Our community seeks greater equity in decision-making through the ballot box

History of the Concord School Board

The Concord School Board holds an unparalleled level of autonomy, more than any other board in New Hampshire. Over time, this power has evolved due to the unique structure of the Concord School District, which operates independently, without being part of a city or town government. Unlike other districts, the board doesn't answer to a mayor, town council, or any other governing body, giving it significant control over areas like budget approval, policy implementation, and school infrastructure decisions, often with minimal community input.
Read more about Concord School District's charter history.

The Rest of New Hampshire School Districts

In contrast, other school boards across New Hampshire face stricter controls, requiring financial and operational decisions to be approved by city councils or town meetings. For instance, in Manchester and Nashua, two of the state's largest school districts, major budget decisions must go through city government oversight, aligning them with broader community objectives and giving taxpayers a voice in the process.

How Autonomy Fails the Community

One of the Concord School Board's most significant decisions was the approval of the $165 million middle school project at Rundlett. This large expenditure, which ignored public input, will impact the financial health of the community for decades while altering the fabric of local communities permanently. The debt resulting from this decision may hinder future investments in education, infrastructure, and community development, illustrating how unchecked autonomy can place a burden on future generations.

Learn more about the amendments to the district's charter here.

Learn more about the history of the Rundlett Middle School building

How Autonomy Supports Educators

Despite these challenges, the board's independence has empowered Concord's teachers by protecting them from external political pressures. This autonomy ensures that education remains focused on students' needs, free from divisive laws such as book bans or limits on educators' ability to use the skills they've been trained to use in the classroom. Maintaining this aspect of the board's autonomy is vital to support educators and foster inclusive learning environments.

Restoring a Community-Centric Approach

Financial decisions that affect taxes or create long-term debt should involve more community input, not just a small group of board members. Implementing a direct vote on major financial issues or requiring approval from local government could create a more transparent and democratic process while still empowering educators.

While I support the Rebuild at Rundlett, read more about it here, our community seeks greater equity in decision-making through the ballot box. This November, two critical amendments, supported by over 1,500 residents, will appear on the ballot. These measures challenge the board's authority and aim to return decision-making power to the community. By supporting candidates like Joe Scroggins for the School Board and voting for these amendments, you can help bring transparency and a community-driven approach back to the Concord School Board.

About Joe

As the East Region Vice President at ServiceMaster Restore, a leading disaster recovery company, Joe brings over 15 years of experience in driving operational excellence, business growth, and customer satisfaction across multiple states. He holds a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership and has successfully grown a business from a local family-owned firm to a nationwide organization with offices in 17 states. 

Known as the "Get It Done" guy throughout his career, Joe has managed everything from disaster mobilizations following hurricanes to building systems from the ground up and leading mergers and acquisitions. His initiative and creative resiliency have been key to solving complex problems.

Joe's Experience Matters

• Long Time Concord South End Resident
• Married with two children in Concord School District
• Advocate for strong public schools
• Child of lifelong educator 
• More than a decade experience leading growing companies
• Strong budgeting skills for multi state company
• Built largest ServiceMaster Franchise in the World 
• Known for asking tough questions

What Does Joe Advocate For?