Claremont School Board to Present Two Four-School Budgets After Split Vote

The Claremont School Board on Wednesday voted 4-3 to recommend two versions of the 2026-27 budget, each preserving four school buildings, and to present them at a public hearing later this month. Board members also rejected a three-school consolidation proposal that would have reduced the number of district buildings from four to three.

The lower-cost four-school plan carries a $44.8 million bottom line, a 3.9 percent spending increase that would add $1.35 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to the school tax rate, and would realign the two elementary schools to be grade specific. The alternative four-school budget totals $46.2 million, a 7 percent increase that would add $2.46 per $1,000, and would maintain the current K-5 grade alignment at Disnard and Maple Avenue elementary schools that has been in place since the fall closure of Bluff Elementary.

Board members Loren Howard, Frank Sprague, Candace Crawford and Arlene Hawkins voted in favor of both four-school options. Board Chairwoman Heather Whitney, Vice Chairman Michael Petrin and William Madden voted against those plans and instead supported the three-school model. During discussion, Hawkins said the district needs stability after a disruptive year.

The three-school option was pared down during deliberations from $44 million to $43.4 million and, under revised assumptions, would have produced a less than 1 percent spending increase with no tax impact. Although the board rejected that consolidation as its primary recommendation, the three-school model will remain under consideration after a Jan. 20 public hearing, and the board will choose which budget to present at the Feb. 7 deliberative session no later than Jan. 21.

Public commenters at the meeting urged caution, telling the board that teachers and students need time to adjust following the recent school closure and warning that rapid reconfiguration could accelerate teacher attrition and further disrupt student learning. Those concerns have implications beyond classroom schedules: changes to school buildings and alignments affect transportation routes, meal program logistics, special education delivery, and the community supports that schools provide for families with limited resources.

From a public health and equity perspective, abrupt school restructuring can widen disparities. Students with unstable home situations, limited access to after-school care, or special education needs are more likely to be harmed by sudden shifts in school assignments and staffing. Local health providers and social services often coordinate with schools for mental health screening, vaccinations, and nutrition programs; disrupted school configurations can complicate that coordination and delay services.

The board’s split vote leaves multiple futures possible for Claremont schools. Residents concerned about tax impact, educational continuity, or equity can attend the Jan. 20 hearing or the Feb. 7 deliberative session as the district prepares to finalize the budget and alignment plan that will shape the next school year.