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SAU 70 Board Meeting 8/18/2026

Video

Does anyone have anything
that they would like to add to the
agenda?
Renee.
>> Did we have to add the HB 1300
committee formation discussion thing?
>> We can't sorry. Oh yes, we can discuss
it. The chair can also adjust from a
committee.
>> Okay, so
Okay.
>> A possibility the chair would like just
to do that.
>> that for my board update and I'll do it
there to keep us moving.
>> For those who are not
>> familiar I like to keep
>> [laughter]
>> meetings moving quickly. So
because I think we all do. So I will do
that.
I do see a note there's a consideration
to add a discussion item regarding the
sustainability coordinator and a burn
I don't know oh let's see Robin's coming
back. Robin
>> Yes.
>> There's a consideration in the notes to
add a discussion item regarding the
foundation donation of $15,000. Would
that be something that would be useful
for us to add?
>> Yes, because we just received the
information today. That's why Jessica
>> Okay, all right. Looks like it is
preemptively potentially listed under
business for current discussion. So
let's do that and
great.
Any other agenda items to add?
All right, we've now reached public
comment. So
the public if you would like to address
the board um
this is your time to just remind
everyone you get 3 minutes to comment
and we ask that you stay stand up state
your name
and address through their town that you
live in before commenting. I'll also
just share that if you are here for a
specific item you're also welcome to
hold your comment until when that item
comes up.
But
the public may address the board. Would
anyone like to
make a comment
at this time?
Not yet. Okay.
Okay, great. We're going to move on to
business requiring discussion and for my
own we said we were going to take 35
minutes. So, I'm going to time us and
see how we do.
I'm setting the timer for 35 minutes.
All right, great.
So, first is reading a policy.
Um,
can I pass that to you? Great. Go for
it.
>> Yeah, this is EEAEA. We discussed that
resolution earlier. The bottom note,
this is a second reading for SAU.
Regarding the school bus drivers and
contracted carriers.
>> My sense is does anyone have any
thoughts or comments on the second
reading?
>> [clears throat and laughter]
>> Seeing none, great. We just blitzed
through that one in less than a minute.
Awesome.
Uh, second is our IT department update
and I believe we're going to have
Raphael Um, how do you pronounce your
last name, Raphael?
>> Adamczyk.
>> Adamczyk. Awesome. Welcome, Raphael. Um,
we're all really excited you're here.
Uh, give us an update on the technology
department.
>> Thank you. Where would you I have I'm
sorry, I haven't been here before, so I
don't
>> Yeah.
>> need to stand.
>> If you can stand, you can stand there,
you can stand there.
>> Usually that table's not there.
>> Yeah. It's a little awkward tonight.
>> Um, uh, thank you all. So, so my name is
Raphael Adamczyk. Um, I'm the new
director of educational technology. Um,
I've been here since July 1st. Um, I'm
very happy to be here. Um, I'm a
resident of Norwich. Um, my my kids go
to school at my one kid at Marion Cross,
one kid at Richmond Middle School. And
um, I've been a tech director in Vermont
for 12 years before coming here. So, I'm
really excited to come here and to
serve the community that I live in and
work in the schools that my kids go to
school in. So, I'm very fortunate for
just a quick couple quick notes about
uh, what I've been doing in the past uh,
6 weeks or so on the job.
Um
I I started by meeting with all of our
tech staff, um principals, um directors,
and superintendent. Um just to try to
understand a little bit about where they
came from as people and what motivated
them to join education and then um to
get their priorities for the year and
then to ask them what they think my
priorities should be. Um and so this was
a really interesting process and helped
me kind of generate a good list of
things that I need to be thinking about
and looking at um in the next couple
months.
So, some of the themes that emerged um
were one was around structures, um just
in terms of how people fit within the
departments, what their roles and
responsibilities are, um clarifying who
evaluates them, um and then also really
looking at and defining what we call our
tier two um
pieces in technology. So, who's doing
what and and who do we go to when we
need help with certain things.
Um so that's one big bucket.
Another big bucket um has been AI or
will be AI for for the foreseeable
future. Um so just reviewing our current
guidelines that we have in our schools,
um
I met with the policy committee today to
talk about drafting some AI policies for
students and staff and what that could
look like.
Talk about what kind of professional
development our our our staff and our
teachers need in order to be able to
engage in this work.
Um I worked with uh Professor Ray Stein
in
my previous work and um just engaging
with him. He's doing a a project where
he'll be gathering together a bunch of
leaders to to talk about how they're
doing this work in their various
districts.
So, a lot happening in AI, um but just
trying to begin to build some some
momentum with that.
another big topic of conversation is um
screen time {slash} the sort of
effective use of technology.
Looking at how um
sort of linking those two conversations,
really thinking about how what are what
our conversations around effective
technology look like, how do we have
those conversations.
we're I'm working with the a group here
to develop a technology walk-through
that we can do and we can walk into
classrooms and take a quick scan and see
what's happening in the classroom from a
technological standpoint and also think
about what are the really intended goals
of the lesson and and how how they can
be how they either furthered by
technology or how technology may be
hindering those. Um
and we hope to use the data from these
walk-throughs this fall to um help
inform some PD around our next steps um
and and some possible policy
considerations with that.
Um next big bucket has really been
finance, wrapping my head around how how
the budget is structured, um making sure
that our bills are paid [snorts] for.
Fortunately, we have a really great team
who's been taking care of that um in the
absence of a different director um
and just identifying any gaps and
vulnerabilities that we may have and and
areas where where we may need to shore
some things up.
And the last um big bucket was
cybersecurity. Um I met with the some
folks from Primex to help uh revise our
incident response plan. And this is
something that we have to kind of keep
at the forefront. Willmont schools have
been subject to pretty massive fishing
campaign um over the past couple of
weeks and um
just trying to stay ahead of that and
educate our staff and think of the best
systems that we can have in place for
So, that's a lot. Um but um just a quick
little review of some of the things that
I've been working on.
