PLAISTOW - The Timberlane Regional School District last week reviewed several proposed warrant articles, which include a fifth attempt to get kindergarten in the district.
In the four previous attempts, the kindergarten article has received a majority of votes but failed to get the two-thirds majority needed to change the Articles of Agreement.
The article that will be voted on in March 2005 will ask voters to raise and appropriate just under $1.1 million to construct and equip kindergarten classrooms at Atkinson Academy. The article also asks voters to accept state kindergarten building aid, which Superintendent Douglas McDonald said will contribute at least $399,000 and as much as $822,000.
The final amount the district would receive will not be set until the outcomes of other kindergarten votes, in 16 other New Hampshire towns, are decided.
McDonald said the district originally estimated it would get $360,000.
"If any of the districts ahead of us do not approve kindergarten we could get even more," said McDonald. "And if the state gives us more money, less money would have to be raised from taxes, so that’s good news."
Atkinson Academy is the only one of the four Timberlane elementary schools that needs more classrooms to facilitate kindergarten.
In fall 2005, the state Board of Education (BOE) is expected to mandate kindergarten in all New Hampshire school districts by 2007. The Timberlane district would risk losing state aid if it do not meet the BOE standards.
A clause in the current draft of the warrant article says the appropriation of funds would be null and void if the state does not mandate kindergarten.
One of the issues the board has mulled over is whether to include a change in the Articles of Agreement - the list of rules that bind the four towns in the cooperative district. The warrant article, however, does not changes the agreement, it only raises money to build the kindergarten classrooms while state aid is available.
"State Board of Education regulations and approval standards take precedence over our Articles of Agreement," said McDonald. "So they have the weight of the law."
Board member Carole Hall said she has been asked many questions from the public about kindergarten and the board’s plans, including whether a state law requiring the state pay for something it mandates applies to the district’s situation.
McDonald said the state’s argument is it provides adequacy money for each student and it’s the state Legislature’s responsibility to decide what is an adequate education.
"The Legislature defines it as a dollar figure and they provide us with that money," said McDonald. "So I think their argument would be ‘We’re providing you with adequacy money ... so therefore we’re meeting the constitutional mandate.’"
McDonald said a challenge of the state’s obligation would likely require a long and expensive lawsuit.
Hall also said a resident asked her whether it is possible for the district to add scholarships for those children that can not afford to go to private kindergarten into the district budget.
McDonald said state regulations allow school districts to do that, but the private kindergartens must meet state standards.
"There are very, very few, if any, kindergarten/preschool programs that could do that," said McDonald.
The other proposed warrant articles are:
Election of officers - School Board and School Budget Committee positions in Atkinson, Danville, Plaistow are open, as is the district moderator position. All are three-year terms.
Bond issue - Ventilation and climate control upgrades are needed at Atkinson Academy, Danville Elementary, Pollard School, Sandown Central, Timberlane High and Middle schools. Approval of the article would allow the district to enter into no more than $4.4 million of bonds or notes.
Interest payment - To raise and appropriate $99,162 for the first interest payment on Article 2. If Article 2 fails, this article is null and void.
Operating budget - Currently, the proposed operating budget is set at just under $50 million, a 7 percent increase from last year. The default budget, which is this year’s budget with required adjustments, is about $529,000 less than the proposed operating budget. These numbers could change before March.
Capital reserve fund - To put up to $100,000 in the previously established fund for constructions, reconstruction, capital improvements and land purchase capital reserve from the fund balance. The money would come from budget surplus, not the tax base.
The warrant articles will be finalized at the next meeting on Jan. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the SAU office.
