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Regional District Eleven Hears Public Concerns Over ECS Cuts and Declining Enrollment
Summary
At a April 1 public hearing in Chaplin, two residents urged the Regional District Eleven Board of Education to address state ECS funding cuts and falling student numbers, warning those pressures could force school closures and increase local tax burdens; the board received comments and adjourned without taking a budget vote.
The Regional District Eleven Board of Education held a public hearing on the proposed 2025–2026 budget on April 1 at Parish Hill Library in Chaplin, where residents warned that cuts to state Educational Cost Sharing (ECS) aid and declining enrollment could strain the district’s finances.
Kathy Donahue of Hampton, speaking during the public comment period, raised a "Question regarding CNR" and voiced "concerns about ECS and the impact this cut in funding will have on the regional district budget," urging the board to consider other revenue options to replace lost state support. Jen Nelson of Scotland told the board she was worried about falling student numbers and asked whether the district has a threshold that could trigger school closures; Nelson said the towns have "an aging population on fixed incomes" and described paying for education as a heavy burden.
The remarks came during the board’s scheduled public hearing on the budget; no formal budget votes or amendments were recorded at the meeting. Board members in attendance were Stacey Foster, Ellen Gillon, Susan Lovegreen, Kathy Freed, Michael Smardon and Joy Becker. Superintendent Andrew Skarzynski and Business Manager Jobina Miller were present but the transcript records no staff presentations or formal responses to the citizen remarks in this hearing.
After public comment the board moved to adjourn. "Motion by Kathy Freed, 2nd by Ellen Gillon — Unanimous Approval," the minutes state; the meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
The hearing record does not specify dollar amounts, the meaning of the acronym "CNR," or any timetable for final budget adoption; those details were not provided at this session.
