Budget committee adopts language clarifying vacancy process, requires press release when filling a seat

The Merrimack School District Budget Committee voted to revise its policies so that if the committee decides to pursue filling a vacancy, the process will include issuing a press release soliciting letters of interest. The motion passed with eight votes in favor, one opposed (Dan) and one abstention (Anthony).

The change follows debate over whether policy language should use 'should' or 'could' to describe issuing a press release. Several members argued that a press release should be standard practice to notify the public; others pointed out that, when timing constraints make a fill impractical, an automatic press release could be unnecessary. The adopted language ties the press-release requirement to the committee's decision to move forward with a fill.

Committee members also reviewed a policy change that requires committee correspondence to be handled through assigned SAU email addresses and a generic committee inbox managed by the district. The chair said using SAU-managed addresses improves consistency and transparency and helps the district respond to right-to-know requests. Members discussed whether incoming messages to the generic inbox should auto-forward to all members or go first to the chair for screening; the chair said the committee would finalize procedures and that the chair would forward items as appropriate.

Pat (committee secretary) described the training materials prepared for the optional orientation and noted outstanding items pending advice from attorney Grahahn; the chair said the committee would circulate redlined edits and highlight changes before the next meeting.