Tomorrow is Election Day, New Boston!

Our district is fortunate to have exceptional teachers, strong school administration, and an accomplished SAU Business Administrator and Superintendent keeping daily operations on track. But to sustain and drive improvement, we need executive leadership on the school board—leadership that brings strategic oversight, financial stewardship, and accountability to every decision.

Here’s why experience matters:

• Strategic Decision-Making & Governance – I bring a results-driven approach to ensure long-term success, fiscal responsibility, and policy effectiveness.

• Accountability & Performance Management – I have a proven track record of measuring success through key performance indicators and ensuring transparency.

• Budgeting & Financial Oversight – With experience in managing multimillion-dollar budgets, I bring the financial expertise needed to balance educational excellence with keeping New Boston affordable, ensuring that every dollar is spent wisely to support our students and community. This includes navigating complex vendor selection to support long-term infrastructure and financial sustainability.

• Student Outcomes – While our dedicated teachers play a vital role in shaping students’ learning experiences, I bring executive leadership to the school board with the strategic vision, policy oversight, and support necessary to create opportunities for all students to thrive, preparing them for lifelong success.

• Change Management & Problem-Solving – Schools face constant challenges, from policy shifts to funding shortages. My experience ensures smart, sustainable solutions by identifying key issues and implementing strategies that lead to continuous improvement and long-term success for the school and our students.

Tomorrow, vote for proven leadership that understands governance, financial responsibility, long-term strategy, and has a vision for our future. Let’s keep New Boston’s school district strong and New Boston affordable for generations to come!

Strong Schools, Smart Investments, and a Thriving New Boston

New Boston’s future depends on a balanced approach—one that ensures our students receive a high-quality education while maintaining affordability for taxpayers.

• Investing in Education – Our students deserve the support and opportunities to thrive, preparing them for lifelong success.

• Fiscal Responsibility & Affordability – Taxpayers deserve transparency, confidence, and a commitment to ensuring education funding is managed efficiently while keeping New Boston affordable.

• Community Transparency & Accountability – Accessible information, objective presentations, and clear decision-making ensure residents can make informed choices about the future of our schools and town.

I support Warrant Article 3, the Teacher CBA—a critical step in retaining and attracting top educators who will shape the next generation.

Vote for Howard Bailynson—committed to keeping New Boston affordable while making smart, strategic investments in education.

Strong Schools, Responsible Spending – A Better Future for New Boston

I’m running for the New Boston Central School Board to bring a results-driven, common-sense approach that ensures our students thrive, we make smart investments for a stronger school, and our community stays informed. My experience in executive leadership and strategic planning complements the existing board, and I believe that diversity of skills and perspectives makes the School Board stronger.

• Education Excellence – Every student deserves a strong foundation for success. I’ll support policies that promote academic achievement, with an emphasis on improving State Assessment results and enhancing literacy to help prepare our students for lifelong success.

• Fiscal Responsibility – We must keep New Boston affordable while ensuring our school has the resources it needs.

• Transparency – I will champion Transparent Data, Objective Presentations, and Comprehensive Access to Information, ensuring our community has all the facts for informed decision-making.

I recommend passing Warrant Article 3, the Teacher CBA, it is crucial to retaining and attracting high-quality educators.

Let’s build a stronger future together! I’d be honored to have your support.

Keeping New Boston Affordable: Responsible Spending & Strategic Growth

New Boston is a great place to live, but rising school costs are making it harder for taxpayers to afford. Despite declining student enrollment, the school budget continues to grow at an unsustainable pace.
Key Observations:

• Student Enrollment (2020-2026 Projected) – Declining by 26%, even as the town’s population continues to grow.

• Budget Growth (2022-2026 Projected) – Increasing by an average of approximately $1 million per year, adding significant pressure on taxpayers.

• Per-Student Spending (2022-2026 Estimated) – Rising from $15,615 to $22,983, a 47% increase in just four years.

• Balance investment in student success with affordability for taxpayers to ensure long-term financial stability.

1. Responsible Budget Growth – Setting a structured cost-per-student plan that ensures sustainable spending while minimizing taxpayer impact.
2. Mandates & Funding Accountability – Prioritizing investments that directly improve student learning and reject unfunded, non-mandated initiatives that drive up costs.
3. Strategic Financial Planning – Implementing a five-year budget forecast to anticipate financial challenges and community tax impacts.

