[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6584073,"mediaKeyId","3098221-d18e8214252ca94f3e84411c2355ccc2","parentId",3098221,"title","Parents, students urge creation of school bullying study committee after widespread testimony","audioSeconds",1142,"startMs",12953000,"endMs",14095000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098221-d18e8214252ca94f3e84411c2355ccc2&start=12953&end=14095","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098221-d18e8214252ca94f3e84411c2355ccc2/thumbnail_12953000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6584073/New-Hampshire/Parents-students-urge-creation-of-school-bullying-study-committee-after-widespread-testimony","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584073-80e41d07ca1b3c3962a8431e562a357d/orig.mp4?Expires=1772750992&Signature=Y45s63~Bg3uahkmOxbAa1h2dERgOQJF7ruJYlFv2fjf~BRR4rB1DfvQ0Bmku7ddsma9be6rHhJsTGJ2yhtFydS05eDQxgJORFLfwwrZFsyVGO~4SnFYAit~xEs9hjI0~glJf0qwQ~-6~WyHW7FBHYO1Vkz0GiLqA93oF5M0viEPjaSYc1xbPVJYxsYZ-WMGhXLR8aKfqDVZ-j2zp~KAsg~kcR-h5ro4o4ELhtmJVGEVQZNqRlXDXAx0vjUrhAcVE16dxPU3GSvKAsy29TgDqOXCP0W0ikgAzMif3mWuQLEAKL4lr4QiQDrBgIFnNHgbsfGxiqOe~PKmlBQEq7BOHdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-04-23T18:13:32.733Z","article","Concord — A packed hearing on Senate Bill 210 drew parents, students, educators and community advocates who urged the House Education Policy Committee to create a study committee to examine school bullying, reporting practices and accountability across New Hampshire.

Representative Matt Sabor (Rockingham District 30), who requested the continued hearing, framed the measure as a response to what he described as a breakdown in discipline and a pattern of parents afraid to speak out. “We need consistent statewide standards for bullying prevention. We need clear protocols for addressing violence. We need real accountability for schools that fail to act,” Sabor said.

Several witnesses who said their children were harmed recounted specific episodes. Sarah Koutrehas, cofounder and co‑director of Synergy Academy, a Concord charter school, told the committee that at least 80 percent of her students had experienced bullying and that some arriving students come from other schools after severe incidents, including threats and physical assaults. “Some of my students have received death threats with very specific information on how a child should commit suicide,” Koutrehas said.

Parents from Seabrook and Kennett described extended conflicts they said school officials failed to stop. Lee Brown testified about her daughter being sexually assaulted after a school bus incident and said administrators dismissed later complaints and that her daughter missed 40 days of school because she felt unsafe. Kevin Clifford and his son described what they called years of abuse and retaliation at Kennett High School and its hockey program; the father said an investigatory report was handled by the district’s legal firm and that the family faced retaliatory community pressure after going public.

Multiple witnesses argued current legal remedies fall short. Anne Marie Banfield, a parental‑rights advocate, urged the committee to include parents who have had direct experience in the study and to evaluate whether districts are using therapeutic interventions in place of disciplinary measures. “There must always be consequences to this kind of behavior,” Banfield said, cautioning that restorative models without accountability can empower repeat offenders.

Students also testified. A 15‑year‑old Synergy Academy student, Addison Kiernan, detailed death threats and online harassment at a prior school and said the Synergy response had been immediate and effective, contrasting that experience with the earlier trauma. Multiple witnesses urged the committee to gather data and best practices, include parents and students on the committee, and consider changes to state reporting, district investigatory standards and the definition of negligence under RSA statutes.

Committee members did not vote on SB 210 at the hearing. Several lawmakers asked for more specific proposals about membership, data collection and statutory definitions of district responsibility — including whether the committee should examine when administrative failures rise to gross negligence under existing law.

