Promote Transparency in School Spending: Threaten Legal Action Against Non-Disclosing School Districts

Did you know you hold the power to sue your local school board—without spending a dime—and unlock the truth about where your education tax dollars are really going?

The “Students First Act” (HB1265, originally SB219) was passed last June to provide taxpayer awareness of school spending and hiring trends prior to school budget meetings. Before this law, if citizens were curious about basic facts like average student costs or average teacher pay, they’d have to do a lengthy, deep search and compilation of public records, and they wouldn’t have adequate time or information to combat school budget proposals. With the Students First Act, now all they need to do is find one chart.

The law requires that school districts construct public reports entitled “Mandatory Report to Voters on School Expenses.” This report will show average cost per pupil in that district, average teacher salary, total administrator salaries, and the top four highest-paid administrators, all adjusted for inflation. Here’s an example:

Making the numbers clear and available to the public gives taxpayers and parents the information they need and deserve to make good decisions for their students. The public is entitled to know how much they are paying for district staff who don’t teach, and they should be able to see where the money is going in the districts. Not only because it is their right, but because it is also their responsibility as voters to keep schools accountable.

The problem of school spending has gotten out of hand. In the NH Journal, Senator Murphy was quoted explaining the dilemma: “Over the last two decades, our cost per pupil is up 77 percent, adjusting for inflation.” Despite the student cost increase, which has set a record average of $20,000 per student, there has been a decline of 14% in enrollment in New Hampshire. As the price rises, enrollment falls.

The overall cost is likely enlarging with the hiring of non-teaching staff, which has risen 80% in the past 20 years. Meanwhile, the number of teachers is only up by 23%. These spending trends show severe misallocation of funds, and they’re crucial for understanding and combating our schools’ hiring and spending practices.

That’s why the Students First Act must be enforced. There are many other shocking statistics out there waiting to be discovered if taxpayers take action. According to the law, any taxpayer who is aggrieved by their school board’s failure to provide this information can take it to court at no cost because the law accounts for their attorney fees upon prevailing. In other words, the power is in any one citizen’s hands to simply bring the case and show the school board that community members are not only paying attention but are ready to act.

The intent of the law is not to trap schools and frivolously sue them. Rather, it is for community members to be empowered to send a message that they are keeping a close eye on the finances of their district. Public accountability is crucial in a status quo where laws aren’t always upheld thoroughly or by guarantee. A law is only effective if enforced, and sometimes that enforcement is left to the citizenry. We encourage you to pay attention to your school district’s adherence to this law and hold them accountable to it.

The legal representation doesn’t have to be from Cornerstone or a similar nonprofit. Your local attorney is the person to go to—and remember: the legal fees are paid for if the school has failed to comply. Of course, you should reach out to us with any questions about the law and how to petition a case. Transparency is in the hands of our communities. Cornerstone Action and Cornerstone Policy Research are non-partisan, non-profit Christian advocacy organizations dedicated to a New Hampshire where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished.