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Hanover School Board Meeting 09/09/2026

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We're just kidding.
>> You can go ahead.
>> We have quum without you.
>> We have a quorum without you.
>> We don't.
>> So, our first item is agenda review. And
I was going to suggest and had this
conversation that we postpone the
approval of the NHSBA resolutions to our
October meeting. We will have discussed
them in the Dresden meeting later this
month. I can give you some a little bit
of a heads up, an overview when we get
to uh
the business requiring action which is
in under item five, but I don't think we
need to vote for on it tonight. So,
there'll be that change. Yep.
>> I have a second agenda request.
>> Yes, sir.
>> I'd like to table the retainage
discussion until we have a special
meeting prior to the next meeting. Also,
that special meeting has not been
announced yet. will be by the current
chair.
>> Okay. So that is approving the retainage
amount and also the retainage amount
items five and six.
So does anybody have any other items to
suggest we move around?
Okay, hearing none. At this point we
have the opportunity for members of the
public to address the board. If it's an
issue that we'll be discussing later in
the agenda. We ask you to wait until
that point, but if you have something
that you'd like to raise at this time,
feel welcome to do so.
Is there anybody on Zoom?
>> No.
>> Okay. So, we are moving on to the
principal's report and our principal is
evening to go home.
So, so she does have her report
uploaded, but she will not be attending
tonight.
>> Okay. So, I just invite the board to
take a look. I know this was a little
bit late.
>> Yes.
>> She uploaded out probably she had a
little
>> So, I am literally looking at it for the
first time right now. And I do note that
at our last board meeting, one board
member asked Kelly to include the um a
little bit more information in terms of
enrollment and that seems that it's
there now. And
I don't know if
anyone who has looked at this already
has something to add. Um, I do note that
it's in simply so people can read it.
It's not there's no new information in
here. I do like the fact that there was
apparently a fair store pond last week
and I saw it there when I was driving
home on Sunday. That was pretty
exciting.
>> Any questions or comments about this?
Yep.
Um I think uh I think I was the
enrollment person uh asking just for the
the target class sizes. It's in our
board policy,
>> but anytime enrollment is just used
making sure it's added in there. I just
just to do I think that's actually
helpful across the board as well and but
um
>> that I think that would be helpful here.
I am noticing it looks like our
projected enrollment is higher than our
current total number of students. kind
of just curious if that sounds like
we're is that normal for this time of
year?
>> Yeah, I mean we're always here.
>> We it it changes throughout the year,
but we're generally within this I mean
to be only three students higher or
lower is pretty good for us.
>> Yeah,
>> we usually get a couple mid year like
the January time.
>> Yeah, times
up at the end of the year last year.
Yeah, it's just a reminder that it's not
a significant
guess.
>> Yeah, it's not a it's not a static
number, right?
>> Okay. So, I'm dragging my feet because
I'm hoping the chair gets back.
But the next I thing on our agenda is
business requiring discussion and we
have reading of policy. So, I will let
Ben
take that on. We have two policy. Oh,
no. I just give it over to you.
>> Thank you, vice chair.
>> Right. So, we have four policies to
discuss tonight. Um, three of them are
familiar to this body and our Dresden
role. So, I will go through them
quickly. Uh, just going down the line.
First one is EA,
which I mentioned as Dresden chair a
couple weeks ago. That is the updated
mandatory drug and alcohol testing for
school bus drivers. The biggest thing of
note there, that's a change is um their
requires updating the policy include
contracted carriers. and it's a little
bit of grant writing aspects. This has
already been approved at um SAU last
time and with no changes.
Second one going from left to right is
new. This is IFB that they call
instructional services. This is a first
reading. It's a fairly short policy.
This is basically a prelude to a screens
policy. the new director of technology,
who's fantastic, by the way, as we've
all met him, is doing some surveys and
sitins of the various schools, various
teachers, and to kind of get more of a
sense of how much and what proportion of
school time is being used as screens
when they're being used for dos and
don'ts. And that will take some time to
get through all four schools and all the
classrooms. And he anticipates it should
be done within, you know, a month or two
months or so.
>> Yeah. And this is more letting the
district and the community know that we
are looking at this. We are working on
implementing a thing, but that will take
some time. I would also add that it's a
direct response to the concerns that
were brought to our board meeting last
spring to show handover parents in
particular that we are working to create
statements about and to um be mindful of
in screen time at K through 5, which is
what's specifically referenced here.
>> Any other questions, comments?
All right, the next one is IKB or
homework. We discussed it at discuss
this at your resume as well. I know that
there's discrepancy of what it was
called. Sometimes it's called ILK. IKB
is the correct one. This is up for
review per regulation 306 at the state
level. The stated goal is to allow
greater flexibility at the class grade
or building level. It allows for
delineations like not allow not allowing
homework in a certain grade or homework
won't make up more than a certain
percentage of a class grade within
policy and across the the schools. We
discuss this over multiple meetings very
granular and the policy committee felt
that it was a helpful guidance for
teachers and was specific but without
getting too granular too much managing
the principles how all reviewed this
fine with it at the Dresden level. Most
of this is covered anyway by a syllabi
that is given out to students at each
individual class. We ran it by principal
Kelly Piece and she was fine with it as
well at the RA level and currently have
no suggestion changes.
Last one is the protection of pupil
rights. That is a big title. It is
basically our survey policy. This is one
that was crafted internally by the
policy committee. This is not from
NHSBA. Members of this body had a number
of questions about it at Dresden, some
of which were good ones. Policy has
taken it back and is still working on
it. Um, there were also some things
specific to Dresden, such as what
council thought of it and we heard
feedback from them this morning at a
different policy meeting. So, this is
not its final form, but it is a first
reading tonight.
What is it?
Does anyone have questions about this
extensive
uh
well protection of people rights but
it's really related to surveys and
what's contained. Tara
>> do we usually do a first reading if the
policy is not in time for
>> since it already came up from policy
first and is going to go back. This is
unchanged from the resident first
reading. It's more just to keep this
this specific board address that this is
coming. Feel free to chime in with more
changes, but the changes you've already
have said we're working on.
>> So,
>> it's more at this point. There's no vote
on it tonight. I will add that we heard
from NHSBA themselves about this policy
where they're taking interest in it and
this will be the creation of their own
version as well. So they like what they
saw
>> and we don't go ahead and we don't need
to reiterate concerns that were stated
like the assumption is if they're set in
>> if you have any new ones feel free.
>> Any other questions? If not, we'll move
on to the legislative update. Uh, I
think most of the issues here relate to
the response to HB1300.
Am I correct, Robin?
>> Yes.
>> And I can't speak for Kelly. I know that
there is
>> Wait, but I just Kelly was saying
>> I'm about to You want to keep going?
And our next meeting is
I will turn it over to show you.
>> Um, but I'll move my laptop. Do you want
me to here? I'll leave my laptop here so
you can use it. I have my
I'll leave it open and when you have a
moment you can
>> Sure.
>> Sorry, I had to keep getting home from
soccer.
>> Right. because I need to leave for here
and possibly get them real.
>> There's there's so much information on
my stickies.
>> We really are almost done. This is
great.
>> The legisator.
>> Okay. I will give a legislative update.
