Claremont School Board, Deliberative Session, February 7, 2026 | Eight articles debated; both property articles amended to drop the lease option

Participants

Everyone heard or named in the record. The draft minutes list floor speakers in speaking order with name and ward, and the recording usually loses the podium introduction, so several speakers the dialogue file leaves unnamed or misnames are identified here from the minutes' order plus a match of what was said; the working is given in each row. Where a name is contested between the speaker's own words and the minutes, both are shown and neither is printed as fact. Minors are not named.
Name	Role	Participation
Tracy Pope	District Moderator, presiding	Opens the session (0:00:17), introduces four assistant moderators (0:00:33), reads the rules of procedure (0:07:05 to 0:10:52), recognizes every speaker and calls every vote, including two counted standing votes (1:19:23, 3:32:21). The dialogue file's role note records that the approved 2/1/25 minutes spell her first name Tracey; this page follows the Rules of Procedure she signed.
Heather Whitney	School Board Chair	Leads the Pledge (0:01:22); introduces the board (0:03:21); moves three restrictions on reconsideration (0:29:35, 1:43:56, 3:55:11).
Michael Petrin	School Board Vice Chair	Moves approval of the 2025 minutes (0:11:47); reads Article 5 (0:47:38). The dialogue file also gives him the Article 6 reading (1:34:10), marked uncertain; the draft minutes say "William Madden introduced the warrant article regarding the sale or lease of 52 Maple Avenue". Unresolved. The draft minutes also record him moving to call the question on the Article 8 amendment (the floor's Mike, 3:29:48).
Candace Crawford	School Board Member; Finance Committee Chair	Reads Article 2 (0:14:29) and speaks for the budget she voted against at the board (0:21:41 to 0:28:09); reads and argues Article 7, open enrollment (1:45:08, 1:46:08 to 1:49:53); says the sending district bears special-education costs (1:58:50, 2:04:39), which counsel disputes (Flag 2).
Arlene Hawkins	School Board Member; SAU 6 Board Chair; Policy Committee Chair	Reads and speaks to Article 3, the administrators' agreement (0:30:02, 0:32:44), and Article 4 (0:40:43, 0:41:17).
Loren Howard	School Board Member	Reads Article 1 (recognized at 0:12:27, thanked at 0:13:28; his reading is not transcribed); seconds the 2025 minutes (0:11:56, transcribed "Warden Howard"). No attributed row.
William (Bill) Madden	School Board Member	Seconds the second restriction motion (1:44:14). See Petrin's row on the Article 6 reading.
Frank Sprague	School Board Member; speaks as a Ward 2 voter	Reads Article 8 and the board's 0-6-1 non-recommendation (2:28:25 to 2:30:29); argues the cap "would result in an approximate $9 million reduction in the 2728 budget" (2:41:47) and later "I'm a no vote on it at this point" (3:44:31). The draft minutes also place him as the speaker for the Article 5 amendment at 1:13:36 ("there's a real lack of trust", 1:13:54; "market value", 1:14:18), which the dialogue file leaves as an unnamed board member; the minutes' wording and order match that turn.
Kerry Kennedy	Interim Superintendent, SAU 6	Introduces administrators (0:01:52, transcribed "Carrie Kelly"); answers on open-enrollment criteria and the 0% limit (1:56:28, 1:58:15, 2:07:15).
Matt Angell	Interim Business Administrator, SAU 6	Presents the budget, tax-rate estimates and the default-budget calculation (0:17:01 to 0:21:27); on Article 8, says the cap would force recommendations "such as closing the test center, eliminating athletics, closing the two remaining elementary schools" (2:43:22).
James O'Shaughnessy	District counsel, Drummond Woodsum	Advises the moderator throughout: Article 4 (0:45:20), the board's authority over the property (1:08:23), open-enrollment criteria and special-education costs (1:56:55, 1:59:26, 2:10:07), the Article 8 wording (2:43:52 to 2:45:54, 3:02:53 to 3:04:22), and why articles go to the ballot without a vote (3:54:33).
Noelle Kronberg	Clerk for the school board (introduced as "Noel Cronenberg ... our district clerk for the school board", 0:01:52)	Signs the draft minutes. No attributed row.
