Merrimack School Board In Legal Litigation Over Homework Policy

MERRIMACK, NH — The School District is facing litigation over its homework policy. Although district residents voted last month to change the policy so that homework is graded, the School Board has not acted to change the policy at this time. On April 16, a petition was filed in court to mandate the policy change.

School Board Chairwoman Shannon Barnes said that the policy change approved during the April 9 School District vote was only advisory, because the proposal came as a petitioned warrant article. Residents approved that article in a 1,700-1,473 vote. Currently, homework is seen as practice and does not generally count toward a student's final grade.

The residents' vote went against the School Board's unanimous recommendation to not change the policy, and to have it remain not graded. During a meeting on April 15, Barnes stated that the School Board would discuss its decision the homework policy at a later date. The following day, a petition was filed asking the court to mandate the board to change the policy in accordance with the April 9 vote.

According to Barnes, the School Board's legal counsel has filed a motion to dismiss the case. She said that in light of the litigation, the School Board will not be taking up the homework policy until the litigation is resolved.

"It remains the position of this board that it is the role, responsibility and function of this board to set policy for this district and that the warrant article regarding (the homework) policy is advisory in nature," said Barnes during Monday's School Board meeting.