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WSB Public Minutes 8.18.26.pdf

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Wakefield School Board Public Minutes  
                                August 18, 2026  
                          Held in the SAU Conference Room 
 
 
 
 
          Approved 
 
 
 
Others present:  
Selectmen Liaison Tom Daniels and Morgan Gehring of Clearview TV. 
 
Call to Order 
Mr. DeColfmacker opened the meeting at 5:32.  
 
Agenda Review 
Mrs. Lambert added the DOE 25 to New Business.  
 
Non Public 
Ms. Wilcauskas made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ouellette, to enter non public under RSA 
91-A;3 ll (c) at 5:34. Roll Call Vote: DeColfmacker aye, Gehring Aye, Ouellette aye, 
Taliaferro aye, Wilcauskas aye.  
 
The Board returned to public session at 5:50. 
Presentations, Public Hearings 
To withdraw funds from the Maintenance Contingency Fund in the amount of $33,799.59 
Mr. DeColfmacker opened the Public Hearing at 6:51. 
Mrs. Lambert explained that Mr. Davis would like to expend funds from the Maintence 
Contingency Fund to purchase a new Hot Food Service Counter/Table in the kitchen which has 
to be replaced. The unit is forty-one years old and original to the kitchen. The wiring is 
dangerous and it has rusty parts. The unit is unsafe. Mr. Ouellette notes that in the packet 8/4/26 
there were three quotes and Mr. Davis recommends Kittredge-Singer for quality and lead time. 
All three prices are comparable. She said this purchase has been approved by the DOE.  
Ms. Wilcauskas made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ouellette, to withdraw the amount of 
$33,799.59  from the Maintenance Contingency Fund in the amount of $33,799.59 for the 
Hot Food Service Counter/Table. (Vote 5-0) 
 
Mr. DeColfmacker closed the Public Hearing at 5:56. 
BOARD MEMBERS 
ADMINISTRATORS 
Robert DeColfmacker, Chair 
 Donna Magoon, Superintendent  
 
Heather Wilcauskas, Vice Chair   
 Michele Lambert, Financial Manager 
 
Bob Ouellette 
 Carol Keenan, Student Services Director 
Sandrea Taliaferro 
Aaron Nason, Interim Principal 
Ann Gehring 
 Jennie Lovasco. Interim Asst. Principal 

 
 
 
NHSAS Presentation 
Mr. Nason presented the results of the New Hampshire State Testing. 
He said we are making progress and moving in the right direction. He said we have a lot of 
ground to make up. We also had twenty-four fewer students. Students can still opt out but we had 
fewer opt out that we did before. He explained what opting out actually means. There is a lot of 
misinformation. He said we have a threshold. If  5% of the student body or ten students opt out 
it’s not counted for or against. If you go above 5% of the student body choosing to opt out 
everyone after that 5% counts as a zero.  
 
All students were tested in ELA and math. Two grades were tested in science. They will be 
changing the approach on how they teach science in the school. The middle school students will 
have an entire year of science instead of a half a year. They now have a math program and have 
already seen growth. All these results are available on the state website. 
 
Mr. Nason presented their plan for growth. They don’t teach to the State test and have no plans to 
do so. They plan to set up some ways for the students to take this test seriously. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
Public Comment 
None 
 
Report 
Transportation 
Mrs. Taliaferro gave an overview of the Transportation Committee items. She said that the 
current contract with First Student gives an option to extend the contract for two years, one year 
at a time. First Student was supposed to pay us $2,500 and they haven’t so that amount will be 
deducted from the amount we will owe in September. She said there were two other companies 
that were interested in running our transportation and had reached out to her. She said the Board 
could put it out to bid if they wished and she handed out that REP. Or they could go with an 
extension.  
Mrs. Lambert said if they Board chose to send it out for proposals she could have the  
Proposals back to the Board for the September 15th meeting. This is for next years budget.  
Mrs. Taliaferro made a motion seconded by Mr. Ouellette, to send out the RFP for 
transportation. (Vote 5-0) 
 
Meeting Minutes 
Ms. Wilcauskas made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ouellette, to approve the public minutes 
of 8-4-26 with corrections. (Vote 4-0-1) 
 
Consent Agenda 
Ms. Wilcauskas made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ouellette, to approve the Consent 
Agenda. (Vote 5-0) 
 
Old Business 
Library Budget Line 
Mrs. Lambert said she could add notes on the line to make it clear how the money for books and 
other printed material is to be spent. The Board liked that idea. Mrs. Taliaferro asked about the 
binder that includes all the items that create a line. Mrs. Lambert said she has this for the past 
three years and said Board members can come in any time to look at it to see what is in each line. 
 
Mrs. Magoon told the Board that they have a lot of unused books. Some will go into the new 
book vending machine, purchased from Title 1 money because we are now a Schoolwide School, 
and the rest will be put on a table for teachers to choose for their classroom.   
 
Town Payment 
Mrs. Lambert said the Town payment was moved to the second meeting of the month because it 
is due by the 10th. She said they received the August payment on the 7th. Mr. Daniels said the 
Town is looking into paying this electronically. They use the same bank. The Town is currently 
looking into the logistics.  
 
New Business 
Crotched Mountain Foundation Donation 

 
 
Mrs. Magoon told the Board that the Paws Program students spend some of their time in a self-
contained DOE approved classroom. Three years ago there was a program and when she came 
on board that program had been dissolved and the new program was run inhouse and the person 
running the program left. She didn’t feel the requirements for those students with high needs 
were being met in this program. We were able to secure a $15,000 donation from the Crotched 
Mountain Foundation. They are helping to revamp the room and the staff will receive specialized 
training to work with those students. Being part of the foundation opens up other opportunities 
like adaptive equipment. The money pays for staff to be trained and our BCBA to oversee the 
staff. There is a certification process for the RBT’s who have to meet monthly criteria.   
 
DOE 25 
Mrs. Lambert told the Board that the DOE 25 has been submitted to the DOE. The cover sheet 
that is submitted separately, was signed tonight. She said we ended FY25 with $13,511.86. 
 
Follow Up 
None 
 
Nominations/Hires/Resignations 
Catherine Martin – World Language 
Ms. Wilcauskas made a motion, seconded by Ms. Gehring, to accept Catherine Martin as 
the World Language Teacher. (Vote 5-0) 
 
Samantha Gagnon – Substitute - FYI 
Roland Lascala – IHI/SSC Interventionist - FYI 
 
Non Public 
Mr. Ouellette made a motion, seconded by Ms. Wilcauskas, to enter non public under RSA 
91-A;3 ll (c) at 6:45. Roll Call Vote: DeColfmacker aye, Gehring Aye, Ouellette aye, 
Taliaferro aye, Wilcauskas aye.  
 
Adjournment 
Ms. Wilcauskas made a motion, seconded by Mr. Ouellette, to adjourn the meeting at 7:10. 
(Vote 5-0) 
 
Respectfully submitted for approval at the next School Board meeting, 
 
Priscilla Colbath 
School Board Secretary