A Republican-led legislative study committee chaired by Rep. Dan McGuire recommended consolidating New Hampshire 107 Supervisory Administrative Units into 12, each with its own elected administrator, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. The committee said the change would save money and return local control of academics to elected school boards. The study cited the state per-pupil administrative spending as second-highest in the nation.
McGuire framed the goal as both fiscal and democratic, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader.
“We believe we can achieve cost savings and at the same time return local control of academics to our elected school boards where it belongs.”
the New Hampshire Union Leader
A roster of legislative leaders signed onto the 2026 concept, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
A bevy of legislative leaders have signed onto McGuire’s 2026 concept including Speaker Sherman Packard, R-Londonderry, Majority Leader Jason Osborne, R-Auburn
the New Hampshire Union Leader
McGuire pointed to national comparisons as the basis for action, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
“It is clear from the national figures that we have allowed administrative expenses in New Hampshire to balloon way beyond what is reasonable and necessary,” McGuire said.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
The study committee laid out its core recommendation, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
A six-person legislative study committee urges the Legislature to consolidate the 107 School Administrative Units that manage all school districts into 12 to save money and make them more accountable to voters.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
McGuire pointed to the scale of the problem, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
“It is clear from the national figures that we have allowed administrative expenses in New Hampshire to balloon way beyond what is reasonable and necessary,” McGuire said.
the New Hampshire Union Leader
The committee said New Hampshire has allowed administrative costs to climb to among the highest in the country on a per-pupil basis, and it argued that fewer, larger units led by elected administrators would be more accountable. A roster of legislative leaders signed onto the 2026 concept to carry the recommendation forward, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
The committee said the savings would come without sacrificing the academic decisions that elected school boards make for their communities. McGuire, who has long pressed for the change, said the national figures show administrative spending has grown well beyond what is reasonable, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.
Backers said the consolidation would streamline administration while leaving curriculum decisions with locally elected boards, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports. Leaders said the proposal would carry the study recommendation into the 2026 session with broad support behind it.
Read the full story at the New Hampshire Union Leader.
