Franklin latest to withdraw from its SAU

Earlier this month, the town of Franklin took final steps towards withdrawing from SAU 18, the cooperative school administrative unit it shares with the town of Hill. The state Board of Education approved the withdrawal plan in August and, if approved by the Franklin City Council, the change will go into effect for the 2017-2018 school year. 

The move will make Franklin the latest in a series of towns in the past year to opt to “go it alone”, withdrawing from their SAUs. Other communities include Croydon and Newport in SAU 43, Goshen from SAU 71, and Cornish in SAU 6.

Other towns have recently considered but ultimately rejected withdrawing from their SAUs, including Milton and Wakefield in SAU 64.

New Hampshire’s system of cooperative supervisory administrations was established during the 1960s, with the number of SAUs increasing rapidly during the 1980s as a boom in enrollment lead to many towns opting to split off and form their own unit.  

Historically, the state Board of Education had the power to veto decisions to withdraw from an SAU. However, that power was removed in 1996, when the Legislature ruled to allow towns or districts to withdraw from their SAU over Board of Education objections—and those of the other towns or districts in the unit.

For years, New Hampshire set aside funds to make facility building or improvement grants to multi-district SAUs, in effect encouraging consolidation. However, those funds were cut during the 2011 budget writing process and have not been restored since.

The seeming trend towards breaking up SAUs has led some policymakers to suggest that the state Board of Education have its power to veto withdrawal decisions restored. They argue that consolidated districts are more cost-effective for taxpayers, making it easier to administer increasingly rigorous testing and accountability requirements or pool resources to repair or replace facilities. They also note that consolidated districts can make sense in an era where demographic shifts mean student enrollment in many towns is declining.

Opponents counter that decisions about SAU membership are better left to towns, as the disadvantages and benefits of such moves vary greatly from one unit to another. They argue that larger SAUs can be less flexible, and that smaller units make it easier for administrators to work closely with teachers, better manage resources and focus on the needs of students. 

Do you think NH should discourage the breakup of SAUs? Leave a comment and have your say.