All right. Well, so um
many of you probably saw HB1300,
which was um the new tax cap or sorry,
the school budget cap bill that had been
passed and gone through. Um there was a
lawsuit brought um not by us by parents
found yourself. Um
basically because the law is misleading
the way that it's written um or the the
article is very misleading the way that
it is that it is mandated it must be
written and it says that it will not
have any impact on instruction and it's
referring to just that last part but it
makes it sound the thing will not have
any instruction. So, um there are
parents who brought a lawsuit around
that. Um I don't know that that will
filter through by November. Um but, um
we're kind of in wait and see mode on
that at this point. Um are there
updates? Do we want to give more updates
or do we want to leave it at that?
We can talk about we are questioning
what is happening with the HP1300 just
based on our interstate compact because
we have voters on the Norwich side that
would not have any say in being able to
determine whether we should have a tax
stamp or not get their taxer by this
vote. So we're looking into that piece
as well.
>> Yeah. And the Dresden Compact explicitly
says that neither state shall take any
action that would impact the other
state. Um, and this obviously directly
contradicts that. And so we're in a bit
of a pickle there. So we're hoping that
we may just be carved out by the state
of New Hampshire, but we we'll see. So
there's lots of moving pieces on that.
Yep. In the meantime, there is a webinar
that Gary and I No, was it
>> I haven't been to that one.
>> No.
>> That we're going to go to.
>> Oh,
>> was it the two of us who took
responsibility?
>> Yeah, we did. But I volunteered
ourselves.
>> I thought it was this one that I went to
that it wasn't because
>> Yeah, that one was awful. I think it's
the 13th.
>> It was I believe it's Sunday. She was
texting me.
>> That that number rings a bell. It's
Sunday the 13th and it is
uh I think sponsored by reaching higher
a whole conglomeration of education
associations and groups and it will be
yeah what you need to know about school
funding caps and a plan and things that
that individuals communities can do. And
that's open to anyone, right? Oh, yes.
Can all join that club.
>> Absolutely.
>> And I have the Zoom open right now.
>> Here we go.
>> Yeah. Can I can I just say if I just say
like a common sense
is problematic?
>> Sure. Go for it. because I had an
interesting conversation with just a
neighbor who was on it was very
tax cap on school spending that's
equivalent to CPR and the things that I
have to explain which made it
problematic
gas prices we already have a an existing
contract with a transportation company
and we are um responsible if gas prices
go
which will never be equivalent to
disappear. We have got to pay other
utilities for our school buildings which
never um rise unve
special education. We are legally
responsible on the state and federal
level to provide an adequate education
to children with special needs and one
um child could
retire budget if we had one new um
student with special needs and that
makes this bill absolutely untangled
from the practical
and so it may look quite reasonable in
its wording and it is just not there's
also yep and I will just add it's very
unclear what CPI well it's it's actually
says that we would use the CPI as of
March uh of the preceding year which
would be the March after the vote
>> and well after our budgets have been
established. So it basically would mean
flat budgets because I don't and even
that like I you can't because you you
have no way of predicting what CPI will
be. Not to mention that our tax rate is
calculated well after our budgets are
set and we don't necessarily control
what the tax rate is going to be so or
what goes into it or what else is. So
there's there's lots of problematic
pieces certainly. Yeah. Um anything else
for legislative updates
at this time?
>> Yeah. No, I was just going to say the
next item I was going to give people an
update, a little overview, even though
we took it off the agenda. So that might
be a good time for you to get out your
>> Oh, perfect.
>> Okay. So, I did leave the NHSBA
resolutions on
the table mostly just to make sure
everybody knows two things that I think
are important. The first one is that,
well, they're three. The first one is
that I just didn't have time ahead of
tonight's meeting to develop a
resolution byresolution
bit of advice for the board because I
think there are 14 or 15 resolutions.
And
aside from that though, the school board
association is completely revamping its
bylaws. They're streamlining it with the
idea that every other year will be one
where they're paying attention to the
legislature and which I think in some
ways, this is a side note, is impossible
because there's so many bills that are
always being introduced in the
legislative session. But that's what
they hope to do is focus on legislation
every other year and the in between
years, the odd years to do programming
for schoolboard members to provide
knowledge, information, workshops,
social opportunities to address the
needs of being a schoolboard member. And
at first glance looking through
everything, they seem pretty
straightforward. School, you're all
welcome to look at it. It's a lot of red
and lines out, but I think the gist of
it seems fairly reasonable. They also,
again, a quick look, this is my second
point, at all the resolutions. I
initially agree with everything the New
Hampshire School Board Association says.
They are reluctant to support
resolutions that get down into the
weeds. They have they are not interested
in supporting resolutions that duplicate
current elements of uh you know sort of
standards that they adhere to. And they
also have rewarded a few of the
resolutions to make them a little bit
more
um
appropriate,
reasonable. And so if you want to spend
time with the resolutions, and I would
urge you to do that, just kind of look
through and see if there's anything you
really disagree with. And that's it. Are
you ready? Are you up?
>> Oh, I'm there. Okay.
>> Thank you.
>> Yeah.
It's been a a wonderful tale. Um,
>> any questions? And again, we're going to
look at this. I think you guys probably
said this was before I got here, but um,
we're going to look at this first at
Dresden, which makes sense in some ways.
it's more efficient rather than
retweeting everything for the for our
Norwich colleagues. So,
>> um, great. All right, we will move on to
Brett Derek and our update on special
special education and out of district
placements.
>> Good job negotiating the obstacle
course.
>> Yeah. So, I'm Brett Derek. I'm the
director for student services for the
school district. So I work with all the
staff and the schools. Um special
education is one of the the hats that I
wear. Uh annually I provide an update
around this time of um where we're
looking from a budget standpoint on our
out of district student costs. Um we
build a budget in September starts. We
project out what we think we know we'll
need and in reality and now we're in a
school year. Um so it's a similar format
that I've provided in the past. Uh brief
terra already mentioned a little bit of
it but um our responsibilities in public
school is to provide an appropriate
education for all our students um
regardless of ability level of need
disability. Um and so for our students
who have the the most significant
learning needs and the most complex
profiles um sometimes we're not able to
meet their needs in our school. So we
have to work with
sometimes private schools within the
state, sometimes private schools outside
of the state. Look, the Hartford school
district right over the river has
collaborative programs. So, us and a
number of regional school districts um
were part of that collaborative and we
can have students attend those programs.
They have students there programs for
students with autism, life skills
program for students who have
intellectual disabilities. We also have
a program that specializes in students
with emotional behaviors.
Uh so every year we budget based on what
we like I said what we think we know and
the students that we have. Um every year
there's always variations. Um this year
right now it's looking like we're going
to be over budget. Um based on the
current students we had one
student that we didn't budget for that
ended up requiring have district
placement. that process and decision
happened during the 2526 school year
budgets were built. Um and so that's the
the majority of that difference and from
what was budgeted to you know projected
costs at this time. Uh
I included some information about
revenue at the bottom. Uh and part of
why I included that is because last year
um we ended up um being well under
budget I think to the amount that
480,000
again unexpected changes where a student
we thought was going to be needing an
outside placement could have moved out
of district. Their needs could have
changed. parents could have provided to
send their child through a program that
they wanted that wasn't part of the
school district. So last year um well
under budget but this year we're looking
like they're over budget. Um we do get
some reimbursement from the state of New
Hampshire. Uh it's not fantastic amount
and it's
correlated pretty well to the amount
that we spend and then we get an amount
back. There's a thorough ration that the
Department of Education uses because
they only have access to so much funds
and there's a law that was recently
passed that say they can't grow rate any
less than 8%.
So that's a a win for us. I'd like to
have it be 100% but it's better than
there have been years where they've only
rated like 68%.
