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Bath - 2026-05-18- DRAFT Minutes

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Bath School Board Meeting  
DRAFT Minutes for May 18, 2026 
 
Board Members Present: Matt Smith, Sara Lang, Cori Elliott 
Administration Present: SAU 23 Superintendent Dolores Fox, Principal Megan Jones, 
Kathryn Ducharme 
Staff Present: None 
Public Present: Steve Rood 
1.​ Call Meeting to Order: Matt called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm. 
 
2.​ Sign Manifest: Done 
 
3.​ Agenda Review/Adjustments: Items added to Dolores’s report on Board work 
session and tuition cap policy decision.  
 
4.​ Approval of Minutes of APRIL 13, 2026: Motion by Sara, seconded by Matt, to 
approve the minutes. All were in favor. 
 
5.​ Public Input: Steve asked about this year’s end-of-year audit – Kathryn responded 
that it was uploaded as of 5/18/26. 
 
6.​ Administrator Reports: All Submitted 
 
James Marshall - Technology Director: No questions from the Board. 
 
Steve Emerson, Facilities Maintenance Manager: Steve provided copies of the 
one bid and references that were submitted by Houseal for constructing the preschool 
bathroom. Board discussed the bid and made contract suggestions. Motion by Sara, 
seconded by Cori, to accept the bid to build the preschool bathroom for an amount up 
to $50,000 and funding for a washer and dryer to be drawn from the FY26 Fund 
Balance. All were in favor.  
 
Steve also reported that the State Fire Marshal’s list of recommendations for 
improving fire safety are being addressed.  
 
Steve also reported that Central Asphalt provided a quote of $27,800 to cover the 
parking lot and driving area and a quote of $51,720 to reclaim and repave that same 
area; fixing the drain was not included. Board discussed asking the town if they could 
cover that area to have it last for another year before deciding how to fund the 
reclaiming, repaving, and fixing the drain option in next year’s budget. Board also 
discussed placing stay mat material out back and along the cemetery fence line to 
expand parking options. Steve has placed flags on the edge of the playground to 
indicate where the boulders from the town garage will be placed to prevent vehicles 
from driving onto the playground; Board will review that placement. 
 
Kerri Reilly, SPED Director: No questions from the Board. 
 
 

 
Megan Jones, Principal: Megan reported that one IA position has been advertised 
and we have received an application. The school is working with resource 
professionals to relocate a family of foxes that have a den near the school. NH SAS 
testing is wrapping up. Spring concert is May 21st and Forest Expo is June 2nd; 
sessions are scheduled from 9:30 – 10:30 am and 1:00 – 2:00 pm. Landaff students 
have been invited. June 10th is the 6th grade graduation; Cori will speak at it. We had a 
successful Run/Walkathon on May 2nd, raising $1500 to be used partly for playground 
equipment and wellness activities.  
 
Screening and registration for incoming Preschool (8 students, 3 from Bath and 5 
from out of town) and Kindergarten (7 students) have been completed. Staff is 
working hard to design the program and to obtain age-appropriate curriculum 
materials and playground equipment. Board needs to develop an agreement for 
preschool parents to sign so the payment fee schedule is clear. Preference for 
preschool slots considers Bath residents first, tuition agreement students second, and 
other towns third. 
 
Kathryn Ducharme, Business Administrator: Kathryn discussed the Bath 
School District General Fund Revenue and Expenditure Summary Report as of May 
6th. Board discussed projected fund balance amounts and whether to use for current 
projects, to retain for emergencies, or to use to reduce next year’s tax burden. Funds 
need to be committed by June 30th.  
 
Dolores Fox, Superintendent: Dolores reported on legislative updates for current 
bills being proposed. Open Enrollment was tabled, but a Committee of Conference 
may still take it up. HB1268 and 1817 will allow resident students receiving EFA’s to 
participate in courses, co-curriculars, and sports without charge; the district will not 
receive any adequacy aid for these students. When home education students 
participate in courses, the district receives adequacy aid equivalent to the percentage 
of their attendance. There are currently 6 residents participating in EFA’s. HB1300 
would set a cap tax rate for a district. Dolores noted that every district with an annual 
meeting voted down tax rates and budget caps in 2025. This bill would also cap the 
SAU budget; Dolores is researching the impact of this on SAU 23. HB1374 would 
allow 20 or more voters to submit a petition which would require a school board to 
hold a special meeting to close a school. If a majority of voters at that meeting elected 
to do so, the school would be disbanded.  
 
Title 1 grant funding has dropped $26,000, and we use that fund to pay for the Title 1 
coordinator. Motion by Sara, seconded by Matt, to pay a portion of the salary for the 
Title 1 Coordinator using money from the General Funds to cover the reduction in 
Title 1 grant money. All were in favor.  
 
Board and Dolores will coordinate scheduling a date and time for the Board to have a 
work session separate from a Board meeting to discuss topics such as teacher salary 
rates designed to recruit and retain quality staff, Capital Improvement Plan, and 
long-term health insurance planning.  
 
The tuition policy came back from legal. Motion by Matt, seconded by Cori, to accept 
the Tuition Policy as a 1st read. All were in favor. 
 

 
 
7.​ Policy Revision:  
○​
BID-R (Add “Ballot Clerks/Supervisors of the Checklist”. Motion by Sara, 
seconded by Cori, to add “Ballot Clerks/Supervisors of the Checklist” to Policy 
BID-R. All were in favor.  
 
8.​ Action Item: Retained Fund Balance for FY 2026. Motion by Matt, seconded by 
Sara, to retain $127,077 (5% of the net assessment) as a fund balance for this year. All 
were in favor.  
 
9.​ Action Item: Federal Grant General Assurances for FY 2027. As required, Matt 
signed every page of the document. 
 
10.​ Lunch Balance Updates: There is a negative balance of $930 from 18 families. 
Board will revisit in August to decide what action to take.  
 
11.​ Resignations, New Hires, and Open Positions: None 
 
12.​ Public Input: Steve Rood asked questions about the Tuition Policy and how EFA 
money is spent. Dolores responded that this is not information provided to the public, 
and the SAU office will work to ensure there is no double dipping from EFA funds and 
adequacy funds for tuition. Steve commented that it is encouraging to see the 
preschool numbers and that Landaff is sending students to BVS. He also offered his 
electrical expertise to help address some of the Fire Marshall concerns about outlets, 
etc. 
 
13.​ Next Meeting Dates: June 15, 2026, @ 6:00 pm. Bath High School graduates 
will be invited to a reception before the meeting. 
 
14.​ Non-Public Session per RSA 91.A:3 (as needed): Motion by Matt, seconded by 
Sara, to enter into Non-Public session at 7:53 pm. All were in favor. 
 
Vote to end non-public. Motion at 8:14 pm, by S Lang; seconded by M. Smith. All were 
in favor. 
 
   Public session resumed at 8:14 pm. 
 
   The school board toured the grounds to discuss placement of boulders to serve as 
bollards for playground safety. 
 
15.​ Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by S. Lang, seconded by M. Smith. All were in 
favor. Meeting adjourned at 8:27 pm. 
 
 
Respectfully submitted,  
 
Judy Tumosa, Secretary, Bath School Board