Published: 3/20/2021 6:03:15 PM
Drive through voting for the Hopkinton School District annual meeting went a little smoother Saturday than a year ago, which took three tries to finally pass the budget in August.
This year, everything passed but the last warrant article, which would have changed the school meeting to an SB2 format, where warrant articles get discussed and edited at a deliberative session, and then settled during ballot voting a month later. The petitioned warrant article was opposed by the school board.
The approved operating budget of $21.7 million will have a cost impact of $1.28 per thousand of valuation, or about $3,800 for a home worth $300,000. The budget increased by $795,767 or 6.5% over the from the current one.
Two major cost drivers were increased contribution rates to the New Hampshire Retirement System and a decrease in state education aid of $860,183.
About 85% of the budget pays staff costs, including salaries and benefits.
Voters also approved a new one-year teacher’s contract, after a proposed contract failed last year. The contract adds a new top step for teachers and carried a total cost of $241,331.
The proposal to move to SB2 meetings in the future suffered a different fate.
School board member Seth Aframe said moving to SB 2 would would break the voting tradition that has lasted 400 years that small towns in New Hampshire, and other northern New England states.
“It is the last piece of direct democracy that exists really in the United States,” Aframe said.
The Budget Committee voted unanimously to support the school district’s proposed operating budget, and the proposed collective bargaining agreement, and all the other warrant articles. School board member Rob Nadeau said the board tried to put forward a budget and contract proposal that was realistic for the times they’re in.
Voters agreed.
“I think the School Board and administration did a commendable job of coming up with a very reasonable budget that balances the needs of schools with the burden on tax payers,” Sabrina Dunlap said in advance of voting. “Similarly, the proposed teachers’ contract seems more than reasonable, and I hope voters will support this contract.”
Retiring Superintendent Steve Chamberlin predicted that drive-through voting was going to be a lot smoother than it was when the pandemic first began. After three practice runs last year, they time had lots of volunteers to make sure there was little waiting. Ballots were posted online before the meeting so people could see in advance what they would be voting for to make the process faster.
The district held a meeting last Saturday to allow for questions, comments and amendments to the warrant articles. Attempts to lower the proposed budget failed.
One couple, offered thanks to Chamberlin, who will retire after the end of the school year.
“We want to pay special tribute to Superintendent Chamberlin for his leadership and remarkable work for the school district for the last twelve years,” said Matthew and Marla Walsh. “Thank you so very much Steve!”
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