Correcting Inaccuracies

My name is Aaron, vice-chair of the Croydon School Board, writing in response to the recent article regarding the Croydon School budget decision currently making waves. There were several inaccuracies in this article, which some parents have been spreading both locally and in various news outlets.

The school board is proposing major changes to our educational model in order to meet a highly reduced budget forced through by local taxpayers, but lower cost does not necessarily mean lower quality. In fact, it might prove to be better.

In K-4, we would not be laying off all teachers. We currently have 2 teachers and 2 assistants. Under the new model, we would retain 1 teacher and bring in 3 instructors hired by Prenda, whom the NH Department of Education currently has a contract with. They use a mastery approach that is self-paced but also incorporates group activities and project-based learning that better emulates the real-world.

In grades 5-12, choice is not being eliminated, but expanded. Instead of choosing between a handful of failing public schools, parents would be able to choose between 40+ different types of curricula to find the one that best matches their child's learning style. Instruction would be provided by certified teachers at fully accredited schools. Although these schools would be online, the actual learning would happen in a physical location along with other children and facilitated by an in-person coach. The in-person experience (used in addition to the online curriculum) would be provided by Kai Learning, who recently signed a contract with the NH Department of Education.

Local private schools such as Newport Montessori and Mount Royal would still be fully covered by the $9,000 tuition cap.

Regarding Newport High School, it's worth mentioning they are one of the worst rated schools in the entire state (see NH Dept of Education data and US News and World Report). We reached out to the Newport Superintendent about negotiating better rates, to which he expressed complete unwillingness to negotiate. Other local schools are not much better on performance, with the exception of Sunapee, which is very selective with which of our students they accept.

Regarding welding and other trade programs, this would still be available to children and could be provided under the $9,000 tuition cap. This is offered by the Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center, not Newport High.

Finally, since online tools are being employed in this model, it's worth noting that screen time would be limited to 30 minutes for K-2, 90 minutes for grades 3-4, and 2-3 hours for grades 5-12. This is not "COVID-style" remote learning with 6+ hours of screen time every day.

The school board has not "magically found a way" to do what we've been doing, but for half the price, as suggested by some of our local parents. We have spent countless hours researching options, meeting with various educational providers, and poring through financial models. We have not found a way to do what we've been doing because what we've been doing provides a poor education to our children at a price that is unacceptable to taxpayers.

The model we have come up with is well-researched, already being successfully used elsewhere, and would allow all our children to have 100% custom-tailored educational experiences, while still maintaining socialization and enrichment. Paying $23,000 per child for a poor education is unacceptable, and more money is not always the solution. It's time we make use of current innovations in education and deliver what our children truly deserve.