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Merrimack Valley board puts open-enrollment restriction on March warrant after lengthy debate
Summary
Board members debated emergent state open-enrollment changes and voted to place a warrant article as written on the March ballot; the motion passed by voice vote with one member recorded opposed, amid concerns about legal uncertainty, undefined capacity rules, and short public notice.
The Merrimack Valley School Board voted Feb. 9 to place a warrant article restricting open enrollment on the March ballot after an extended discussion about recent state legislative changes and potential budgetary impacts. The motion passed by voice vote; Amanda York was recorded as opposed.
Board members said the state amendment — advanced late in the legislative process — could make open enrollment mandatory for districts in ways that are not yet fully defined. Tom Laliberte called the package “a speed rush to change that,” noting the statute leaves capacity undefined and could oblige districts to accept nonresident students without clear standards. He told the board the result could be “chaos” for small districts and create unbudgeted costs.
Advocates for putting an article on the warrant said a local vote would give the district a safeguard and allow voters to weigh restrictions that could protect the district's finances. Chair Tracy Bridal (first referenced during roll call) said the board must balance fiscal stability with students' interests.
Amanda York emphasized privacy and student-first concerns in related policy debates and said she opposed placing the article as written because it appeared to prioritize finances: “To say 0% just because other districts are saying 0, I don't think we should follow that,” she said during debate. Several board members suggested a narrower option (allowing a small number of outgoing students) but ultimately left the ballot language unchanged.
The board also discussed possible litigation and the prospect that state rules could change again; members noted that even if the state law becomes effective, legal challenges were possible and outcomes uncertain. The article moves to voters with the board's placement vote; the board indicated it will use the next weeks to provide public information before March 4.
What happens next: The warrant article will appear on the March warrant and will be voted at the town/district meeting; the board said it will present information in advance to help voters understand fiscal and operational implications.