For now the bill remains in committee; supporters asked lawmakers to ensure any study includes parents, affected students and educators and to consider remedies that make discipline consistent and transparent statewide.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education Policy and Administration (04/23/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The House committee heard emotional testimony supporting Senate Bill 210 to create a study committee on school bullying; parents and students described alleged assaults, threats and administrative inaction in multiple districts, and asked that the study include parents, students and teachers and examine district practices, reporting and remedies.","taxTitle","Education, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17745,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6584078,"Committee considers bill requiring districts to post material lists and a complaint process",1155,5521000,6676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098221-d18e8214252ca94f3e84411c2355ccc2&start=5521&end=6676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098221-d18e8214252ca94f3e84411c2355ccc2/thumbnail_5521000.jpg","/articles/6584078/New-Hampshire/Committee-considers-bill-requiring-districts-to-post-material-lists-and-a-complaint-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584078-65f0450054e379d63bbf09c1cc182732/orig.mp4?Expires=1772750992&Signature=Rbs4lGq2sL2-3hOGx-OxODi-CeuClxn8-jpIi7gpBVAl2RzBASrAH26QVZ1~Lz7fiTgg6smsHNaOSY4Q6FAYQJyVmH24aAE1urIjIVu3s7dT51Os~PpzPHm1-UVmr5al5isa3cRod~96ThzcWo0T7AiZ0V4nZBRGWmksGak-ibnzBjSLNuVwkzTbowB~g2pPm66f0sB2TOIR6t1qJw3pZaCadqixXV4oUFBq-L-itvoZ7rP4xDI~MYiJd5JNMj-iqbcuVEVO4Wy1Usme0kDA40EhLBRyVmrAHEKyi0gHzIL77m0vs7BewurXerx4EVkAQ-Rr~b2DxolsClaT3AJfmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Concord — House committee members heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 33, which would require local school boards to adopt and publicly post policies describing materials authorized for student use and outline procedures to address parental complaints alleging material is harmful or age‑inappropriate.

Senator Kevin Avard, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure is designed to give parents a clear, accessible process to raise concerns and to hold locally elected school boards accountable. “If a parent sees that there's material that the students are using, which are extremely offensive … they have a right in this piece of legislation to go to the principal and say, look, I believe this is offensive,” Avard told the committee.

The proposal would require boards to show the material during the public appeal process and give the school board a set timeframe to consider the complaint at a public meeting. Supporters said the requirement for a written justification from the school board — and making that rationale public — gives voters information they can use in local elections.

Opponents warned the bill could impose heavy administrative burdens, invite repeated challenges from single parents, and chill librarians’ professional judgment. Representative Cornell asked whether boards would have to identify every item in libraries and whether the policy would force approval of every book before it could be placed on a shelf. Senator Avard replied the process begins with a principal‑level review and allows an appeal to the school board within a defined timeframe.

Parents who have challenged materials testified about slow and opaque processes. Nancy Biederman of New Boston described a multi‑month review in her district, SAU 19, involving three graphic novels; two were later removed for low circulation rather than because of content. She said police would not review the books she flagged and that the superintendent’s response took months. “There was nothing for me to do as a parent. There was nothing the school board could do to mandate that he reply to me,” Biederman said.

Supporters including Betsy Harrington, who earlier described her own history playing on boys’ hockey teams, said parents need stronger recourse. Critics such as Dave Luna, a former school board member, urged caution and said elected boards already have public comment processes and professional librarians make collection decisions. “Public schools and locally elected school boards are absolutely inherently American products,” Luna said.

Lawmakers questioned administrative workload, how policies would apply across elementary, middle and high school levels, and how districts using shared digital services (for example, e‑book providers) could control content. Senator Avard said the bill aims to increase transparency and accountability and to ensure parents’ concerns are publicly considered.

