MacKenzie Nicholson
Thoughtful leadership for our school
2026
Candidate for
Nottingham
School Board
About Me
Experienced Advocate for
Kids and Families
Hi! I’m MacKenzie Nicholson, a New Hampshire native, Nottingham mom, and public policy professional with 15 years of experience working on issues that affect kids, families, and local communities. I’m running for school board because I believe strong, stable public schools take careful planning, steady leadership, and real listening. I’ll bring a practical, community-first approach focused on what’s best for Nottingham students and responsible for taxpayers.
Values & Vision
The cutie pictured below (me) was set up for success by strong New Hampshire public schools. That’s the mindset I bring to school board service today. I come prepared to do the work, listen, and learn, guided by the belief that good decisions come from understanding different perspectives.
Strong, Stable Schools
I want Nottingham’s school to be a place where kids feel supported, challenged, and prepared for what comes next. Strong schools take steady leadership, thoughtful planning, and educators who feel supported in their work. That’s why I support Warrant Article 3, which approves the Nottingham Teacher’s Association contract and helps retain strong teachers in our classrooms.
Responsible Planning for the Long Term
I believe in careful, long-term planning that respects taxpayers while making sure our school has what it needs to succeed. Good planning helps avoid disruption and short-term fixes that cost more later. For example, I support Warrant Article 2, the school’s operating budget, because it reflects a responsible approach to maintaining day-to-day operations. I do not support cutting spending for short term gains that will lead to long term losses. This type of approach harms our kids, teachers, and community.
I also support finding creative solutions that plan for our future needs without raising taxes, which is why I support Warrant Articles 6, 7, 8, and 9 which all increase different reserve funds to allow the district to plan responsibly for growth without raising taxes.
As a school board member, I will support school budgets that focus on sustainable, long-term planning that meets the needs of our kids and our community.
Listening First
I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I believe the best decisions come from listening to parents, educators, and community members, asking good questions, and working through issues respectfully.
As a member of the school board, I will work to strengthen the partnership between parents and teachers, and ensure everyone has a voice in the decision-making process.
Community and Opportunity
School is about more than academics. I want students to feel like they belong, explore their interests, and have adults in their corner.
I also believe tax caps on school spending do not provide opportunity or success for our kids. School costs often rise faster than standard inflation. Transportation, building maintenance, staff contracts, and special education mandates do not neatly track an index. State aid has also decreased over time, which puts additional strain on the school budget. When funding cannot keep up with real costs, cuts happen, often to the programs, staff, and services students rely on.
I trust the School Board, Budget Committee, and school administration to work through these challenges thoughtfully and make responsible decisions, as they have in the past. As a parent and a taxpayer, I want affordability and predictability. I also know we need flexibility and forward-looking planning that reflects real conditions on the ground. I believe local voters should be able to make decisions based on clear information and actual needs, not be locked into a rigid formula. For those reasons, I do not support Warrant Article 10.
