A deliberative session for the 2025-2026 school budget will be held on February 6 at Belmont High School beginning at 6:00 pm.

All warrant articles will be considered at this session. There will be opportunities for explanation, discussion, and amendment of
each article. 

The conclusion of each article will result in voting either to add the article to the ballot for voting on Election Day in its original form, or to add the article to the ballot for voting as amended.

When the deliberative session is adjourned, the language of each article will be finalized, but there will be no decision on whether or not it is passed.
On Election Day, March 11, voters will mark “yes” or “no” on each warrant article in the voting booths with the outcome of each article being decided. 
Candidates for the open moderator seat and the open school board seats will also be on the ballot. 

Belmont residents will vote at Belmont High School and Canterbury residents will vote in the Old Town Hall. Individuals who qualify for absentee voting may contact the SAU Office at 603-267-9223 for information.

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Message from Becca Plue,
co-chair of the PTO/CES Advocates
“I am happy to talk further with anyone that has questions or would like more information. Email me, give me a call, or let’s meet for coffee. I may have a kid (or three) in tow, but they’ll show you even more why these decisions and votes matter.”
 
~ Becca Plue, 603-210-3070, rebeccaturturro@gmail.com

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Are you concerned about our
School District Budget?
If YES, plan to attend the…
DELIBERATIVE SESSION on
the PROPOSED 2025-2026 SCHOOL BUDGET
Thursday, Feb. 6, 6pm, Belmont High School
The Deliberative Session will consist of explanation, discussion and debate of each of the warrant articles, and will afford voters who are present the opportunity to propose, debate and adopt amendments to each warrant article (except those articles whose wording is prescribed by State law).
 
KNOW before you GO: Shaker Regional School District booklets for the Deliberative Session are available at the Sam Lake House and the Elkins Library. These booklets are 8.5×11 and have bright ORANGE covers! You can also find them on-line by clicking here.
 
The Deliberative Session booklet includes:
— Explanation of the Proposed
2025-2026 Budget
— Explanation of Warrant Articles
— Estimated Tax Rate Information
— Frequently Asked Questions
— Explanation of The Default Budget
 
Other topics discussed at the January 15 School Budget Hearing at CES and that will most likely be discussed again:
— Benefit of funding for extracurriculars like robotics
— Meet ongoing basic needs while making our district
more competitive
— Keeping or Cutting a CES 5th grade teacher salary
— Pros/Cons of keeping 5th grade students at CES
— Explanation of a ‘flex teacher’
 
You might be interested to know: There is a Petition Warrant Article to create an “Official Budget Committee.” This entails moving full responsibility for budgeting from the governing school board to an outside group. There are many strong opinions about this proposal, and the deliberative session is the place to find out more and let your opinion be heard!

Please note: Registered voters are the legislative body for this session. If you attend the meeting Feb. 6, please make sure you are seated in the right section and have a colored card in your possession.