Jason Bonneville	Director of Student Services (as introduced at 0:01:52)	Thanked for the session's technology (0:06:20). No attributed row.
Kevin Tyson	Voter, Ward 2 (maintainer of this project; see footer)	Moves the Article 5 amendment to strike or lease (0:49:44, 0:50:29) and the same amendment to Article 6 (1:35:47, attributed in the dialogue file with an uncertainty note; the moderator restates Kevin at 1:42:12).
Mike (surname contested)	Voter, Ward 3	Speaks against Article 3 on the 97% district share of administrators' health insurance (0:34:56 to 0:36:13). He introduces himself as "Moderator Mike Myers, Ward three" in the dialogue file; the draft minutes print "Mike Demars, ward 3". The dialogue file also hears "Mike Myers" among the assistant moderators named at 0:01:00.
Sonya Stephan (draft minutes: Stefan)	Voter, Ward 1	Against Article 3 (0:37:22 to 0:38:55); on the Article 8 amendment (3:06:46 to 3:07:42).
Patrick Adrian	Voter, Ward 1	Questions Article 4 (0:43:30 to 0:44:38); against the Article 5 amendment (1:02:56 to 1:03:19).
Chris Cogswell	Voter, Ward 3 (self-identified by first name; surname from the draft minutes)	Against the Article 5 amendment (0:52:39 to 0:54:22); point of order on Article 8 (3:01:33). The draft minutes also place him at 2:01:02 and 2:08:55 (Article 7) and 2:47:22 (Article 8, "This budget cap would institute that crisis every year going forward", 2:47:45); the content of each matches the minutes.
Jason Benware (dialogue file: Jason Benoit)	Voter, Ward 1	For the Article 5 amendment (0:55:36 to 0:56:36, 1:11:58 to 1:12:49); against Article 8 (2:52:55 to 2:54:49). He is heard as Benoit, Bender and Ben; the draft minutes spell Benware each time.
Brian Rapp	Voter, Ward 2 (a board candidate on the March ballot)	Seconds the first restriction motion (0:29:43, "Second by Brian Wrap", 0:29:47). By the draft minutes' order he is the unnamed speaker against the Article 5 amendment at 0:57:11 ("All those carrying costs", 0:57:35) and the unnamed speaker on cap overrides at 3:49:00 ("it's very difficult to override these caps", 3:49:32).
John Stone	Voter, Ward 3	Seconds the Article 5 and Article 6 amendments and the call of the question on Article 7 (draft minutes; named by the moderator at 2:26:23); asks for a secret ballot at 1:16:34 (transcribed "John seven, Ward three"), refused because no written request was filed (1:16:41).
Ben Nelson	Voter, Ward 2	Against the Article 5 amendment (0:58:50 to 1:00:34).
Arlene Girard	Voter, Ward 2 (heard as Gerard; first name from the draft minutes)	For the Article 5 amendment: "I am a landlord" (1:00:54, 1:01:12).
Tom Anderson	Voter, Ward 2	Draft minutes: for the Article 5 amendment, and the Granite Hill question on Article 7. The first turn is not in the transcript (nothing is transcribed between 1:03:49 and 1:05:39); the second is the unnamed question at 1:50:22.
Walt (surname heard "Stapleton"; draft minutes "Stableton")	Voter, Ward 3	Against the Article 5 amendment; suggests prioritizing sale with lease as fallback (1:05:39 to 1:07:32).
Spencer Bachelder	Voter, Ward 2	By the minutes' order, the unnamed speaker for the Article 5 amendment at 1:09:38 ("We need to get this liability off of our books", 1:09:40); seconds the final call of the question on Article 8 (draft minutes).
Greg Adams	Voter, Ward 3	By the minutes' order, the unnamed speaker against the Article 5 amendment beginning at 1:10:20; the turn is poorly transcribed.
Amanda Benware	Voter, Ward 2	Moves the Article 5 amendment to a vote (draft minutes; the unnamed motion at 1:16:00).
Matt Bean	Voter, Ward 1 (dialogue file label Maggie)	For Article 7 (2:11:26 to 2:12:22). The dialogue file labels this turn Maggie, Ward 1, from the opening words "Maggie. For one"; the draft minutes record "Matt Bean, ward 1, spoke for the article ... he also stated that he believes school is not a competition, that is for sports", which matches "If you want a competition, play a sport." (2:12:22). Also, per the minutes, seconds the $50,000 amendment and the successful call of the question, and speaks for the amendment (the unnamed turn at 3:10:09).