That's the update. happy to provide uh
additional information or details for
what I can answer questions.
>> All on myself. Sorry. Um
so am I looking at this right then that
in fact so if I add the numbers up
that's like 91,000 and then ultimately
are we basically getting double hit so
that the shortfall is going to be more
like that 91,000 plus the shortfall of
32,000 that we're not getting in
revenue. Am I thinking about that right
>> for the special education aid?
>> Yes,
>> I believe so. So, the budget
>> what we budgeted was
>> that's what it says in your notes. Yeah.
>> So,
so it's going to be that
>> less that projected revenue and these
and Um, I'll leave it as this is what we
know right now,
>> right?
>> Um,
another student required our students
needs to change and they no longer need
that level of service. Um,
transportation is part of that. We, you
know, utilize our buses when we can. You
have to contract with private
transportation companies when you don't
have buses available and that was
extraordinarily expensive.
All districts are struggling with paying
that amount and have to get the students
to school. So if it's difficult, we do
have some families that are open to
mileage reimbursement. So if they're
able to transport their students, then
that's something that we can help
provide to them. And it's can be a cost
savings for the district. So when that
works out, we
>> do you know off the top of your head
what our special education reserve fund
is at
that
>> threeish
just over 300,000.
>> Okay. All right. It's ter So I guess I
have a question.
Are we going to draw this $224,000
from I just
>> Are we going to draw from funds to be
budgeting?
>> We can do we need to vote on that.
>> Um later
I don't know that you want to jump the
gun at this moment. Um, I know in past
years we've had offsets from general
education budget or special education
budget that's not out of district that's
been used to offset overages
>> here.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, I don't know the timeline of when
the board needs to make a decision of
these are going to access those funds or
not.
>> So I guess we just need to be kept
informed by you guys to know when to
make that decision. And I would say the
decision point is more do we need to
replenish the special education fund
during the March election. That would be
the
>> well we would need to know now for
budget building that starts next week
>> if we need to reserve more.
>> Okay
>> because we skipped yesterday.
>> I will
excited.
>> I just saw my calendar
already.
>> Yeah.
And Trace, another question for you. I
know that we have retaining conversation
coming up.
>> Can that retainage be used for this
purpose as well?
>> Um, it could be we'd still be requesting
if if that's what we lock in, then we'd
still request to use it. But before we
do that, I I would still go to the
reserve first, right? Okay.
>> Thank you.
>> Yes. Just as an FYI, um Ben
>> suggested that we take retainage off the
agenda, but you want to put it back.
>> No.
>> Or just a conversation about it?
>> Conversation. People had questions
otherwise. Yeah, we're going to hunt it.
Yeah. Perfect.
>> Um I was just curious. This is K5. Are
there I have the prek work in my brain.
Are we aware of um what the costs are?
And I know it might be a little seen a
little different than out of district
placement, but I know in the past there
have been kids um younger than K that
we're needing to pay for supports
earlier for the early childhood stuff.
And I that's not on here. I don't know
if we have a sense of those tasks.
>> Uh I don't. So this includes all
students who live in handover
K through 12. Um all the students are
currently of high school, middle school
age.
>> Yeah. that attending audition placements
for preschool
costs. Um those are
>> different
>> different account 1210.
>> Um and so part of part of that
>> preschool discussion was thinking that
if we were to have our public preschool
here, we wouldn't have to pay tuition.
Yeah.
>> Which is separate from us not being able
to meet the student needs. just they
needed a preschool environment for their
learning which we would be able to
provide through our program and I think
when we discussed it we thought about
keeping some funds in the preschool
tuition line
>> in case we needed space that we didn't
have
>> yeah it was if we knew what those costs
were it would help
>> and last question for you um would
because I know we're responsible for for
students up to age 21 correct
>> through 21
>> through 21. Um, would they just show up
as 12th graders on this? That's kind of
the Yes.
>> Yes. Okay.
>> All right.
>> Yeah. I guess I have a question for us
regarding sort of the preschool portion
of the discussions um for sort of budget
focus um for next week and beyond. Is it
our um sort of preferred way to
budget for the preschool on the handover
side to do just what Rhett said, which
is keep it attached? Um how he does it
right now and the special 1,210 or 20
line. Um and then also figure out our
costs for the preschool side if any
spreadsheet that we discuss later. or is
there some other different way that this
group would like to tackle that? So,
>> I guess my question would be, do we have
to keep that separate per reporting
guidelines and such? May I don't know.
>> I think like Brett said, we just had
lack of clarity so far as to how it was
going to go. So, it seems like not a
huge deal to leave $30,000
line in case there are any kids and for
some reason would not be very expensive.
Yeah.
>> So, just because we didn't know what it
was the first year that we did it that
way, but I'm just trying to make sure
that next week we don't get
>> sounds.
All right.
>> Thank you.
>> Okay. Financial report.
Since I did the financials last time,
I'm just going to roll into those little
three topics, but um
I did the Yeah, I did the financials
last time. So, all I did was upload this
time around the business report. I too
made mention of House Bill 13, House
Bill 564 at the very beginning of the
rest. Um he's and then I'm just kind of
spoke about the different departments.
Um, but I did bring them with me and
like I said, I'm just going to roll into
the DOE 25 and the MS25.
Um, the DOE approved those yesterday or
today,
whatever it was yesterday.
So, they approved them yesterday. So, I
brought for your signature. So, I'm
going to send this around. So, um,
Robin's I'll have to get your signature,
too. Um and then
at this point um talking about that we
don't have to make a decision decision
or anything else as far as some fund
balance but I did upload those documents
also underneath the retainage
um two options when we built the budget
for FY27 we built it with um the
assumption that we would have 980,000
to apply and offset taxes.
We do have that to apply. And then with
that,
option number one would also be 394,000
retainage.
Sorry, take your glasses off and
option two. Oh, and and going with
option one, keeping everything if
everything was to stay status quo. If
that was the case, we would still be at
the 7.48%.
we would be at 63 cents increase and
that would be $99 on the thousand just
like we um budgeted.
If you decided option two and you said,
"Well, we want to put 1.1 million back
to the taxpayers," that would leave us
with about 274,000 to tame, but that
would bring it to a 7.12%
60 increase instead of 63. and then it
would be $96 on the th00and. So you're
talking about a 3cent difference on the
thousand. Um so those are the two
options and again figured I'd upload
those give you guys a chance to look at
those and consider that not to send
these around physically but they
are uploaded and my recommendation was
still stay with the 980 but then Brett
came before me. Um, so,
so there could be a resistation to go
the other way and go ahead and put, you
know, 1.1 million back to the taxpayer
to offset the taxes, um, could
potentially al also offset and not have
to touch the special debt fund. Um, in
that respect of keep in in other words,
even though we're going to spend it,
we're trying to reduce that, you know,
offset with the lower tax rate.
>> But
Can I ask?
>> Yeah, go ahead.
>> Do I missed the beginning of the meeting
and so are we not?
>> You're not asking the right person.
>> Oh, and you didn't want to talk about
this?
>> No, no, no.
>> We didn't want to vote.
>> We table the vote.
>> The vote.
>> Was it because we voted much later on
last year?
>> No, it's just cuz we didn't have it
until today and so I didn't want to ask
you guys to make a decision on
something.
>> Like we didn't
much later.
>> We voted much. Yeah. What was it?