>> Board members, any questions for Rafia?
>> Uh not a question, but maybe more
directed towards our chair. I wonder if
we ought to have a non-public on
cybersecurity. Um just to understand,
you know, current status of things,
threat exposure, what we can can't do.
Um just sort of what the status of
things are for districts.
>> Is that something you would suggest we
do tonight or at a future meet? Future
meet, great. [clears throat] Great idea.
Love that.
Any other?
>> Yeah, I just earlier we had a
conversation I pushed my computer over
because I'm getting these you're invited
to a party, you know, on the
school website and just want to make
sure people are
not thinking they really are.
>> There are no parties.
>> You're not invited.
>> Not this school year.
>> try to delete this.
>> Yes, delete that.
>> I'll just give Raff a shout out. He's
been very modest but he's been working
diligently with policy on a number of
initiatives and he's been fantastic. So,
welcome aboard Raff. We appreciate it.
>> Thank you. Do you prefer Raff or
Raphael?
>> I'm fine with Raff. I usually introduce
myself as Raphael just so that I don't
get called Ralph.
>> I just I asked
Raff to attend the meeting tonight just
so you could all put a face to the name
and so he could just give you a little
introduction and talk about some of the
work that he's been doing but he's been
doing an amazing job in our first fewer
than two months of being here and
tackling some tough issues. So, I'm
really appreciative that he's here and
excited for what I see as our future in
technology here. So, thank you.
Thank you. Your energy is refreshing and
exciting. So, I know I think I speak for
all of us when I say we're so psyched
you're here.
>> I was just going to say I'm really
excited to hear your educational
initiatives as part of this. So, that's
awesome. Thank you. I'm really excited.
>> Yeah, I should have led with I was a
teacher for seven years so I I
definitely approach this work from an
educator's standpoint and that's really
my mindset and I I know enough
technology to be able to talk to folks
around those things but I yeah,
definitely educational focus.
>> [clears throat]
[laughter]
>> Uh sure. Uh
members of the public, come on up.
>> My name is Sarah Uckerman and I'm a
parent of a child at the race school but
I know this isn't an SAU meeting.
Um, I really appreciate you letting me
speak.
>> Oh, my last name is U E C K E R M A N N.
>> Yeah, thank you, Sarah, for the note
taker.
>> Um, so I learned last year that I should
strive to be more aware of what my
children are doing on educational apps
during school time.
Um, and because of that I have some
very brief sort of easy to answer
questions. So for instance, I read this
week that Google turned on Gemini AI for
students using its classroom app. Which
grades have access to Gemini AI in the
SAU 70?
Should I just read my questions or go
ahead? Yeah. Okay.
>> Um, then I also want to ask what advice
do you have for parents who want to
support their children as they interact
with
the technology in the classroom?
Um, should parents, in your opinion,
review Google app history or data
privacy settings that are linked to
their school accounts? I'm going to be
emailing out other parents. So, um,
I noticed that code.org recently
rebranded to code AI. Now on their
dashboard is an activity called mix and
move with AI. And does the SAU have
plans to incorporate activities like
this in the 2026-2027
school year?
Um, and then I have also a question
about, um, typing but maybe that's just
down in the weeds. Um,
would you like one more question or is
that too much?
>> You've You've still got 2 minutes so go
for it.
>> Um, so I know that typing is very
important for many people in our
district, um, or in the Okay. But I got
the sense from my kids that the at least
the Hanover district stopped using
Typing Club last year but they never
really understood why. So I was
wondering if you might elaborate on this
decision.
Um cuz some kids get stressed if speed
and accuracy are drilled at the same
time. And then finally, is guided
learning mode used in the SAU?
So, just generally AI and how how what
what stance should parents take as they
have questions about these things from
your perspective?
>> [cough]
>> I see Robin has her hand up, so I'm
>> Can I ask that you send these questions
to us so we have some time to look into
them
rather than just try to answer them off
the cuff tonight.
>> easy for which grades have access to
Gemini AI in SAU 70? I feel like that's
a pretty broad brush easy question to
answer.
For instance, I know it's not
kindergarten or I imagine it's not
kindergarten.
>> Yeah, I I
unfortunately I I I don't know off the
top of my head.
and
I mean those are settings that I can
check pretty quickly, but I I haven't I
haven't asked that question.
>> Okay. Okay.
>> I'm newish to my chair and I just
learned that we don't um it's great we
need to receive the questions and this
is great and I love how thorough and
thoughtful you are about this and then
we can definitely respond after the
meeting, but I just appreciate how much
care you brought clearly to this and I'm
sure we'll give Ralph and Robin and the
team time to respond and
>> Yeah, I'd love to um
I want to end with thankfulness. You
know, this community has done so much to
address some very real concerns and uh
I'm so impressed with at every level
there's been a responsiveness to this
community um
question about intentional technology
and I just know that I'm going to be
sending out a note of thanks with the
parents. So, I just was trying to put
them in a good step forward for the
beginning of school, so.
Thank you.
Sarah.
Any other IT questions or comments?
Moving on to the HR update, which I
believe I get to turn it over to you or
Pam is here. Oh, she's here. Right on.
Welcome [laughter] Director of Human
Resources, Pam Easton.
>> He's a hard act to follow.
So, my name is Pam Easton. I am the new
HR director. I was here effective June
15th, so I got two weeks on you. I have
three years experience at OUSD in Oxbow
with Lisa, you know her.
Otherwise, my career has been in health
care. So, I worked for Dartmouth
Hitchcock for almost 25 years and I have
probably another maybe five before that
and also health care. So,
I come from this from a completely human
focus. You'll find me very much a
relationship builder and I am here to
support the people who support our
children and educate our children. So,
that is my goal. So, when I come to
these meetings, I will rely heavily on
folks like Teresa for budget and experts
in education like Lauren and Robin. So,
I'm here for humans. So, some of the
things that I have looked at pretty
quickly and have identified things that
I want to look at front burner, you
know, things that are urgent.