Wood (first name contested)	Voter, Ward 2	Against Article 7 (1:51:59, 1:52:24). Self-identified as "Zachary Wood from Ward two"; the draft minutes print "Nick Wood, ward 2".
John Cloutier	Voter, Ward 1; state representative	For Article 7 and against the pending state bill (1:53:04 to 1:53:51, unnamed in the dialogue file; the minutes name him and his self-description as one of "Claremont's five state representatives" matches).
Francis Gauthier	Voter, Ward 1	Draft minutes: against Article 7 (the unnamed turn at 1:54:54, "Because it's a competition") and for Article 8. The minutes place his Article 8 turn where the dialogue file has Emily Sandblade self-identifying (2:38:24); unresolved.
April Woodman	Voter, Ward 3	Asks what criteria the district would use to refuse an open-enrollment student (1:55:47 to 1:58:33).
Kipp Ryan	Voter, Ward 2	By the minutes' order, the unnamed parent at 2:01:52 asking about staffing (2:02:19).
Joe Carrier	Voter (ward not stated)	Against Article 7 (2:03:33, 2:03:59).
Sherry Williams (draft minutes: Sheri)	Voter, Ward 1	Asks what the 0% limit covers (2:05:39 to 2:06:41).
Norm (surname not recorded)	Voter	Named only by first name in the draft minutes; by their order, the unnamed speakers at 2:12:59 (Article 7), 2:49:52 (Article 8, taxes and reassessment) and 3:46:37 (employment and the tax cap).
Shaylor Duranleau	Unity resident and teacher (not a Claremont voter)	Point of order on how Article 7 treats tuition students from districts without a high school (2:16:40 to 2:16:43); the meeting let him speak.
Luke Diamond	Voter, Ward 3	Moves to call the question on Article 7 (2:17:47); against the $50,000 amendment (3:09:22).
Hope Damon	State Representative (Croydon district that includes Claremont); House Education Funding Committee	Compares Article 7 with the open-enrollment amendment pending at the State House (2:18:23 to 2:24:50).
Emily Sandblade	Voter, Ward 3; primary petitioner for Article 8	Presents the petition (2:31:23 to 2:36:54); speaks again (3:40:50 to 3:43:15). The turn at 2:38:24 is labelled hers in the dialogue file (heard "Emily Stanway"); see Gauthier's row.
Amanda Barton	Voter	Moves the $50,000 per-pupil amendment to Article 8 (draft minutes; the unnamed proposer at 3:04:50 to 3:05:50); moves the final call of the question.
Tom Luther	Voter, Ward 1	Against the $50,000 amendment: "I propose a cap of 90 miles an hour on Broad Street." (3:22:19). The draft minutes also record a point of order from him; it is not distinct in the transcript.
Two Stevens High School students	Ward 3 residents, not voters	The meeting voted to let a minor speak (3:11:32 to 3:12:15); the passage from 3:12:30 to 3:16:53 is one label in the dialogue file, while the draft minutes record two student speakers against the cap (one on extracurricular programs, one on unfunded state mandates). Names are withheld on this page.
Nick Koloski	Voter, Ward 3	By the minutes' order, the unnamed speaker at 3:17:27 on future unforeseen costs (3:17:43).
Richard (surname per draft minutes: Connolly)	Voter, Ward 2 per the minutes	Supports a cap but not at $50,000 (3:19:16 to 3:20:10).
Danielle Skinner	Voter, Ward 2 (surname self-identified; first name from the draft minutes)	On enrollment decline and per-pupil cost (3:20:36 to 3:21:53).
Michelle Springer-Blake	Voter, Ward 2 (heard "Michelle Ward two"; surname from the draft minutes)	Speaks for the amendment for the petitioners (3:24:32, 3:24:54); per the minutes, moves to call the question, which failed.
Wayne Hemingway	Voter	Seconds the last restriction motion (3:55:19); per the minutes' order, the unnamed speaker against the $50,000 amendment at 3:27:59 (he calls the $50,000 figure too high for Claremont, 3:28:12).
Cynthia Howard	Voter, Ward 2	For the budget cap (3:45:13, 3:45:53).
Unidentified	Various	191 of 904 rows (21.1%) carry the label Unidentified in the dialogue file, mostly floor speakers and crosstalk during the two standing counts. This page names several of them from the draft minutes as shown above; the rest stay unnamed.

