On October 2, SDGA President Eric Pauer, former Hollis Brookline Co-Op School Board member, provided the 7-member legislative “Committee to Study Reducing Number of SAUs” at Granite Place in Concord, NH, with detailed data and a conceptual plan to improve school district governance across NH. In short, the idea is to have school boards work directly with their school principals on educational issues of curriculum, instruction, policy, and professional development, eliminating 108 local school administrative units (SAUs), and consolidating business services currently done by local SAUs to be performed by 12 county or 16 area SAUs, supporting school boards and principals. Several speakers and legislators at this session indicated initial support for this promising approach. A move to county or area SAUs would be a likely win for school boards, principals, taxpayers, and most importantly students. This important study committee, enacted by 2025 SB57 after being signed by Governor Kelly Ayotte, will publish its findings by November 1, 2025.

Click here to see the presentation slides.