School District Governance Association of New Hampshire
Giving voters a voice by empowering elected school district officials to reclaim control over budgets and curriculum.
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Latest News and Announcements
Best, or Least Worst?
Recently, I sat listening to a speaker talk about how both Massachusetts and New Hampshire are among the best states in terms of student achievement as measured by the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) test.
2019-20 SDGA Seminar Series
SDGA offers seminars throughout the year on topics of interest to school board and budget committee members. They are all held at the Nackey Loeb School of Communications in Manchester. Upcoming seminars and events include: January 11 (9am) Policy and Legislation...
Rochester 912 meeting: Frank Edelblut, NH Commissioner of the Dept of Education
Frank Edelblut, Commissioner for the NH Department of Education spoke at the June meeting for the Rochester 912 group talking about what he has encountered during his time in that spot. I will have to admit, he was adroit in covering a whole range of issues that his...
SDGANH (School District Governance Association of NH) is having a Golf fundraiser.
Education’s Staffing Surge
EdChoice's “Back to the Staffing Surge” podcast measures US public school employment growth versus student growth as well as teacher salary fluctuations and student outcomes over the past 65 years using publicly available data that state departments of education...
3 Bills Dubbed ‘Horrendous’
Three bills coming before the House this week aim to give the public more information about their government by eliminating some exemptions in the right-to-know law. The supporters of these bills say they are furthering the purpose and intent of the right-to-know law,...
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.