HOOKSETT — Though the school board is no longer using a controversial policy that required proof of educational hardship for a student to opt not to attend high school in Manchester, measures are being taken to assess how the district will handle high school assignments in the future.

A Manchester high schools assessment committee is one topic that is being discussed by the board. Though there has not been a committee formed yet, board member David Pearl said he is working on a draft charge for what the committee would be responsible for.

A charge has not yet been approved, but Pearl said generally his thoughts would be that the committee would be responsible for providing information to the board about Central High School and Manchester High School West, the two schools attended by Hooksett students.

“It would be a resource for the school board to go to when high school issues are raised,” Pearl said.

School board Chairman Dana Argo said once a charge is developed, the board will vote on whether to implement the charge and the committee.

“It will be determined exactly what we want the committee to do, but that hasn't been determined by the board yet,” Argo said. “It's in the development stages.”

The board also authorized Superintendent Charles “Phil” Littlefield to open informal discussions with surrounding high schools. Specific schools included in the motion, which was unanimously approved, were Pinkerton Academy, Pembroke Academy and Bow High School.

Argo said these discussions are not determined efforts to find another high school for Hooksett high school students to attend. Rather, the talks are intended to be a preliminary gauging of interest from other districts to accept Hooksett students when an opt-out period in the contract with Manchester is available.

“We will be coming up on another time when we can opt out if we wish,” Argo said. “We're just reviewing options and seeing what's out there.”

In the meantime, Argo said the school board is dedicated to maintaining its contract with Manchester and following its guidelines. When there is an opportunity to reassess where Hooksett high school students will attend school, Argo said the board just wants to know what options it has available.

“We have a contract,” he said. “When there is an opt-out period on the horizon, we're looking at our options. We have a contract and we want to be able to review any options we do have.”