New Hampshire School Boards Association
Legislative Bulletin
August 30, 2007
Adequacy Commission Begins Work
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The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Costing an Adequate Education has officially begun work. The Committee met on Monday to organize and review its charge. Selected as co-chairs were Senator Iris Estabrook, D-Durham, and Representative Emma Rous, D-Durham. Other legislators serving on the Committee: Senators Lou D’Allesandro, D-Manchester, Joseph Foster, D-Nashua, Robert Odell, R-Lempster and Peter Bragdon, R-Milford; and Representatives Robert Foose, D-New London, Judith Reever, D-Laconia, David Hess, R-Hooksett, and Kenneth Weyler, R-Kingston. Michael Delaney of the Governor’s Office also serves as a non-voting ex officio member.
The issue of how to determine the cost of an adequate education, as defined by the passage of HB 927 last June, as well as developing a formula to distribute funds to local school districts, will dominate the upcoming 2008 session. The inclusion of kindergarten in the definition of adequacy also requires the committee to review the issue of transition assistance for those eleven districts in the state that currently do not offer kindergarten. Also to be developed are criteria for identifying schools with enhanced needs and potential resources that may be necessary for those schools. The Committee has set an aggressive schedule, meeting almost weekly this fall. It must complete its work and report findings and recommendations by February 1, 2008. The legislature then has until June 30, 2008 to make final determination of the cost of an adequate education.
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For the complete text of any bill, go to http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ns/billstatus/quickbill.html and enter the bill number, e.g. HB927 (no spaces!).
For more information on specific legislation, please call Dean Michener, NHSBA Director of Governmental Affairs at 603-228-2061, or email: deanm@nhsba.org.
May you have an enjoyable and relaxing Labor Day Weekend!
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