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Superintendent warns bill to expand open enrollment could strain Oyster River finances
Summary
Superintendent Shapps told the board that a proposed open‑enrollment provision attached to an unrelated bill could require districts to post monthly seat availability and accept out‑of‑district students with 80% of sending district per‑pupil funding, potentially creating budget shortfalls; the board discussed next steps and legal review.
OYSTER RIVER, N.H. — Superintendent Shapps told the Oyster River school board on June 18 that a proposed open‑enrollment provision under active consideration at the state level could have “significant” fiscal and operational impacts if enacted quickly.
Shapps described recent committee activity that attached an open‑enrollment provision to a cyberbullying bill and said conference‑committee maneuvering raised the possibility the provision could reach the governor’s desk. He said if adopted with an immediate effective date the change “would be significant if it was an immediate decision relative to this bill becoming active for the 25‑26 school year.”
Shapps described multiple concerns: local school boards set class sizes and raise taxes for local students, but the bill’s mechanics could force districts to…
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