Cynthia Rodenhauser Stewart

To the Members of the New Hampshire House Education Funding Committee, As a newly elected member of the Manchester Board of School Committee and a proud member of this community, I urge you to SUPPORT HB1831. Manchester is New Hampshire’s largest school district and serves many of the state’s poorest, most disadvantaged, and most vulnerable children. HB1831 removes the cap on Manchester’s targeted education aid—a cap that applies to Manchester alone. Under current law, this cap will strip at least $10 million in anticipated and fully warranted funding from our district beginning next year. Such a loss would be devastating. In addition to harming our children and handicapping our ability to serve them, it would also undermine the overall health and stability of Manchester, a city whose success is inseparable from the success of its schools. I am deeply concerned that Manchester is uniquely and disproportionately affected by this targeted cap. Your SUPPORT of HB1831 is an opportunity to correct this inequitable policy. Thank you for your consideration. Your commitment to New Hampshire’s children is vital.