School Board Approves Parental Bill and Repeals Outdated Policies

The Henniker School District's School Board meeting on September 4, 2025, focused on the adoption and amendment of several school policies, including a significant discussion on the recently passed Parental Bill of Rights.

During the meeting, board members reviewed various policy documents, with an emphasis on ensuring clarity and compliance with state laws. A key point of discussion was whether certain language in the policy documents should be emphasized, such as bolding specific terms. Board members expressed a willingness to consider changes but noted that the draft policy had been provided by the New Hampshire School Board Association.

The board unanimously voted to adopt the first policy, referred to as letters JICJ, before moving on to other policies. A notable highlight was the discussion surrounding the Parental Bill of Rights, which board members acknowledged as a law that required them to adopt its language without significant alterations. One member raised concerns about the extent of decision-making power the board had regarding this law, to which it was clarified that they were essentially "rubber stamping" the legislation.

Following this, the board proceeded to adopt additional policies listed in subparagraphs C, D, and E, with no objections raised. They also voted to repeal outdated policies BGA, BGB, and BGC, as they were replaced by the newly adopted policies.

The meeting concluded with a clear commitment from the board to ensure that all policies align with current laws and best practices, reflecting their ongoing efforts to maintain effective governance within the school district.