Exeter School District’s proposed 2026–27 budget adds $428,355 for school meals, sets voter dates

The Exeter School District is asking voters to approve a proposed 2026–27 operating budget that includes a $428,355 increase to cover school meals, district presenters said in a video explaining the proposal.

“As part of the proposed 2026–2027 budget, the Exeter School District has added $428,355 to the total appropriation to cover the cost of school meals for the year,” an unnamed presenter said. The district said the goal is to ensure every student has consistent access to healthy meals each school day.

The presenters described the proposed operating budget as fiscally responsible and said many of the increases reflect fixed or non‑negotiable costs, including health and dental insurance, required student services, staffing and facility upgrades. Ryan McCleskey, principal of Lincoln Street School, told viewers that school leaders worked to present a budget for voters to consider and noted a separately negotiated certified‑staff contract will begin in July 2026 and appear as its own warrant article.

District presenters explained that New Hampshire public schools receive a mix of state aid and local property taxes and that current state adequacy funding does not fully cover education costs. The presenters cited an illustrative figure of about $7,356 per student as a more realistic minimum funding level and said the state base grant is substantially lower; the video also stated that roughly 83% of special‑education costs are funded locally. The presenters referenced a recent court decision in the context of adequacy funding but did not specify which court or decision.

The video also explains the difference between the proposed budget and the default: voters will choose between the district’s proposed budget and a default budget that reflects the prior year’s spending adjusted only for contractual or mandatory obligations and one‑time prior expenditures. “When the voters go to the ballot boxes, they will have a choice between the proposed budget we have just presented and the default budget,” an unnamed presenter said.

Key next steps are a public hearing on Tuesday, January 13 at 6 p.m. in the Lincoln Street School cafeteria, a deliberative session on Tuesday, February 3 at 6 p.m. in the Lincoln Street School cafeteria, and voting on Tuesday, March 10 at the Talbot Gym.

No motions or formal board votes are recorded in the video; the district presented the budget information for the public to review before the voter meetings.