I have been given an amazing partner. My
HR generalist, Bridget Peters, is
phenomenal and she has been both my
right and left arm for the first few
weeks here and she's been extremely
patient with me, so I'm extremely
grateful as well.
We have looked into our vendors. So, we
have three different insurance vendors
between the two states. So, I have met
with two. I'm very familiar with the
Vermont group, so I didn't need to do
those relationships. I had them. So, CGI
as well as the School Care group. I've
met with both of them to see about next
year, any sort of changes, anything that
might be concerning that I need to start
thinking about now and we need to start
thinking about monetarily as well. So,
that's very important.
We have looked at things like Vector
training. So, Ralph and I met today to
see about adding an AI Vector module,
right? So, AI in the classroom,
um for educators, you know, a lot of
these folks may be not have a full
understanding of the power of AI and
what you should not input into it. So,
um we had that discussion today. I will
also review Vector to see if there's
other options that are better uh and
less expensive. We made that change in
Vermont when I was there. I think it was
a good change and it was a pretty
significant cost savings. So, there's
not um there's other games in town
besides Vector. So, we'll look into that
as well.
Um I have reviewed 403b vendors, right?
So, we have five different folks that we
can use. Um some of those are sub par
and some of them have pretty high fees
for the employees. So, when employees
are trying to save for retirement and
they have high fees on their money,
that's not helping them get there any
quicker. So, once again, I'm going to
look at that from a people uh
perspective. We have negotiations this
year, so the HEA HEA um will start
negotiations. So, starting to gather
some data,
some information uh that's always
helpful when we come to the table. So,
that's important. We've started to
thinking about budgets. So, what is the
HR department need for money for next
year for anything from, you know,
expenses to travel to support um you
know,
products or supplies, etc. Um we had a
really great retreat. Um that was
probably one of the best things I've
done as a professional with the group.
Um meeting, you know, new principals
coming in, veteran principals. Um you
know, Ralph and I were were new. So,
that was really well done and it was a
great idea. And the bus was phenomenal.
So, um I really enjoyed the bus and sat
up front. So, um
>> if anybody is available for that, that
really was pretty amazing to see the
buildings and hear the pride in these
administrators telling us about their
highlights, their outdoor classrooms, uh
the number of children, the number of
employees. Um so, really phenomenal. I
enjoyed that.
looking at cost saving options. So,
where can we save some money? Where can
we find better money for things um such
as 403 vendors, you know, the the the uh
HRA, HSA, all the things that come with
that. Are there better ways to do that?
Is there a better mouse trap? Um
looking at benefits for the SAU staff,
that's also on my front burner.
things that are stress points, you know,
I think as educators in the classrooms
when they're sort of
you know, rocks in their shoes. I don't
know if everybody likes that expression,
but it's a good one. Things that are
hassles, right? So, can we avoid some of
those things so the folks that are
educating children can do so without
worrying about things that I can
relieve or help. So, that's my outlook
when I come to these tables is what I
can do for our employees. Retention is a
huge thing for me. I want to make sure
that our staff are appreciated and
engaged and so that will be my goal
consistently that you will hear from me.
>> Okay.
>> And I grew up in the Upper Valley. My
first job was in Hanover, but
unfortunately I'm a Lebanon grad and so
was my most [laughter] of my family in
my area.
>> I didn't teach you, did I?
>> [snorts]
>> I taught Bridget.
>> Did you? Okay, well, she is seven years
behind me in school.
>> I Okay.
>> Any questions?
>> Anyway.
Do you prefer Pamela or Pam?
>> Pam. Pamela makes me sound like I'm in
trouble.
>> Um so, these two presentations reminded
me so Robin is participating in
meetings that are occurring on the
Vermont side of the river related to a
cooperative educational service area and
I just want to make sure as we're
talking about all of these services that
we keep that in mind as a potential
[clears throat] resource for things that
we might
>> need because they are available to us at
the SAU.
>> Yeah. Mhm. Great.
Yeah. Any other?
>> And we've had a discussion about that as
well. Yeah.
>> I mean two for Oh, Robin.
>> Just one
>> I would like to say something similar
about Pam. I mean she it's just been so
refreshing having her in the SAU and I
love her willingness to think outside
the box. She's already said she would be
involved with me with all of my meetings
with the HEA monthly and so just really
trying to be proactive and just such a
positive force in the SAU. So, thank
you.
>> Thank you.
>> I've had a really warm welcome. Really
amazing group. I got flowers.
>> Really really great group. It It feels
very warm to come in
and have that immediate sense of
cooperation and partnership. It's
important.
>> We're thrilled you're here, and also how
about a high five for Robin, too?
>> All right, moving right along. To the
capital improvement plan update for
budget purposes, and this I believe will
be Teresa and Robin. Tony was unable to
make it for um for personal reasons.
>> You want me to start with?
>> Uh we've had a
quite a few meetings um
in the past couple months or whatever.
We started with the concept of
in order to build the capital
improvement plan to make it effective,
that we needed to first take the list of
items that have constantly been listed
as capital improvement, like painting,
and make sure that we start pulling out
what should be what we should be
considering as our annual maintenance.
And making sure that when we pull those
out, that what we're left with is um
literally just capital projects and
everything else. Things for
consideration that are going to be a big
ticket item or needs to be bundled like
we've
constantly been talking about. Um
one of the things and and I can't take
credit for the
putting into assembly, but um both Tony
and um
They've been They've been good um about
putting the stuff into assembly and
everything else. And and then Tony was
working on the spreadsheets to take cuz
originally he had everything categorized
sort of like, you know, one-year thing,
and we're like, "Okay, we need to now
really work on breaking this out in the
realistic." So, the spreadsheets that
you see attached or the reports in the
spreadsheet, you'll see that um he went
ahead and just
broke them come to the to what the
anticipated year in the function based
on whether or not the particular item
like a roof. I know we all keep going
back to the roofs.
