03.09.26 BSB Minutes - Final.pdf
The Bedford School Board met March 9, 2026. The Board unanimously approved Matt Munsey as the new Riddle Brook School Principal for the 2026-2027 school year, effective July 1, 2026. Policy GCCAD regarding leave for uniformed service members and Policy IHCD/LEB regarding advanced coursework were both approved on a second read with 5-0 votes. The Board approved the nominations of teachers and administrators for the 2026/27 school year. Minutes from the February 16, 2026 meeting and the March 10, 2026 manifest were approved. Enrollment increased by 3 students since fall. Ms. Ambrosio began negotiating the transportation contract extension with STA. Chair Jennato announced PTG Color Blast registration opens March 13. Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VmA590Vq2-5_V7dMfaDt4jTG655Li0d4/view
The mission of the Bedford School
District is to develop a community of
learners who are curious, resourceful,
and respectful. Academic achievement
is the district's highest priority.
____________________________________________________________________________
BEDFORD SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Monday, March 9, 2026
SAU Office Board Room
103 County Road, Bedford NH 03110
6:30 p.m.
MINUTES-Final
_________________________________________________________________________
1. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance/Roll Call
Chair Sue Jennato called the March 9, 2026 Bedford School Board meeting to order at
6:30pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited at that time.
Present were: School Board members Andrea Campbell, Bill Foote, Sue Jennato, Kara
LaMarche and Stephanie Nichols; Superintendent Michael Fournier, Assistant
Superintendent Tom Laliberte, Business Administrator Lisa Ambrosio and Student School
Board Representative Andie Nugent.
2. Affirm Agenda Items
There were no agenda revisions.
3. Participation at School Board Meetings
There was no public input.
4. Community Senate
BHS Community Senate Member Sam Dooley updated the Board on the items they have
been discussing including: NEASC plan for next year; Digital Literacy requirement; and
testing incentives.
5. RBS Principal Nomination
Mr. Fournier nominated Matt Munsey for Board approval as the new Principal of Riddle
Brook School for the 2026-2027 school year effective July 1, 2026. Mr. Fournier gave the
history of the nomination process and thanked all who participated. Mr. Munsey said it
was an honor to be nominated and spoke about his background in the District and
thanked staff.
Andrea Campbell made a motion to approve the nomination of Matt Munsey as Riddle
Brook School Principal effective July 1, 2026. Kara LaMarche seconded the motion. Motion
passed 5:0.
Supporting Documents:
●
RBS Principal Nomination
6. Bedford Curriculum Committee (BCC) Recaps
Mr. Laliberte shared highlights from the January and February 2026 Bedford Curriculum
Committee (BCC) meetings, including student performance data and upcoming
curriculum initiatives. Highlights included:
1/13/2026: information shared on student achievement. The BSD Assessment
Performance report was reviewed. It was noted that BSD often outperformed
other Districts. SAT testing was looked at as well as the Saturday test, APs, IB
exams. All BSD schools were in the top 10 of the US News and World Reports
(RBS was #1 elementary school; BHS was #3 high school). Defying national
trends would be reviewed: as kids got older, standardized test scores decreased in
proficiency levels. There was a report on the amount of time (high school)
students spent on testing which should take around 2 hours (13% of students
spent 1 hour on the test and 87% of them were proficient; 60% spent less than
20 minutes on the test). Statewide, science proficiency levels were higher than
scores showed. It was uncertain that students who opted out counted as zeros (if
a benchmark was not reached). Mr. Laliberte would look into that. Bedford was 83
in science and 90% in the SAT. It was a Federal requirement to reach 95% but the
State mandated that parents could opt out.
2/10/26: BHS received feedback from other high schools regarding incentivizing
students to put forth their best effort on state tests. It was noted that Windham
had incentives and their scores were good; incentive ideas included being exempt
from the science final exam. It was noted that moving the test to 10th grade
would make a big difference. The Wonders Program would retire after the spring
of 2028. There would be an adoption team created to collect samples and review
them, invite vendors to represent to the Board, and choose a program (for the fall
of 2028).
Supporting Documents:
●
BCC Meeting Recaps
7. Policy Updates
Mr. Fournier presented the Board with policy updates.
Second Read:
Policy GCCAD: Leave for Uniformed Service Members or Their Spouses
(Line deletion intended for internal use only).
