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June 23, 2026 Minutes (Not Yet Approved)

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Monadnock Regional School District 
                                Budget Committee Meeting Minutes     
                  June 23, 2026  
Monadnock Regional School Library 
 
                        Members Present: Ed Sheldon, Steven Sawyer, Nancy Carney, Jack Gettens, Anne Marie 
Osheyack, Diane Benoit-LeBlanc, Wayne Lechlider and Sarah Burgess. Absent: Unassigned 
from Roxbury, Jon Hoden, Theresa Morin, Robert Audette and Bruce Murphy 
 
Administration Present: J. Rathbun, Superintendent and J.Morin, Business Administrator. 
 
1. 
Call the Meeting to Order:  E. Sheldon called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM. 
2. 
Public Comments: There were no public comments. 
3. 
Approval of the May 19, 2026 Joint School Board/Budget Committee Meeting 
Minutes:  MOTION: S. Sawyer MOVED to approve the May 19, 2026 Joint School 
Board/Budget Committee Meeting Minutes as presented. SECOND: N. Carney VOTE: S. 
Burgess-abstain, Anne Marie Osheyack-abstain, W. Lechlider-abstain and remaining members-
yes. Motion passes. J. Gettens arrives.  
4. 
Recommendations to Board-Specialist Contract: E. Sheldon asked if the Budget 
Committee had any recommendations for the Board regarding the upcoming Specialists 
Contract. There were no recommendations at this time. B. Tatro is not present. The committee 
will ask B. Tatro for an update on the Specialists Contract at the next meeting.  
5. 
Administration Reports: 
 
a. 
Monthly Financial Report/Transfers/Expenses: J.Morin emailed the Monthly 
Expense Report, transfers and expenses to the members. She explained that based on the reports 
and the same information that was provided to the Fin/Fac Committee the district is looking at a 
little over $600,000 unencumbered fund balance. The district is looking pretty good. 
W.Lechlider commented that there was a great explanation on the transfers. E. Sheldon asked if 
the Board had any ideas for the unencumbered fund balance. J. Rathbun explained there are a 
few items:  painting of the auditorium, painting of the gymnasium, replacing the gym wall mats 
and replacing the wrestling mats. The remaining funds will go back to the taxpayers. J. Gettens 
asked J. Morin if the committee could receive the Revenue Report. J. Morin will bring it to the 
next meeting. J. Rathbun explained that the new Special Ed. Dir. has been doing a great job with 
Medicaid. J. Gettens would also like the Trust Fund Balances. J. Morin will bring them to the 
next meeting. The auditors will be arriving in August. Regarding the fund balance the warrant 
articles voted on by the voters came out totaling $75,020.    
b. 
Staffing: 
 
 
i. 
Vacancy Update: J. Rathbun explained that the district is making 
progress. The numbers change daily. The Tech Ed. position is the hardest position to fill. There 
are elementary teacher applications on his desk. We are making headway with the 
paraprofessional. There are a number of young teachers leaving NH. J. Rathbun said he does exit 
interviews and some of the younger teachers are leaving to move in with families or because it is 

more affordable to live with family. The district mentors the position. It is not their position to 
mentor as a young adult.  
6. 
By Law review update: J. Gettens had reviewed the By Laws. He said that the vote 
should be changed due to the fact that the School Board liaison’s vote does not count anymore. 
He reviewed the general duties statement with the committee. W. Lechlider explained that the 
Budget Committee sets the bottom line of the budget. J.Rathbun commented that the district has 
a lower cost per pupil than the State. He said that the Budget Committee has done a wonderful 
job keeping the cost per pupil down. D. Benoit-LeBlanc said in regards to the budget people are 
struggling. J. Rathbun also commented that the staff at Monadnock are also struggling. It was 
commented that Conant is struggling to hire staff after the defeated budget. E.Sheldon 
commented that it would be helpful if voters would attend the meetings. S. Sawyer commented 
that the district is running pretty lean. J. Rathbun commented that the administration understands 
the community we work in. We work very hard not to bring large items for the ballot. A.M. 
Oshyack commented that if you cut like Conant it is not good for the community. We run very 
lean. People need to know that we work hard to be responsible. J. Morin explained once Cutler is 
closed the district will be able to identify the savings. S. Sawyer explained the rest of the By 
Laws are pretty clear. We do not have the expertise to set the budget. He will review the By 
Laws again for the next meeting. E. Sheldon commented that there are minimal changes. S. 
Sawyer hopes to make the adjustments to the By Laws and have a vote for the next meeting.  
7. 
Superintendent Comments: J. Rathbun explained that the summer program is about to 
start with 300 kids coming. The summer program is funded by the Beyond The Bell Grant and 
Title I. Gilsum and Troy are closed for the summer due to renovations.  
8. 
School Board Liaison Report: B.Tatro is not present.  
9. 
Chairperson’s Comments: E. Sheldon had no further comments. W. Lechlider asked 
about any significant increases in the drivers. It was commented to leave the budget flat. J. 
Rathbun explained having the budget flat still means things will have to go away. It is doable. 
Flat does not mean status quo; we will need to absorb things in the budget. J. Morin said the 
health insurance increase is lower than last year but a $750,000 increase is a big number. 
Medicaid rules are changing with no guarantee. A. M. Osheyack commented on 2 new laws that 
may affect a status quo budget.   
10. 
Next Meeting’s Agenda: The next meeting will be August 24, 2026.  
 
a. 
By Laws 
 
b. 
Revenues 
 
c. 
Balance Expendable Trusts  
11. 
Public Comments: There are no public comments. 
12. 
Motion to adjourn: MOTION: N. Carney  MOVED to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 PM. 
SECOND: D.Benoit-LeBlanc  VOTE: Unanimous for those present. Motion passes.  
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
Laura L. Aivaliotis 
MRSD Recording Secretary