School District Governance Association of New Hampshire
Giving voters a voice by empowering elected school district officials to reclaim control over budgets and curriculum.
Pledge for School District Candidates and Elected Officials
We recommend that voters call on school district candidates and elected officials to embrace this pledge: I, _________________________, PLEDGE TO THE VOTERS OF ____________________________ THAT I WILL DO MY UTMOST AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO 1) Promote education that cultivates in our children a profound respect for our nation's founding principles and the U.S. and New Hampshire Constitutions; 2) Promote an academic program that teaches that all people are created equal and have equal rights and responsibilities under the law; 3) Prevent school faculty and staff from politicizing education, while respecting the free speech of individuals...
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News and Announcements
SDGA Advocating for Local Empowerment
The SDGA is supporting a number of education bills this year, all of which enhance the public's information about the workings of their school districts. We have submitted testimony and in some cases suggested some amendments for consideration by the NH House...
SDGA Denounces NSBA Call to View Dissident Parents as Akin to Terrorists
For Immediate Release October 9, 2021 On September 29, the National School Boards Association sent a letter to President Biden asking him to direct the force of the FBI and Homeland Security against angry parents who are disrupting school board meetings to protest...
SDGA Advocates to Retain Meetings at a Public Location
This testimony was send to the NH House HB108 Study Committee on October 4, 2021 Dear Chairman Wuelper: I am writing to your committee with a sense of urgency and concern. On Sept. 29, the National School Boards Association sent a letter to President Biden asking him...
Latest Events
Webinar: Toolkit for Newly Elected School Board Members
March 26, 2022, 9:00-11:00am. SDGA President, Donna Green, will give an in depth overview of what new school board members need to know to be effective immediately. Registration is free, but required in order to receive a Zoom invitation. [gravityform id="7"...
Webinar: Team Building for School District Accountability
January 10, 2022, 7:00-8:30pm. SDGA member Annie Collyer will tell the inspiring true story of how she organized a grassroots town taxpayers group to take control of the school district budget and ended up getting control of the school board as well. Registration is...
Webinar: Policy – the Secret Battleground
April 25, 2022, 7:00PM - 8:30PMCon. Control of school district policy is the primary means for an elected body to shape and direct service delivery by the superintendent and staff. Yet elected officials are routinely thwarted in trying to shape school services as...
Discover Your Power
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SDGA?
The School District Governance Association of
New Hampshire (SDGA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help members of school boards and budget committees discover their powers so they can effectively assert their lawful authority and be responsible to their electorate.
What does SDGA do?
SDGA Members are committed to:
- Helping school board and budget committee members discover their legal roles and responsibilities
- Publicizing and communicating best practices in governance and budgeting
- Formulating model school district policies so boards will have an independent, alternative resource
- Proposing and monitoring legislation that supports local control in education and openness in administration
Who can join SDGA?
Anyone who supports our mission. The core of our membership includes past or present elected or appointed local officials who have or have had fiduciary responsibility for a New Hampshire school district budget. We also encourage parents, taxpayers and others to join.
To be accepted as a member, you must be sponsored by a current SDGA member, get a two-thirds majority vote of the SDGA Board, and pay dues.
Dues are $20 per year, non-prorated, payable January 1st. Lifetime memberships are $200.
How can SDGA help you?
SDGA offers seminars on a range of topics related to governance: budgets, understanding of curricular and assessment issues, clarifying special education laws and so on.
We have begun to provide model policies that clarify school board and administrative roles.
Our members can offer their vast experience in many areas.
How can YOU get involved?
- Attend a seminar.
- Come to a meeting. The SDGA Board meets on the first Saturday of the month. Meetings are open to members and interested parties: there are always lively discussions.
- Join a committee or a project and help SDGA provide needed resources.
- Invite a friend to join a committee or attend a seminar.
- Donate time or money. SDGA runs on a
shoestring and every little bit helps.