No committee action was taken at the close of the hearing. Committee members asked for additional drafting clarifications around who lists materials, timeframes for board review, and how the policy should treat library circulation versus classroom instruction.","Senate Bill 33 would require local school boards to adopt and post policies describing materials authorized for use, and set a process for parents to challenge allegedly age‑inappropriate or harmful materials; supporters said it increases transparency, critics warned it could enable censorship and burden school boards.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6584082,"Committee hears bill to require sex‑designated teams, bar biological males from female teams",380,2008000,2388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098221-d18e8214252ca94f3e84411c2355ccc2&start=2008&end=2388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098221-d18e8214252ca94f3e84411c2355ccc2/thumbnail_2008000.jpg","/articles/6584082/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-bill-to-require-sexdesignated-teams-bar-biological-males-from-female-teams","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584082-1b6d90b37e383a1e11ad904acea7f695/orig.mp4?Expires=1772750992&Signature=dxtjSoJGzU8y0AWwMLvBjN0zcKYuyGRIR-lSKl8YJu-Mbw~pfohCfgjlHcYvtgyiqKfhdXhcrHZP8fZm-xE64nCbVngba--XKxDz3NC-a7Ycu75mqy6f~DZLRoxF3zCP7oDDRw4FZIpqnWEC4buUpXtXA4rXQyIGzxwZGoLZsLZRKOd6TZdpgjI1ULt5dGu2wp8d-0MhLdeEPjFKYqmSVh59Rf-e9VVLuylA404zJxtMZGdYKdS4g9iAfbgmWcmqj96qXa~7LEEmcIL~WufF7QyZMXZUSnIrZK96d1LtZ0oFoo9VbB3gEdt~eUjKHMfUHJzivt7he0h9-nY7MK-wDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Concord — The House Education Policy Committee held a lengthy, often contentious hearing on Senate Bill 211, which would require school teams to be designated male, female or coed, prohibit biological males from participating on female‑designated teams and bar biological males from entering female locker rooms.

Senator Kevin Avard, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the measure responds to constituent concerns about fairness and privacy in school sports and creates a civil cause of action for athletes harmed by violations. “What we're trying to do is protect biological females from biological males who do have an advantage,” Avard told the committee, adding the bill allows coed teams where communities choose that option.

Opponents, including Michael Haley of GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), told the committee the state tried a similar measure last year and that federal litigation found the prior law likely unconstitutional and in violation of Title IX; GLAD and the ACLU challenged that law. “If this law were to pass, we would find ourselves in exactly the same situation,” Haley said, citing the pending case Terrell and Termel v. Adelblut and a federal judge’s earlier findings.

The hearing drew medical, civil‑rights and community testimony. Jennifer Smith, a physician who said she is a transgender woman, described medical variability and the impact of hormone suppression. “Little trans girls are clearly not a danger to anyone else,” Smith said, arguing that transition and hormone suppression reduce physiologic advantages and that athletic bodies should set standards.

Proponents cited safety examples and urged a ban. Representative Morris said the bill protects women’s rights and privacy, calling the issue “absurd” that protections are needed. Supporters including Betsy Harrington, who played boys’ hockey and later sued successfully to play, urged separate girls’ teams where possible and said coed options could exist but not replace female teams.

Lawmakers explored legal risks and implementation details. Representative Cornell asked about asymmetry in the bill’s draft language — the proposal would allow girls to try out for boys’ teams but not vice versa — and Avard said he would consider language changes. Several witnesses urged narrower alternatives that might survive court review, such as eligibility rules focused on medical or start‑of‑puberty criteria; David Trumbull cited a Canadian Center for Ethics and Sport review indicating no consistent performance advantage after 12 months of testosterone suppression.

No committee vote was recorded. Opponents warned that the state could face expensive and protracted federal litigation if the bill is enacted in its present form; supporters said protecting female athletes’ safety and privacy justified the change.