Agenda

The agenda is printed at the head of the draft minutes ("AGENDA FOR THE DISTRICT DELIBERATIVE SESSION"); the article titles and wording come from the posted warrant copy, Copy of 2026 Claremont School District Warrant (OLD).pdf. Board recommendation tallies are the warrant's.

Agenda items, when the recording takes them up, and the disposition
Taken up	Item	Agenda text / disposition
0:00:17	Call to order, Pledge, introductions	Moderator's welcome (0:00:17); assistant moderators (0:00:33); Pledge led by Whitney (0:01:14); administration introduced by Kennedy (0:01:52); board introduced by Whitney (0:03:21); thanks to volunteers, police and fire, and to "Josh Nelson, the executive director of CCTV" (0:05:48).
0:07:05	Rules of procedure	Presenters get ten minutes, others two (0:07:35); amendments "must be in writing, presented to the moderator, signed by the person making the motion" and the seconder (0:09:29); "If there are no amendments, the article is automatically passed on to the ballot as presented. There is no vote necessary." (0:10:13). Handouts include a secret-ballot request form (0:07:05).
0:11:27	Approval of the February 1, 2025 minutes	Petrin moves, Howard seconds (draft minutes; 0:11:47, 0:11:56); voice vote, carried (0:12:27).
0:12:27	Article 1, election of district officials	Two board members (three years), moderator, clerk and treasurer (one year each). No discussion; to the ballot as presented (0:13:58).
0:14:07	Article 2, main budget	Warrant: operating budget "$42,957,713", default "$44,449,704"; "The School Board Recommends this Article (4) Yes (3) No." No one spoke for or against from the floor; the moderator nonetheless took a voice vote (0:28:50, "The ayes have it." at 0:29:10). Then Whitney moved to restrict reconsideration of Articles 1 and 2, Rapp seconded (0:29:35, 0:29:47); voice vote, carried (the minutes record one voice opposed).
0:30:02	Article 3, Claremont Administrators Association agreement	Warrant: $0 for 2026-27; estimated increase "$25,871.82 $103,487.25" for 2027-28 (a range, as Hawkins explains at 0:32:44); "The School Board Recommends this Article (5) Yes (2) No." Two speakers against. The moderator took a voice vote and then said "It was to the ballot automatically. So, I guess I did have to take a vote. I'm sorry." (0:39:51). To the ballot as presented.
0:40:14	Article 4, authorization for special meeting	Read by Hawkins as "If three is defeated ... to address article three cost items only." (0:40:43); the posted warrant copy says Article 4 in both places (Flag 3). Counsel explains RSA 197:3, III (0:45:20, 0:45:49). To the ballot as presented (0:47:02).
0:42:20	Article 5, sale or lease of Bluff Elementary School property (10 Summit Road)	Warrant: "The School Board Recommends this Article (7) Yes (0) No." Petrin reads it (0:47:38). Tyson moves to strike or lease, Stone seconds (draft minutes; 0:49:44, 0:50:29). After a voice vote too close to call (1:19:23), a counted standing vote: "105 for, 36 against" and "The amendment passed" (draft minutes). To the ballot as amended.
1:33:45	Article 6, sale or lease of 52 Maple Avenue (former Masonic Temple)	Warrant recommendation (7) Yes (0) No. Presenter disputed between the sources (see Participants). Tyson moves the same amendment, Stone seconds (draft minutes; 1:35:47). The moderator confirms a prior written request (1:36:38). Voice vote, carried (1:41:57); a further voice vote to move the article to the ballot without further debate (1:43:34, 1:43:52). To the ballot as amended.
1:43:56	Restriction of reconsideration, Articles 3 to 6	Whitney moves (1:43:56, 1:44:04), Madden seconds (1:44:14); voice vote, carried (1:44:44).
1:44:44	Article 7, adopting open enrollment	Warrant: designate all schools open enrollment under RSA 194-D, nonresident students capped at 10% of each school's enrollment, resident students attending open-enrollment schools elsewhere limited to 0%; "The School Board Recommends this Article (6) Yes (1) No". Diamond moves to call the question, Stone seconds (2:17:47, 2:26:23); the moderator first lets Rep. Damon speak. Voice vote on calling the question, retaken once (2:26:37 to 2:27:51). No amendment; to the ballot as presented. The draft minutes record "Voice vote taken ... The article passed" (Flag 4).
2:28:10	Article 8, school district budget cap (petitioned)	Warrant: "Shall we adopt the provisions of RSA 32:5-e ... higher than the 2025-2026 fiscal year per pupil cost times the average daily membership in residence ... as of January 1. Requires a 3/5ths majority"; "The School Board Recommends this Article (0) Yes (6) No (1) Abstain". Barton's amendment to substitute $50,000 per pupil, seconded by Bean (draft minutes): a call of the question failed, a second carried, and a counted standing vote rejected it, "The amendment failed 80-121" (draft minutes). A final call of the question carried (3:52:30, 3:52:39). To the ballot as petitioned (Flag 1).
3:55:04	Restriction of reconsideration, Articles 6 to 8	Whitney moves (3:55:11), Hemingway seconds (3:55:19); counsel explains the effect (3:56:31); voice vote, carried (3:58:21).
3:58:33	Closing	Ballot day "Tuesday, March 10th, 2026" (3:58:45). Draft minutes: "Adjourned at 1:24pm".

Discussion timeline

Times are taken from the dialogue transcript (Dialogue/17125 SchoolBoardDeliberative020726.mp4.CSV) and link into the recording.

