Londonderry board forwards $94.94M school budget, approves warrant language and custodial contract

The Londonderry School Board voted on Jan. 8 to forward the school operating budget and a slate of warrant articles to public hearings, approved a tentative three-year custodial contract and moved into a nonpublic session by roll call.

Board action and votes: The board approved the warrant package and the appropriation to forward the general fund operating budget (the adjusted school board budget cited in the meeting was $94,938,754) and agreed to move one article (the district office lease/repayment item) up on the ballot if needed. The calendar for the 2026–27 school year was approved (motion by Sarah Lawson, second by Tim Porter; recorded 5-0). The board also voted to approve the tentative custodial collective-bargaining agreement; custodial staff had already ratified the contract. Finally, the chair moved and the board approved a motion to enter a nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3, II(b) and (c); the roll-call recorded ayes from Kevin Merrick, Tim Porter, Bob Slater, Sarah Lawson and Anna Bodger.

Budget details and proposed reductions: Administrators described a set of adjustments since the board—ommittee review: removing an athletic mini-bus and a grounds truck (about $100,000 in capital-reserve savings), eliminating a middle-school marquee ($12,500), and an internal IT reorganization that reduced one position (roughly $30,000). The district also negotiated a support-staff raise tied to the CPI; because the October CPI was not published during a federal shutdown, the district and union used November data to set a 3% increase (down from the 4% assumption), saving roughly $62,000. Combined, staff said these and other smaller moves reduced the differential between operating and default budgets by roughly $162,000 up to potentially $359,259 if all proposed cuts were accepted; staff proposed a set of roughly $196,000 in possible reductions to consider without major academic impacts, and suggested the board leave some positions in place (for example paraprofessional coverage) because of service risks.

Warrant highlights: Staff presented Article 3 (a full-day kindergarten proposal) reporting an estimated $208,000 decrease in operating costs and projected state revenue gains of $548,226; administrators said they verified revenue assumptions with state officials and cited an adequacy figure of $42.31 (district said that results in roughly an additional $2,000+ per kindergarten pupil). Article 11 would establish a capital reserve to buffer future school-care (insurance) spikes; staff clarified balance limits would be governed by overall fund-balance policies and future board discretion on whether to return rebates to taxpayers or place them in the reserve. Article 12 would establish a capital-campaign mechanism to accept gifts for major projects (the committee discussed naming rights but said operational vendor choices would not be bound by donor terms). Article (moved-to-7) concerning a district office lease/repayment would authorize the district to participate in a $2.5 million town-funded project and repay the town over time; board members requested clearer legal language and voter education on tax impacts and scenarios.

Why it matters: The budget, warrant articles and contract approvals determine the district's spending plan and what voters will consider at upcoming public hearings on Jan. 15 and the deliberative session. Several changes reduce the operating/default differential and the administration emphasized conservative revenue assumptions. Board members requested clearer ballot language and tax-impact statements to help voters assess complex articles, particularly the district office lease/repayment plan.

What comes next: The budget and updated warrant materials will be posted for public review ahead of the Jan. 15 public hearing and the Jan. 27 board meeting will resume items deferred for additional discussion.