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Timberlane seniors present school-funding simulation, urge action on bathrooms and crossing guards
Summary
High-school seniors presented results from a New Hampshire funding-simulation project, distributed ‘highlight/request’ cards and urged the board to prioritize bathroom renovations, performing-arts funding, AP access and a crossing guard; the board acknowledged the issues and encouraged engagement with the budget process.
A group of Timberlane Regional High School seniors presented a classroom inquiry on New Hampshire public-school funding at the Dec. 19 school-board meeting and asked the board to consider student views as the district finalizes its budget.
Students described a two-step simulation that compared a well-funded school with an underfunded one, then connected the exercise to their lived experience at Timberlane. They handed out “highlight/request” cards listing strengths the district provides (for example, a strong theater program and a broad cafeteria selection) and areas they want funded, including improved bathroom facilities, more funding for theater and support for AP classes.
Several students described the bathrooms as “gross” and noted maintenance and privacy problems. One student said the boys’ bathrooms are especially poor and that the school’s electronic bathroom-pass system can create long waits: “If 3 people are in the bathroom…you could be waiting for 30 minutes,” the student said.
Students also asked the board to restore or staff crossing-guard positions at morning drop-off to reduce dangerous congestion on adjacent roads. Administration responded that two crossing-guard positions are included in the budget at $18,900 total but that hiring has been difficult; staff asked the community to help recruit qualified adults.
Board members encouraged the students to attend budget-committee meetings to make their case in public and said student presentations provide useful evidence when principals make budget requests. “These voices…are some of the only voices that we have heard in public meetings that are expressing your desires,” a board member told the students, adding that the board wants to hear more from young people as budget deliberations continue.
The board and administration said bathroom renovations are on the capital-improvement radar and flagged a CIP bathroom-renovation item for next fiscal year.