Chronological topics with what was said
Time	Topic	What was said	Flags
0:07:05	Rules of procedure	Pope lists handouts including "a secret ballot request form" (0:07:05) and announces a rule she says is new: "That if it's a warrant, adequate, that, the first week of presenting it is given ten minutes to speak rather than five." (0:08:14). "One of the most important things I'd like to know for everyone is that only one amendment at a time can be on the floor." (0:10:42).	POSITIVE
0:17:01	Article 2: proposed and default budgets	Angell: "The proposed budget is $42,957,713, is a change of a negative of $221,851 from the prior year, and it's a reduction of 0.51%." (0:17:01); the default: "The budget is $44,449,704. The dollar change is $1,270,140. As an increase in the percent change is 2.94%." (0:17:34). Operating-budget tax rate estimated at $17.27, "a 18 cent reduction"; default $18.48 (0:19:33; the draft minutes print $18.49). Default calculation from the FY2025-26 operating budget of $43,179,564, ending "The total default budget is $44,449,703.53." (0:20:37, 0:21:27). Angell reads the RSA 40:13, IX(b) definition including the eliminated-positions clause (0:20:11).
0:21:41	Article 2: Crawford's statement	"The financial crisis discovered in August, put a huge strain on the schools this year. We were not able to hire as many teachers as we needed. We had to close Bluff School." (0:21:41). She voted against the budget at the board over an added $865,000 for athletics (0:23:44, 0:24:24), then found reallocations and now supports it: "This budget is more than $200,000 less than last year's budget." (0:25:37); savings could "go into a much needed capital reserve fund" (0:27:42).
0:28:50	Article 2: a vote with no motion pending	No speaker for or against; the moderator calls a voice vote anyway (0:28:50, 0:29:10). A floor voice then asks for "a motion to not reconsider" (0:29:17); Whitney makes it (0:29:35).	OBSERVATION
0:32:44	Article 3: administrators' agreement	Hawkins: year one "$0. It is cost neutral"; year two a COLA "equal to the northeast CPI ... provided that the Cola shall be at least 1%, but no more than 4%" (0:32:44); a joint committee on compensation (0:33:22); "our administrators proposed, they proposed the 0% salary increase" (0:33:54). Against: Mike (Ward 3) on the 97% taxpayer share of administrators' insurance (0:34:56); Stephan on locking in 2027-28 (0:37:31).
0:39:24	Article 3: voice vote, then a correction	"Seeing none, I will close discussion. Is that a pass to no need a voice vote, right?" (0:39:24); after the vote, "It was to the ballot automatically. So, I guess I did have to take a vote. I'm sorry." (0:39:51).	OBSERVATION
0:40:43	Article 4: special meeting on cost items	Hawkins reads "If three is defeated" (0:40:43). Adrian: "if the voters reject article three in March, to me, that should be the end" (0:43:35). Counsel: the status quo applies, or the board "could renegotiate ... and call a special meeting"; "it's not customary for boards to actually call that special meeting" (0:45:20, 0:45:49).	OBSERVATION
0:47:38	Article 5 read; Tyson's amendment	Petrin reads the article, sale "subject to district compliance with statutory right of first refusal provision granted to charter schools by RSA 19461" (0:47:51; RSA 194:61). Tyson: "I want to remove the words or lease the only acceptable conclusion for disposing of this property is a sale." and "we're here because the trust hasn't been there." (0:49:44, 0:50:14).
0:52:39	Article 5: debate on leasing	Against: Cogswell, removing lease would "remove the option for us to make money on the property in the event that it cannot be sold" (0:52:45); Rapp on "carrying costs" (0:57:35); Nelson (0:59:01); Adrian on educational uses (1:02:59); Stapleton suggests "prioritize the desire to sell" (1:06:53). For: Benware, "I don't feel like our district needs to be in the landlord business." (0:55:42); Girard (1:01:12); Bachelder: "we just exited a situation where our school administration couldn't keep its own books or pay his bills" (1:09:40); Sprague: "there's a real lack of trust" (1:13:54).
1:08:23	Counsel on the board's authority	"the board doesn't have authority to sell or convey a title of the property without the authorization of the legislative body. Once the legislative body gives in that authorization, the board has the authority to determine what it does." (1:08:23); the amendment is "more of a sense of the voters idea" (1:08:47).
1:16:34	Secret ballot requested and refused	"I requested ballot vote." (1:16:35); Pope: "You have to have ballot in writing. Five signatures prior to the vote in the book is already on the floor." (1:16:41).	POSITIVE
1:19:23	Article 5 amendment: standing count	"it was really close ... I'm going to take a standing vote" (1:19:23); the count runs to about 1:28:14. Draft minutes: "Standing vote taken," then "105 for, 36 against" and "The amendment passed".	POSITIVE
1:33:45	Article 6: same amendment	Tyson: "Let's get this property back on the tax roll." (1:35:47). The moderator confirms the amendment "in writing" (1:36:38). Nothing is transcribed between 1:37:00 and 1:41:41; the draft minutes place a citizen speaking against the overall budget and Tyson's call of the question in that span. Voice votes carry the amendment and moving the article to the ballot (1:41:57, 1:43:52).
