Board adopts policy package, approves plan to accept Education Freedom Account funds and expands public access to policies

The Weare School District Board voted Sept. 16 to adopt a set of policy updates and to accept Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds for students who enroll under that state program. School leaders also described steps to make district policies and meeting materials more accessible to the public through the Simbly platform and reported heavy early use of ParentSquare for family communications.

Policy votes and EFA acceptance Board members adopted a package of policy updates grouped under the policy codes presented on the agenda. The policy committee recommended the changes primarily to reflect new statutory requirements and to consolidate several related board policies under updated policy codes.

Separately, the board agreed that the district will accept EFA funds for eligible students who choose to use Education Freedom Accounts. Administrators explained that the acceptance allows participating students to continue accessing discrete district services (for example, unified arts) while EFA funds flow to families or providers; the board did not change tuition practice for currently enrolled students and said implementation details will be finalized with counsel.

Communications and transparency Administrators reported the district has implemented Simbly for policy posting and as a public-facing repository for board materials; the board was told the Simbly link is available and still in implementation for some nonpublic items. Staff also reported 1,800 ParentSquare messages had been sent districtwide since the start of school, with dozens of direct teacher-family interactions and widespread parent engagement (nearly 1,000 likes/acknowledgements recorded).

Why it matters: Policy consolidation clarifies board records and compliance with state law. Accepting EFA funds is an operational decision that allows the district to provide contractable or tuition-based services to families who choose the new state program; administrators reminded the board that EFA participation statewide was nascent and that accepting funds does not necessarily change the district—s enrollment or instructional model.

Board direction and next steps Board members asked administrators to publish policy drafts in a way that allows public review before a final vote and to return with implementation procedures for EFA participants, including how adequacy funding and any transportation or extracurricular fees will be handled. Administration said legal counsel had reviewed draft language and the board would revisit details in October.

Ending The board moved several policy items on a consent agenda and voted to accept EFA funds; administration will bring back process-level recommendations for accepting EFAs and for making Simbly policy pages more prominently accessible on the district website.