MANCHESTER, N.H. – For anyone that missed Thursday’s 2025 State of the Manchester School District Address, it can safely be summed up in two words: keep going.
In the fourth such event held by Manchester School District Superintendent Dr. Jenn Chmiel, and hosted by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, an overarching theme was presented that aimed to focus on a variety of recent successes with the caveat that it will take a community effort to maintain the district’s momentum.
According to Chmiel, these accomplishments included increases in the district’s graduation rate and the beginning of a reversal in the district’s downward enrollment trend in addition to other initiatives such as Priority One of the district’s long-term facilities plan and its recent renovation of several middle schools in the city.
The event also included a question-and-answer period where Chmiel took submitted questions presented by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce CEO Heather McGrail. Several questions focused on how the city’s business community can help public schools or how the district is coping with budgetary challenges it has faced at the local, state and federal level in recent months.
Chmiel said that the district is beginning to “feel the pinch” regarding cutbacks on supplies and that 22 positions have been removed through not replacing employees that retired over the summer. However, additional vacancies remain for nurses, special education teachers, bus drivers and crossing guards. She urged business leaders as well as all members of the community to provide their help to the city’s schools whenever they can, building on the theme that the focus now needs to be on maintaining the district’s momentum.
“No team ever wins a game sitting on the sidelines, so join us and get involved so we can continue to keep going,” said Chmiel.
Another question brought up a recent appearance of cockroaches in some schools. Chmiel stated that the response to the news sought to provide a measured approach, first examining if exterminators would be needed followed by collaboration with the city’s Department of Public Works and Health Department to address the problem.
The event was capped off with a video highlighting the district’s new social media campaign related to Chmiel’s hope that those in attendance and the community at large can help continue the momentum she mentioned during the presentation.
“This was a wonderful celebration,” said Manchester Board of School Committee Vice Chair Jim O’Connell. “It’s good to hear the successes we have in the school district. We have many challenges and of course those challenges must be met and we work hard to meet those challenges, but we equally need to celebrate the successes that we have.”