>> So my proposal and that we I believe are
planning to call a special meeting
before the Dresden meeting uh on the
23rd or 22nd. Thank you. Um so my
proposal was to let you guys ask
questions if you have questions about
this since Teresa said, "Oh, I actually
do have it. Let me put it in there." Um
great. We can ask questions now and then
we'll vote on it at that special
meeting.
>> So the only reason why Teresa these two
um options are in there at the levels
that they are is just one is just
exactly what we did last year. It's it's
what we put into the budget when we
built FY27 budget. So option number one
literally is what we built in 980,000
um as the offset for the taxes.
>> Seems like we have we have a discussion
with this like this time of year every
year.
>> Yes. This is our it's on our template.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> So it's it's just it's not a fixed
number. It's we figure it out based upon
all the
>> and we are allowed to retain up to 5%.
>> Correct. And that's on there too. What I
did was I created that document to mimic
the um department of revenues document
that we normally um when we set the tax
rate and everything else. So it kind of
mimics it the breakdown. So it's like a
little over 600,000 would be what we
would be allowed. But again, you could
choose
option three and say, you know, I like a
better option or something like that.
But um but I figured option one, no
matter what, I just keep the status quo.
Um and then option two was trying to
keep a little bit of a retainage and not
um not take it down to zero.
Okay.
All right. Other questions? Yeah. And
obviously between now and 22nd, if you
have questions for Teresa, feel free to
shoot this and copy me so I know the
answer to.
All right. Um, moving on. Appointing our
AP approver.
>> It's been a while.
>> Oh, Ben, you are my favorite. Thank you.
>> Anyone else want to be my favorite?
>> I've been on hiatus.
I'll do it in January.
>> Oh, no. I can do it. Terra's moving into
budget season. I I'll do it.
>> Okay. Okay. Thank you.
>> All right. You're also my favorite
person to be willing to do it. You're
also my favorite person. All right.
>> And just to clarify since there's
sometimes back and forth on this. This
will be going into effect come October.
Yes. Is that right?
>> Yes. Okay. I think that's what we do.
>> And for our noteaker, that was Ben and
Carrie ultimately would be to do it
>> starting October 1st. October 1st.
>> All right,
>> moving on. Budget guidelines and
timeline.
>> Take this one.
>> No, you're good.
>> I need to review the retainage
documents.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, cool. So, uh, no. Oh, this isn't me.
>> Oh,
>> this is Teresa.
>> Teresa.
What time? I mean, you have the document
there, guys. I don't know that there's
actually that much to say. I'll just
note. So, I'll note for board members
while we get ourselves
>> while we get ourselves oriented here.
Um, you'll notice in this calendar that
there are some meetings if it says
internal that does not involve board
members. So, those are meetings
happening within the building um where
they are creating their budget
basically. Um and then the meetings that
um have the brown coloring um that's
when the budget committees so us that's
when we will be involved in that and
then the bright green ones to really
draw your attention are the ones where
um they come to a formal board meeting
um and are presented in front of the
public. So
that's all.
>> And to add to that, yes, please.
>> And the hot pink
meetings.
>> Oh, yes. Our updates. Yes.
>> Um, yes. In hot pink. So, yes. So, there
are budget meetings coming up uh next
week. Correct.
>> And tomorrow.
>> Tomorrow morning.
>> SAU. And who's on SAU? Remind me.
>> Me.
>> And Michael. Okay, thank you. Thank you.
You're also my favorite people. All
right. Um, so many favorite people.
>> And then SAU will be decided very soon
and I will just
>> little yeah little call back to um
Teresa's presentation on the um uh
business administrator's summary there.
Um, one of the bills that we are that
has gone into law that that we are
following is
>> 564.
>> Thank you. 564. Um, we have to put the
SAU budget separately on which we've
never done. It's just been kind of
rolled out to the three district
budgets. Um, and so now it has to be
voted on separately.
Again, problematic because it won't be
voted on separately in Norwich. What
happens if it fails? We don't really
know that. Nobody knows that. So, um,
yeah, stay tuned. Um, but all the more
reason to at least get our end of things
squared away as early as possible.
>> Yep.
>> With a reminder to the voters that
Norwich tends to outvote handover. Keep
that in mind as well.
>> Keep voting.
>> Well, and just for clarification,
Norwich has everything town meeting and
school all at the same time. So, it
makes sense that they outvote us. Mhm.
>> We just have to, you know, do something
outlandish that will prompt people to
say, "I'm going to go to that school
board meeting."
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. We'll come up with something.
>> Thanks, Dad.
>> You know, I was thinking of the JB
hockey program or the track.
>> That's a dreadman chair. Uh, I love this
day.
>> Um, uh, there's there's a few, uh,
updates that I wanted to make sure we
recorded. I didn't know. Is this the
right time just to say things out loud
and then
>> Sure.
>> Say things out loud, Rene. Um, so the
the board in September, the topline
board review/isbudget guidelines, I
think our proposal is the September 22nd
2B schedule meeting for us in Hanover.
>> Not today. I have Kelly and I do not
have guidelines we will look at yet
budget committee. Um and uh and I was
wondering is did Norris already do
theirs last week or do we need to update
that date?
>> The guidelines.
>> Yeah.
>> No, they're all being done together.
>> Okay, cool. So that's what I that's what
I assumed, but I follow up.
>> Um so that just to I think it's like all
of those are basically the September
22nd date. Uh just so everybody we don't
have it tonight. Sorry. assignments we
came for.
And then um the strategic alignment
number two meeting that um was
recommended was supposed to be November
or December,
late November or early December is
technically what we said. So like we
would align initially to say okay what
is the direction what are what is the
common information we all need to know
and then how do we determine our budget
guidelines and then later on we would
all come back together and say how are
things shaping up now that we know more
information and we've all we've kind of
all done the work. Um, and so I don't
know what date you want to plan that
for, but in either late November or
early December, we would want to have a
moment of us coming back together again.
>> Is that where we see the second admin
budget committee meeting in there?
>> I don't know what's the same cuz that's
not us. That's not
>> that is Ford. It's just not in front of
the public.
Oh
>> yeah.
>> Which one are you talking about?
>> I'm looking at November.
>> The
>> Yeah, I mean it looks like
>> I don't know. Salmon beige sand. I don't
know what you want to call that.
>> Are these two together?
>> Yeah.
>> Is that the intent there?
>> Yes.
>> So then So then it would be so like
another green line the two of them
together.
>> Mhm.
>> Yeah. This is great because it says with
princ discuss any final changes
questions with principles directors
budget finance committee.
>> Perfect.
>> Mhm.
>> Right.
>> Great. And then can you somehow make the
language? I just want to make sure
everybody across the districts knows
that we want to do it together.
>> Yeah. Okay. for that.
>> Just noting that if it's meant to come
after all of those other
coordinating ones, the Dresden is very
late and so we'll have to squeeze it in
before Thanksgiving if we're going to
>> That's tough timing, but
>> we can do it
>> or early or early December. The
guidelines say
either.
Love that.
>> Yeah. All right. Good. Cool.
>> Theresa, anything else to add?
>> Uh, not for me at this time.
>> Okay. Super.
>> We will move on into Yes.
>> Oh, no. I'm I'm Oh, really?
>> Okay. You're in chair mode. I like it.
Business requiring action. Um, I will
take a motion to approve items. Is it
still B?
>> B through F.
>> Yes. Okay. Thank you, Christie.
>> Deb.
>> I move to approve items B through F by
consent.
