Keene voters keep proposed $79.1 million school budget after rejecting $250,000 special-education amendment

Keene voters at the school district’s first session on a winter morning voted to place the board‑approved $79,100,705 operating budget on the March warrant after rejecting an amendment that would have added $250,000 for special‑education staffing.

The amendment was proposed by Jennifer Kiernan, a Keene resident and special educator, who moved to “add money back in $250,000 to the proposed budget, making the total $79,350,705.” Eric Murphy, a Keene resident, seconded the motion. After discussion and a show-of-hands count, the amendment failed, 14 in favor and 31 opposed. The main warrant article as presented by the board was then accepted for placement on the March ballot.

The vote followed an extended public discussion focused on special-education staffing levels and how the district measures need. The board presented the budget as an approximately 3 percent increase for fiscal year 2025–26 from the prior year and explained the district’s default budget option if Article I were defeated. The warrant packet lists the Article I request as $79,100,705 and states the default operating budget would be $77,683,980.

Why it matters: the amendment debate highlighted a recurring community concern about special‑education…