1:46:08	Article 7: why open enrollment	Crawford: "in last October, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled that unless a school district voted on how to manage open enrollment, the school district would be responsible for 80% of the costs of students going to another district." (1:46:08, her characterization); "for special education students, decision making and funding responsibility stays with the sending district" (1:48:22); a House bill "That makes all schools in New Hampshire subject to open enrollment" (1:49:31).	OBSERVATION
1:55:47	Article 7: admission criteria	Woodman: "What is the criteria of who we're willing to receive?" (1:55:47). Counsel: "Under current law, there's no criteria for saying no." (1:56:55). Kennedy: the board would need "to create that policy as soon as possible" (1:58:15).
1:59:26	Article 7: who pays for special education	Counsel interrupts Crawford: the statute does "not delineate who is responsible for the special ed costs between the sending receiving district" (1:59:26); later, "current open enrollment law doesn't say what happens with special ed" and "You're the local education agency under the idea." (2:10:07, 2:10:49). Crawford: "That was our understanding as we were considering this" (2:04:54).	OBSERVATION
2:05:39	Article 7: what the 0% means	Williams asks (2:06:41); Kennedy: "we're trying to protect the funding that goes with the students" (2:07:47); Cogswell restates: "0% is how much money incorrectly Claremont taxpayers are responsible for when sending a student to another school district." (2:08:55).
2:18:23	Article 7: Rep. Damon on the state bill	"we fund education 70% by local property taxes" (2:19:37); a sending district would pay "the tuition costs the 80% to the other district, and you will still be paying the cost of that student here" (2:20:44); the state bill "is 80% of the sending district's cost" and "doesn't specify transportation" (2:22:20); "House Bill 751 and I would very much encourage supporting Warren article" (2:24:50).
2:28:25	Article 8 read	Sprague reads the petition (2:28:58, 2:29:32) and the board's recommendation: "Six for not recommending one member of state." (2:30:29).	MEDIUM
2:31:23	Article 8: the petitioner's case	Sandblade: median household income "just over $60,000" in 2016 and $59,000 nine years later (2:32:33); per-pupil cost $16,520 in 2016 and $23,266 in 2024, "a 41% increase" (2:32:53); "the voters have to pass the budget by 60% margin. That's actually a very manageable margin if the budget is honest." (2:35:49). Figures are the speaker's, attributed by her to the state Department of Education; not checked here.
2:40:01	Article 8: board and business office respond	Sprague: "What I see is the vote of ultimate no confidence in the board and the administration." (2:40:01); "the cap would result in an approximate $9 million reduction in the 2728 budget" (2:41:47). Angell: "closing the test center, eliminating athletics, closing the two remaining elementary schools" (2:43:22).
2:43:52	Article 8: counsel on the statutory wording	"The method of adoption is RSA 32 colon 5-F" (2:43:52); "this is the part where this petition is different than the law, higher than a blank dollars" (2:44:55); "if you adopt this, I can't provide certainty" (2:45:28); "you may end up having to resolve this adoption through litigation" (2:45:54). Later: the petition "has all of the prescribed linkage correct, except with respect to the part that says the 2025 2026 fiscal year" (3:02:53).	MEDIUM
3:04:50	Article 8: the $50,000 amendment	The proposer (Barton, per the minutes): "I'm just changing it to make it more legal, actually, and putting a number for people." (3:04:55). Against: Diamond, "It completely changes the intent. It's way above what we currently spend per pupil." (3:09:22); Luther (3:22:19). For: Springer-Blake, "So we put an amount. So it's just the cap." (3:24:32). Counsel explains the vote (3:31:46, 3:32:06); standing vote called at 3:32:21. Draft minutes: "The amendment failed 80-121".	POSITIVE
3:11:32	A minor asks to speak	A Stevens student who says he is not a voter asks permission (3:11:32); the meeting votes by voice (3:12:12 to 3:12:15) and he speaks on school programs and unfunded mandates (3:12:30, 3:15:13).
3:40:50	Article 8: final debate	Sandblade: "if the board needs to exceed the spending cap, they have the means to do so" (3:40:55). Sprague: "I think it's a matter of bad timing." (3:44:31). C. Howard: "Losing $5 million of taxpayer money. I think that's a disgrace to this district." (3:45:13, her characterization). Rapp, per the minutes' order: "it's very difficult to override these caps" (3:49:32).
3:53:10	Counsel: articles go to the ballot by law	"If there's no more discussion on the article, it automatically moves to the ballot when you get to vote on March 10th." (3:53:10); "You can't vote it up or down." (3:54:33). He also says the "School board recommends" notation is "misleading" and "will be corrected" (3:53:31).	MEDIUM POSITIVE
3:55:11	Restriction of reconsideration, Articles 6 to 8; close	Whitney's motion (3:55:11); counsel's explanation (3:56:31); carried (3:58:21). Ballot day March 10 (3:58:45).

