Support Newfound Schools at the Polls on March 10, 2026

Establish a Special Education Trust Fund and raise $300,000 for that fund. This will be used to cover unanticipated and/or excessive special education financial obligations, including placement costs, transportation, and specialist services, such as OT, PT, speech, and vision. Once the budget year ends on June 30, 2026, if there are any remaining funds (surplus), they will be used to fund the trust account up to its designated amount. No amount will be raised from additional taxation.

Why Proposed? Special education costs are on the rise, currently accounting for 25% of the district’s budget (approx. $6.8M for specialized staff, therapies, and transportation), an increase of 4% over last year. The state pays a small portion for students receiving special ed services. Creating a Trust Fund would protect the District from the rising and unexpected costs of special education. This is something other school districts have put in place; Newfound wants to do the same.

To learn more about special education funding: https://indepthnh.org/2026/02/01/op-ed-special-education-funding-the-problem-of-not-getting-it/

What creates a surplus? District “surpluses” typically happen when actual costs come in lower than budgeted—such as unfilled positions, teacher turnover replaced by lower-salary hires, employees who decline health insurance, energy savings, projects or purchases costing less than expected, unexpected grants, or canceled school events. In FY24 and FY25, ESSER pandemic relief funds have also contributed to available funds. 

Raise $300,000 to add to the existing Building Maintenance Trust Fund. Once the budget year ends on June 30, 2026, if there are any remaining funds (surplus), they will be used to fund the trust account up to its designated amount. No amount will be raised from additional taxation.

Why Proposed? The District maintains 5 aging buildings — the newest is the High School, which is now nearly 40 years old. A lack of proactive maintenance in the past has left our facilities team battling a steady flow of failing equipment and structural issues. This fund helps cover emergency repairs, such as the recent boiler/water tank repair at the High School, which disrupted school for 2 days, and roof repairs at the Middle School.

What creates a surplus? District “surpluses” typically happen when actual costs come in lower than budgeted—such as unfilled positions, teacher turnover replaced by lower-salary hires, employees who decline health insurance, energy savings, projects or purchases costing less than expected, unexpected grants, or canceled school events. In FY24 and FY25, ESSER pandemic relief funds have also contributed to available funds. 

Approve the following salary and benefit increases included in a 3-year agreement reached between the Newfound Area School Board and the Newfound Teachers Union at the current staffing level and raise $378,989.08 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

•  2026-27: $378,989.08 (2.5% increase)

•  2027-28: $433,863.91 (3.0% increase)

•  2028-29: $478,788.30 (3.5% increase)

Why Vote Yes? These increases are not excessive—they are designed to keep pace with inflation and rising healthcare costs.  

Newfound teacher salaries are among the lowest in the Lakes Region and the Cost of Living Adjustments noted above do nothing to close that gap. That puts Newfound at a disadvantage when competing with neighboring districts for qualified educators. The result is high turnover--16% over the last two years--creating real costs for the district and disruptions for students. View the 2025 area teachers salary comparison.

Become an open enrollment school district (per NH RSA Chapter 194-D) and cap the number of K-12 students the Newfound Area School District will receive to 100 and establish that 0% of district students can enroll outside of the District.

This does not prevent a student from enrolling in a private or charter school.

Why Proposed? Legislation is currently being proposed that would require all NH public schools to allow open enrollment and require the sending district to pay 80-100% of its per-pupil cost to the receiving district as tuition. That means the district loses funding while its core operating costs remain. Under NH RSA Chapter 194-D, schools are allowed to set sending and receiving rates at any amount, including zero. Other school districts are submitting similar warrant articles to get ahead of legislative changes.

For more information on Open Enrollment: https://www.fosters.com/story/opinion/columns/2026/02/03/open-enrollment-threatens-destroy-public-education-nh-shea/88472573007/

Approve a 20-year lease purchase agreement for the installation of $1,067,570 million of energy savings equipment at the high school (includes new LED lights, lighting controls, and electrical transformers), and raise $85,447 for the first year’s payment.

