SAU 84 Voices Concerns About Legislation

Administrators at SAU 84 Littleton School District are concerned about legislation at the New Hampshire statehouse that could have local budget impacts, particularly regarding health insurance, which has been a significant driver of budget increases in recent years.

During the superintendent's report to the school board on Monday, SAU 84 Superintendent Steve Nilhas said there is one bill that "should terrify us all" as it seeks to reconfigure the employee health insurance pool.

The legislation is Senate Bill 297, sponsored by state Sen. Sharon Carson, R-Londonderry, which regards pooled risk management programs.

"It's definitely a concern," said SAU 84 business administrator Patricia Ryan. "We have three health insurance risk pool companies in the state. One has pretty much already closed their doors, whether 297 passes or not. That's the New Hampshire Interlocal Trust. They carry Harvard Pilgrim insurance. Then there is Health Trust, who carries Anthem. If 297 passes, they will end carrying health insurance next year."

Municipal employees with Health Trust/Anthem will see the insurance end in December, while school employees will see it end in June 2026, after which Health Trust will focus on dental, life, and disability, but not health insurance, she said.

SAU 84 is with SchoolCare, which seems to not be supporting SB 297 because part of the bill would require school districts to establish a capital reserve fund for health insurance risk, said Brown.

"It just increases their percentage that they have to put away," she said. "They're regulated now. They can't make income. They are heavily regulated already. Now, it's just taking it to another level of increasing that threshold, and some of them just can't do it, and if they did, our premiums would be huge."

There's a lot going on, said Brown.

"Just less than two weeks ago, several North Country schools found out that they won't have health insurance as of July 1 because they're closing up, regardless," she said. "It's pretty scary, but it wasn't us. To go out to bid and have a board decide where they're going to go when you have your budget set, you don't know what your premiums are going to be until you get under contract again. And you have negotiated agreements that you have to follow and provide health insurance. It's just crazy, this one bill that's just spiraled. I personally don't want to see private insurance rates. I went out to bid when I first started here and health insurance through a private insurance industry is a lot different than going through a risk pool that's governed by your state basically. It's a crazy world right now in Concord."

For other legislation, SAU Superintendent Steve Nilhas gave up an update on the school voucher program, specifically House Bill 115, co-sponsored by state Rep. Rick Ladd, R-Haverhill.

The bill seeks to increase the family income eligibility for the Education Freedom Account program in fiscal year 2026 and remove income eligibility criteria beginning in fiscal year 2027.

"The current status of that is the income threshold will rise next year and then disappear entirely the following year," said Nilhas.

Another bill regards total open enrollment and universal school choice, but it probably won't go anywhere this year, he said.

And another bill seeking a statewide tax cap for school budgets has been removed, at least for now, said Nilhas.

Other bills seek to expand parental rights in education.

"We are going to have to do a lot of work, important work anyway, to make sure we're involving parents," he said. "There's going to be more expectation of parental involvement, parental rights, if the bills that are right now in process are in fact signed into law."

As for the general question of funding during uncertainty at the federal and state levels, Nilhas said the indication coming from the New Hampshire Department of Education is that money will be available, although possibly delayed.

Statements have been made about saving Title I federal funding for children with disabilities who receive special education, he said.

"At the state level, the Legislature is down to the home stretch," said Nilhas. "They are looking at putting money into special ed, specifically catastrophic aid."

School board member Greg Cook asked about any updates regarding Lisbon Regional School, which in March voted to break away from White Mountains SAU 35.

Previously, SAU 84 had expressed interest in having discussions with SAU 35 about a possible collaboration or consolidation.

"Are they with another SAU now?" asked Cook. "Are they shopping? That's our close neighbor."

"Not a lot at this point," said Nilhas. "I have reached out … We'll have to see what their board is doing."

For the coming 2025-2026 school year, Lisbon Regional School will stay with SAU 35 and will officially separate on July 1, 2026.