Waterville Valley School Board Addresses Budget, Open Enrollment, and Inter-Entity Agreements
The Waterville Valley School Board convened a joint working meeting on January 27, 2026, to discuss various budget items, a new open enrollment policy, inter-entity agreements, and upcoming schedules.
Agenda Additions and Election Preparations
The Board began by adding several items to the agenda, including a discussion on open enrollment, the terms for the Treasurer, Secretary, and Moderator positions, and absentee ballots. Preparations for the upcoming town and school elections and meetings were also noted. The Board confirmed that absentee ballots should include both town and school election articles. (link)
School Budget Review
The School Board presented positive news regarding the school budget, reporting a reduction of approximately $50,000. The proposed total budget stands at $1,684,959. This decrease was primarily attributed to changes in staffing. The Select Board also announced that the new finance officer would integrate detailed comments for line items exceeding $1,000 into the budget presentation, presented as footnotes. (link)
Town Budget Overview and Tax Rate Impact
A representative provided an overview of the town’s operating budget, which is projected to increase by $800,000, moving from $6.7 million to $7.5 million, representing a 12% increase. To mitigate the tax rate impact, the town plans to utilize approximately $430,000 from its fund balance, which accumulated due to unfilled municipal services positions in the previous year. This use of the fund balance is expected to reduce the tax rate by about $0.63. Overall, it is estimated to result in a $1.25 increase on the municipal tax rate. The primary drivers for this increase are personnel costs and debt service.
The Board also discussed the order of warrant articles at the upcoming Town Meeting, proposing to address the operating budget earlier in the proceedings. (link)
Inter-Entity Agreements and Insurance for the Rey Center
A significant discussion revolved around clarifying insurance responsibilities for the Rey Center, a non-profit organization operating in a town-owned building located on school district property. Concerns were raised that the existing memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Rey Center did not fully reflect the stipulated insurance policies, specifically regarding the town being listed as an “other insured.”
Furthermore, it was noted that there was no clear memorandum between the school district and the town regarding the town’s use of buildings on school property. The Board agreed to task staff with updating these memoranda to clearly define responsibilities for all three entities: the town, the school district, and the Rey Center. The discussion also touched upon the policies of Primex, the insurance provider, concerning additional insureds for non-municipal entities. It was clarified that while the town, as a Primex member, covers property and liability for town buildings, operating entities within those buildings require separate coverage. The parcel where the meeting was held was also identified as being on school district property, underscoring the need for clear agreements. (link)
School District Open Enrollment Policy
The Board addressed a new state law concerning open enrollment, which grants school districts the ability to define their policies for students entering or leaving the district. Without a defined policy, the district would be responsible for 80% of the per-pupil cost (approximately $32,000 in Waterville Valley) for students who choose to attend an open enrollment school in another district.
The proposed warrant article recommends setting the policy at 0% of students allowed to leave the district and one student allowed to enroll in Waterville Valley School (WBS) from outside the district. This policy aims to protect the town from potentially significant tuition costs while allowing for minimal flexibility. The Board clarified that this policy would not impact existing tuition students, who are accepted under separate agreements. The phrasing of the warrant article was reviewed, with a suggestion to simplify the language regarding the “one student” limit. (link)
Recreation Department Schedule Coordination
The Board reviewed upcoming dates and schedules from the Recreation Department, including facility closures for maintenance, community cleanup days, and after-school programs. A key point of discussion was the coordination during “shoulder periods”—the two-week gaps between the end of the school year and the start of summer programs, and the start of the school year and the end of summer programs. The Board acknowledged that these periods have historically posed childcare challenges for parents and committed to monitoring the situation, potentially making modifications in coordination with the Recreation Department. (link)
Upcoming Meeting Logistics and Calendar Updates
The school district’s budget hearing is scheduled for February 9th in the current meeting room. Town Meeting and election dates were confirmed. The Board requested that school meeting dates and events be added to the town’s public calendar to improve community awareness and access to information. Discussions also included plans for updating the town’s website for better integration of information. A future joint meeting between the boards is tentatively scheduled for August 20th. (link)
Ballot and Election Procedures
The Board confirmed that absentee ballots must include both town and school election articles. There was also a discussion about correcting the terms for elected positions such as Treasurer, Secretary, and Moderator, as some were incorrectly listed as one-year terms instead of two.
A new state law requires a “mandatory report of voters” to be posted seven days before the budget is adopted. This report, an 18x24 inch document featuring three graphs and a table, will detail teacher salaries, cost per pupil, and administrator salaries over a 10-year period. This report will be made available on the school website and in the school building. (link) (link)
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.