CLAREMONT — An administrative misstep means the Claremont School District has to hold a second special meeting to vote again on special education funding, even after residents approved the appropriation last month.
District officials scheduled the new vote for Dec. 12 to approve $650,000 for new and expanded special education programs after state pointed out improper noticing for the Nov. 21 meeting.
Voters at that time approved the appropriation overwhelmingly by voice vote, but the district had not posted the meeting warrant on its website seven days prior to the vote, as required by law.
Wednesday night’s School Board meeting featured a second public hearing on the topic, but only one person spoke.
The school district’s attorney, Matthew Upton, said the Department of Revenue Administration recommended the second vote because of the violation of state law regarding noticing.
The money in the proposal comes from $1.3 million in unanticipated revenue the district received under the state budget signed by Gov. Chris Sununu in July. If the proposal is approved, half the money will be used for the special education programs and half will be used to offset the tax rate. If it is not approved, the entire sum will go toward offsetting the tax rate.
Superintendent Mike Tempesta has said expanding special education programming will mean the district can save money by decreasing the number of out-of-district placements and also possibly generate revenue by accepting tuition students from other districts.
The delay in finalizing school spending for the current fiscal year means quarterly tax bills, usually sent around Dec. 1, won’t go out until later this month after the Revenue Administration sets the tax rate. Bills are due 30 days after mailing.
The special district meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 in the Stevens High School auditorium.
