Mar

26

Adequacy and the Future of Education [HB 927]

Filed Under School Info 

According to CBN News, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has just ranked New Hampshire among the top ten states for education quality. Education in New Hampshire is still a local function, driven by parent input and administered through local school boards. The cost is still paid for through local property taxes.

In its 1993 Claremont I decision, the N.H. Supreme court decided to change N.H.’s historic education formula when it ruled, “ … that encouragement of literature clause of State Constitution imposes duty on state to provide constitutionally adequate education to every educable child in public schools in state and to guarantee adequate funding.” (Emphasis mine).

The Court’s word “provide,” means the state must assume responsibility for all of the elements of education now accomplished by local school districts including the hiring of teachers, providing and maintaining school buildings, bussing, etc. The implications of state takeover have been studiously avoided by governors and legislatures since the Court’s 1993 ruling.

In December of 1997, the Court further determined that local property taxes can’t be used to pay for what the Court described as the state’s “guaranteed funding,” obligation.

Those happy to dispense with local control and especially with local school property taxes might want to think again. The centralized education model which the Court prescribed for New Hampshire is similar to systems employed by California and Hawaii. California and Hawaii scored dead last in U.S. Chamber education rankings.

Democrats in the N.H. House and Senate have embraced the Court’s education concept. Governor Lynch has embraced the N.H. Department of Education model for education “adequacy.” Lynch’s “adequacy,” preference will cost about $9,000 per child and will require 1.2 Billion Dollars in new state spending. Lynch’s new, guaranteed-to-fail, state-run education system will require the imposition of state sales and income taxes because proposed revenue from other sources, including gambling, won’t produce enough money to fund all this. And, all this, is what Governor Lynch and his legislative leaders are working enthusiastically to achieve.

If you care about quality education for New Hampshire’s kids you should be fighting state takeover tooth and nail.

Sincerely,

Honorable Paul Mirski
PO Box 190
Enfield Center, N.H.

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