Story Archives of 'Claremont Decisions'

Despite backing from legislative leaders and Governor Lynch, amendment falls about 100 votes short of the needed 3/5th support. The margin has top house lawmakers from both parties saying they see little hope an amendment could ever win broad bipartisan backing.

Governor John Lynch today unveiled a long-promised constitutional amendment on school funding. He says the one hundred-and-three word proposal affirms the state's responsibility for education while giving the legislature broad latitude to target school aid.

To supporters, the amendment is a step towards resolving perennial battles over school aid. But critics worry the plan could actually lead to more education funding lawsuits.

New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers has more.

It’s been almost ten years since the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s landmark decision that many believed would ease the educational disparities that exist between poor and rich towns. But according to one study, not much has changed- there is still a gap between the two. Laura's guests are Scott Johnson, Professor of Law at Concord University School of Law, Visiting Professor of Law at Franklin Pierce Law Center and Project Director with the New Hampshire Citizens Voice Project, who released the ten year study (pdf) on the Claremont towns. Johnson was also one of the attorneys who filed the original Claremont lawsuit. Fred Bramante, former Chairman of the State Board of Education and currently At-Large Chair Member. Steve Marchand, Mayor of Portsmouth. We'll also hear from Barry Liveston, Chairman of the Lisbon School Board.

On Thursday, the state supreme court hears oral arguments in the latest challenge to the state's school funding plan. The plaintiff school districts say that lawmakers never obeyed a court order to define a basic, or adequate, education.

That original court order was part of the Claremont decision, named after the coalition of towns that first sued the state back in 1990. Today the Claremont coalition and its partner groups issued a sort of progress report. It looks at whether the state has closed the gap between schools in property poor and property rich communities.

New Hampshire Public Radio's Jon Greenberg has more.

Governor renews push to limit judicial oversight over education funding. The move comes two days after lawmakers adopted a new proposal. Benson lobbied for plan, but unsure about signing it.