Londonderry board advances $94 million operating budget, restores high‑school library assistant

The Londonderry School Board voted unanimously Jan. 15 to advance an amended general fund operating budget for fiscal year 2026–27 and to restore a contested high‑school library assistant position.

Superintendent Dan Black told the board the operating budget, presented as Article 2, is roughly $94–95 million and runs about $300,000 below the default budget. He said major cost drivers include a roughly 12% increase in health benefits, new collective bargaining salary adjustments and rising personnel costs. Black identified targeted investments in AP testing ($25,000), literacy and elementary curriculum ($25,000), career‑connected learning ($25,000) and a district‑wide artificial‑intelligence platform ($14,000). He also said the district lost some federal grants over the summer and is moving portions of those programs to local funding to protect services.

After public comment, including multiple student speakers who urged the board not to cut library staff, the board agreed to restore one library assistant job at an annual cost of $21,967. The superintendent and board members agreed the safest path was to add that amount back into the operating budget and reissue Article 2 as amended. Chair read the revised operating budget total as $94,000,960.73.

Board members then moved and seconded a motion to place the amended Article 2 on the deliberative session agenda; the motion passed unanimously. Earlier in the meeting the board had also voted 5–0 to express its support for the original Article 2 as presented.

Board members framed the restoration as a response to direct testimony from students and residents describing the library as a day‑long learning hub that provides before‑and‑after‑school supervision, makerspace access and individualized support. Superintendent Black said the position is a full‑time hourly role and reiterated the district’s broader budget approach, which seeks to limit impacts on core academic programs amid declining enrollment.

Next steps: the amended Article 2 will appear at the deliberative session; voters will decide whether to approve the final operating budget at the district’s warrant vote.

Sources: presentation to the board by Superintendent Dan Black; public testimony from students and residents; board motions and roll‑call votes at the Jan. 15 public hearing.