NH LEGISLATIVE NEWS
The development and adoption of a state budget was the major focus of the 2009 New Hampshire Legislative Session. State budget and other significant issues impacting the Epping School District are shown below.
Adequate Education Funding - Adequate education funding was fully funded at $957 million each year for the next two years 2010 and 2011. It is important to note that each year $80 million is being supplied by ARRA stimulus funds. There is a concern about what happens when the stimulus funds are no longer available.
Building Aid - Building Aid was fully funded over the next two years by bonding $44.9 million in 2010 and $46.2 million in 2011. There is a concern that bonding these funds will affect the state's ability to bond future projects. A legislative committee was formed to address this issue.
Other Aid - Catastrophic Aid, special education reimbursement for student expenses exceeding 3.5 times the state average, is projected to be under funded. Tuition and Transportation Aid for vocational students is also projected to be under funded. Dropout Prevention aid with the passage of SB 18, which increases the drop out age from 16 to 18, will not be realized.
Charter Schools - Charter schools received $2,000 in fiscal disparity aid in addition to $3,450 adequacy aid. Concern was raised that enrollments at the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School are rising and both VLACS and the school of attendance are both receiving adequacy funding. A task force has been established to study what is considered to be a double dip in adequacy education funding.
State Retirement - The state's share of contribution rates has decreased from 35 to 30% in 2010 and to 25% in 2011. This legislation shifted part of the state's retirement obligation to the local level. This increase in retirement costs was not included in the 2009-2010 school budget, but will need to be paid by the district.
HB 223 delayed the effective date for imposing additional assessments for excess benefits (spiking). Collective bargaining agreements that include severance payments increasing a retiring employee's compensation by more than 125% of their base pay will be subject to this assessment. HB 641 required the NH Retirement System to develop a methodology to determine the spiking assessments. SB 108 established a committee to study the impact of these assessments.
Texting - HB 34 prohibited texting while driving.
Electronic Records - HB 206 required that district school records kept in electronic form be retained for the same period of time as paper records.
Vote Tallies on Warrant and Ballot - SB 38 allowed the School Board to place vote tallies on warrant articles and subsequently on ballots.
Accountability for Adequate Education Funding - SB 180 established an accountability system to ensure that school districts use state adequacy education funding to provide an adequate education. By the end of this school year the district is required to provide a narrative report showing how the district used these funds to meet the public school standards. A task force has been established to develop a future performance based accountability system to meet the criteria of the law.
Teen Dating Violence - The House and Senate passed a resolution to encourage school districts to develop and implement policies regarding teen dating violence education.
Other Committees and Task Forces - Work has continued on the feasibility of providing laptop computers to all 7th grade students and creating a preschool incentive fund. Commissions have been established to develop a state special education plan, study school discipline, and review HIV/AIDS education. The special education plan looks to be a review of the state special education system. The discipline study deals with the effect of out of school suspension on student learning. The HIV/AIDS study will look at inconsistencies between state and federal guidelines.