students need to learn the basic skills that prepare them for any high school.
Steve Varone, who was the Business Administrator at FMRSD for twenty years and is a forty-year resident of Walpole, talked about finances. Based on EquVal per student in 2022 – 2023, Walpole is just about exactly in the middle for the State. Walpole was $1,895,714 and the NH average was $1,896,826. Each town has made decisions over the years that molded the town. But, due to apportionment, Walpole is now expected to pay more. For the same year, the cost per elementary student was $24,264 for FMRSD. The State average is $20,901. Student populations are dropping, and some schools are managing the change more effectively to control costs. Fifteen years ago, FMRSD had one of the lowest costs per student. Now it is among the highest. Walpole and Charlestown raise almost the same amount in taxes, but Walpole has far fewer students. This is why the Town struggles with apportionment. However, in school districts of just one town, apportionment is never an issue. Mr. Varone felt that if the Town was getting more than it paid, FMRSD would be happy to see Walpole go.
Mr. Varone reported that there are about 490 total students in the High School. If FMRHS lost Walpole’s 115 students, that would be a serious problem for the High School. One person said that Walpole is concerned about education and would have been willing to pay to keep teachers, but we are not allowed to because of the current structure. Annie Ewaskio asked what “local control” means. People mentioned lost teachers and staff. Additionally, Walpole can no longer use a proven curriculum that produces higher test scores because the district uses a different curriculum. Ms. Ewaskio also asked what will happen to the other four towns if Walpole withdraws from the district. The reply was that FMRSD could become a school district of four towns, or all five towns could work together to address the dissatisfaction between towns and to reexamine how to best meet the needs of the students, staff and taxpayers.
Adjournment: Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary
(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the December 4, 2024 Selectboard meeting.)
Tagged: Meeting Minutes, SELECTBOARD
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