Claremont’s Left-Leaning School Board Faces Crisis of Legitimacy Amid Financial Meltdown

CLAREMONT– As Claremont’s schools teeter on the brink of insolvency, questions are mounting over whether the city’s school board reflects the community it serves. The board, dominated by Democratic-leaning members, is steering the district through a multimillion-dollar budget crisis even as data show Claremont voters lean more Republican.

The mismatch has fueled criticism that the seven-member board, elected by just 9% of registered voters, lacks a real mandate.

A City That Votes Right, a Board That Leans Left

In 2024, Claremont voters narrowly backed Donald Trump over Kamala Harris, 51.6% to 48.4%. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte carried the city by nearly 10 points, defeating Democrat Joyce Craig 54.9% to 45.1%.

Despite those results, the school board tilts left. Data comparing all Claremont voters to board members shows a stark divide: while voters are evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, 57% of the board is strongly Democratic. Republicans hold just two seats — one strong and one soft — while the rest are Democratic or left-leaning.

This imbalance is the result of low-turnout elections where a handful of voters decide key races. In March 2024, only 562 of 6,126 registered voters — roughly 9% — cast ballots for three open school board seats. Two Democrats ran unopposed, and a third seat went to a write-in candidate.

Who’s on the Board

The board’s chair, Heather Whitney, is the lone Republican. An anesthesiology professional at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Whitney has warned that the budget crisis is “like the COVID-19 pandemic, except without outside aid.” She has called for sober financial discipline, though her cautious optimism has sometimes been met with silence from audiences.

Vice chair Michael Petrin, an occupational therapist, is undeclared. He positions himself as a moderate but has generally gone along with the board majority. Petrin now heads a fundraising drive to restore cut sports programs, acknowledging, “We are out of options.”

The Democratic bloc is led by Frank Sprague, a retired school administrator and longtime Democrat. He has long argued for more state funding of schools and has framed Claremont as a victim of inequitable property-tax systems. This week, Sprague announced his resignation amid the turmoil.

Arlene Hawkins, another retired principal, is undeclared but reliably votes with Democrats. She supported deep cuts this summer while acknowledging the pain, saying, “This is not easy for any of us.”

Candace Crawford, a bank executive and registered Democrat, has generally backed the board’s majority. Though absent during the latest cuts, she has emphasized the need to “invest in our schools.”

Loren Howard, 25, is the board’s youngest member and a Stevens High School graduate. A registered Democrat endorsed by the progressive group 603 Forward, he campaigned on student equity and protecting special education. Howard was one of two votes against canceling extracurriculars, saying the board was going too far.

William Madden, an engineer and attorney, is an undeclared voter considered a soft Republican. Madden, who ran on a platform of academic accountability, has resisted raising taxes to fix the budget. “I won’t support going back to the taxpayers for more money,” he said earlier this year.

The Financial Collapse

The crisis emerged in spring 2025 when audits revealed the district had returned surpluses to taxpayers that were needed to cover deficits. Poor bookkeeping and turnover in administrators left the district as much as $5 million in the red.

By late summer, administrators warned schools might not open. At one meeting, before a packed auditorium, board leaders admitted they had no plan.

The board has since taken drastic action:

• Fired all 19 newly hired teachers and paraprofessionals scheduled to start this fall.

• Eliminated 20 additional positions, including veteran staff.

• Cut all sports, music, and extracurricular activities unless outside fundraising covers costs.

Interim comptroller Matt Angell warned even those moves might not be enough, with unpaid bills still totaling about $5 million. The district is now seeking an emergency bank loan to stay afloat until spring.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte ordered independent audits and said bluntly, “This is unacceptable. Local mismanagement has happened.” The state Department of Education told Claremont “the cavalry is not coming,” insisting the city fix the problem locally.