>> constantly because there there's beliefs
that should the roof be done
in one big swoop. Take out a bond or or
a loan to go ahead and do the large
projects or should we also realistically
consider that
what we should be doing is building this
in.
And so that we're doing sections of
roofs over and over. So you don't have
at the end of the life of the roof,
you're not the next group coming on is
going to have this big
project again instead of this rotation
that we should be doing so we're not
having to spike the tax rates and
everything else. Also,
so that's a lot of the work that's being
done so far.
Um and that's where we're at. And then
I wasn't able to make the last meeting
that Robin and Tony had.
>> So
you'll see that it's been broken down by
school at this point and we've looked
out toward 27 28 and then 32 with 33 for
the most part. And what we tried to do
is take all of the information that we
had from Bureau Veritas and then from
Truax Cullen and then we've been meeting
with the principals as well to get their
take and interest and input regarding
where we should really be thinking about
our capital improvement plans. Teresa
talked about the general maintenance
budget because we have been doing some
of that work here. Um and Mary E. Cross
is a really good example of that because
parts of the roof have been done every
year. So you'll notice, I don't think we
have that in as an entire roofing budget
because because the building was built
in different time periods, the roof has
been put on at different time periods.
So they've been doing that gradually
over time and I think that's what we'd
like to get to to with some of the other
buildings.
At this point what we would like to do
is to now bring in some board members,
maybe two or three board members. I
think it would be great to have some
mirror and cross representation
and then obviously we need a
representation from Trezen and Hanover
to look at what we have put in here
based on the reports that we've gotten
and based on the feedback back that
we've gotten from the principals and
then get your feedback too. What are you
thinking and hear about some of the the
discussions that have gone into
developing this because you may look at
I mean you've looked at the Bureau
Veritas, you've looked at Crox Hall and
we've had enormous sums of money
proposed.
So I think it's really important that we
look at it more closely together now
that we have this breakdown and then
figure out what we would like to do and
then also thinking about the
sustainability. We have had some like
lighting studies that have been done
recently but we also need to think about
how this could potentially change over
time in terms of the costs too. So
tonight I would like to get some
feedback if anyone is interested in
being a part of the capital improvement
plan we would start holding some of
those meetings with board members too.
And I think two or three of members
would be a good number because hopefully
we won't have to worry about not being
able to meet quorum.
So.
>> Any ideas about when when we'd meet?
>> I think we've been meeting after school
primarily
>> because that's been a convenient time
for the principals but we can be
flexible.
>> I saw Kelly and then Ben and then so
just a note I think Tara would probably
say this if I didn't chime in but
part of the HB 1300
ridiculousness I'll say it like that
is that there is a carve out for bonded
projects so if that were to go through
then everything you could put into a
bond is in your best interest to do that
right so again taking away that local
control of this is what's best for our
community
no longer makes sense
>> that's part of that consideration too
>> done
>> and more of a clarifying question for
all the various spreadsheets is there a
number of these where there's a listed
need but there's not a price point or a
calendar
is that because we're still getting
estimates or we don't know the urgency
yet
>> well I think those are some of the
things that we want to discuss with the
board
so
and then the other piece
there's something else I was thinking
about that I wanted to tell you but
oh
in terms of the sustainability piece too
that's another factor that we would like
to consider so thinking about additional
costs and what piece of these have a
sustainability function too
so that will be important for us to look
at and Tara
>> I'm happy to volunteer to be part of
that
>> okay
>> that's right
>> after school
>> Robin and Teresa I wanted to ask about
the strategy of stacking all of the
projects for 27 28 if that was
intentional or what was the how did you
get there
>> Teresa I love you
>> I would say that it goes back to the
original I mean one of the comments of
it in a way it's very intentional to see
that again if we were going to be
considering doing a bond because we want
to get all these projects kind of
bundled. So, that's how it's stacked and
everything else. Um but easily if in in
their next step would be to go ahead and
get more quotes cuz all the prices that
we have speaking to the price point
thing is that everything that we have so
far is at least 2 years old. Um
and everything else and that was and it
could be older because it started out
with the Bureau of Air Cost and then
really um
the data was extracted from that. So, at
this point
you know, in order for us to get these
quotes and stuff like that I think part
of what we're really wanting to get
feedback to is they didn't spend a lot
of time going and getting all these
quotes and then say, "Well, you know,
maybe we're not going to do this. But
maybe these projects aren't as important
this year um based on
based on feedback and stuff." So, I
think that that's where
we're looking more guidance now. Okay,
here's what we've got. What do you
believe
is our criticals and we're going to try
and go for those first and get, you
schedule people get time quotes.
>> So, as a follow-up to that what was
Tony's prioritization of these items
because when I see so many projects
stacked in a single year, it sort of
muddies the water in terms of what is
actually urgent and what isn't. So, that
was my next sort of follow-up to the
scheduling.
>> And I I wanted to add something to both
of those pieces. So, when we took that
and laid the information out that was
based on that bundling that was done by
T-Rex calling and that was based on
taking that information and seeing,
"Okay, what things really need to be
done in 5 years? What needs to be done
in 10 years? What needs to be done in 15
years. And so that's where all of that
bundling came in and stacking up in that
way. And then Tony, obviously, he
put his input into this process as well,
more intimately knowing what our needs
are for capital improvements in terms of
buildings and things like that.
>> It's like the next step thing.
>> Yeah. Yeah, and he actually, when we had
our last meeting, he spoke
pretty, you know, specifically about we
could do this, but I really feel like,
you know, maybe we should think in on a
bigger scale and if we want to even
think about doing something totally
different with the elementary school
because we're going to put so much money
into all of these electrical features
that we need to do and plumbing. So, do
we want to limit it to this or do we
want to think on a larger scale?
So, I think those are things, you know,
we've been thinking about, but that we
definitely need your input in terms of
looking at this long range.
>> See, Linda.
>> Hi. Linda Donte. I I've been working
closely with Tony and I missed the last
meeting, I apologize.
I know I If Tony was here, I know one
thing he'd want to say to the board too
is
he is a constant reminder to all of us
on the committee that there's an
educational component here.
So, it's not just bricks and mortar,
it's building buildings to support our
mission and what we want our learners to
be successful in their learning. And so,
like even with the pre-K, you know, are
we thinking about, you know, if that's
going forward and that's a priority on
the Hanover side, what does he need to
know in, you know, buildings and grounds
to be able to support that? What does
Teresa know when she's thinking about
funding? So, I think that idea of this
all coming to the the budget and how the
capital improvement plan can inform
that, be transparent, and also allow the
community to see what we're talking
about. That's where the capital
improvement plan is is going to be
strategic, if you will, in keeping in
line with the strategic plan. So,
that's part of this is Tony also, I was
with him last week. Um he's working very
hard. We're trying to load this in and
update it. And and his message his
message to me to share with you was this
is going to be an ongoing thing.
Um but what you have now is sort of the
best start that we can have prepared for
you at this time.
>> Um I received a question from someone in
the Marion Cross cuz they saw this a
district they saw this was on the budget
discussion tonight about a leaky roof
issue at Marion Cross. And I did see I
want to ask for that person that they
said why is the roof put on for 10 years
and when there's this immediate issue
that's causing issues. So, I wanted to
give you all an opportunity to talk to
The part that I can speak to that is
that again looking forward
the 10-year was more about a real
overhaul of the roof in the sections,
but the leak that has been going on
should be part of some of our
maintenance. So, again, even if there
was um even as we move move forward and
talk about this cuz you know, Tony and I
have gone around around on this is that
even though we're talking about large
sections and paying out in that, we
still have this yearly maintenance
regardless. And if we don't do that,
we're going to be
you know, we're going to be forced to
pay out larger amounts as time goes on.
So, so I I I do believe and that will be
addressed cuz I did read that email and
everything else from her.
>> Okay. Okay. So, we'll
um well, we can we'll talk offline about
who should get back to her. Just great.
Tara.
>> Glad to be third board member on
>> I mean triple dang, look at us.
>> All right.
>> Got it.
And Tara, Lisa, and Jim. And do you have
a comment?
>> Yes, I just have a a question or a
request going forward. I'm speaking as a
non-business person, non-spreadsheet
person, so it's good that I've got the
two of you guys
>> doing this, but it would be helpful for
me, and I don't know whether it goes on
this document or a different document,
to know where
cost savings might come in, especially
with the sustainability part of it. Like
I noticed that we're putting in the
light bulbs. It would be really helpful,
and I think it would be helpful for the
public to know that if we make a $1,700
investment, or whatever it was, that
over 5 years will recoup in electrical.
I just Again, I don't know Yeah, I don't
know if it needs to go on this, but just
going forward, it would just be really
helpful for me to know those sorts of
things. So.
>> And well, and part part another big part
of that is that it's going into Simbli,
which is the the way it's broken down
and everything else, like the outline
sort of format, and it's nice that we're
going to be able to put those types of
updates and information all in there as
projects and belong, and even status of
them. They they have numbering,
sequence, and everything else, and um so
that's also part of deciding, but but we
at this moment, we have not
>> the same
>> I totally get that. Yeah, I mean I I I
understand that this is just a starting
point, but I'm just thinking going
forward it would be really helpful to
know kind of
how that would be helpful.
>> I would think.
>> And as Teresa said, we are adding this
to Simbli, so it'll be set up similarly
to our strategic plan with the KPIs and
all those different pieces, and Linda,
big shout-out to her, she spent a
tremendous amount of work helping us
with this piece, and has learned Simbli,
and so big thank you to her. She's
worked really closely with Tony
in inputting the information. So, I
think we did share a little piece of
that with you previously, but that will
be open sharing soon. So.
Great.
Any other comments on capital
improvement before [snorts] we move on
to our next topic?
>> it.
>> Sure. Yes.
>> Yolanda
>> Um I'm Yolanda Baumgardner. I'm a
Hanover resident.
Um I co-chair Sustainable Hanover.
And um
I was delighted to see, as you might
guess, um
the solar um in in the plan.
Um I think
um I was uh
I read the consultant's reports that you
referred to and it did um bother me that
they only talked about it in terms of an
upfront purchase.
And so you've got millions of dollars in
scary project. But in fact, almost no
schools, I can guarantee you, buy their
solar that way. In fact, many businesses
don't either. Um so it is possible to do
what's called the PPA, a power purchase
agreement, where an investor comes in
and actually does the upfront payments.
Uh you commit to using the electricity,
which would be at a competitive um rate
to the utilities.
Um and then typically after a certain
number of years, there is an opportunity
to buy then a depreciated
system at a much more affordable price.
Um and so I think when you talk about
solar, keep in mind you don't really
have to write a big check right on day
one. Um
the other thing is um
that I don't know uh if in planning, in
terms of timing,
you've considered um some external
factors like until 2030,
there's still that 30% that's available
as a discount. So, that's a big chunk
off the price
of the system.
And that will affect the price you might
pay if you purchase it down the road.
Um and so, there are um other
considerations like that. And so, I'm
looking at your plan and saying, "Oh,
they're looking at the roofs. They're
going to have those in good shape cuz
that's always a consideration first."
