Jessica Wachsman

To: House Education Policy and Administration Committee From: Jessica Wachsman, Dean of Operations and Founder, The Birches Academy Date: January 22, 2026 Good Afternoon, My name is Jessica Wachsman, and I am the Dean of Operations and a Founder of The Birches Academy in Salem. I am here to testify in strong support of HB 1093, which finally aligns municipal treatment of charter schools with our legal status as public schools under NH RSA 194-B. The Problem: A "Public School" in Name Only While NH RSA 194-B(3) states that charter schools have all the rights and privileges of other public schools, our experience proves that this is not currently enforced consistently at the local level. Because current law is not explicit enough, municipalities often apply private zoning and permitting rules to us. The Financial Toll on Students The lack of clarity in the current law has resulted in a direct expenses on public charter schools: Permit Fees: Over the last 15 years, The Birches Academy has been forced to pay over $15,000 in municipal permit fees—fees that traditional district schools are exempt from. Property Taxes: From 2012 to 2024, we paid over $700,000 in property taxes through our lease before we were able to purchase our building. Redundant Approvals: Until last year, we were required to go before both the Zoning and Planning Boards, despite already being subject to rigorous state-level oversight from the State Fire Marshal and the Department of Education as well as local building code approvals. How HB 1093 Fixes This HB 1093 provides the legislative "teeth" necessary to ensure fair treatment by: Amending RSA 155-A:2: Explicitly defining "public school building" to include facilities owned or occupied by charter schools. Equalizing Construction Aid: Ensuring that charter school facilities are eligible for the same building code exemptions and construction grant schedules as district schools. Ending Local Overreach: By classifying us as public school buildings under the state code, it prevents towns from requiring redundant (and expensive) local zoning approvals that traditional schools do not face. Conclusion Every dollar we spend on property taxes and municipal permit fees is a dollar taken away from our classrooms. HB 1093 ensures that the "rights and privileges" promised to us in RSA 194-B are finally realized. I urge the committee to recommend Ought to Pass on HB 1093.