Parent Involvement Survey

Don't forget the Parent Involvement Survey if your child receives special education services!  Mail it by May 13 or go to www.NHParent.com. 

Spotlight on Special Education

Are you the parent or guardian of a child who accesses special education services in Bedford?

Join us for an informational session to learn about special education services in our Bedford schools!

Substance Abuse: From the Border to Our Corner

A screening of a video produced jointly by FBI and DEA entitled “Chasing the Dragon” concerning the many aspects of substance abuse.  Will be followed by a round table discussion and Q and A from audience.   Panelists will include Bedford Police Chief Bryfonski; NH Senator Kelly Ayotte; DEA Special Agent in Charge, Jon DeLena; FBI Special Agent in Charge, Scott O’Donnell; NH State Police Chief, Robert Quinn; and President, NH Chiefs of Police, Robert Cormier.

DATE:    March 24, 2016

TIME:    7 PM – 9 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM – space is limited)

PLACE:  SERESC (Southeastern Regional Education Service Center)

                29 Commerce Drive, Bedford NH 03110

Thank You Bedford Voters

Thank you to the 3,558 people who voted yesterday as a part of the Annual Bedford School District Election.  

Thank you for supporting the budget (56% voted yes), the Nashua Road sidewalk project (58%), and the re-purposing of three capital reserve funds (65%).  I also want to welcome Jen DeAngelis, who was elected to the School Board (See you on Monday, March 21, Jen!)

It is important to remember that all of the residents in town, whether they supported the proposed budget or not, will support the schools (and the town government) through property taxes in the coming year.  We will work hard to continue to improve - both our work with the children of Bedford and our efforts to be cost effective.

Sincerely,

Chip McGee

Superintendent of Schools

Full election results can be seen here.

BEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

The Bedford School District Annual Report for the year ending June 30, 2015 is available here.

"Around Town"- School Budget and Other Warrant Articles

Click here to watch Around Town - School Budget and Other Warrant Articles.  The BCTV show is hosted by Dianne Bzik and features School Board Chairman Bill Kassler and Bedford School Superintendent Chip McGee talking about the elements of this years School District Elections on March 8, 2016 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Bedford High School.

Message from the Bedford School Board

Message from the Bedford School Board

There are several vitally important issues on the school district ballot that need the voter’s approval. We would like the approval of all the warrant articles listed, but one of the most important issues is the school district’s budget. Bedford has always been a frugal town and our per capita spending is more than $2000 below the state average with all grades combined. There are many things that have combined to make that happen. Whenever we have had a student population decline, we have reduced the staff numbers across the board. We have always looked at each expenditure carefully and tried to maintain the excellence in our award-winning Bedford schools while keeping the taxes as low as possible.

This year, however, we are faced with several challenges. The Bedford School District has more students than ever. A few years ago we saw decreased enrollment in the elementary schools and cut some teaching positions. Those numbers have started to grow again. To maintain class sizes at effective levels, we need to hire 4 more elementary teachers as well as return some of our positions in Art, Music, and Physical Education to full time. They had been reduced to part-time when student numbers dropped. A Special Education Resource Room teacher is needed as well as 3 paraprofessionals to accommodate our Special Education population. We are also recommending an increase in hours for the SEED teacher at Lurgio Middle School who works with our accelerated learners full-time so that more students can be challenged to even greater heights. With the Opioid Crisis hitting our town and state, we strongly support an increased emphasis on prevention in our schools. Accordingly, the proposed budget includes the addition of a full-time Drug and Alcohol Counselor at Lurgio-BHS. There are also a few other vital personnel additions that would be funded with the new budget. The school board has analyzed all of these additions carefully to make sure that they are truly needed for our students.

This year for the first time there is a large difference between the proposed budget and the default budget that would go into effect if the budget does not pass. One of the main reasons for this is our new method of calculating the Default Budget. In past years, we have tried to anticipate all the capital improvements that will be needed for 10 years and organize and prioritize them over that span of time so that there weren’t huge fluctuations in the tax rates from year to year. We have always looked on this Capital Expenditure Plan (CEP) as an ongoing cost and included it in the Default Budget calculation. This year, however, we’ve removed most of the capital projects we did last year from the Default calculations such as the roof replacement at Memorial School. Since we’ve included the roof replacement at McKelvie School in this year’s budget, it looks as if there’s a big increase, but it’s really just a new method of defining the Default Budget.

There are so many important components of what makes the Bedford School District the award winning entity that it is and what makes so many people move here for the sake of their children’s education. Please think about what would have to be reduced if the budget doesn’t pass and $2.3 million has to be taken out of next year’s budget: larger class sizes, missed opportunity for drug and alcohol prevention, less enrichment opportunities, potential cuts in academic co-curriculars, athletics, and more.  So please come to the polls on March 8 and support the Bedford Schools and our children and vote for the school district’s budget.

BEDFORD SCHOOL BOARD

Bill Kassler

Scott Earnshaw

Cindy Chagnon

Bill Foote

Phil Schappler

Bedford School District Voter Guide

Bedford School District has nailed out a Voter Information Guide which should reach all Bedford residents by Saturday, March 05, 2016.  It may also be viewed here at Voter Information Guide.

Financial Information including the School District Warrant, sample Election Ballot, Budget Presentations and related Handouts are available here.