Why Proposed? With rising energy costs and price increases (from 35% to 100%) on hard-to-find fluorescent bulbs, these proactive improvements reduce waste (LED lights typically last 3 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lights, with lifespans of 50,000 to over 100,000 hours), lower long-term energy costs, and modernize our lighting systems. In addition, the existing electrical transformers are 36 years old and are losing 3% of the power as it enters the building. These systems are nearing the point where they will no longer meet current or future building needs.

The project has a Guaranteed Energy Savings of $56,000 in Year 1, meaning the equipment is expected to immediately reduce energy consumption and costs. There is also an anticipated NHSaves rebate of $85,000, which will be part of the Year 1 payment. Based on energy savings alone, the estimated payback period is approximately 10 years.

Why a lease versus a bond? New Hampshire RSA 21-I:19-d allows state agencies (including school districts) and municipalities to enter into energy performance contracts (EPCs) for building efficiency upgrades. These contracts support infrastructure improvements by using future energy cost savings rather than requiring full upfront capital. Unlike traditional bond-funded projects, EPCs typically require the energy service company to guarantee that energy savings will meet or exceed the project’s costs over the contract term. The public owner retains or acquires title to the installed improvements and owns them outright upon completion of payments. While the statute has existed for decades, statewide use expanded significantly around 2016.

Approve a 20-year lease purchase agreement for the installation of $1,184,730 million of an energy-saving roof-mounted solar system at the high school and raise $94,824 for the first year’s payment for that purpose.

Why Proposed? This is a proactive investment to combat rising energy costs. The project has a Guaranteed Energy Savings of $65,111 in Year 1, meaning the panels are expected to immediately reduce energy consumption and costs. There are also available Federal grants and NHSaves rebates totaling $299,115, which will be part of the Year 1 payment (please note that the Federal grant expires in 2026). Based on energy savings alone, the estimated payback period is approximately 13 years.

Why a lease versus a bond? New Hampshire RSA 21-I:19-d allows state agencies (including school districts) and municipalities to enter into energy performance contracts (EPCs) for building efficiency upgrades. These contracts support infrastructure improvements by using future energy cost savings rather than requiring full upfront capital. Unlike traditional bond-funded projects, EPCs typically require the energy service company to guarantee that energy savings will meet or exceed the project’s costs over the contract term. The public owner retains or acquires title to the installed improvements and owns them outright upon completion of payments. While the statute has existed for decades, statewide use expanded significantly around 2016.

Approve a 20-year lease purchase agreement for the installation of $6,156,217 million in energy savings equipment at the high school (includes new propane boilers, HVAC Controls, and HVAC units), and raise $492,735 for the first year’s payment.

Why Proposed? The current 36-year-old boiler has cast-iron sectional units that are increasingly difficult to find parts for and costly to maintain. HVAC controls are also 36 years old and require frequent repairs. With rising energy costs, this investment is a proactive replacement for aging, inefficient equipment. Additionally, this will provide much-needed dehumidification for the high school and improve air quality. 

The project has a Guaranteed Energy Savings of $72,259 in Year 1, meaning the equipment is expected to immediately reduce energy consumption and costs. There is also an anticipated NHSaves rebate of $75,000, which will be put toward Year 2 payment. Based on energy savings alone, the estimated payback period is approximately 30 years.

Why a lease versus a bond? New Hampshire RSA 21-I:19-d allows state agencies (including school districts) and municipalities to enter into energy performance contracts (EPCs) for building efficiency upgrades. These contracts support infrastructure improvements by using future energy cost savings rather than requiring full upfront capital. Unlike traditional bond-funded projects, EPCs typically require the energy service company to guarantee that energy savings will meet or exceed the project’s costs over the contract term. The public owner retains or acquires title to the installed improvements and owns them outright upon completion of payments. While the statute has existed for decades, statewide use expanded significantly around 2016.