FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On March 15, 2025, the voters of the Town of Walpole voted to direct the Fall Mountain Regional School District School Board to initiate a feasibility and suitability study of the withdrawal of Walpole from the Fall Mountain Regional School District. In addition, the Town of Langdon has also initiated a study per RSA 195:25 (this article was contingent on the article passing in Walpole).
According to state law, the study is to be conducted by a committee composed of one member of the school board from each of the pre-existing districts and one member of the board of selectmen from each town within the cooperative school district. The study must be completed within 180 days of their first meeting. The withdrawal committee must either recommend withdrawal, not recommend withdrawal, or request more time within the 180 days.
If the withdrawal committee does not recommend withdrawal, the withdrawal committee will file a report with the FMRSD school board and the withdrawal committee will be dissolved. If there was a minority of members that voted for withdrawal, they can file a minority report with the cooperative school board.
If the decision of the withdrawal committee is to recommend withdrawal, the withdrawal committee then prepares a withdrawal plan as described in NH statutes. The plan must be submitted to the State Board no later than November 1st. If there is a minority of members that voted against withdrawal, they can file a minority report (and/or potentially a different withdrawal plan) with the State Board.
The State Board may approve a withdrawal plan prepared by the majority of the withdrawal committee or may approve a withdrawal plan prepared by a minority report (if any). If a withdrawal plan is approved by the State Board, it is submitted to the voters of the cooperative school district at the annual or special district meeting for a final decision.
If the withdrawal plan is approved by the voters, the withdrawal shall be effective July 1st of the calendar year one year after the vote approving the withdrawal plan.
The first meeting of the committee has been scheduled for April 14, 2025 at 6:30pm in the Fall Mountain Regional High School Library. The public is welcome to attend.