And so, there's a window after that and
before 2030
that would be a good opportunity for
going solar. Um but, you can't wait
until then. I mean, I just hope um I
would recommend that if I I know you all
of you are so busy, but if over a year
some individuals, you know, take the
opportunity to get up to speed
on what it's going to take, then you'll
be ready to take advantage of that like,
you know, after after the roof.
and I I would say [cough] I just and
I've only read the the plan briefly, but
I saw for example that the um you're
working on the parking lots.
And um I've been going to a lot of
meetings talking about co-benefits. So,
a co-benefit of working on um
parking lot could be putting in conduits
for EV charging eventually.
Um so, I mean, there are things like
that and I I don't know how
this board uh
gets those kinds of considerations
[clears throat] into your planning.
But, um
I guess, you know, if you want to talk
to sustain sustainable Hanover, we'd
really [clears throat] be glad to to
help think think through some of these
things.
Um and thank you all for all the work
you're doing.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Jim, do you have a last comment?
>> Yeah, the only thing I wanted to add was
when the last time that Tureks Plumbing
did the work?
>> They did the work 2 years ago.
>> Okay, so it's verified.
>> they finished up last year doing all of
the little nitty-gritty things, and
bundling the information, and updating
everything. So
>> Okay. And I imagine
a lot of that costs
were estimated from that report.
>> Yes, from the original actually from the
original report that we had. So they
tried to update the costs as best they
could based on the original report that
we had.
And then they started doing all the
bundling and looking at what we had
again and trying to put things together.
>> Perfect.
>> So.
>> You're welcome.
>> All right. Well, let's talk more
sustainability. Let's talk about the
sustainability coordinator and the Burn
Foundation donation.
Looks like
Deb Robinson would like to discuss the
sustainability coordinator position and
a donation from the Burn Foundation.
>> I'm Deb Robinson. I'm the advisor for
the Hanover High Environmental Club and
EA for science at Hanover High. I'm a
Wilmington resident.
Um I was meeting with the environmental
student leaders today and happened to
check my mailbox and there was a check
for $15,000 for a sustainability
coordinator.
>> Um last year we got $5,000 from Friends
um I think you have the the document
that includes the current um
kind of perspectives for what we'd like
to see. Last year uh because it was a
Friends grant, we did more
student-facing work around the
curriculum, [clears throat]
K-12 integration with different
projects, mostly around composting. Um
this is a great segue because the
capital improvement stuff
year needs some expertise. So I think
what we really see as using and this may
not be one person, it may be just a
project basis. We hire someone
who can put in a month of work
investigating solar or conduits for
EV chargers, these different things. We
need someone with expertise because you
are all well-meaning, but you're
overworked and it doesn't look like you
always have time to investigate these
engineering problems and so on. Um so,
what we'd like to do is have your
approval to post the job of
sustainability coordinator.
We're also going to be applying to
Hypertherm, which is often granted
towards solar projects. So, we're
confident they're giving about $5,000
generally at the moment and we may be
looking for other grants to supplement
this. We understand the budget
constraints as you've all been talking
tonight. We're not expecting that this
is going to be a job that's part of the
budget anytime soon,
but we think it's essential to get this
job approved so we can get this work
moving as soon as possible.
>> Kelly?
>> Yes, sir.
>> Point of order question. Is this
something that we
I know we have to approve the donation
because of the amount, but in terms of
creation of the job?
>> No. No, right? Okay.
>> You just have to approve the donation.
>> Okay. Okay, but thank you for the
>> So, if you
if you do approve the donation, does
that mean that we can go ahead and post
the job?
>> That would be in coordination with
Robert, Robert, right? Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
>> Thank you, Deb. Any Yeah.
>> Just was the is the check payable to
Hanover High School or SAU?
>> SAU. SAU.
>> That's where the person
>> We don't usually send them to
>> SAU.
Unusual for us.
Any other comments? So, for us to
approve this,
do we need to add it to the business
requiring requiring sanction?
>> I did uh oh did you I might need to
refresh.
Oh, there it is.
Super. I didn't refresh. Okay, great.
>> Can I sorry Gina one more
>> Yes, counselor.
>> Um I just wanted to point out in the
letter it explicitly says I do not
anticipate this is a yearly expense for
our foundation.
So, just acknowledging that.
>> Or this continued beyond the year we
would be rolling that into
>> our okay.
Or not necessarily rolling it in we'd
have to
prove the need that it's needs to be
funded somehow.
>> We don't have to fund it yeah yeah
exactly.
>> Yep.
>> And part of the way we've been thinking
about this is a return on investment.
That if it looks like we can save a lot
of money by having the expertise to do
the solar or whatever project correctly
it's going to it's going to be a payback
that makes a huge difference to budgets.
>> I'm going to pay for it personally
either way. I just wanted to point that
out. [laughter]
>> Are we going to move on to Oh, no we're
not.
>> No no no I'm raising my hand [snorts] to
do
>> Oh, you're moving on. Okay, great. We're
moving on to business requiring action.
So, um Deb would like to make a motion
to
>> I make move to approve items B through E
by consent and with gratitude to the
Burn Foundation for their recent $15,000
donation.
>> On it.
>> And then second.
>> Lisa.
>> Um discussion So, that's not it it
wasn't the approval of the of that
donation was not in the consent agenda.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> It's not.
>> It's approval
>> So, it's okay we could do the consent
agenda and then just do a separate
motion for the
>> This is two weeks in a row. I look up
and think that's the E and then I look
down and that's really what we're doing.
You're absolutely right. I take it back.
[clears throat]
>> I would just do consent agenda and then
take a second
>> right.
>> Okay. I've read the wrong way. Okay.
I'll start [clears throat] over again. I
move to approve items B through E by
consent. I'm not doing these anyway.
>> I will second that again.
>> Uh
we can I don't think we have to do roll
call. All in favor?
Sir, terrific. Okay. And then
I I didn't really understand what you
all just said.