Uh second from Carrie. Sorry. And all in
favor doing show hands. That is
unanimous. Okay. Excellent. Um we are
not doing G and we are not doing H. You
still have them in there. Um so moving
on to communications and reports.
Uh Renee, this is you.
>> Yes.
>> And technically me, but why don't you go
ahead and start Renee?
Um, so, uh, we are heading into our
strategic one meeting on the 17th as you
all just saw in this lovely calendar.
Thank you, Teresa, for putting it
together. Um, and the
>> it was Ryan. Oh, thank you, Ryan.
Together. Um, and so as part of that
conversation, there's uh, you know, how
do how do we talk about what our
priorities are? What do we want to be
making sure we all are um kind of aware
of in terms of revenue pressures,
expenditure pressures moving into the
year. Um a lot of things we don't know
right now. Uh but in terms of like hard
numbers, but I think there's there's
lots of general sentiment out there um
that feels important to just make sure
that this board is aware before your
fearless budget committee goes forth.
Um, and so I wanted to just put in a
bunch of notes. Um, we've chatted with
the a few folks from the family finance
committee. Um, the Hanner finance
committee. I'm on the capital
improvement program committee for the
town. So like that conversation's kind
of happened through there. Um, and then
there's been uh kind of pulling of
insight from various board meetings
we've had over the past x number of
months. Like this is just kind of a sum
of that. Um, I wanted to make sure we
started uh with our mission. We are here
for the kids and I just thought it was
really nice to make sure that we are all
reminding ourselves of that. Um, maybe
it's just selfish cuz we just jump to
the numbers too fast. So, uh, that is
really really I think important. And
then really hits on um the conversation
of priorities. And this is you'll see
this in red. I really this whole thing
is a draft. it is just meant for initial
conversation for us. Um I intended to
put um strategic goals
associated with every single priority
that I've listed here. Um I think there
there are some some cross multiple I
think preK crosses multiple. Um I think
building starter pipelines for
leadership and talent um AC crosses a
few too but either case this is
obviously work in progress. Um, I think
that part, the potential priorities is
the biggest one that's up in the air.
Um, not up in the air, but the one I'm
I'm really curious about everybody's
feedback. Um, because that will drive
where we want to invest. Um,
then I gave my response or thoughts
about budget outlook this year. Uh, it's
another tough one. Um, I wrote that we
can likely expect to have to cut,
although that is misleading because
there will be increases in expenses. So,
we're going to have to invest more in
like healthcare. Um, but that's just
going to put pressures elsewhere. So,
um, I take ownership for the misleading
language if that is how you are
interpreting it. Um, and then I wanted
to make sure I outlined a few of the
there's lots of revenue pressures and
lots of revenue pressures, but the
biggest ones um that we could choose to
acknowledge and tackle this year or
decide no, that's actually not going to
be the biggest thing. I don't really
know to what extent we want to um kind
of weigh in on do we do we want to place
a bet on AP300
happening or not happening. I don't
know. Um I did add Vermont notes in here
uh just to kind of get a sense of the
bigger picture again because that's
going to affect the Dresden going to
affect us there too. Um these uh I
checked with Neil the the language over
there is the foundation formula um which
also has a component to it which is in
the revenue decline section of your ro
tuition tax cap. If you have questions
see um but there's uh you'll notice I
strictly did not put any dollar signs
associated with any of these and I don't
know how if like one is so much bigger
than the other. I think they're all just
a whole hot mess together and they may
not all hit us this year in the same
way. Um the anticipated enrollment
decline, it's not totally clear. Um I we
kind of looked at some of the numbers.
It's not like major, at least in terms
of numbers we have historically, but
nothing's going up. Um and so I think
that's the biggest takeaway. Um, in a
version, I'm sure I'll kind of iterate
on this for for Dresden, but um, I think
that's important to know. Uh, we've seen
a few reports, some from Lauren about
federal grant funding not looking as
strong as it was in years past last
time. Um, but who knows, they might
surprise us.
Um, and then I think taxpayer pressures
is is something that's really important
for us to just be aware of in terms of
um
our our wonderful residents. Uh, aside
from everything happening on outside of
our town, within our town, uh, there's
lots of capital um, improvements that
are being planned. I forget what this
article is, thinks of 47 million in the
next two years. Um, there's pressures on
the operating budget as well. Um the uh
town folks that I talked with wanted to
impress on us that the gap that they're
looking to fill in terms of salaries
would be about us trying to fill a
million dollars. So like there's
substantial catching up to do for our um
town employees is what their sentiment
is. So that's you know obviously we
don't have say on what they choose to
do. They don't have to say in terms of
what we have choose to do, but we are
really thinking of our constituents
overall, which is we all the same people
who are kind of um uh in our town that
are that are supporting both the town
and schools. So, that's important for us
to remember. Um and it will come as no
shock to lots of folks that work at
Dartmouth uh medical center and
Dartmouth College um that there's
expected cost cutting TBD. what that
actually looks like. Um, but that is the
information that I received and that is
the level of detail that I think I can
say accurately about it.
Um, but the medical center I think has
been experiencing a lot more pressure
because of the one big beautiful bill
situation which was already not they're
already getting pressure before. So, um,
lots lots of revenue
things to consider. the other stuff on
the table obviously um there's I'm sure
most of us if not everybody's already
seen the projections of healthcare costs
this year from New York Times um
certainly double digits probably a lot
more we are capital improvement
conversation we can choose that's like a
choice um healthcare
there's there's choice to it but less so
um the capital improvement work that is
more of a choice there was a actually a
lovely quote from our town manager uh
that was related to our capital
improvement planning committee around
how handover has a um history of
deferring maintenance. Um that is also
true for our schools. Um which he was
just like just letting you know that's
everywhere to like the whole committee.
So he's not wrong. Um and so I think
that's where your committee comes in
which is great. Um and of course we have
our teachers contract. Um and I just
added a couple dates here just so you
all had some insight. We now do have
dates for negotiations, but that was
like as of two hours ago. So, but I'm
here. Um, quest. Let's start with
questions and then I really would love
your general thoughts on the priorities
here. Importantly, if anything needs to
come off the list or be added to it, um,
including Robin's perspective. So,
clarifications first.
>> Thanks for all the thoughtful work,
Renee. Appreciate it. um questions,
clarifications.
>> Yeah,
>> this is not really a question. I just
worry that if somebody is decides later
to go and watch on YouTube and hears us
talk about this, they they may miss some
of the detail by not opening up the
document. And I'm not suggesting we read
it to them, but I do think that there
are a couple things
>> that we've talked about being committed
to. And one of them is establishing the
two prek classrooms.
>> And the other one is to establish a
social worker to support all four
schools in the district. That those are
things that we really want to see happen
because we've put them in, taken them
out, put them in, taken out. We're going
to put them in from the beginning. And I
think that's important for
people who are listening with one ear,
maybe with both ears. Um, and the other
thing is just to recognize that you you
pulled back a little bit about having to
cut, but we we are looking at a tighter
budget
>> and we want to do those things and we
may have to not do other things.
we will have to not do other things. I
think it's probably fair to say.
>> Yeah,
>> I just want to um totally agree with you
Debb on the two priorities that we've
talked about um that I think it's
important that we commit to the social
worker and we've already voted on the
preschool portion as well. So those in
my mind at least three commitment and I
know that it involves the balance of the
the dress and board and it's an ongoing
conversation but um it would feel
meaningful very meaningful to be able to
implement both of those things after
many years of discussion but not quite
getting to the action portion of events.
