Melendy Pond resident Peter Rondeau recently submitted his testimony to the state legislature in favor of SB101, which would allow open school enrollment. Courtesy photo

BROOKLINE – Peter Rondeau of Second Street recently submitted his testimony to the New Hampshire House Education Committee in favor of SB101, which would allow children to attend any public school regardless of where they live.

Since moving to Melendy Pond in 2022, enrolling their children in public school has been one of numerous residency restrictions imposed on Rondeau and his wife, Greta. The Rondeaus have been advised by school officials that the town regularly checks students’ addresses to make sure none of them live on Melendy Pond. Yet, the Rondeaus still pay property taxes which help fund the Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District.

“Civil rights in Brookline are for sale. This bill would help remove towns with a discriminatory bias from using their power to enforce this bias,” Rondeau said in his testimony, adding that even homeless children have the right to a public education under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. “Under the bias of town officials, coordinated with the SAU 41 office, we are offered fewer rights, public education in this instance, than the homeless, all while funding the very institutions we’re prohibited from using.”

Rondeau said that over the years, those living on Melendy Pond have become “second class homeowners” in the eyes of the town.

“Some have even been told they would be denied ambulance service,” he said.

The Rondeaus are now in the process of contesting the residency restrictions. In November 2025, they filed a civil lawsuit against Brookline and later filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“I am in support of this bill being passed because it directly benefits my family and those in our community that are currently restricted from attending the town’s public school due to legally questionable motives,” said Rondeau.

On a broader level, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, State Sen. Daniel Innis (R-Bradford), said the legislation would give children the opportunity to escape bullying or play a sport that may not be offered at their current school.

“What we’re trying to do is make sure students learn in an environment that’s best for them,” said Innis.

He also emphasized that he and his colleagues are, in no way, trying to use SB101 to harm the New Hampshire school system.

“Open enrollment is all around us, in fact, we’re a little late to the game,” said Innis. “I see it as an opportunity.”