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Kensington School Board says it will not recognize citizen "task force," reaffirms public‑input rules
Summary
At its meeting, the Kensington School Board told residents the board is not collaborating with or endorsing a self‑styled citizens' task force and reaffirmed its public‑input procedures and record‑request process under New Hampshire law.
The Kensington School board told residents at its meeting that it is not collaborating with or endorsing an individual or group that has been calling itself a "citizens' task force," and the board reiterated that formal requests for information must go through the superintendent's office under New Hampshire's right‑to‑know statute.
Board Chair Stephanie Schmidt said the board "honors and upholds the will of the voters" after voters rejected creation of a citizen advisory budget committee at the most recent town meeting, and she read the board's formal response to the citizen who had been acting independently. Schmidt also told the meeting the board will handle formal information requests "in accordance with New Hampshire's right to know law, RSA 91‑A."
The board reviewed its public‑input policy at the start of the meeting and reminded attendees that public comment periods are generally scheduled in the first half of meetings, that the board provides a minimum of 30 minutes for public comments, and that individual speakers are allotted three minutes unless the board votes to change the limit. The policy text read into the record notes that speakers must be recognized by the chair before speaking and may not yield their time to others.
Board members emphasized that the district will continue to provide access to public records as required by law and that the board will not regard or solicit input from groups or individuals who represent themselves as an endorsed task force. The board did not take a formal vote on the statement; the discussion served as a public clarification of policy and process.
The board also encouraged respectful, constructive engagement through official public meetings and said budget and other decisions will continue to be made in accordance with applicable local, state and federal laws and with students' interests in mind.
The public comment period was opened at 6:03 p.m.; no substantive public comment related to the task force was recorded during that segment.
Ending: The board's clarified position does not change the district's legal obligations to respond to records requests; residents seeking documents were directed to submit requests through the superintendent's office.
