At the Nov. 7 meeting the board reviewed draft warrant articles filed for the upcoming town meeting and discussed capital-improvement priorities for fiscal year 2026.

Administrators described three citizen petitions that have legal and budget implications: a proposed 2.5% tax-cap article (Article 9), a petition to rescind a lease-purchase agreement language and other warrant items. The district’s legal counsel advised that a 2.5% cap is lawful but would require a three-fifths majority to pass and that the cap generally would be inclusive of existing contractual obligations (salaries, benefits and previously approved warrant articles). Counsel and administrators recommended further legal analysis and public education about the article’s potential impacts on staffing and services.

Board members suggested educating the public via presentations (including inviting legal counsel and holding joint sessions with BudCom and selectboards) and running financial scenarios showing how specific cap percentages would affect personnel and services. Administrators proposed presenting legal analysis and financial mapping at upcoming committee meetings with an eye toward a joint meeting with the budget committee in mid-December.

Separately, the board’s CIP committee recommended three projects for FY26 funding: beginning high-school bathroom renovations (estimated $500,000), the Atkinson Belfry project (estimated near $700,000 pending a LCHIP grant decision) and replacement of exterior campus fencing. The committee estimated those projects total roughly $1.3–$1.4 million. Board members debated whether to keep the CIP line at the recent $1.8 million level or revise it based on lease-purchase options and other needs; they asked administrators to return with prioritized lists, budget numbers and options for public presentation.