Announcing the formation of the School District Governance Association of New Hampshire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Concord, NH Dec. 12, 2016 – School board and school budget committee members currently have few independent resources to assist them in improving the governance and budgeting of their districts. The School District Governance Association of New Hampshire (SDGA NH) has been created as a resource devoted entirely to to educating and empowering elected school district officials so they can effectively assert their lawful authority and be responsive to their electorate. SDGA NH is a forum of experienced elected officials committed to: Educating elected school district officials as to their proper role and responsibilities Promulgating best practices in good governance and prudent budgeting Formulating model school district policies so boards will now have an independent, alternative resource Proposing and monitoring legislation that enhances local control in education and openness in administration. “Too often school district elected officials abdicate their lawful authority to hired administrators and entrenched interests,” says SDGA President, Donna Green. “SDGA’s mission is to move the balance of power back to elected representatives for the ultimate benefit of our children’s education.” The Association meets on the first Saturday of the month in Concord. Voting membership is open to past or present elected officials with fiduciary responsibility over a school district budget. Non-voting membership is also available for those who share our mission. For more information please visit our website, SDGANH.org. Contact: Donna Green President, 603-513-1647 SDGANH.org http://sdganh.org/

Also: Legislative Affairs Standing Committee: Ralph Boehm, Chair

Ralph Boehm is a retired computer software engineer. He served for sixteen years on the Litchfield Budget Committee in addition to service as a selectman. While on the town budget committee, he worked with his senator to fix New Hampshire’s municipal budget law to make it clear that budget committees had final say on budgets – not school boards. Mr. Boehm was on the Litchfield School Board for six years. He was also Litchfield’s representative in the state house for ten years, from 2005-2016, during which time he sat on the House Education Committee (8 years), serving as vice-chair and ranking Republican. A strong believer in local control and a critic of Common Core, Mr. Boehm has advocated for and passed legislation for parental rights, student rights, and protections for home education. He has been a member of the New England Board of High Education, as well as the Home Education Advisory Committee. His grandchildren have taught him that all children are different, which is why he is an ardent advocate for school choice. In 2016, he received the Charter School Champion Award for his legislative advocacy for charter schools.