NH Better Served by Quality Education & Lower Property Taxes

Does anyone else think about the irony of fighting with ourself over school funding. The school districts, funded primarily by property taxes, are suing the state, funded by taxes and fees paid by us.  We're arguing over the state's calculation of the cost of an adequate education and the source of state funding for education, SWEPT. So public dollars are paying for both sides of the lawsuits. Who sues themself for decades? 

Particularly after prior results of our lawsuits have consistently determined the state is responsible for providing adequate funding?  Now interject the state’s process for revising the minimum standards for public school approval. These standards are examined every ten years and we are presently closing in on the end of 2024’s revisions.  

The minimum standards for public education exist to make sure that no matter a student’s zip code, they will receive consistent access to quality education. In this round of revisions the standards are being made optional by inserting ‘may’ instead of ‘will’; they are undermining local control of education by putting the NH Department of Education in charge of more requirements; and they are undermining teacher requirements, class sizes, and other characteristics of a quality education. 

Why? Well for one, it's another tactic for reducing the state’s cost for an adequate education. By reducing what is required you reduce the cost. So we are arguing with ourself about dumbing down our standards in order to reduce cost. How does that make sense for NH's future?  

Present members of our Legislature, including free staters, additional libertarians and extreme republicans, have upped the argument with ourself, and thus its cost. If we want to reduce taxes we should stop arguing with and suing ourselves. And acknowledge our state is better served by quality education and lower property taxes.

{This letter was also published in The Laconia Daily Sun}