New Boston Assessment Performance: Setting the Right Bar for Our Students

New Boston students continue to make progress thanks to the dedication of our teachers, staff, and families. State assessment scores have shown recovery since COVID disruptions, though they still remain below historical levels. Comparing 2016 to 2024:

• ELA declined 3 points to 76

• Math dropped 15 points to 59

• Science fell 8 points to 68

New Boston’s performance is often compared to state assessment benchmarks, but we must go beyond state results. Our students are exceptional, and we need to set higher district expectations to ensure they reach their full potential.

A clear vision and measurable goals are essential to driving student success, ensuring accountability, and guiding our district toward continuous improvement. If elected, I would advocate for the following priorities to elevate academic achievement and ensure every student reaches their full potential.

Vision: Academic Excellence & Student Outcomes

• We must prepare students for a rapidly evolving world by setting ambitious yet achievable goals that elevate learning outcomes and promote educational innovation.

Goals: Academic Excellence & Student Outcomes

1. State Assessment Excellence – Establish a 2030 goal for NBCS to achieve 85% proficiency in ELA, Math, and Science, positioning our students for long-term academic success.

2. Strengthening Early Math Foundations – Reverse the 15-point decline in Math State Assessment scores since 2016 by commissioning a root-cause analysis and implementing a targeted action plan to improve elementary math instruction.

3. Enhancing Literacy for Lifelong Success – Strive for every student reading at grade level by third grade through evidence-based literacy interventions, setting new local benchmarks for excellence.

Smart Spending & Strong Schools: The Case for Improved Fiscal Responsibility

Stronger Together—Thank You for a Great Meet the Candidates Event!

NBCS Costs Soar 40.2% Between 2020 and 2024—Where’s the Transparency on Future Spending?

A Vision for the Future

A school board should implement strategies that drive both student success and financial sustainability, ensuring a strong educational foundation without compromising long-term affordability. By focusing on excellence in education and responsible fiscal management, every decision is made with the future in mind—creating a school that remains a pillar of opportunity, achievement, and community well-being for generations to come.

I look forward to sharing more details on my vision as we approach the election—stay tuned for updates!

Transparency Matters!

I’m committed to Excellence in Education, Fiscal Responsibility, and Transparency—and today, I’m excited to share more about my vision for a more open school board.

Improved Transparency in Board Meetings & Online

• Access to Meeting Documents – If elected, I will introduce a motion requiring all board meeting materials to be available in hard copy at meetings for attendees and online for remote viewers (except those legally protected under RSA 91-A:3, II(c) or other legal reasons). Our community deserves full access to documents being reviewed during discussions.

• Online Information Update – Right now, the NBCS website is missing budget details for some years, and existing information is disorganized—2026 budget data appears in both the 2026 and 2027 folders, the files are different, and while listed on the homepage the information presented at the Deliberative Session resides in a different location. At my first board meeting, I will ask updates be made with a clear deadline for completion within 30 days—so our community has easy access to complete, accurate and properly organized information.

#Transparency #NewBoston #SchoolBoard

Our Schools. Our Community. Our Future.

Strong leadership, fresh ideas, and a commitment to every student’s success are essential for our schools. I’m gearing up to share my vision for our community, and I can’t wait to have you join me on this journey.

Stay tuned—exciting updates are coming in the weeks ahead!

#ComingSoon #EducationalExcellence #Transparency #FiscalResponsibility

New Boston’s Students Excel, But Is Our Cost Per Student Sustainable?

I want to extend my gratitude to the New Boston School Board, District Administration, and SAU Administration for their efforts in preparing and presenting at the New Boston School Board Deliberative Session.

However, while the 2024 Cost Per Student was presented for NBCS, MVMS and GHS were shown with 2025 budget figures and 2026 projections. I had hoped for the same level of rigor for NBCS, ensuring more complete and transparent data for our community.

