By Ginger Kozlowski
Staff Writer

Hooksett residents will be asked for a second time to approve an operating budget for the town's three schools on Tuesday, May 31.

Poor travel conditions were blamed for a low turnout at the original vote on March 8, resulting in the defeat of a $21.7 million budget. A snowstorm began in the middle of the day, resulting in fewer than 600 votes on the budget when a typical vote is closer to 1,300.

The school board took a look at its request and decided to shave $100,000 dollars from the budget, which would have paid for a teacher for gifted and talented students as well as computer software for management.

What the school board did not want to cut, said school board member John Pieroni, are sports, field trips and other extracurricular activities - which will have to go if the schools are ultimately given a default budget under this second vote.

"It's not to threaten" voters, said Pieroni, "it's maintaining the core education."

Over the last few years, Hooksett rallied in support of its schools, building the Cawley School, which opened in 2003, and renovating Hooksett Memorial School to open in 2004. Despite the desire for better facilities, residents did not approve a larger budget to run the larger school buildings last year. This will be the district's second year running on a default budget if the vote is negative again.

Some have complained that a vote once taken should not be reconsidered, but the warrant article originally presented says if the article is defeated the school board has the option of bringing the budget back before voters a second time.

Hooksett residents may vote on the reduced budget of $21.6 million on Tuesday, May 31, at Cawley School between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.