And I also wanted to um reiterate the
same thing that Deb just said about um
you know the sort of cost cutting sort
of conversation. It's um putting things
in is not excluded by having a tight
budget season. It's just reflective that
we as a board have priorities and have a
point on the horizon that we're trying
to get the school district to um to aim
for. And it really is a discussion of
tradeoffs and how can we do what we do
just as well but maybe in some places a
bit more efficiently. Um and that's an
important conversation for us to have um
and get to the meat of because that will
it's a game changer. It's an absolute
game changer. So, and then the one thing
I want to clarify is the the point about
the town spending a million dollars
extra on salaries is because they did an
equity study for their employees. And
the result of their equity study, just
like we did one a few years ago, result
of their equity study indicated that
they needed to spend another million
dollars in salaries to get their people
to where they needed to be.
>> Thank you for that clarification. Yeah.
And it's not it's not actually the
million actual dollars. it is somewhere
in the 600s. But for our for like for us
in terms of like our overall budget,
it's the equivalent of needing us to
spend a million dollar. So just to
>> for those that are listening with a
happy ear,
>> other questions Renee,
remind us what did you specifically want
feedback on again?
>> So uh I'm interested in the priorities
which I heard a little bit.
>> Yeah, I heard two and five solidly.
Yeah.
>> Um I I personally would be shocked if
nobody wanted number one about improving
sustainability.
>> Uh and I think the language there maybe
could be adjusted um you know just to
improve sustainability. Um I'm really
interested in our
uh I think hearing from you know at the
SAU we'll talk about capital improvement
I think. Um, and so we'll we'll get a
better sense of what that looks like
there. And we have initial numbers from
those meetings. But our our conversation
around number four, um, is that
something we want to be having a
conversation of within our district
right here? Is that a different district
conversation? Is that an SA
conversation? Robin, what is your
thought? That would be yes definitely an
SAU conversation because that aligns
with the um
salaries at that level.
>> Okay.
>> Yes. So be a question for that.
>> Yeah. And and I would say, you know,
that is probably when I look at this
like there's there's priorities and then
there's budgetary
>> priorities and and to me the number four
budgetary implication would be
>> looking at our salary structure at the
SA level
>> most likely. But I mean again if we if
we have like this pot of money, right,
and we're going to put some more of it
over here now there's a smaller pot,
right? And so I think that like that
mentality
um needs to be part of what we're
thinking about especially with so many
unknowns and with the clear messaging
from the state that what they would like
to see is flat budgets.
>> No.
>> And I do agree with the goals for the
Ray School. The two big things really
that we have talked about for the past
several years have been the social
worker and the preschool classrooms.
>> We've been saying that over and over.
So,
>> which again hopefully improves
educational outcomes and working
conditions for the entire building,
right? And that's or for the entire
district, right? That's that's the goal.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Um I hadn't spoken because I feel like I
was just repeating Debar's sentiment. Um
I think well established my prek in
social work
uh I was a former school social worker.
Um, so, uh, yeah, I think I think these
are I think these capture our
conversations and
>> I I do really need to I feel like I have
to say something to re-emphasize the
reality in that we live in such a
privileged place where we do have some
really amazing aspects to our schools
and there is a piece of me especially
when you said the word equity I was like
like prek is an equity it is a statement
of a belief in equity. Um, and that may
mean that things have to be shifted in
other areas. And I think that is really
hard for um a community that's been as
privileged as we are to have such
amazing and schools that have all these
kind of like lots of different stuff
going on. We've been really lucky and um
yeah,
>> other Yep. I don't know if you want to
talk about the capital improved stuff
now. We just had very enlightened
meeting.
I
>> mean that's sort of our that's our next
>> Yes. I mean I can I guess I can say that
we can talk about that in our other but
but that is an ongoing conversation. Not
that we have any distilled answers yet
but I think we're well on our way to
>> Tara on that. Are refresh my memory. Are
you now serving on the capital
improvement planning committee for the
district? Okay. So, we should add that.
>> Oh, it's Lisa.
>> Yes. And Lisa.
>> Lisa. And
>> Okay. So, we should add that
>> to the extent that it pertains to
handover. Can we add you to our
committee reports for future?
>> Oh, of course. Yeah, sure.
>> All right. Super. Make a name of that.
All right. Um, anything else you need
from us tonight? Uh, if you are on any
of budget committees, please show up at
8 a.m.
>> next Thursday.
>> Where are we?
>> We have
Let me check because
>> I
not everybody was aware of said meeting.
So,
>> are you aware of it?
>> I am. That's on my calendar. I had a
moment but now I realize I have I know
the moment has
>> we are in my office.
>> It's going to be very cozy.
>> So we're I we may need to move that.
>> We may need to move that
>> cuz we have more people now.
And
>> just to confirm
>> Yes, please.
>> Just looking at our board committees. So
that would be Deb, Kelly, Renee, and
Tara are all on one budget committee or
another. Does that sound right to
everyone?
>> Sounds right to me.
>> Sure.
your attention.
>> Oh, Jim, there's still TBD in
just Yeah,
>> that's good news.
>> All right, other committees. Tara,
anything else to report?
>> Finance committ meets tomorrow. Um,
everyone has been very lovely in their
expressed support for the budget process
um at this early stage.
>> Yeah, we look forward to their continued
involvement and assistance. Thanks for
being our leazison on for that. Um, we
talked about NHSBA.
Nothing else, Deb, I imagine.
>> No.
>> No. Okay. Um, the CIPC.
Okay.
>> PreK. Still,
>> we did not get a pattern.
>> Cool. from the capitalist movement. Can
I say um think we do have some urgency
as a board to um just acknowledge the
timeline and how pieces are going to
work. Um it seems pretty clear that in
order for that um capital improvement
committee for the schools to be
functional like at this time next year
they have got to have received from the
board direction of priorities so that
they can go out and solicit and digest
quotes, actual quotes um and be ready at
this time next year
>> toud budget and and so we'll have to
understand what projects are going to
go, how much we're going to have to get
feedback from the school folks, how much
they're going to cost and then we as a
board are going to have to understand
financing um options. So we have there
even though there are so many action
steps, the one important action step for
this body is going to be um a real
expression of priorities to that
committee so that they can go out and do
all of them necessary. And so it occurs
to me that we should probably put a spot
in our agendas going forward for that
kind of conversation, but only once we
have something to react to. So
>> So right now, if you wanted to react to
something, so there's information that's
not very digested. So, but there there's
a a very robust set of um ranking and
prioritization
um matrix items that have been
established by the committee that they
have applied and you can go on to
assembly and look under all of their
documents. There are 10 projects per
school that have been identified. And so
after the meeting today, I was a little
overwhelmed and I said, "Please, could
we make it two projects per school um
with the narrative and context so that
people can evaluate and make an informed
decision?" They said yes. So by next
>> month we will have two projects for our
little group to look at for handover um
with the narrative of context. And in
the meantime, I will tell you a very
unexciting thing that there's an
underground oil tank at the race which I
do not know about which in my humble
opinion should be gone.
>> So yeah. So
>> whatever needs to happen to take the um
the capital um assessment funds that we
have the reserve funds and get rid of
that and it's like less than $50,000. Oh
heck yeah. It should be gone to
>> Thank you, Taran. I feel like your level
excitement here is about how I feel when
there's like a new ice cream place.
>> There's something that cost a dollar to
do, but if you didn't do it could cost
you $1,000.
