For Immediate Release:
June 9, 2016
Concord, NH – Today, Governor Maggie Hassan vetoed a bill, HB 1637, that would allow towns without a public school to send their students to other area schools, providing them with the education they are entitled to.
“This legislation was thoroughly vetted with all stakeholders at the table, producing a bill that meets the needs of small communities without public schools in our state. I am extremely disappointed that this bill to give students in our state the opportunity for a quality education suiting their needs, regardless of the town they live in, was vetoed today,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro).
“This bill served as an important fix that would have allowed a handful of students to continue receiving their education at the school they currently attend, however, because the Governor put politics over the best interests of these students, they will be moved to other schools without any say in the matter,” said Senate Education Committee Chair John Reagan (R-Deerfield). “The State should not be interfering in local control of our schools, especially when a duly elected school board in a town without a school finds it best to tuition their students to nearby educational institutions of their choosing.”