Superintendent's Newsletter

At their January 14th meeting, the Lyme Budget Committee voted to bring forward to Public Hearing the 4.83% school budget. The School Board had unanimously passed this budget at their January 13th Board Meeting. Please find some key documents that help provide context to budget discussion and process. The Public Hearing on Town and School Proposed Budgets is scheduled for February 4th.

The 2026 New Hampshire legislative session officially convened on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Open enrollment has emerged as a central and highly contested theme for the year.

Open enrollment in this context refers to a system allowing students to enroll in public schools outside their resident district boundaries.

• Senate Bill 101: This high-profile bill passed the Senate on January 8, 2026. It authorizes parents to enroll children in any public school in the state, aiming to expand school choice by removing "ZIP code discrimination".
• House Bill 741: This legislation would make all New Hampshire public schools open enrollment schools effective January 1, 2026. It mandates that districts create policies for student transfers and specifies that the resident district must pay the receiving district a minimum of 80% of the average cost per pupil.
• House Bill 1280: Introduced to establish a commission to study the impacts of public school open enrollment. It proposes suspending current open enrollment laws until the commission submits its final report in September 2027 to ensure equitable access and stable funding.

As these bills continue to make their way through the 2026 legislative session, updates will be provided in this newsletter.

Dear Families and Community Members,

Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping our world, and many parents are wondering what this means for their children's education and future. We would like to invite you to an evening event designed to address these questions and provide practical information about AI in education.

This event is designed for all parents and guardians, regardless of your familiarity with technology. Our goal is to have an open conversation about a topic that affects every student's future.

What We'll Explore:

We will begin with a clear explanation of what generative AI is and how it works. You'll see real-world examples of how AI is currently being used in daily life and various industries. We will then discuss how schools are approaching these tools to support student learning, and most importantly, how we can prepare students to use AI ethically and responsibly as they prepare for college, careers, and civic life.

Understanding AI matters because our students will encounter these technologies throughout their education and professional lives. As educators and parents, we share the responsibility of helping young people navigate these tools thoughtfully and responsibly.

*** No technical background is required. Whether you're curious, concerned, or simply want to learn more, your participation will enrich our conversation. We encourage you to bring your questions and perspectives.

We look forward to seeing you and exploring this important topic together as a community! 8th grade students will be on-site to provide babysitting services.

Email: mbanios@lymeschool.org
Phone: 603-795-4431 x144

I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or thoughts about the district that you may have.