School boards, mayors: Fewer students, free lunch costs create budget pinch

Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley was one of many mayors and school board chiefs who urged state officials to send more money to the public schools system. (Rochester Voice file photo)

CONCORD - Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley was among a cadre of municipal and school board officials from cities across New Hampshire who sent a letter to the governor and others on Thursday asking for financial aid due to financial strains of coronavirus.

Among the concerns among school boards are state retirement system cost increases and expanded access to free and reduced lunch programs.

"An accessible and properly funded public education is critical for the children of New Hampshire, and right now, our schools are communicating significant concerns," reads the letter. "We hope that the Department of Education, Executive and Legislature takes into account these anticipated revenue shortfalls as they are allocating funding, particularly as it relates to COVID-19 and adequacy funding for the 2021/2022 school year."

Among those to receive the communique were Gov. Chris Sununu, state Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut, state Senate President Chuck Morse and state House Speaker Sherm Packard.

During his afternoon press conference on Thursday Sununu said the state will receive more than $220 million in school aid from CARES Act and other funding that could bridge the gap.

State Sen. Morse, R-Salem, also released a statement in response to the letter, adding that there are bills already filed that address the continuance of the Free and Reduced Lunch Program.

School board chairs also worried over decreases in public school enrollment as parents opt to homeschooling or parochial schools that are featuring more inschool learning models than their public counterparts.

That could lead to less funding for public schools, they worry.