A front page article in this week's Baysider newspaper details the latest developments in the 2022-2023 state legislative session that will impact the proposed expansiona nd renovation of Barnstead Elementary School.
As expected, the biennial state budget will fund $50 million each year for school building aid projects, and the proposed BES project--ranked 10th on the state list--will not receive funding as a result.
In spite of this apparent setback, there are other positive signs. In March, Barnstead School District voters approved two warrant articles. The first would have allowed the District to borrow just over $13 million if the state budget had provided enough funding to give about $10.5 million to the project. The second article empowered the School District to take out a short-term bond for $1.8 million if the state budget failed to provide adequate funds for the first. Now that the school board has clarity about the money in the state budget, the second article will go into effect, and the District will begin detailed planning for a smaller renovation of the oldest two wings in the building. The $1.8 million bond will be combined with the school's remaining $700,000 in federal Coronavirus funding to allow $2.5 million worth of improvements including HVAC, interior finishes, energy efficiency, and safety features.
The other positive development is a new law that requires the State Board of Education to revise the rules governing the School Building Aid program. According to Superintendent Timothy Broadrick, one of the new rules should allow approved projects to remain on the state's ranked list until they are funded. "The details still need to be developed and approved," said Broadrick, "but it looks like approved projects such as ours will stay on the ranked list, with newer projects being added below those previously approved... that might mean that around the time we are finishing paying off the $1.8 million bond, we could be offered funding in a future state budget." Though it is early to know exactly how the new system will work, Broadrick advised the school board at its June meeting that he sees reason for optimism.
This week's edition of The Baysider is available at this link.