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Laconia School Board approves $117,000 payment plan to cover SchoolCare pool assessment
Summary
After reviewing a larger-than-expected SchoolCare invoice, the board approved a plan to cover the district's share of a pooled insurance assessment. The pool billed $874,000 for the group; Laconia's portion was presented as $117,000 and the board voted to pay the amount to avoid interest while staff pursue accounting adjustments.
The Laconia School Board voted Oct. 7 to approve a payment plan covering the district's share of a SchoolCare pooled-insurance assessment after staff reported the pool billed $874,000 for the membership group.
Business administrator Diane told the board the $874,000 figure exceeded earlier estimates of $700,000 to $750,000 because the pool applied current-year rates in calculating what member districts owe. Diane said the district's calculated share is $117,000 and recommended paying the bill in full to avoid interest while the district seeks to adjust prior-year Department of Education filings so funds that would otherwise have been returned to the city can instead be used for this invoice.
The board's approval was unanimous on a voice vote. Board members said they planned follow-up steps to monitor the district's fund-balance position and, if necessary, request money from reserve accounts in the spring.
Board members pressed staff on how this shortfall arose and whether it could recur. Diane said the Department of Education returned the DOE-25 summary multiple times during its review because the reserve-for-special-purposes revenue figure the city had provided to the district differed from the final amount received. Diane said she had consulted auditors and discussed options with the state department of education; staff plan to submit an amended DOE-25 to the state and continue budget discussions with city finance.
Board members urged tighter internal controls and contingency planning for future SchoolCare assessments. One member said the district must avoid being surprised by large assessments again; Diane and other staff said they would bring additional information back to the board and, if needed, convene trustees to access insurance reserves.
The action follows broader budget discussions the board is holding with the city ahead of the 2026–27 budget cycle, when staff expect constrained municipal and school finances due to election-year uncertainties and possible changes in state or federal funding.
