By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD — One of the legislature’s biggest advocates for school choice and the Education Freedom Account program has resigned.
Rep. Glenn Cordelli, R-Tuftonboro, resigned his Carroll District 7 seat after selling his home and moving out of his district.
Cordelli’s name is no longer on the House roster, and he is no longer listed as the chair of the House Education Policy and Administration Committee.
As chair of that committee last week, he introduced an amendment that would have a state Department of Education appointed administrator take over administration of local school districts if it is in financial difficulties such as the Claremont School District is experiencing or for other reasons.
At the public hearing on his proposal, Cordell said his plan would require timely audits, communication, accountability and transparency, all of which did not occur over the past few years with the Claremont School District which learned in August it had a $5 million deficit.
His plan would deny school districts state funds if they fail to do audits and other financial reports, would allow the state Department of Education to place districts on probation for up to six months to correct deficiencies, and if they fail to do so, the department could hire an administrator to oversee the district with sweeping authority to override school board decisions, make changes to day-to-day operations, cancel or renegotiate contracts and lay off or fire personnel.
But others called the proposal one more attempt by the Republicans and Cordelli to dismantle the state’s education funding system and a statewide punishment for what happened in one local school district.
Others questioned if the state has the authority to override the wishes of voters in a state sub-vision like a school district and called it a massive overreach by the state.
Also last Wednesday, Cordelli proposed an amendment nearly identical to a bill that would have allowed parents and others to challenge books in public school libraries and materials used in public schools.
The similar bill he sponsored last session to ban books was vetoed by Gov. Kelly Ayotte.
“I do not believe the State of New Hampshire needs to, nor should it, engage in the role of addressing questions of literary value and appropriateness, particularly where the system created by House Bill 324 calls for monetary penalties based on subjective standards,” Ayotte said in her veto message.
Both proposals were approved by the committee on party line votes and will be acted on by the Legislature in January.
Cordelli’s Tuftonboro home named Winner’s Circle on Farm Road has been on the market for some time with an asking price of $1.55 million.
Information from the Carroll County Register of Deeds office shows a warranty deed for the property with Cordelli and his wife selling it to a Connecticut resident for approximately $1.6 million.
The warranty Deed is dated Nov. 7, two days after he chaired the House Education Policy and Administration Committee meeting.
The list of member status on the House Clerk’s website shows the Carroll District 7 seat vacant as of today.
Cordelli did not respond to email seeking his comments and his listed phone number has been disconnected.
Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com.