Items flagged for review

These flags are a reviewer's aid. They are not findings of violation and not legal advice. Each one names the rule it rests on, linked to the primary source, so a reader can check the reasoning. A deliberative session is a meeting of the voters under RSA 40:13, so the school-board rules on public comment, roll calls and nonpublic sessions do not apply to it and are not tested here.

MEDIUM Article 8, the petitioned budget cap, departs from the ballot wording RSA 32:5-f, IV prescribes, in two places, and went to the ballot that way

RSA 32:5-f, IV sets the wording of the adoption question. Its inflation-index form reads: "higher than _____ dollars per pupil cost times the average daily membership in residence of the school district as of October 1 of the year immediately preceding the proposed budget year plus an annual increase for inflation using (the index) published by (the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or American City and County) as of October 1." (statute text). The petition as printed on the posted warrant copy fills the dollar blank with "the 2025-2026 fiscal year per pupil cost" and ends "as of January 1" (warrant copy). Counsel told the meeting about the first departure: "this is the part where this petition is different than the law, higher than a blank dollars" (2:44:55) and "if you adopt this, I can't provide certainty" (2:45:28). Sprague read the January 1 date aloud (2:29:32); counsel did not address it. The one amendment offered, substituting $50,000 (3:04:55), failed 80 to 121 (draft minutes), so the article goes to the March 10 ballot in its petitioned form. RSA 40:13, IV(a) bars amending "Warrant articles whose wording is prescribed by law"; counsel's view that the blanks remained open to amendment (3:03:30, 3:03:50) is his. Separately, the warrant copy prints "The School Board Recommends this Article (0) Yes (6) No (1) Abstain", which counsel called "misleading" and said the board would correct before the ballot (3:53:31). Adoption needs a 3/5 majority (RSA 32:5-f, I), which the warrant states. RSA 32:5-f, III also requires a public hearing on the question 15 to 30 days before the vote; for a March 10 vote that is February 8 to 23, after this session (see the February 18, 2026 page). The petitioners, not the board, wrote the wording; the defect is in the article's text, and its legal effect if adopted is the open question counsel raised.

Sources: RSA 32:5-f, I, III, IV (adoption by 3/5; hearing; prescribed wording); 2024, 353:2; 2025, 183:6, 7, eff. Sept. 13, 2025, so in force on February 7, 2026; RSA 32:5-e (the cap itself; 3/5 ballot override); RSA 40:13, IV(a); warrant copy and draft minutes in the appendix.

OBSERVATION Counsel told the meeting the open-enrollment statute is silent on special-education costs; RSA 194-D:5, II assigns them to the sending district

Crawford presented Article 7 on the basis that "for special education students, decision making and funding responsibility stays with the sending district" (1:48:22). District counsel interrupted: the law does "not delineate who is responsible for the special ed costs between the sending receiving district", and the Senate amendment "attempts to do that" (1:59:26); later, "current open enrollment law doesn't say what happens with special ed" (2:10:07). RSA 194-D:5, II, as amended by 2025, 211:2, eff. Sept. 13, 2025, reads: "The funding and educational decision-making process for children with disabilities attending a chartered public or open enrollment school shall be the responsibility of the sending school district." (statute text). Counsel's further point, that Claremont remains "the local education agency under the idea" for its own residents who leave (2:10:49), rests on federal law and may be right as to Claremont's own students; it does not make the state statute silent. Voters decided the question with conflicting advice on the record, and the board's reading matches the statute's text. Whether the federal IDEA allocation changes the result is not settled here. Crawford's description of a New Hampshire Supreme Court ruling "last October" (1:46:08) is her characterization; the decision was not read for this page.

Sources: RSA 194-D:5, II (sending district responsible for funding and decisions for children with disabilities); RSA 194-D:3, I(a) and I(c)(1) (adoption by warrant article; resident limit "any percentage between zero and 100 percent")

OBSERVATION The only warrant in the session's Drive folder is a copy marked OLD, and it carries three defects the reading on the floor did not

The folder 2026 Deliberative Session (created February 6, 2026) holds one file, Copy of 2026 Claremont School District Warrant (OLD).pdf, a scan made January 23, 2026. In it: (1) Article 4 reads "Shall District if Article 4 is defeated, authorize the governing body to call one special meeting, at its option, to address Article 4 cost items only?" (warrant copy). RSA 197:3, III prescribes the form "If article __________ is defeated ... to address article __________ cost items only?", and the article meant is Article 3; Hawkins read it correctly as "If three is defeated" (0:40:43). (2) The Details line says the session "shall consist of explanation, discussion, and debate of each of the following warrant articles, except for Articles 1 and 5", yet Article 5 was debated and amended. (3) The board's certification reads "on or before January 27,2025": the year is wrong, and January 27, 2026 is the day after the last Monday in January, the date by which RSA 40:13, II-a requires warrants to be posted. The scan date shows the signed document existed by January 23, so the certification's wording does not show late posting; it simply does not show timely posting either. Whether a corrected warrant was posted and what the ballot printed cannot be checked from the district's folder; no final warrant was found there.

