New Pasquaney School District member towns to vote on $6.6M operating budget

HEBRON — Voters elected Jennifer Larochelle to the school board in the only contested race in the new Pasquaney School District. Larochelle, who is serving as the town’s representative to the Newfound Area School Board until June 30, defeated Robert Dakel, 104-23, to begin a three-year term on the Pasquaney School Board on July 1.

Each town elects its own school board member. Bethany Sharp, Groton’s school board member, who also will serve for three years, ran uncontested and received 56 votes. Mara Capsalis, Bridgewater’s school board member, received 115 votes and will serve for two years.

Roger Larochelle of Hebron, who ran alone for school district moderator, received 121 votes in his hometown. Unlike school board members, the moderator is chosen by all three towns in the school district. He received 95 votes in Bridgewater and 52 in Groton.

Both ballot questions easily passed. Article 2, which will add two at-large school board members in 2026, passed, 276-36. Article 3, simplifying each town’s minimum financial contribution to the cost of 15 students, passed, 269-41.

With the elections over, the Pasquaney School District is gearing up for its first annual meeting at the Bridgewater-Hebron Village School at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. Voters will consider an operating budget of $6.6 million, along with other spending.

The warrant includes an article seeking $39,003 to fund the first year of a three-year collective bargaining agreement with teachers; $14,413 as part of a three-year agreement for special programs; $8,773 as part of a three-year agreement for student support services; and a $1 lease of the Bridgewater-Hebron Village School. Voters also will be asked to appropriate $100 to establish an expendable trust fund for technology, and another $100 to create a special education capital reserve fund.

The total proposed spending amounts to $6.66 million, offset by estimated revenues of $432,214, and an expected state education grant of $1.92 million. That leaves $4.31 million to be raised by taxes.

The warrant also includes a request to allow the school district to retain up to 5% of the year-end unassigned general fund balance to serve as a contingency fund.

Other decisions are whether to ratify a reciprocal tuition agreement with the Newfound Area School District for students in middle and high school, and a memorandum of understanding with the Pemi-Baker Regional School District to allow students in grades nine through 12 to attend Plymouth Regional High School.