Dear Oyster River Community,
 
The ORCSD FY27 operating budget will be on the ballot this coming Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The FY27 public budget hearing PowerPoint presentation was shared during the January 14 school board meeting. The presentation is available on the district’s YouTube channel. A summary is available in the meeting minutes.
 
The operating budget’s general fund (Fund 10) presented by the district during the February 3 Deliberative Session was a 3.45% increase from FY26, a rate comparable to the previous 2-4% average. Oyster River residents in attendance supported an amendment to increase the proposed operating budget’s general fund by $519,000, bringing the total increase to 4.35%.

The major cost drivers for this budget are several expenditures related to:

• Salaries and healthcare benefits.
• Plant operations and facilities maintenance.
• Services and support required under New Hampshire’s compensatory attendance law.
• Programming and the expansion of programs.
• Mandated unfunded curriculum changes.
• Technology, including the replacement of devices and enhanced security. 

On voting day, you will notice warrants on the ballot. A summary of Warrant Articles #3-9 is as follows:

• Warrant #3 is the Mast Way and Moharimet renovation expansion project for $9,827,000.
• Warrant #4 is the Operating Budget of $62,365,067.
• Warrant #5 is for the ORPaSS (paraeducators and support staff) collective bargaining agreement for $543,972.
• Warrant #6 is for the ORESPA (office support personnel and custodians) collective bargaining agreement for $213,498.
• Warrant #7 is for the Facilities Trust Fund for $125,000.
• Warrant #8 is for the Special Education Trust Fund for $125,000.
• Warrant #9 is for open enrollment for $0.

Warrants #10, 11, 12, and 13 are petitioned warrants, which are not recommended by the school board. All warrants were presented and discussed during the February 3 Annual Meeting Session I (Deliberative Session). A summary is available in the meeting minutes.
 
One significant area of focus is the challenge of delivering programs within inadequate and dysfunctional spaces, including a lack of classroom space. For this reason, ORCSD is presenting Warrant #3 requesting the appropriation of funds for the Elementary Project. Additional information about our capital plan is available on the district’s website.

The March 10 polling hours and voting locations are:
 

• Durham
  • 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Oyster River High School, 55 Coe Dr
• Lee
  • 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Public Safety Complex, 20 George Bennett Rd
• Madbury
  • 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • Town Hall, 13 Town Hall Rd

Respectfully,

Dr. Robert Shaps
Superintendent of Schools