Parents all over New Hampshire are challenging school boards as never before. There are several reasons for this, including disappointing responses by the education establishment to the COVID pandemic.
While private and parochial schools carried on and remained fully open throughout, many public schools scaled back operations or went to hybrid learning models. Schools in places like Nashua closed their doors for over a year. Parents were frantic and many railed for school choice.
Learning and achievement suffered throughout the Granite State, as evidenced by a decline in standardized test scores. School boards, administrators, and educators were seen as overreacting and more concerned about maintaining teacher positions and teacher safety at the expense of student learning.
Dubious mask mandates took control away from parents. A telling example of the over-reaction of the education establishment was the requirement for young athletes to mask up everywhere from baseball diamonds to running tracks, despite science and common sense.
Other issues that caused parents increasing concern include the insidious growth of racially tinged instruction that many feel reflects divisive and discredited so-called “Critical Race Theory.”
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And, as always, there are financial concerns as school districts spend more than ever despite declining enrollment and decreasing test scores.
This environment of discontent provides civics lessons.
Folks need to realize that school board members are duly elected by popular vote. If citizens cede control of school meetings to the “education establishment” then parents must accept the subsequent budgets and policies.
If they want schools that reflect parental desires for accountability, achievement, assessments, and transparency, then they need to find and support board candidates who will listen to the entire community—not just the education establishment.
This brings us to recent developments in SAU 46, the Merrimack Valley School District, which includes Boscawen, Loudon, Penacook, Salisbury, and Webster. As a Merrimack Valley High School graduate, this is my old turf.
As a three-term state legislator representing several of the aforementioned communities, I, along with other reps, have tried to be responsive to those who have turned to us out of frustration with present education realities. Yes, it appears that folks have turned primarily to Republican reps, as they perceive—fairly or unfairly—that our Democrat colleagues are more concerned with supporting the establishment as opposed to the parents.
Related: A Local Example of the National Disgrace That School Boards Have Become
So six local reps asked the SAU 46 School Board for some sort of joint collaborative public session to fully air out a variety of issues. After initially turning us down, the board later relented and arranged for such a session on Sept. 20 at MVHS. While the board controlled the venue and the agenda, we all looked forward to improving communication and understanding, even though the agenda didn’t include all our requested items and even though the public would not be allowed to speak.
But a promising event went for naught when some parents showed up unmasked. The board chair would not start the session until the maskless departed. When these folks stayed in the gym the police were called and the meeting was canceled.
Many of us were disappointed by the missed opportunity, so I suggested we continue trying. I recommended keeping the same agenda and adding the mask issue and a public comment option to it while seeking a venue with less restrictive protocols.
As Loudon Town Moderator, I have experience running public meetings which provide for personal mask choices and social distancing while still allowing the people’s business to move forward. I arranged access to the Loudon Fire Station for a reprise of the ill-fated 9/20 meeting on 10/18. We hoped everyone who had attended or been invited to the 9/20 session would come. And while 50 citizens showed up, along with others participating via zoom, not a single Democratic Representative, board member or SAU official would attend.
This unfortunately served to reinforce the perception that the school board was arrogant and non-responsive and would not engage parents or their representatives unless the board controlled the venue and the agenda.
On 10/18 we went through the 9/20 agenda, but it would have been much better if school officials would have been there to speak to issues and to answer questions. One attendee pointed out that MVSD was receiving a record $43 million despite declining enrollment and wondered if any savings occurred when the schools closed their doors for much of the past school year. Another asked if it was true that the district was receiving an extra $7 million in COVID-related funds.
For me, the most impactful takeaway was the continued message from the vast majority of parents in attendance that “The school board does not listen to us.”
“We are not being heard!”
For two hours citizens gave expression to concerns and when I brought things to a close I asked if there was sentiment to continue with such forums. The consensus was a resounding “Yes!” It was clear that parents appreciated the opportunity, not just to speak, but also to engage in meaningful dialogue with their elected Representatives.
So how about if we try again? For our local education community to flourish with maximum public support, we need to bring all parties together for a genuine forum that yields answers, better understanding, and mutual respect for all concerned.
Parents and Republican state reps are willing to keep trying. Will the education establishment work with us? Just let us know when and where and we’ll be there.
Fractured isolation serves no one well. Parents and pupils, taxpayers and teachers all deserve better. We need to come together. We need to talk. And we need to listen and learn.
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Rep. Howard Pearl of Loudon is the Chair of the House Committee on Environment and Agriculture.