>> Oh, I did.
>> I I I so now
>> We have go Deb.
>> With a note for our where our missing
board members are.
>> Oh yes, our missing board members, uh
Mr. Costa and Mr. Palm are not here.
>> Due to other
important commitments.
Now Deb.
>> Move to accept the donation in the
amount of $15,000 from the Byrne
Foundation for the sustainability
coordinator position with gratitude.
Move to accept with gratitude.
>> Awesome. And second, Lisa.
>> Hit me.
>> All in favor?
>> Thanks.
>> Uh moving on, reports and
communications.
Starts with the report of the chair. So,
first is welcome back. It's great to see
everybody. Thanks for everyone's really
just positive energy at this meeting.
I'm feeling it and feels good. Uh we
also have a note [clears throat] that
the HB 1300
came up and we need a committee. So, I'd
like to suggest that we create a
committee and I would like to ask if
anyone is interested in being on that
Carrie.
Deb.
Wonderful. And then we could add more
people later.
>> Do it. Does it
>> Does it Sure, I'll be on it. We don't
have any Does it make sense to have a
Norwich person
as well?
>> I don't know.
I have a question. Do
Do committees like that require someone
to be there in person versus
>> Yes, cuz we're going to
>> have to show there to be a part of but
if three of the people were there and
one is on video does that work?
>> It has to be a physical quorum and then
others can be in there as well.
>> And then one caveat to that is that
committees are typically not
recorded
so that you have to do more coordination
if there's going to be people calling
>> Oh, right.
Um so we only have three board members
here and Lisa already volunteered for
one and we're missing Michael and
Garrett. So um I'm going to say
why don't Neil and myself, Garrett, and
Michael caucus and get back to you on a
possible unless Neil's dying to
volunteer for that right now.
>> Um in the interest of time, I don't have
anything else to report other than I
just really appreciate all of you and
your contributions. And I appreciate the
call of the best friends on gauge night.
So moving on to committee reports,
there uh the SAU 70 budget committee has
a meeting scheduled for September 3rd
and just reminding us that that
committee is led by the dynamic team of
Deb, Jim, and Michael
and he's not here. So we'll look forward
>> Um so we'll look forward to your update
after 3rd.
Anything you all want to share?
>> Nope.
>> Great. Awesome.
Uh
>> moving on superintendent report.
>> I'll make it very brief. I included my
goals for the year and these are based
on the feedback that you all gave me in
my evaluation this year and some of the
things that I wanted to continue working
on for the year and mainly focusing on I
did not feel like I had time last year
to focus on the capital improvement
plan, honestly.
We have a lot on our plate. Um so, this
year I have put that as priority. And
you can see we're already We've already
started doing so much work um since the
end of last year. So, I feel very good
about that one. I also included
mentoring our new leaders. I I've
already set up, just so you know, many
meetings with them. They probably are
sick of seeing me on their calendar, but
I'll be meeting with most people weekly
or
two times a month, depending upon the
situation. And I feel like I'll be
spending a lot of time in those schools
anyway. That would be a true pleasure
for me. And then, finally, we are have
been working on the overall staffing at
the SAU office. I did include our
updated SAU
um organization chart, and I'm happy to
say, although I really I'm worried that
I need to knock on wood when I say this,
that we are fully staffed right now,
momentarily.
Um we hired our front office person on
Monday.
So,
it feels so amazing to be able to say
that, and hopefully that will continue.
But, we have been looking at We've
really done some good changes in the
finance department, just in terms of
cross-training,
um splitting up some of the
responsibilities. I talked to you about
that last year, that we were looking
forward to doing that once we, you know,
were able to hire people. And that's
taken place. So, I'm really excited
about my goals for this year, and
thrilled that we are fully staffed.
>> Yay.
>> Any questions for Robin?
Or comments?
>> Um
Uh I love the org chart. I love that
like
I Org charts are hard, and it's lovely.
I was curious where building leaders did
not end up on here and I know that it's
an SAU org chart, but I think it's just
curious cuz it is so much of your work
and various people's work. So, I'm
thinking about if this was ever an
outward-facing document, how nice it
would be to just have a link even if it
had to go to a different page of where
those building leaders Yeah.
>> Um, and I can answer that because
originally this came about because
you're asking about specifically the SAU
>> Right. Yeah.
Yeah.
>> Because I kept trying to add things to
this and Ryan kept saying, "No, we can't
add
>> Keeping you in line.
>> She's like, "Come on now."
I'm like, "Don't want to add any No."
And that was the reason because we said
it was specifically related to the SAU
and the budgeting there. So,
but I'm happy to do something else too
so they can see more of the
>> Yeah, I think just if it was like on the
website for outward-facing for people to
know this structure and that
>> This isn't the only thing you do.
>> Right.
>> It's like a whole team of people.
>> Yeah, and
>> everyone else too, honestly.
>> Ben.
>> So, to clarify,
the the four principals also report to
>> Does anyone else report to you besides
those? Cuz I'm I'm looking at this list
and those four, that's 10 direct reports
already,
>> which is fairly high in a
in like at least in the business world.
>> Yeah, I do.
>> Um, so is it Is it technically
>> Yes, it's all the directors, all the
principals.
>> And then are all of those
mandated by various educational laws or
could some of these be under other
folks?
>> No, it's not mandated by educational
law, but I feel like these are the
people that I'm relying on to do so many
things. So, I almost feel like it's my
responsibility to be their
supervisor.
So, yeah, it it is a lot, but
I think this year having so many new
people it will be challenging but good
on the same context. So, yeah. And I can
think about if it's too much, you know,
potentially.
>> Yeah, that's fine.
>> Yeah,
I'll let you know.
>> Or
floating out there without anybody.
