NHSAA Emphasizes Local Governance and Collaborative Partnerships in Expanding Student Opportunities

CONCORD, N.H. – The following is a statement from the New Hampshire School Administrators Association:

“The New Hampshire School Administrators Association (NHSAA) is fully prepared to partner with elected officials to broaden student choice and opportunity within a supported statewide public education system. The NHSAA sees exciting potential to highlight and expand student pathways through both existing and emerging collaborations across school districts and regions.

“We believe public schools are the fabric of New Hampshire’s communities. Every community in our great state deserves a supported and thriving public school.

“Through the NHSAA’s Resolutions, we oppose HB751 and SB101 as written.

“New Hampshire has a proud tradition of local control, and the NHSAA remains committed to supporting local districts as they partner to strengthen and govern their community schools. Central to the ‘New Hampshire advantage’ is the authority of local citizens to determine how their tax dollars are invested and to hold their districts accountable to those decisions. To that end, decisions regarding enrollment must be made through a transparent, inclusive process at the local level, with meaningful input from those directly impacted.

“To ensure that educational opportunities succeed and bring positive results, the NHSAA advocates for a process that is:

• Locally Governed: Enrollment options should be determined at the local level to avoid potentially exacerbating financial inequities.
• Transparent and Inclusive: Change must be developed through a transparent process that includes all stakeholders and empowers communities to lead the way.
• Well-Considered: For new initiatives to remain sustainable, they must be thoughtfully implemented rather than rushed through opaque processes that bypass local voices.

“The NHSAA affirms its support for meaningful collaboration between families and public schools to develop personalized educational opportunities. By fostering regional partnerships, districts can address geographic and operational challenges through shared resources without compromising the stability of individual communities.

“The Association cautions that statewide mandates, such as those proposed in current legislative language, risk overriding local decision-making. Without careful consideration of ‘fixed costs’ and changing enrollment dynamics, such policies could place an undue financial burden on local taxpayers.

“The NHSAA remains dedicated to working alongside the Governor and the Legislature to ensure all New Hampshire students have access to an enriching public education while upholding the local governance that defines our state.