Apparently even the editorialists at the Keene Sentinel noitced the behavior of school district officials at their recent deliberative session.
Citing it as a flaw within the official ballot system, they said “Such meetings are rarely without overwhelming contingents of school district employees, their friends and relatives, and others with more than just a taxpayer’s stake in the outcome. It’s among the biggest flaws of the official-ballot system.”
It is true that you will ignore your town and school meetings at your own peril, especially if you hope to reduce taxes, cut spending, and ward off bogus educational fads. But even if you have enough attendees to help you try to do these things, be prepared for a fight.
“Machiavellian legal maneuvering school district officials used to avoid letting voters decide the merits of the articles strikes us as undemocratic and adds to a sense that the board doesn’t trust those it serves. In the case of articles that would not have so dire an effect as to potentially put taxpayers on the hook for multiple budgets and that would not run afoul of state law, our feeling is the deliberative session voters should have allowed them to remain intact and, as one petitioner requested, “let the people decide.”
Read more: School officials outmanned, outfoxed Free Keeners