Sources: RSA 197:3, III (prescribed special-meeting question; 2021, 77:1, eff. Aug. 17, 2021); RSA 40:13, II-a (warrants and budgets posted on or before the last Monday in January) and IV(a) (prescribed wording not amendable)

OBSERVATION Votes taken on unamended articles, and draft minutes that say Articles 2 and 7 passed

RSA 40:13, VI sends every article to the ballot, amended or not, and the moderator said so herself: "If there are no amendments, the article is automatically passed on to the ballot as presented. There is no vote necessary." (0:10:13). She then took a voice vote on Article 2 with no motion pending (0:28:50 to 0:29:10) and on Article 3 (0:39:35), correcting herself on the second (0:39:51). The draft minutes go further: on Article 2, "Voice vote taken, all present voting in favor" and "The motion passed unanimously"; on Article 7, where the recorded vote was on calling the question (2:26:23 to 2:27:51), "Voice vote taken", "The majority is voting in favor" and "The article passed". No article can pass or fail at the first session; counsel told the meeting the same at 3:54:33. A reader of the minutes alone could take Articles 2 and 7 to have been approved on February 7. The minutes remain a draft and are approved by the 2027 session, so this can still be corrected.

Sources: RSA 40:13, IV and VI (first session for explanation, debate and amendment; all articles to the official ballot); RSA 197:20 (the clerk "shall keep a true record of all the doings of each meeting")

POSITIVE Close votes were counted, the secret-ballot rule was applied as written, and counsel kept the meeting inside RSA 40:13

When the voice vote on the Article 5 amendment was close, the moderator said so and took a counted standing vote with her assistant moderators (1:19:23); she did the same on the Article 8 amendment (3:32:21). The minutes record both counts (105 to 36; 80 to 121). When a voter asked for a ballot vote with the question already on the floor (1:16:35), she answered that it needed a written request with five signatures before the vote (1:16:41), which is what RSA 40:4-a requires; a request form was among the handouts (0:07:05). Counsel explained that the board needs the voters' authority to sell or lease (1:08:23), that articles reach the ballot by operation of law (3:54:33), and how RSA 40:10 restriction of reconsideration works (3:56:31). The session was held on February 7, the last day of the RSA 40:13, III window.

Sources: RSA 40:4-a (secret ballot on written request of 5 voters prior to the vote); RSA 40:4 (moderator declares votes, decides questions of order); RSA 40:10 (restriction of reconsideration); RSA 40:13, III and VI

POSITIVE The budget article carries the cost-per-pupil and proficiency figures, and the default budget was read with the full statutory definition

Article 2 opens with "The average cost-per-pupil for the preceding year as calculated in accordance with RSA 189:75, I(a) is $26,012.84. ELA Proficiency: 35%; Math Proficiency: 25%; Science Proficiency: 29%." (warrant copy), the figures RSA 671:20, II requires immediately before the budget question on the ballot; Crawford read them aloud (0:14:29, 0:14:48; the transcript hears "proficiency 5%" for Math). Angell read the default-budget definition through the clause on "salaries of benefits of positions that have been eliminated in the proposed budget" (0:20:11) and itemized the adjustments (0:20:37, 0:21:27). The project's notes record that Claremont's 2023 and FY2025 default-budget worksheets quoted RSA 40:13, IX(b) without that clause.

Sources: RSA 671:20, II (cost per pupil and ELA, Math, Science proficiency printed before the budget question; 2025, 281:1, eff. Sept. 30, 2025); RSA 40:13, IX(b) (default budget definition)

Appendix: source files

Official and public sources

Cablecast: Claremont School Board Deliberative Session - 2/7/26 (show 17125)
Drive folder: 2026 Deliberative Session (1 document; created 2026-02-06)
- Copy of 2026 Claremont School District Warrant (OLD).pdf scanned image; text read through the Drive reader; (OLD) is the district's label
Minutes: Deliberative Session DRAFT Minutes 2.7.26.docx (in the 2026 Meeting Minutes folder; draft, unapproved)
The minutes link the February 1, 2025 District Meeting minutes approved at this session (not read for this page).
No final (non-OLD) warrant, Rules of Procedure sheet, amendment forms or presentation slides were found in the session folder.

Project files

Working files this page was built from. The dialogue file is linked; the others are not published with the page.

Dialogue/17125 SchoolBoardDeliberative020726.mp4.CSV (904 attributed rows; the basis of this page)
Input/Videos/17125 SchoolBoardDeliberative020726.mp4
Input/Transcripts/17125 SchoolBoardDeliberative020726.mp4.json
Input/SupportingDocuments/MAP.md, section 293

Laws and rules cited on this page

RSA 40:13, II-a, III, IV, VI, IX(b): SB 2 official ballot; last amended 2019, 192:2, eff. July 10, 2019
RSA 40:4, RSA 40:4-a, RSA 40:10: conduct of the meeting, secret ballot, restriction of reconsideration
RSA 32:5-e and RSA 32:5-f: school district budget cap and its adoption (2024, 353:2; 2025, 183:5 to 7, eff. Sept. 13, 2025)
RSA 194-D:3 and RSA 194-D:5: open enrollment adoption and funding (194-D:5 amended 2025, 211:2, eff. Sept. 13, 2025)
RSA 197:3, III: special meeting on rejected cost items
RSA 197:20: district clerk's record
RSA 671:20, II: cost-per-pupil and proficiency figures on the ballot