06-29-2026 - School Board - Minutes.pdf
The Board approved a field trip update for the CVHS Football Team on a unanimous vote. To mitigate potential impacts from House Bill 1610, the Board unanimously approved additional encumbrances of $1,076,123.00. Neal Cass noted the current fund balance is approximately $3.5M. Jim Kingston’s motion specified that if the bill fails to become law, these encumbrances shall reduce the amount available for the Board to withhold under Policy DIA’s 2.5% limit by the same amount. Budget transfers in the amount of $1,076,123.00 were unanimously approved. The Board also unanimously approved the ConVal Administrator’s Association Memorandum of Understanding, allowing for flexible work arrangements during summer and snow days. The meeting included a non-public session from 6:20 p.m. to 6:35 p.m. for legal advice before adjournment at 6:35 p.m. Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XIGhSMGb4o1TurSiHuvSicKCphRJDQXR/view
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 106 Hancock Road Peterborough, New Hampshire CONTOOCOOK VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD School Board Meeting Agenda (Revised) Monday, June 29, 2026 6:00 p.m. Physical Location: SAU #1 Board Room Livestream Link: https://www.youtube.com/c/ConValEvents Minutes BOARD ADMINISTRATION Elizabeth Ahearn, Tom Burgess, Dr. Ann Forrest, Supt. Sarah Edmunds, Curtis Hamilton, Neal Cass, B.A. Dan Harper, Michael Hoyt, James Kingston, Janine Lesser, Carl Mabbs-Zeno 1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance Mike Hoyt called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Mike Hoyt asked for a motion to add approval of a field trip by CVHS Football team to tonight’s agenda. Carl Mabbs-Zeno moved to add a CVHS Football Team’s request of a field trip to the agenda. Sarah Edmunds seconded. Unanimous. 2. Financial Update and Encumbrances Neal Cass referenced an up to date monthly expense summary. The fund balance of approximately $3.5M, which is 5.8% of the budget; is higher than we would want it. Neal said that we are here tonight because of House Bill 1610, which is currently awaiting the Governor’s signature. This Bill, if signed, would retroactively change the requirements for school districts to retain funds. The bill requires districts to vote annually on whether to allow the retention of year-end unassigned general funds. ConVal voters previously approved a 5% retention amount, School Board policy caps this at 2.5%. If signed, the law would take effect immediately. This would rescind the voter-approved authorization to retain a portion of the unassigned fund balance and return the funds to taxpayers. This bill poses an immediate threat to the district. Neal Cass said that the provisions of RSA 32:7 have been reviewed. School districts have the authority to encumber any unexpended portion of FY26 appropriations. He recommended that the School Board encumber the funds outlined to help mitigate the retroactive impacts of HB 1610. Should the governor veto the bill, the Board should take this encumbered amount into consideration when determining the final unassigned fund balance retention. . Neal Cass asked for a vote to accept the financial update and encumbrances on the sheet totaling $1,076,123.00. Jim Kingston moved to accept the update and additional encumbrances, Carl Mabbs-Zeno seconded. Jim Kingston withdrew his motion motion. Carl Mabbs-Zeno withdrew his second. Jim Kingston moved to accept the additional encumbrances and should the bill fail to become law, these encumbrances shall reduce the amount available for the Board to withhold under policy DIA’s 2.5% limit by the same amount encumbered. Carl Mabbs-Zeno seconded. Discussion? Elizabeth Ahearn asked a procedural question; if the governor doesn’t sign it in a certain amount of time what are we looking at? She hasn’t signed it yet. Curtis Hamilton said that it is five days from when it is accepted. The clock is not ticking. Mike Hoyt said that as of June 30th we go into a new fiscal year. We would be looking at the following year. Jim Kingston reread his new motion. Neal Cass said that the board would still have a discussion about retention. Curtis Hamilton said that any future consideration of fund balance would go through the same process to adjust policy to retain. Unanimous. 3. Budget Transfers A vote to approve the budget transfers was asked. These are the amounts of encumbrances just voted. Jim Kingston moved to accept the budget transfers in the amount of $1,076,123.00. Carl Mabbs-Zeno seconded. Unanimous. 4. ConVal Administrator’s Association Memorandum of Understanding Ann Forrest said that when the CVAA agreement was brought forward there were additional negotiations in an MOU that allowed flexibility to administrators during the summer and snow days. Janine Lesser said that for snow days they have the ability to work from home, take a vacation day, or come in. Ann Forrest outlined the opportunities during the summer. Jim Kingston moved to approve the CVAA MOU. Curtis Hamilton seconded. Unanimous. CVHS Football Team Field Trip: Ann Forrest said that the football trip is having a mini camp that the School Board previously approved. They are moving the location and a slight date change. The departure time is slightly changed. Jim Kingston moved to approve the update on the football trip. Sarah Edmunds seconded. Unanimous. Jim Kingston motioned to enter into Non-Public for 91A:2 (l) at 6:20 p.m. for consideration of legal advice. Sarah Edmunds seconded. Unanimous. Jim Kingston motioned to exit the Non-Public Session at 6:35 p.m. Sarah Edmunds seconded. Unanimous. 5. Adjourn Jim Kingston motioned to adjourn at 6:35 p.m. Sarah Edmunds seconded. Unanimous. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Marschok