HOOKSETT – Though they be few, they be mighty.

Only four warrant articles will be discussed at the upcoming deliberative session of the annual Hooksett School District Meeting. But all four are sure to elicit some energetic dialogue. The meeting is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. at Cawley Middle School.

Operating budget and teacher contract

Up for discussion is a proposed operating budget of $23,189,176, The figure, which represents the budget committee’s recommendation, is $459,000 less than what was originally proposed by the school board and is about $305,000 less than the default budget.

The proposed budget is 3.78 percent higher than the current year’s default budget, the district’s second default budget in the last three years. The default budget is the same amount as last year, with increases already agreed to, such as contracted salary increases.

School board members have said the proposed budget could mean cuts to education programs already in place, and have discussed the idea of proposing to raise the budget at the deliberative session. Doing so, however, could upset the budget committee, which has said the budget cuts were needed in order for the influential group to support a teachers contract also being proposed this year.

Hooksett voters struck down a three-year teacher contract proposed last year, meaning teachers haven’t had any changes in wages or benefits this year. The school board and the budget committee have agreed that Hooksett’s teachers, particularly those with little experience, are underpaid compared to similarly sized districts throughout the state.

The new contract proposal would add $1,196,701 to the district’s operating expenses over the next three years but would also add some revenue to the district, as teachers would pay more of the cost of health insurance. School officials have warned that another year without a contract could mean talented young teachers will seek higher pay outside the district, and that Hooksett will have more trouble recruiting good teachers.

Support staff

Also proposed is a two-year contract for Hooksett’s schools support staff. The contract, which currently calls for $108,144 added in wages and benefits over the next two years, is currently backed by both the school board and the budget committee.

SAU withdrawal

The final warrant article on the warrant asks voters if they support extending the work of the SAU 15 withdrawal committee for another year.

The committee was formed last year to study the effects of Hooksett’s potential withdrawal from SAU 15, the central administrative office it shares with the school districts in Candia and Auburn.

The state Board of Education, which needs to review the committee’s work before Hooksett’s withdrawal can be put before voters, twice told the committee it didn’t have enough solid data on what Hooksett’s departure could mean to the smaller districts. The Hooksett School Board was divided over whether to pose this year’s withdrawal committee question to voters, and at least one board member said posing the question gives the appearance that the Hooksett board is in favor of the withdrawal.