●
Clean GCCAD (Recommended by NHSBA)
Policy IHCD/LEB - Advanced Coursework/Advanced Placement Courses &
STEM Dual & Concurrent Enrollment Program
●
Current Version IHCD/Current Version LEB
●
Side by Side Comparison
●
Clean IHCD/LEB (Recommended by NHSBA
Kara LaMarche made a motion to approve Policy GCCAD: Leave for Uniformed Service
Members or Their Spouses. Stephanie Nichols seconded the motion. Motion passed 5:0.
Stephanie Nichols made a motion to approve Policy IHCD/LEB: Advanced
Coursework/Advanced Placement Courses & STEM Dual & Concurrent Enrollment Program
Kara LaMarche seconded the motion. Motion passed 5:0.
First Read:
Policy GBE: Staff Rights and Responsibilities
-
This policy was not reviewed since 2016; updates were done, such as adding the
code of conduct. It would be confirmed if the policy was referenced in disciplinary
letters. Mr. Fournier would ask the NHSBA where this came from, possible
consolidation, and if BSD would be covered if this policy was discontinued for
redundancy.
●
Current Version
●
Side by Side Comparison
●
Clean GBE (Recommended by NHSBA)
Policy GBEA: Staff Ethics
-
This policy was not reviewed since 2016; updates were done, including conflict of
interest (Board members and finances). There was discussion about linking
policies/RSAs.
●
Current Version
●
Side by Side Comparison
●
Clean GBEA (Recommended by NHSBA)
8. Employment Nominations
Mr. Fournier presented the list of teachers and administrators that were eligible to be
nominated for the 2026/2027 school year.
Supporting Documents
●
Memorial
●
Peter Woodbury
●
Riddle Brook
●
McKelvie
●
Lurgio
●
BHS
●
Nurses
●
District Wide
●
District Administration
Andrea Campbell made a motion to approve the nominations of teachers and
administrators for FY27 as presented. Kara LaMarche seconded the motion. Motion
passed 5:0.
9. Minutes
Ms. Nichols and Ms. Nugent would be marked as present for the minutes of February 16,
2026.
Andrea Campbell made a motion to approve the minutes of February 16, 2026 as
amended. Kara LaMarche seconded the motion. Motion passed 5:0.
●
Draft Minutes of 02.16.2026
10. Materials Included
March enrollment report: overall increase of 3 students since the fall.
February discipline:
❖ISS: BHS: 2 incidents for 2 days; RAL: 3 incidents in 3 days; PWS: it was noted that
there were 2 incidents for 2 days.
❖OSS: BHS: 11 incidents for 25 days.
❖Threat Assessment: 1 at RAL.
❖Saturday School: 2.
❖Bullying: none.
❖ 02.09.2026 Manifest
●
March Enrollment
●
February In School Suspensions
●
February Out of School Suspensions/Threat Assessments
●
February Saturday School Report
●
February Bullying Report
11. Consent Agenda
Bill Foote made a motion to approve the minutes of March 10, 2026. Kara LaMarche
seconded the motion. Motion passed 5:0.
● Manifest of 03.10.2026
12. Short Subjects and Good News Notes
Ms. LaMarche encouraged residents to vote tomorrow.
Mr. Fournier participated in an Senior Advisory field trip; he was impressed by the
relationships that the students had with each other and staff. It was a great day.
Ms. Campbell thanked Ms. Nichols for serving and hoped she would continue. She also
noted that her son was on the Robotics Team and the first meet would be on Saturday
and Sunday; she encouraged people to attend for free.
Ms. Jennato mentioned that the PTG would be doing the Color Blast again and
registration opens on March 13th.
Mr. Laliberte reported that, under Federal accountability, school performance was
measured on four indicators: achievement MAY be negatively impacted if fewer than
95% of the students required to take the assessment; the 95% rule applied at the
school and at each subgroup level. There were formulas that applied.
Ms. Ambrosio started negotiating the extension for STA for transportation. A proposal
was put out.
Ms. Nugent said it was championship season and boys and girls basketball would have
their championships this weekend if they won games tonight in Portsmouth.
Ms. LaMarche congratulated the hockey team for making it to the playoffs though they
lost to Concord. Ms. Nichols said the Bedford students in the stands were supportive and
well-behaved.
13. Nonpublic Session Per RSA 91-A:3,II (N/A)
14. Adjournment
Bill Foote made a motion to adjourn at 7:30pm. Kara LaMarche seconded the motion.
Motion passed 5:0.