>> So that's the kind of thing that I don't
want to be talking about on any of my
budget committees next year. So I would
like to go
>> liability is not worth.
>> All right. Thank you, T. Um, and we'll
stay tuned on that and we'll roll right
into Robin's report then, which I think
will hit some of the same.
>> So, we had a fantastic opening. I can't
believe that we've been here now for
over almost two weeks really. And um,
but it was a really wonderful opening.
We had our opening day with the entire
staff on the first Monday where we held
a breakfast and I did a little speech
that I shared with you and then we did a
student panel that's always a highlight
and this year we had students from
grades three through high school as part
of the panel and then some of our staff
members who also went through our
schools. So, it's just it's always so
much fun to hear what the students are
really looking forward to and you know
what they would like to see their
teachers do and the um I've always
gotten really positive feedback for the
past few years on that. So, that was a
lot of fun. And then we did do our
recognitions for plan 20 and 30 year
staff members which was nice. Opening
day was just a bustle of you know just
so much fun seeing everyone return to
the schools our two new principles our
new associate principal here and I've
been able to in the first week I was
able to get into a lot of classrooms and
just be around and see everything that's
happening. So that was really wonderful
in terms of the real work that's being
happening behind the scenes. We have
been working on the capital improvement
plan. Um we are in the process of
looking at the budgets and trying to get
through that process and think about
what we would like to put forward with
budget guidelines. We've had already
some internal meetings. Theresa's met
with each of the principles to go
through all the FTEEs to make sure
that's updated and accurate. And so I
feel like even compared to last year,
we're in so much of a better place. Um,
so that's felt really good. And then
otherwise, just trying to do all the
day-to-day things, dealing with the new
legislation that's passed. There are a
lot of other little things that will
have an impact on the schools that I'm
trying to really figure out what impact
that's going to have. Um,
you know, in terms of curricular
programs, we are in the process, Teresa,
as you all know, is needing to go to
Claremont. So, we're in the process of
looking for new businesses in this
career at this time, too. That's really
difficult thing in this environment. So,
that would be big shoes to fill for us.
And I think that's it.
I'm happy to answer any questions that
you have.
>> All right.
No questions. All right.
>> Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
>> That's all right.
Got pretty good balance. Um, you have my
report. Sorry about that.
>> Just kidding.
>> Um, and I would be happy to answer any
questions after echoing um, how
wonderful it's been to have everybody
back in the schools. Um, being able to
be in classrooms. I've spent a lot of
time here at Ray just seeing the good
work that's happening with Kelly and
Karen. Um, I gave a little bit of an
update um, on our Dartmouth partnership
as promised from our last meeting. Um,
and then some what I thought were pretty
great quotes from our pep rally with uh
Robin that the students shared um their
insight uh about you know the best type
of teacher and things that they look for
to feel supported as students. Can I
answer any questions?
I I would just um add it. Well, I would
ask you perhaps to just comment on the
two
presentations we heard in SDC that were
related to the elementary school and the
the learn the learning and what that is
translating into at their high school.
>> Sure. You sure you don't want to?
>> No, I just I would rather you do it
because you've been sitting here and
Absolutely. Yes, I would love to. So,
uh, if I back up just a little bit, the
acronym CSDC is Central Staff
Development Committee. Most of you have
heard that acronym before, but it's
basically the governing body that
oversees things like track advancements,
enrichment, grants, and sbaticals are
some of the main categories. Um at three
of our meetings during the year, we take
a look at track advancements that are
put forth um saying that folks have
completed all of the required um credits
to move to the next track. Um in tracks
1 through six, a teacher can acrue a
variety of credits from a variety of
courses and it just sort of adds up
along the way to move somebody along the
track. When you get to something called
track 7, it's supposed to be the
equivalent of like a PhD or two masters.
Um, this has to go before CSDC, before
this committee. And this committee is
made up of um administrators from each
of the this is New Hampshire only, each
of the New Hampshire schools as well as
a building representative from each of
the New Hampshire schools. And those
building representatives also have to be
part of the association of the union. So
around this table we have those folks
and we have two board members and an
administrator from the SAU which happens
to be me. Um so this group of people uh
takes a look at these track advancements
for track 7 before anybody can start to
acrue credits towards a track 7
advancement. um they have to submit a
proposal that outlines a cohesive
program that should be rigorous that
should meet the standards of either a
second master's or even a PhD program.
Um
people can do this two ways. They can
submit a proposal and say I'm just
getting a second masters. Here's the
syllabus. Here's the university or
college that I'm working with. But we
still take a look at that, make sure
that it meets the needs of the district.
make sure it uh aligns with strategic
goals as well as uh community goals for
the school building. Um or we have this
fabulous uh kind of design your own
adventure where a person can think about
a topic that would be very important in
furthering their own professional
learning as well as help with some
problem of practice that they're seeing
within the school. And then they create
a proposal where they um submit a bunch
of courses and then defend why they
would be taking those courses for this
track seven advancement. I hope that's
all helpful. But yesterday we heard from
two race school teachers who completed
their track 7 advancement work. And both
of these teachers were working towards
track 7 having submit submitted a
proposal. They've been working on their
um track 7 advancement for two and a
half to three years. Um, and both of
these people actually happen to be
working on literacy, which is really
great and super timely. We may not have
known three, two and a half, three years
ago that we would be transitioning to
this new arts and letters program. Um,
but certainly they were uh very
interested in the science of reading and
um things that were coming out that we
were learning about how the brain works
and how the brain learns to read. Um and
so both of these people did their
presentation yesterday and um connected
their learning. So one is a reading
teacher and one is a classroom teacher
and connected their learning to um you
know what they saw students coming in
with um what they uh identified as um
challenging things that they were seeing
in our student population in the area of
reading. Um, you saw in my arts and
letters presentation, Scarboro's rope,
where basically we've learned that there
are two major sections to how students
are learning to read. There's like
foundational skills and language pieces,
and then there's also those foundational
pieces. Um, so phonics and fluency. Um,
and so these folks wo together a series
of courses um to really further their
own education and then better address
the needs of reading learners who are um
learning how to read here at the Ray
School.
Anything else you think I should add?
>> Well, the only thing that I would add
Oh. Oh, sorry.
>> Please.
>> The only thing I would add is that one
teacher, Katherine Ferrell, had
developed this wonderful little language
booklet for students to fill out. um
together and I flipped through it and I
didn't get past, you know, what are the
letters of the alphabet, what are vowels
before I encountered language I wasn't
familiar with. And I suggested that she
consider creating something similar for
parents so that they would understand
the process cuz I I have a first grader,
a grandchild who's a first grader. I
don't know.
a miracle.
Um,
but I'm fascinated by the process of
learning to read and and so I just think
that that would be a really wonderful
thing for parents to know about because
many of us don't know how people learn
to read. So anyway, that's the
additional piece.
>> Thank you. Um these these folks also did
an amazing job of connecting their
learning to how they're going to be
supporting um their teammates as well as
the school around this learning. And
that's a big piece of this track seven
is part of the evidence needs to be how
you're going to share your learning um
with other stakeholder groups including
your fellow teachers and colleagues. Um
but Deb brought up a great question that
you know stakeholder groups don't have
to stop right there and shouldn't stop
right there. So, how can we also use
teachers learning to um expand uh the
way that we reach out to parents and
families and caregivers around the
learning that's happening in the
classroom?
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks everybody. I'm going to walk
carefully this time. Thank you.
