MANCHESTER — The Board of School Committee voted to give School Superintendent Thomas Brennan the authority to develop a redistricting plan for city schools, the first since 1998.

The 11-2 vote, with members Roger Beauchamp and Kathy Staub opposed and the ailing Roy Shoults absent, means Brennan has the authority to redraw school district lines to balance class sizes next year.

But members made it clear they don’t want any students changing schoolhouses in the middle of an academic year.

Members of the board also gave Brennan the authority to open talks with the Hooksett School District over sending Hooksett high school students to Manchester High School West, rather than Central.

Redistricting was part of a six-point school reform plan presented by Mayor Ted Gatsas at the start of a special meeting he called Monday night.

Gatsas won approval for each part of the program, which also included reducing credit requirements for graduation and hiring a headhunter to find the next superintendent of schools. Brennan will be leaving his post at the end of this school year.

“Change is difficult, but must be embraced,” Gatsas said as he laid out the plan, which was not on the board’s agenda.

Brennan said he would prefer to make the most extensive use of his new redistricting authority to redraw district lines for the city’s high and middle schools, while “tweaking” the elementary schools.

“There are pockets where we can make adjustments at middle schools and the high schools,” Brennan said. “I would make minimal adjustments to grades K-5.”

The board gave Brennan 30 days to come up with a redistricting plan and gave him the power to implement it for the next school year.

But members reminded Gatsas and Brennan that the board always has the authority to rescind the authority it gave Brennan. The mayor pushed strongly for the idea of redistricting, as well as for handing the responsibility to Brennan.

“We’re trusting him with doing the redistricting,” Gatsas said. “It is not an easy decision, but it must be done.”

Hooksett students

Efforts to convince Hooksett officials to switch high school students from Central to the under-utilized West high school face an uncertain future. Board members noted that some Hooksett leaders have asked for a vote on the Board of School Committee in exchange for agreeing to modify the contract between the two districts.

Creating a new school board seat would require a change in Manchester’s city charter. Hooksett town meeting would also have to vote on any change in the contract.

Brennan said that he and Hooksett Superintendent Charles Littlefield have had some discussions about moving the Hooksett students.

“We’ve been waiting for Dr. Littlefield for three years,” Gatsas told Brennan. “Go call the meeting,”

Graduation requirements

The board also voted to change graduation requirements for city high schools. The district currently requires 22 credits — two more than the minimum set by the state. Beginning in June, students with 20 credits will be allowed to graduate.

At the suggestion of board member Arthur Beaudry, the committee told Brennan to develop a program to recognize students who go well beyond the 20-credit requirement, granting a diploma “with distinction.”

A proposal to ask Brennan to develop a plan for long-distance learning between city high schools won unanimous approval. The program is intended to provide a way for more students to take upper-level courses. A rotation would be set up in which one high school has a “live” class and the others participate via Internet.

School calendar

Brennan was also told to take a look at the way the school day and the school year are scheduled. Ideas floated by committee members included starting the school day later at the city high schools and making calendar changes that will provide more time for summer enrichment programs.

But members were warned of the impact of tinkering with the calendar.

“In terms of issues, this is the one that has the most tentacles in terms of the effect on areas of people’s lives,” said board member Donna Soucy. “It is intriguing, but it has a lot of ramifications that we might not even see, whether it’s the labor contract or sports participation.”

Member John Avard said Manchester should call its own shots on scheduling.

“We need to stand up as a large district,” Avard said. “We’re the biggest in the state; it’s time we step forward and let the others follow suit.”

Brennan responded that he could see the potential for a high school that begins at 9 a.m. and continues until 7 or 9 p.m.

Gastas also proposed, and the committee endorsed, hiring a professional recruiting firm to hire the next superintendent of schools.

“I want a national search firm to come in to find a proven reformer,” Gatsas said. “We need someone who has tackled complex problems.”

The committee also approved the sixth plank of the Gatsas education reform platform, asking Brennan to take advantage of opportunities to enroll Manchester students in summer enrichment opportunities.

Hiring teachers

In other action related to the school crowding issue, the board voted to accept the $200,000 in funding voted by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen last week. Brennan said he will probably hire two elementary teachers to reduce crowding in some kindergarten classrooms, and two for the city’s high schools.

wsmith@unionleader.com