One thing is clear—our students continue to excel!
The 2024 State Assessment Results show our students performing well above the state average:

• ELA: 76% (State Avg: 53%)

• Math: 59% (State Avg: 41%)

• Science: 68% (State Avg: 36%)

This isn’t new—our students have a strong track record:

2018 State Assessment Results:

• ELA: 71%

• Math: 67%

• Science: 68%

While our academic performance remains strong, NBCS enrollment declined by 13.9% between 2018 and 2024, with an additional 11.7% decline projected between 2024 and 2026. At the same time, the cost per student increased by 48.5%, with an additional 28% increase estimated between 2024 and 2026.

New Boston and NBCS need forward-thinking leadership to ensure long-term educational excellence and financial sustainability for our students and community. We need leadership that:

• Brings a fresh perspective

• Challenges assumptions

• Asks the hard questions

• Digs deeper into data

• Prioritizes both Educational Excellence & Fiscal Responsibility

I support passing the CBA Warrant Article for our teachers.

If elected, I will be that leader. I am committed to:

• Educational Excellence

• Fiscal Responsibility

• Transparency

Together, let’s build a stronger future for New Boston’s students and community. I ask for your support and your vote!

#NewBostonNH #EducationalExcellence #Transparency #FiscalResponsibility #VoteHowardBailynson

Clarity in School Spending: Why Accurate Data Matters for New Boston’s Future

Informed Decisions Start with Clear Data.

• On Dec. 12, during the New Boston School District FY26 Budget Presentation, the Finance Committee was presented with a 2023 cost per student at NBCS: $16,070.32. We were also shown cost-per-student data for MVMS and GHS; budgeted cost for 2025 and projected cost for 2026 (below).
• On Jan. 7, the State of NH posted the 2024 average cost per student for NBCS: $17,937.66.
• On Jan. 30, a post indicated that New Boston spends $17,793 per student, though it did not specify the timeframe.

As a leader, I am committed to fostering a culture of transparency. When data is not presented clearly or is outdated, it can mislead rather than inform. Instead, we must rely on current figures and realistic projections.

A More Complete View: Estimated Cost Per Student for New Boston Central School (Following NH State Methodology):

• 2025: $20,657 (based on 2025 budget and year 1 of the New Boston Support Staff CBA)
• 2026: $22,983 (based on 2026 proposed budget and year 1 of of the Teacher CBA)
• 2027: $24,865 (based on flat 2026 YOY budget, years 1 & 2 of the Teacher CBA and year 3 of the New Boston Support Staff CBA)

• 2025: MVMS - $16,919 | GHS - $17,587
• 2026: MVMS - $16,667 | GHS - $17,485

• 2025: $18,953
• 2026: $19,875

Residents and the School Board deserve clarity. Accurate, real-time data is critical to making the best decisions for our students and community. I support passing the CBA Warrant Article for our teachers, but we must also take a proactive approach in planning for the 2027 budget. If elected, I will work to ensure transparency to enable informed decisions that balance educational excellence and fiscal responsibility.

#Transparency #StrongSchools #SmartInvestments #FiscalResponsibility #NewBoston 

Breaking Down the 2026 School Budget: What the Numbers Really Mean for New Boston

The proposed 2026 school budget has been positioned as being lower than the 2025 budget. Let’s take a closer look at the details:

• The Proposed FY 2026 Budget is $159,475 lower than the 2025 budget.

• When looked at by school, the MVMS budget is down $30,707 year-over-year, GHS is down $258,065, and NBCS is up $129,297.

The proposed 2026 school budget does not include the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Warrant Article. If the CBA passes, it will add $320,909 in expenses, with $12,302 offset by the Special Revenue Fund for the first year (instead of taxation). This would result in a $437,904 year-over-year increase in NBCS expenses.

Looking ahead, if approved, the agreement's second and third years will add $204,101 in 2027 and $213,165 in 2028. In 2027, the base budget would increase by $525,010 (reflecting years 1 & 2 of the CBA), representing a 5.1% year-over-year increase—before factoring in any additional budget adjustments.

Goffstown lowered the 2026 cost to New Boston for our MVMS and GHS students by $288,772 year-over-year. The real question is—can Goffstown keep these lower costs in the future?

I recommend passing the CBA Warrant Article for our teachers, but we must also carefully investigate what is required for the 2027 budget to achieve fiscal responsibility and ensure a sustainable future for our schools and community.

#SchoolBudget #SmartInvestments #FiscalResponsibility #Transparency #NewBoston