>> Well done.
>> All right. Um
and there are no other questions. Um, I
will. We do need a non-public session
this evening. Want to put a steak in the
ground and say a brief non-public
session.
>> Yes. Thank you. Um, and I don't think we
have any
action items coming out of that. So, um,
I will take a motion to enter non-public
session. Ben,
>> to enter non-public session at 8:20 p.m.
on RSA 91- A 32 and L. And I'll take a
second. Second from Carrie and roll call
starting with Jim.
>> Um Ton, yes.
>> Perfect. Russell, yes.
>> Nelson, yes.
>> Yes.
>> Yes. And McConnell? Yes. All right.
Can I call us back to order? Sure.
All right. Restarting public session at
8:57 p.m. Uh, one last opportunity for
public to address the board.
Hi, good evening for today's surgeent
handover. Um, two things. One is a
question and one is just like a FYI. The
question is, as much as I would love to
have an act together to look at Simly
prior to coming, I like squeak here at
the last second. Um, and there's no
internet here as you guys know. Is there
any way that there can be just during
these hours like some sort of guest ray
guest so that the giant public who is
here um can get on Simly and like follow
along with you without having to have
done it hours earlier and like printed
something out. So that's just if if it's
possible to just do
>> it's not an unreasonable. Thank you. We
really all appreciate it.
>> It does exist. Okay.
>> It's self-registering.
>> Okay. It's called S370 after hours. It's
looking at your Wi-Fi. Okay.
>> If you're on your phone, you scroll down
and there's a blue because it says like
username, password. Scroll a little bit
further on your phone. There's a blue
button that says register.
>> It will ask you to put in I believe your
email address and then like accept the
things and then you should be on. So or
is your phone number?
>> Phone number.
My phone number is my is what
>> that you could use your phone number
instead if you have that service here
instead of the cuz you can't get into
your email. That's
>> the first place, right? Okay. Great. Um
the second thing is that the first day
of school was super exciting, but I did
just want to like bring to your
attention something that I was surprised
about. Um, so I was there both like as a
mom for my kids starting and then also
um with PTO and the vice president PTO
was with me and we were just like, "Hi,
like welcome, happy first day, like
excited, right?" Um, but we actually
like never spoke to anyone about PTO
because we were constantly shuttling
like lost children to their classrooms.
Um, I was there for like 40 minutes and
I took nine children to their
classrooms. They were just like by
themselves crying. There were two buses
that were late, which happened. But the
problem is that when the two buses were
late, all of the teachers and staff had
to be teaching and staffing. So, the two
buses just came and I think that there
was one staff person who was able to be
out there and then all these little kids
just went off. And even it was not just
kindergarteners. So, I don't want you to
think it was just kindergarteners, but
like kids just like came out and were
like standing and I was like, "Hi,
welcome. Like, can we help you? Like,
who's your teacher?" And most of them
didn't know, "My dad knows, but like
their dad wasn't with them." Um, and so
to just I just wanted to bring to your
attention. Um, and hopefully in the
future like maybe PTO can have a bigger
role or whatever, but just it was really
exciting, but it was also like when I
was looking at it from not just my kid
is where my kid is supposed to be, it
was kind of upsetting as to just how
lost a lot of the kids were. And some of
it is again when you have school buses
that are late and teachers have to be
teaching which is obviously their job.
What happens to to the children that are
wondering? So
>> thank you. I wanted to let you guys
know.
>> Okay. Thank you.
>> Especially Rene to your point that
typically on the first day almost
inevitably at least two or three school
buses are late. their handmakes. They're
bringing in all the students and new
routes and new drivers and all those
other things
>> and the paving
time and they came and I don't know if
the buses have since rectified but I
would the first like three days at least
one bus was late all three days cuz I
was there doing like other stuff and I
kept noticing
>> that they were coming late which again
everyone's like figuring it out but I
think the problem is then the kids are
coming and not knowing necessarily where
to go.
Thanks, Rene. And I will just take this
opportunity to elevate. I know um there
are concerns. I've had other parent
emails. I'm looking at Lauren as our
former tech director, but um I've had
I've seen other parent emails um
expressing concern about the lack of
service at this building for parents who
may be here if there's an emergency or
um just sort of the the concern around
connectivity um as a as a safety issue.
So for high school,
>> right? Well, and and we have started to
address it at the high school, but um
it's you know,
>> yeah, just wanted to elevate that since
it came to me. Um
anything else?
>> Yes. Just to follow up, which I realize
since Kelly is not here, maybe you don't
have an answer to
>> just the buses in general, Renee, it
sounds like you have an assumption that
they're getting better. I'm very curious
if that assumption is true.
>> Yes, they are getting better. I did
actually contact our bus manager, Mr.
Godad, um because Kelly actually asked
me to give an update on the bus
situation. He said
amazingly like he's not dealing with any
staff issues for our buses, which
across the board, but he said the worst
traffic, road situations that he's ever
had to deal with since he's been doing
this job. this year at the beginning of
the school year. So, he said they're
starting to work things out and it's
been much better, but he said the first
three days of school particularly were
very difficult. So,
>> did they have any warning from the town
that that was going to be happening that
day?
>> No. Last year we knew about Crosby
Street. We talked with them in spring
about that, but no.
>> Yeah, it
>> Yeah,
>> it would be nice. It would be. Yeah, it
would have been helpful, I think.
>> Yeah. I mean, there's just so many
different
>> for
that. All the things. We had it around
school last year, too.
>> Yeah. Which was added issue.
>> If it I mean, if it continues to be an
issue, Crosby Street, so Crosby Street
being closed is forcing many buses all
the way down Main Street, which is just
gums up Main Street, too. Like, it's so
unnecessary. I don't know. I've
mentioned to Robin if we could drop the
high school students at like lever room
fieldhouse or something to walk around
the block.
>> Sorry, excuse me.
>> Yes.
>> Um except that half the time they they
get to level because parks has been
closed
>> and then we've been rewiring
>> Yeah.
>> through in front of the high school
which makes high school drop off a
nightmare too. So
>> yeah, it's been
>> it's been hard to maneuver like just for
work,
>> but then actually like getting the
children there has been
>> hard. So
>> and Crosby Street is going to take
longer than originally planned.
>> I talked to the town about that.
>> All right. Yes. Um, this is a different
topic, but I feel like I had to say it
cuz I said it in passing, but I have had
reports of slightly
>> better experiences with food. And I just
I just wanted to make sure to say that
publicly because it does feel as though
I don't know where Kelly is, but
whatever conversation,
>> slightly more
>> changes in choice and just Yeah. Feeling
like room.
>> Excellent. Feed the children. I love it.
Yes. Mhm.
>> I have one more item and it's simply
that Friday is the 25th anniversary of
September 11th and a third of the United
States population, obviously all race
school children were born since then.
100 million Americans
have been born since then.
And I know it's not probably part of the
curriculum at the race school, but I
certainly hope that people have
conversations about 2011 as appropriate
for the age of their children.
>> That's
all right. Anything else?
If you have items for next meeting, um,
please send them my way. Our next
meeting is October 14th and we will be
discussing the NHSBA resolutions at that
meeting or at least updating on this. Um
and with that I will take a motion to
adjourn. Done. I move to adjourn at 9:06
p.m. Second from Carrie and we'll call
vote starting with June.
>> Tanton, yes.
>> Russell, yes. Nelson, yes.
>> Ky, yes. Sen, yes. And yes. Thank you
guys.