CROYDON — Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, Croydon’s one-room school will be for preschool and kindergarten, and students in first grade and up will be tuitioned to other districts.

The reduction in grades receiving instruction in Croydon’s school — from the current K-4 — comes as result of voters’ decisions on three articles at the annual school meeting on Saturday.

Voters rejected a bond to add two rooms to the Croydon Village School, but approved separate warrant articles to renovate the school and offer preschool.

The $1.24 million bond for two additional classrooms — which would have created space for preschool to third grade — needed 60% approval, but failed to gain a simple majority and was defeated, 87-38.

Resident Jim Peschke opposed putting a modern addition onto a historic brick building because it would ruin an “icon of the community,” increase taxes and reduce school choice.

“Seems there is no upside to this, only a downside,” Peschke said.

Supporters of the addition, which would have replaced an aging modular building, said it would have long-term benefits.

“It will be a stable environment for the younger grades,” School Board member Amanda Leslie said.

Caroline Dupere, acknowledged the addition would have cost “a lot of money,” but said it would have strengthened the sense of community by keeping children in town longer.

Another supporter, Hope Damon, a Democratic state representative from Croydon, said the addition would be an “investment in our kids and community.”

The $353,000, 30-year bond for renovations passed 102-26, or 80%, satisfying the 60% majority required for approval. The preschool article was approved, 42-26.

The extensive renovations at the school, constructed in the late 1700s, will begin in the summer of 2026, said Aaron McKeon, who won reelection to the School Board last week.

In addition to upgrades to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the roof and classroom flooring will be replaced, the brick repointed, insulation added to the basement. Insulation in the attic will be abated and replaced.

When a resident suggested doing the renovations a little each year, resident George Chait, a retired contractor, said doing the work piecemeal would add to the total costs.

“I guarantee you it will cost a great deal more over time,” Chait said. “Things get done then undone. It is just a terrible way to do it. You have got to do the whole thing.”

Part of the plan for the renovations includes removing a modular building, which has been in use for 18 years and has exceeded its useful life by more than 10 years, the School Board said.

Voters approved a $2 million school budget with a show of hands.

The school budget represents an increase of 12%, primarily for rising special education costs, and with lower non-tax revenue, the school tax rate is projected to increase 34%, or $2.86, to $11.29 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Town Meeting

Earlier in the day, voters approved a town budget of $780,000, as well as several articles establishing and appropriating money for capital reserve funds.

They also approved a one-year moratorium on major subdivisions, one of several articles on the town warrant which took aim at the fears of large developments in town and which underscored residents’ desires to keep Croydon small.

The major subdivision moratorium will give the town a chance to write its master plan and capital improvement plan before a proposed growth management ordinance is presented to voters, Planning Board Chairman Jim Morgan said.

“This is to slow development, protect our land and not have crazy development,” Morgan said. “We are trying to manage the growth of our town.”

Voters easily approved a ban on mobile home parks in rural residential areas. They also passed an amendment to the accessory dwelling unit ordinance that will now allow ADUs in all zones, attached or unattached, with a maximum size of 1,000 square feet. The goal is to increase housing opportunities in town, allow older adults to stay in a home setting and to provide a source of income for the homeowner. The ADUs are only allowed on owner-occupied dwellings.

Voters defeated a $50,000 appropriation for police coverage 10 hours a week. State police now respond to calls to Croydon after the police department was disbanded by a town vote several years ago. Several opponents of the proposed expenditure argued the town has done well with relying on state police. Supporters maintained that having a greater police presence could help address speeding and drug dealing, which they said are becoming bigger problems.

The measure lost, 62-56, in a ballot vote.

Also failing during Town Meeting at the firehouse were increases to the minimum lot size from 3.5 to five acres, increases to minimum property setbacks, a farm animal ordinance on how livestock is kept and making the zoning board positions elected.

The failed proposal to increase minimum lot size and the required frontage from 200 to 300 feet was seen as too restrictive and possibly harmful to property owners who have land that does not meet those requirements.

“If this hurts anyone here, I am against it,” resident Dana Roberts said.

Similar sentiments were expressed over the article to increase minimum property setbacks in the rural residential district and the village district, with several saying it was too restrictive.

Voters approved a disabled tax exemption and a cell tower ordinance that gives the town authority to regulate the placement of the towers.

An article telling the state not to expand educational freedom accounts that provide vouchers for alternatives to the public schools until a full accounting of the program is conducted was “postponed indefinitely” by a show of hands.

Together, the school and town meetings took roughly eight-hours, including a 30-minute break for lunch, and drew about 130 people, 20%, of the town’s 663 registered voters.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.