Revision: Feb. 3, 2026, 2:22 p.m.
Senate Education
February 3, 2026
2026-0510s
12/07
Amendment to SB 580-FN
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT relative to establishing a school cooperative purchasing program.
Amend the bill by replacing section 3 with the following:
3 New Paragraph; School Boards; Duty to Provide Education; Duties Added. Amend RSA 189:1-a by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:
VI. School boards and the board of trustees of chartered public schools shall adopt policies relative to the:
(a) Recruitment, employment, evaluation and dismissal of teachers and other employees;
(b) Purchase of equipment, supplies, or services;
(c) Requirement to provide transportation of students as described in RSA 189:6;
(d) Preparation of an annual budget;
(e) Training of all school members on fiduciary responsibility;
(f) Holding of meetings for the transaction of business at least once in 2 months and requiring the attendance of the superintendent or designee;
(g) Implementation of educational programs in consultation with the superintendent for the purposes of the development of long-term plans and identification of attainable short-term objectives;
(h) Exercising of all powers and performance of all duties vested in and imposed upon the school board or board of trustees;
(i) Prohibition of unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, race, age, creed, color, marital status, national origin, or disability in educational programs or activities consistent with local standards which may be stricter in specific areas than the broader statewide standards;
(j) Prevention of sexual harassment, written in age appropriate language and published and available in written form to all those who must comply, which includes, at a minimum:
(1) A statement that sexual harassment is against the law and against school district policy;
(2) A definition of sexual harassment with examples of actions that might constitute sexual harassment;
(3) The names and roles of all persons involved in implementing the procedures;
(4) A description of the process so all parties know what to expect, including time frames and deadlines for investigation and resolution of complaints;
(5) A prohibition against retaliation toward anyone involved in a complaint;
(6) A description of possible penalties including termination;
(7) A requirement that a written factual report be produced regardless of the outcome of the investigation;
(8) At least one level of appeal of the investigators recommendation; and
(9) A clear statement that someone can bypass the internal process and proceed directly to the New Hampshire commission on human rights, with address and phone number, or office of civil rights, with address and phone number; and
(k) Annual evaluation of the superintendent based on written criteria established by the school board or board of trustees.
Amend the bill by inserting after section 3 the following and renumbering the original sections 4-6 to read as 5-7, respectively:
4 New Paragraph; School Administrative Unit Boards; Duties Added. Amend RSA 194-C:5 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV. The school board of each school administrative unit shall adopt the policies described in RSA 189:1-a, VI.
2026-0510s
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Establishes a school cooperative purchasing program to allow multiple school districts or school administrative units (SAUs) the ability to enter into joint agreements for the procurement of specific goods and services in schools.
II. Authorizes the state board of education to place schools and SAUs into a receivership in limited circumstances.
III. Requires school boards and the board of trustees of chartered public schools to adopt policies relative to their schools.