The committee did not take action at the conclusion of the hearing; lawmakers signaled follow‑up questions and the need to reconcile constitutional concerns with advocates’ calls for clearer rules.","Senate Bill 211 would require school teams to be designated male, female or coed and bar biological males from female‑designated teams; supporters cited fairness and safety while civil‑rights groups warned of likely litigation and constitutional problems.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6584086,"Committee hears bill to put type 1 diabetes information on DOE website",1507,111000,1618000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3098221-d18e8214252ca94f3e84411c2355ccc2&start=111&end=1618","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3098221-d18e8214252ca94f3e84411c2355ccc2/thumbnail_111000.jpg","/articles/6584086/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-bill-to-put-type-1-diabetes-information-on-DOE-website","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584086-2b886de5dbae5b9202705f5d1f5954e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1772750992&Signature=a9xsWRs0sL61kgXmse8jA0AMBjw4KTUICmtVIWzgPZWSuGwU5KDST6fe~lYOpZYH2s~uca5Wg5LoShsrvCObx299deW8xggBlFfeETP-iIyJZVWvh-SbF1WCJgmrRJvlM51uEEUMS1KFPKBvSSj1ZQvlbTFMhVVUX~eGSDXmsKJRmoFTq7J1d8U83M1G5odEpZNltB6-EumBInnc-6j~oTtJDUN81o9G7pjPLGIqSS9mP1~q5kMNqzJ0McqBWsTuIxfkvC8--XdSbWk6PIWgeWzCqywAEgNExpWBpZ3683oyBSt6QLYSO4W8ziMOdNlJF-VL8D9MtcODp3A4ZfYPwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Concord — Lawmakers on the House Education Policy Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 102 on May 20, which would make informational materials about type 1 diabetes available on the New Hampshire Department of Education website and provide one‑page handouts for schools.

Senator William “Bill” Ward, the bill's prime sponsor, told the committee the materials are intended to help parents, teachers and school staff recognize early symptoms so children can get medical help before an emergency develops. “Instead of having to wait until the kid is in diabetic ketoacidosis and ends up in the emergency room, if you see some of the symptoms and recognize them, you can actually do something ahead of time,” Senator Ward said.

Supporters said early recognition can prevent severe complications. Kiryak Sapasavas, co‑founder and president of Dartmouth Diabetes Link, told lawmakers that one in three children with type 1 diabetes are not diagnosed until they experience life‑threatening diabetic ketoacidosis. “This bill has the potential to raise awareness, increase the rate of early screening, and help prevent severe complications,” Sapasavas said.

Students and campus advocates also testified. Victoria Cosmo, a Dartmouth College freshman who said she was diagnosed at 14, described fainting spells and a late‑stage diagnosis and said better awareness in schools could have changed her outcome. “Because of this bill, I believe this lack of awareness could be mitigated, preventing many from having a similar experience to mine,” Cosmo said. Koston Autry, another Dartmouth student and Diabetes Link co‑founder, told the committee his eighth‑grade symptoms were mistaken for normal adolescent changes before he was hospitalized in diabetic ketoacidosis.

Committee members asked how the materials would reach parents and teachers. Representative Drei asked, “What is going to get them to look at this website?” Senator Ward and witnesses said the proposal focuses on making a clear, accessible one‑page resource available through the DOE site and via handouts or school communications; they urged schools and superintendent newsletters to share the link. “Any information by any school personnel that can get out there and help the rest of the staff and parents to be aware of it, I think is helpful,” Ward said.

Lawmakers and witnesses repeatedly stressed the bill is informational, not diagnostic. Representative Freeman asked whether the materials would be used for diagnosis; Senator Ward replied the materials would only raise awareness of symptoms and direct families to consult medical professionals for testing and treatment.

Advocates noted new screening tests can identify risk before symptoms appear, and that New Hampshire has a comparatively high per‑child rate of type 1 diabetes. Representative Hope Damon Sullivan, a retired dietitian and diabetes educator and a cosponsor of the bill, offered to serve as a resource to the committee on clinical questions.

The hearing closed with no committee vote recorded. Committee members and several witnesses said the bill could be a low‑cost step to improve recognition of type 1 diabetes in school communities.

The committee will consider next procedural steps; no formal action or vote on SB 102 was taken at the hearing.","Lawmakers heard testimony on Senate Bill 102, which would require the Department of Education to post informational materials about type 1 diabetes for parents, teachers and school staff; advocates and students urged adoption as a way to spot early symptoms and reduce diabetic ketoacidosis.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, students urge creation of school bullying study committee after widespread testimony

Committee considers bill requiring districts to post material lists and a complaint process

Committee hears bill to require sex‑designated teams, bar biological males from female teams

Committee hears bill to put type 1 diabetes information on DOE website