RSA 194:3-f: Discontinuance of Schools.

No elementary school, as defined in RSA 189:25, or high school, as defined in RSA 194:23, shall be discontinued, or the location thereof be changed, except by a majority vote of voters residing in all municipalities that are served by the school or district. Upon written petition to the school board by 20 or more legal voters of the towns or district in which such elementary or high school is located, the school board or cooperative school board shall hold an open public meeting for the purpose of voting on the question of discontinuance of the elementary or high school. Notice of the meeting shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 7 days before the meeting. Voting shall be by ballot with the use of a checklist, after reasonable opportunity for public comment in an open public meeting, as defined in RSA 189:74. The question on the ballot shall be in substantially the following form:

"Shall the school district authorize the discontinuation of ____________________ school, ceasing the school's operation?" Yes ____________________ No ____________________

I. If a majority of voters present and voting vote in the affirmative for the discontinuation of an elementary or high school, then the elementary or high school shall be closed by the district effective no later than one day prior to the start of the following school year, with the exception of where the operation of the elementary or high school has been preserved pursuant to RSA 194:3-g.

II. If a majority of voters present and voting vote in the negative for the discontinuation of an elementary or high school, then the elementary or high school shall continue to operate.

III. A separate ballot shall be required where more than one elementary school or high school closure is being voted on at the same meeting.