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11-20-2025 SAU 20 Board Minutes - APPROVED 12-11-2025.pdf

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11-20-2025 SAU 20 School Board Meeting Minutes – APPROVED 12-11-2025 
 
SAU #20 Board Meeting 
Thursday, November 20, 2025 
Meeting Minutes 
GMHS Cafeteria 
 
Board Members Present: Crystal Labrecque, Emma Burnell, Jo Carpenter, Dennis Wade,  Victoria Hill, 
Richard Umiker, Benjamin Mayerson, Andrew Mullins, Tiffani Arsenault, Keith Moon, Ashley Devost, 
Jaime Hussey, and Michael Waddell (6:45 pm) 
Administration: David Backler, Superintendent SAU 20; Cassandra Micucci, Business Administrator 
SAU20; Tina Binette Special Services Director; Amanda Ramsay, IT Director 
Public: Eric Cornish, Amanda Cornish, and Shelli Fortin, Minutes  
Regular Meeting 
1. 
Call to Order–  Crystal Labrecque called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm.   
2. 
Pledge of Allegiance 
3. 
Approval of Minutes 
On a motion by Benjamin Mayerson, seconded by Jo Carpenter, the Board voted to approve 
the minutes of May 8, 2025, as presented.  Moon – abstain, Hill – abstain, Wade - abstain 
4. 
Technology Director’s Report 
David Backler commended the IT staff on the tremendous job they have done moving 
technology forward. 
5. 
Superintendent’s Report 
David Backler shared goals for this year, which are based on the needs of the SAU.  For the goal 
of increasing community engagement and communication, Backler noted that they are hoping 
to be more effective at sharing information, as sometimes it is too much, and people don’t pay 
attention.  A Board member noted that the specific numbers are helpful, as it helps to screen 
what they are reading.  A Board member asked if a parent only had a child at elementary school, 
would they get all the messages, and Backler explained that they would only get the messages 
that apply to them. 
Backler advised that he has been recently elected to the Board of Directors of the College Board 
and will be a voice for rural education.  Backler noted that this is a good way to broadcast the 
work they are doing in SAU20.  A Board member asked how much time this will require, and 
Backler advised about three days per year, and the College Board pays for travel.  A Board 
member congratulated Backler on his nomination to the College Board. 

11-20-2025 SAU 20 School Board Meeting Minutes – APPROVED 12-11-2025 
 
6. 
Business Administrator’s Report 
Cassandra Micucci provided the preliminary budget to the Board, noting that there is a total 
increase of $7,068, or 0.67%.  The increase is due to salary and benefits.  Micucci advised that 
the Finance Committee has met twice to review the budget. 
Micucci reviewed the budget by section, noting an increase of $1,456.00 in Professional 
Development.  The largest increase is in the Workshop line, as more teachers are utilizing that.  
A Board member explained that new teachers are budgeted in the ALT Certification line, but 
once new employees are in the alternative plan, the Professional Development amount is 
budgeted in the school budget. 
The total IT Department increase is $3,523, which is for salary and benefits.  Micucci reminded 
the Board that they had agreed to increase the HRA cards to offset the increase in the health 
insurance costs.  There is also an increase in supplies and software, which Amanda Ramsay 
explained and advised it will go down again next year. 
The School Board decreased by $15, and Micucci explained that they have consolidated workers 
compensation and unemployment compensation in another line. 
The Audit line is up $936 due to the change in auditors.  Legal Counsel is budgeted the same at 
$500. 
Central Office is down $9,387 as $10,000 was removed from Supplies/Books/Periodicals.  This 
money was originally budgeted for staff appreciation. 
Superintendent is up $3,505 due to salary and benefits.  Student Services has increased $639 
due to salaries, benefits, and dues and fees. 
Child Find is budgeted at $500, the same as last year.  There was no increase in the Safety 
Coordinator budget. 
The Business Department has increased by $6,152, due to salary, benefits, software, and travel. 
Operation Maintenance is up $259, and this is their portion of the maintenance of the FRC 
building. 
A Board member asked why the percentage increase in the Business Staff salary was 2%, while 
others were 3%, and was advised that part of that salary comes from the PD budget. 
A Board member noted concerns for the community, including costs of healthcare and taxes.  
The Board member suggested a flat budget this year, and suggested that the increase in 
budgeted salaries be the same as the increase in social security, which is 2.8%.  The Board 
member reminded the Board of the public’s concerns at the budget hearings last year. 
A Board member noted that last year the superintendent offered to not take a raise, and that 
the public was angry that the Board turned this down, given how much pain was being 
expressed. 
A Board member asked about Child Find, and was advised that this is money to identify children 
with special education needs.  Tina Binette explained that, per law, they are required to 

11-20-2025 SAU 20 School Board Meeting Minutes – APPROVED 12-11-2025 
 
advertise and offer a child find opportunity for ages 3 and up.  They provide a free evaluation to 
see if the child needs any developmental supports.  A Board member asked if this was in 
conjunction with Berlin, and Binette advised that we do our own. 
A Board member asked about the SAU offices in the FRC building, and if they are exploring 
alternative space for the office within the schools.  Micucci advised that GRS owns 11% of the 
FRC building, however they will be looking into that. 
Micucci did calculations to see what the difference would be with changing the salary increase 
to 2.8%, and to 2% for administration and 3% for support staff, which would change the total 
budget increase to 0.57% for the first option and 0.16% for the second. 
A Board member noted that although the idea of a flat budget is appealing, they have already 
put a lot of work into the proposed budget, and reducing it by another $7,000 might be difficult.  
David Backler noted that at this point, the only thing to cut would be salary increases to get to a 
flat budget. 
David Backler advised the Board that eventually they will have to replace people in these 
positions, and the cost will be more than what is currently budgeted. 
A Board member noted that the budget increase is spread between all the districts, with 
Gorham paying over half. 
A Board member noted that the cost of everything is going up.  The Board member also noted 
that as far as replacing people, the lower-level positions are becoming competitive, however 
management positions are costly to fill.  The Board member also noted concerns over the 
increases in taxes, and that that the property tax system is broken.  The Board member noted 
that he is pleased that the budget came in under 1%. 
A Board member asked if they use could more of the fund balance. 
Micucci advised that if they put the salary increases at 1.5% for the Business Administrator and 
Superintendent and other staff at 3%, the budget would decrease by $148, or -0.1%. 
A Board member noted that the increase is not going to make a noticeable difference in taxes, 
and it is not worth going backwards in salary to make it up later on. The Board member again 
shared concerns about having to replace people in administrative positions.  Another Board 
member agreed, noting that the cost for a search committee would be more than the budget 
increase this year. 
A Board member noted that they are only voting tonight to bring the budget to the Public 
Hearing, and they can make adjustments after the Public Hearing depending on public 
comments received.  The Board member noted that our current administration does a good job 
keeping the budgets in line and expenses down.  It was noted that a few school districts have 
had a deficit of millions reported at the end of last year and did not know.  Our district gets a 
report every month from the Business Administrator. 
On a motion by Jo Carpenter, seconded by Andrew Mullins, the Board voted to bring he 
budget as presented to the Public Hearing. Mayerson-opposed 

11-20-2025 SAU 20 School Board Meeting Minutes – APPROVED 12-11-2025 
 
7. 
Public Comments 
 
There were no public comments. 
8. 
Non-Public Session 
 
There was no non-public session needed. 
9. 
Next Regular Meeting – Thursday, December 11, 2025  6:30 pm Milan Village School 
10. 
Other 
11. 
Adjournment 
 
On a motion by Benjamin Mayerson, seconded by Dennis Wade, the Board voted unanimously 
to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 pm.