By Ginger Kozlowski
Staff Writer

Candia residents sent the school board back to the drawing board regarding school renovations. At the Candia School District Meeting, Article 2, which would have approved a bond for almost $6 million for that work, received a vote of 218 in favor, 271 against. Since bonds must have a two-thirds approval, 326 yes votes were necessary of the 489 votes cast.

All the other warrant articles passed during the four-hour meeting on Saturday, March 12.

School bond
The Henry W. Moore School was packed with voters, despite a snowstorm, for the annual meeting. Classrooms had to be set up with remote television access for the nearly 500 people who showed up.

Following a PowerPoint presentation by David Fisher outlining the many problems with space and safety at the school, school board Vice Chairman Ingrid Byrd moved to skip discussion of the issue and go right to a vote on the bond. Moderator Ron Thomas overruled Byrd, but Byrd moved to ask the citizens if they would like to go right to a vote, and those in attendance voted 193-94 to skip discussion.

The outcome was so disappointing to the many supporters of the school bond that reconsideration of the vote was brought up toward the end of the meeting.

“I felt cheated earlier by not having an opportunity to discuss this,” said resident Brian Fortin, which brought applause. “By not being allowed to speak toward this issue, it's not in the best interest of the community.”

Cheated or not, others said the vote should stand.

“I just want you all to think back,” said resident Carla Penfield. “We’ve been there, done that. It just makes for a lot of angry citizens. One hundred fifty people have already gone home. Regardless of where you stand, people came down here and they voted. I think you’re very wrong if you decide to do this reconsideration.”

Ultimately, reconsideration was dropped by an overwhelming hand vote.

“We’re disappointed,” said Candia School Board Chairman Karen Smith after the meeting. “The needs of the school don’t go away.”

What frustrated Smith the most, though, is that with no discussion of the plan, she has no idea why it failed.v “Were more options needed?” asked Smith. “Was it money?”

The feedback that discussion of the bond would have provided might have given Smith an idea of what to come back with next year – and Smith will be back asking for at least a bigger gym, she said.

Byrd agrees that a bigger gym is necessary, but was not apologetic for the vote.

“I think people were very clear on what they wanted and what they’d pay for,” said Byrd. “I didn’t speak against anything. I made it possible for the meeting to express their opinion.”

Byrd said most people had already made up their minds about the school bond and it was unlikely discussion would change anyone's mind. Many people had asked Byrd before the meeting to move the question due to their concern for the snowy weather.

Other warrants
Six other warrant articles were passed by voters. They were:

• Article 3 – A collective bargaining agreement between the school board and the Candia Education Association, which gives teachers raises for the next three years. It passed 205-106.

• Article 4 – $20,000 for building maintenance.

• Article 5 – $1,263,780 for high school tuition to Manchester.

• Article 6 – $5,454,112 for the school’s operating budget. The amount was reduced from $6,717,892 following passage of Article 5.

• Article 7 – $25,000 for a special education fund to guard against unexpected costs from students entering the school district who may need expensive educational help.

• Article 8 – $35,000 for a security system at the Candia Moore School.

• Article 9 – Raises for the school board. School board members will now receive a stipend of $800 per year, up from $400, and the chairman will receive $1,000 instead of $500.