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Recently, I sat down with SAU 90 Superintendent Costa and Business Administrator Curtis. What we discussed may assist Hampton voters in the upcoming town election.
FIRST, we discussed, the district's plan to ensure compliance with recently signed, federal, executive orders. Failure to comply could result in the loss of federal funding. Questions to Ask Your School District About President Trump's Executive Orders - Parents Defending Education
Below is the Q & A
Q1. Do we receive federal funding from the Department of Education? Are we in danger of losing that funding if we do not comply with the Executive Orders?
The SAU is in compliance with the Executive Orders. The district utilizes the NH School Board Association for training, resources, and advise to ensure compliance with current federal and state law. Currently, the school district receives $725,000 in title grants, annually. These funds help fund special education in the school district.
Q2. Since our last school board meeting, have you made any changes to school policies and practices regarding gender ideology, antisemitism, discrimination, DEI, or restroom and locker room access? Do you plan to make any (additional) changes?
The district, being Kindergarten to eighth grade never really had to deal with the issue. Gender identity and pronoun identity never played a role within the three schools. All children are given the same opportunities and resources.
Q3. Have you made any changes to policies or practices relating to curriculum, teacher training, consultant contracts, or employee hiring practices? Do you plan to make any (additional) changes?
The district utilizes the NH School Board Association for training, resources, and advise to ensure compliance with current federal and state law. As far as the implementation of certain academic requirements via policy and procedure, they are already in place at the district. Policies in the district are reviewed monthly.
Q4. If you are not planning to make any changes, is that because you have received advice from district, state, or federal authorities encouraging you to ignore or resist the Administration’s Executive Orders? If so, who has given you that advice?
N/A
Q5. How will the district ensure that only biological females are allowed to use women’s restrooms, locker rooms, and other female-designated spaces on school property?
The district, being Kindergarten to eighth grade never really had to deal with the issue. Gender identity and pronoun identity never played a role within the three schools. All children are given the same opportunities and resources.
Q6. Does the district plan to clarify that only biologically female students may participate in women’s athletic activities?
The district, being Kindergarten to eighth grade never really had to deal with the issue. Gender identity and pronoun identity never played a role within the three schools. All children are given the same opportunities and resources.
Q7. How will the SAU ensure that district records and employees refer to students using pronouns consistent with the student’s biological sex?
The district, being Kindergarten to eighth grade never really had to deal with the issue. Gender identity and pronoun identity never played a role within the three schools. The Superintendent does classroom walkthroughs to ensure that district employees are not supporting the pronoun identity politics amongst their students.
Q8. How will the district keep parents apprised of changes in their student’s gender identity?
N/A
Q9. How does the district plan to combat the rise of antisemitism as it relates to students in the district?
The district has no bullying / no discrimination policies in place. There is also a no cell phone policy in place. All children are given the same opportunities and resources.
Q10. Does the district plan to alter disciplinary, harassment, or non-discrimination policies to include antisemitism.
The district has no bullying / no discrimination policies in place. There is also a no cell phone policy in place. All children are given the same opportunities and resources.
SECOND, we discussed the additional local education tax to be raised in 2025 and that an additional $5.7 million in property tax was raised for local education in Hampton. About $4.1 million of the increase was the Hampton SAU 90 District.
THIRD, it was confirmed that the school district has zero-based budgeting in place.
LASTLY, and a concern of the district and one that hopefully will be noted by newly elected Governor Ayotte. Why is New Hampshire placed 50th (last) for sending state revenues back to local school districts to appropriately fund education? Would it not be more beneficial to make annual revenue appropriations to the districts where it can directly benefit students rather than to the state education trust fund which averages $1 billion dollars annually?
The above information relates specifically to Hampton SAU 90 (Centre, Marston, and the Academy).
As many know the district has had issues dealing with bullying and discrimination. My question on that was always why? We also must remember SAU 90 had a different Superintendent at the time of trouble.
As selectman, I did attend some of those meetings and was able to understand both sides of the argument. That is how you probem solve and accomplish for all taxpayers.
In summary it appears to have been beneficial the Hampton schools became their own district. The maintenance of the Hampton Standard has been much better preserved in our local school district than it has been in the Town, I would argue.
HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
BRING BACK BARNES MARCH 11, 2025
WINNACUNNET HS 7AM - 8PM
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