At a recent candidate’s forum, elected officials publicly stated they knew nothing or very little about the four-year state board of education review related to the Minimum Public School Approval Rules, aka Education Rules 306. Immediately, I emailed these elected officials. Here is the response from Sen. Ruth Ward (Chair Senate Education Committee, member Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules-JLCAR): “You had suggested that elected officials had the leverage to network with those who serve on JLCAR. In my eight years on JLCAR I have never had a legislator contact me about any scheduled issue. Most stay away from Administrative Rules, finding them tedious and boring.”

Ed Rules 306 are a complex topic, but that complexity should not be ignored by our elected officials and taxpayers. On Nov. 21, JLCAR will hold a public meeting in Concord. This date is crucial to all NH public schools and a JLCAR decision can have lasting impact on reducing quality and increasing inequities across our public schools. NH politicians ran on “no new taxes” during this recent election, meaning sales and income taxes. These same politicians want to increase the burden for public school funding and duties to local communities and taxpayers, by dismantling the state’s responsibility to define and fund an adequate public school education. At stake on Nov. 21 is redefining what constitutes an adequate education. It’s really simple: create vague and outdated 306 rules that lower the quality of education; thus, reducing the state’s funding obligation. Support our public schools, contact your elected officials, and attend Nov. 21!

Christine Downing

Goshen