>> And honestly, I have had Lauren, you
know, the the associate principals or
direct reports to the principals, but
I've had her take on some
responsibilities with our associate
principals just in terms of, you know,
coaching and mentoring
our associate principals because I just
didn't have the time to do that at this
point, but I feel like it's really
important that I mentor those people
just because I set the expectations for
them, so.
Feel like that's the favorite thing to
do.
>> Tara, just wondering if Lauren is having
any separation anxiety with the IT
folks.
>> She had to do it at the meeting.
>> She was
She was feeling attached.
>> Oh, she's she's good.
>> She did it at the Hanover when we
couldn't make the iron network.
All right, I'm going to keep us moving
right along. Speaking of Lauren, Lauren,
we if we could promote Lauren to pin
list and
Lauren, you can now present your SAU 70
August board report and if there's
anything different you want to share
with us.
>> Well, all of that work just to say you
have my report. It's uploaded. I have
nothing new to add other than it just a
huge congratulations to Linda and Deb
for getting that initial
money from the Byrne Foundation. There's
really important work to be done here
and they were working really hard all
summer to try to get some grant funding
for this position. So, congratulations
to them and I'd be happy to answer any
other questions you might have on my
report.
>> Does anyone have any questions for
Warren?
>> I just wanted to be sure to say thank
you for all of the work uh in terms of
putting the curriculum for the SAU up on
the SAU 70 website. I think that being
part of such a complicated district can
be daunting for a parent, and this has
been really a great touchpoint for me
and others um as I have questions about
how different educational goals
continues through the different um
schools, and I can tell that there's
been a lot of work done and a lot of
improvements, and I super appreciate it.
So, I just want to say thank you for
finding these moments to unify all of
these different schools' objectives.
>> Can we just have you restate your name
just for the
>> Sarah Zuckerman.
>> I still very appreciate it.
Thank you, Sarah.
>> Thank you, Sarah.
>> Uh moving on to Teresa Taylor, Business
Administrator's report.
Well, for the SAU, I feel like I finally
can tell you good news for change on the
budget on this, how we ended this year.
I also uploaded a document, you'll see.
Um there's some notes, it's like 1.1,
but
for the year, because we were not going
to get the 150 for the Lime contract,
that was going to put us down the
revenues um down 150, um we did have
some miscellaneous, so we ended with the
revenues being down 129,000 instead of
150.
So, thought that was good. And then of
course, back in June, I had mentioned
the auditors had already given me
heads-up that they made adjustments to
coming forward with the FY25, and there
was the additional 72,000, almost 73.
so, I was like, "Okay, now we're going
to have to make up another 30,000 that
we didn't anticipate." but
we thought that we worked really hard
this year, we could save about 80,000
from our expenditure budget.
We saved 148,000.
That meant
not a lot of training, not a lot of
professional development happened,
certain things that we all had to
forego, and certainly a big part of that
is because we did lose some staff.
So, with the loss of the staff and the
positions not being filled until we
really had to fill them, um that put us
again, like I said, 148,000,
almost 149
um unspent expenditures.
So, at the operational, we ended with
19,641 on the positive.
Just for the operation this year.
Because we came into this
at 166,000
down, which we anticipated somewhere
around 176 at the end of
but it's 166.
Um so, in all in all,
it will net out that we're 147.
And I should say, coincidentally, we
anticipated ending this year
around 166,000 in the deficit.
And then we had
we were going to make additional
adjustments for next year along with the
145,000 additional assessment that
was agreed upon.
So, we're actually going into here
almost 20,000 less.
So, I feel good about that.
So, we're already starting lower than we
thought we were
um going forward, so
that's the good news for a change.
>> Background on how this all started,
because this all started back in FY24
school year
and everything else in coming forward.
Like I said, document 1.1,
I just
went through and made sure I updated
this and everything else, kind of gave
that background for those that
might be new to the board.
Um and might not have all that
background
information on this.
And then I also uploaded again the
um MDNA for the audit report for FY25.
And again, I just don't have those final
copies that
um usually get sent to us.
>> And I won't reiterate what I said
earlier about House Bill
about 64.
But I think that's what I have for SAU.
>> Thanks, Teresa. Does anyone have any
questions for Teresa?
Seeing none.
Um thank you, Teresa, for all your hard
work. It means a lot. We appreciate it
so much.
Do we have a need for a non-public
session
in this board meeting? We do not. Super.
We now return to public session. So we
never left. Uh one more opportunity for
the public, any final public comment?
Seeing some shakes.
All right. Any agenda topics folks would
like to add for the next board meeting
of this SAU?
This time? If not, you can send them.
Neil.
>> Great.
>> You have Neil's comment about a
non-public about tech.
>> Yes, I do have that. Yes.
>> You did get it. Okay.
>> I have that. Yes, I wrote that down.
>> Cyber security.
>> Uh graph non-public cyber security.
>> I also wrote down FAI. I have an idea
for you for an AI tool to help with SOPs
for the finance team. Send to there.
Scribe AI.
>> That's all you're going to
>> Just as for consideration,
um perhaps adding under discussion
legislative updates
>> Mhm.
>> as sort of a standing agenda item.
It's good for the public to see that
kind of spelled out.
Anything else?
Great. With that, Do I have a motion to
adjourn the meeting?
Carrie?
>> Uh yeah. Go ahead. Motion to adjourn the
meeting at 9:01 p.m. Do I have a second?
>> Deb.
>> On paper?
>> I'm sorry, roll call. Okay. Let's roll
call starting with Kelly.
>> McConnell, yes.
>> Russell, yes.
>> Nelson, yes.
>> Christie, yes.
>> Canton, yes.
>> Keeney, yes.
>> Sullivan, yes.
>> Odell, yes.
>> Piccone, yes.
>> We adjourn?
>> That was so exciting.
>> we're back.
>> Nice and all.
>> But now
>> Now that we're off, is this like is it
hot in here or am I
>> It is so hot.