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Dear Newmarket parents, guardians, teachers, students, and community members,
We have reached that time of year again. It is budget and town election season.
If you are looking for a quick reference guide here is a flyer on the upcoming School District warrant. If you are looking for more information, please keep reading or visit the School District website at https://www.newmarket.k12.nh.us/school-board/election
There are some important dates to be aware of regarding the election and budget process.
The filing period for community members interested in running for school district offices is from January 22nd to January 31.
The Newmarket School District Deliberative Session is on Saturday, February 1st, in the cafetorium of NJSHS. The Town Session begins at 9:00 AM, and the School District session starts immediately after at 10:00 AM.
Voting on the warrant will be on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM in the Town Hall Auditorium.
The Newmarket School District Warrant is made up of six articles. Article 1 is the election of School District Officers. There are five positions up for election as follows.
· One School District Moderator elected to a one-year term.
· One School District Clerk elected to a one-year term.
· One School District Treasurer elected to a one-year term.
· Two School Board Members, each elected to a three-year term.
Candidates for all School District positions will be announced at the deliberative session on February 1, 2025. Information about the candidates will be available on the School District website following the deliberative session.
Article 2 is the proposed Newmarket School District operating budget. The FY26 proposed budget is $28,311,594. This represents a 1.97% increase over FY25 or $539,312. If the proposed budget is defeated, the Default Budget is $28,261,333 which is $50,261 less the proposed budget. View the detailed narrative developed by the school administration to explain the School Board’s FY 2026 proposed budget.
From the beginning of the budget development process the board and administration have been very aware of the need to keep increases to the operating budget modest to allow for flexibility in negotiating a new teacher’s contract. The intention from the start was to make sure that the total increase passed on to taxpayers was comparable to last year when the total budget increase was 4.3%. Assuming the passage of all warrant articles, including the new teacher’s contract, the total increase is 4.4%.
Article 3 is the proposed collective bargaining agreement with the Newmarket Teacher’s Association. This proposed agreement represents 109 staff members and is 4-years in duration. The total new cost for year one of the contract is $697,297. This agreement gives a 3% cost of living adjustment each year and incorporates previously outside the scale longevity bonuses into the pay scale. Beyond compensation the agreement provides a new healthcare plan that is more cost effective, includes an additional salary track to encourage professional growth and incorporates a collaborative committee structure to engage professional staff in processes to improve work conditions.
Article 4 provides that in the event that Article 3 is defeated that the district can have one special meeting to address only the cost items of the contract.
Article 5 asks voters to contribute $200,000 out of the year-end fund balance into the School Improvement Capital Reserve Fund to support the Newmarket School District Capital Improvement Plan. The CIP maps out capital maintenance costs over the next 20 years. In current dollars, it is estimated that we will have $4.9 million in necessary maintenance costs through the year 2043. By putting aside money each year in this manner, the Newmarket Schools will be able to address the known capital maintenance needs without dramatic spikes in the budget process.
Article 6 asks that $65,000 out of the year-end fund balance be deposited into the Special Education Trust Fund. The purpose of the Special Education Trust Fund is to protect the district from unanticipated special education costs. One unexpected high-end out-of-district placement can cost more than $300,000 per year. The current balance of the Special Education Trust Fund is $358,839. Adding $65,000 to the fund improves the district’s capacity to absorb unanticipated costs related to meeting student needs.
If you have any questions about the proposed budget, please feel free to contact me. I’m happy to call you or set up a time to meet.
Sincerely,
Todd Allen
Superintendent of Schools