School officials urge N.H. lawmakers to get experts' advice

CONCORD, N.H. --New Hampshire school officials today urged lawmakers charged with determining the cost of the state's share of public education not to go it alone.

Spokesmen representing school administrators, school boards and teachers said they are ready to help.

Rick Trombly, spokesman for the National Education Association's New Hampshire chapter, also urged lawmakers to involve national experts as they apply a cost to a definition of a constitutionally adequate education they enacted in June. Trombly said trying to decide what to include and what to leave out is like trying to pick up mercury, so experts can offer valuable guidance.

Dean Michener, speaking for the state's school boards, cautioned lawmakers not to forget the middle income towns in crafting a school funding plan because they serve most of the state's schoolchildren.

In the past, lawmakers have focused on the concerns of the poorest and wealthiest towns.

The House-Senate committee must issue a report by February first on how to determine the cost, how to help schools without kindergarten provide it and how to provide more help to needier schools.