September 8 2026 SAU90 Hampton School District School Board Meeting

Speakers are labeled SPEAKER_N. This transcript is machine-generated.

Recording

All right.
>> Good evening everyone. Um, and welcome
to the school board meeting of Tuesday,
September 8th. Could we all please rise
for the pledge of allegiance?
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
Um before we start and I'm going to
rearrange a couple things on the agenda.
Uh do we have anyone here that has any
public comments they'd like to make in
regard to anything on the agenda or any
other concerns? Okay. Well, we will um
reserve time at the end of the meeting
if we need to have more public comment.
Then um at this time, I'd like to take
the liberty of bringing forward uh two
of the new business items. Uh the first
one is to meet the new staff at our
schools. We would love to meet the new
staff if principles would like to come
and introduce them. And if they're here,
we have them stand up.
>> Get some pictures. Do you want pictures?
>> All right. Good evening. We have three
new staff members that I'd like to
introduce to you. First off is Julia
Olyri and she not a brand new face but
she has been working for the Hampton
School District for the last year and a
half, but welcome her on full-time as a
uh K to2 case manager. So, welcome
Julia. And behind her, I have Jamie
Newman who is a new second grade teacher
to center school. Very excited to have
her. And then last but not least, we
have Tessa Akens who is technically the
fourth nurse. Um, but Amy Petus is on
maternity leave, so uh, um, maternity
leave, so she is filling in, um, this
year at center full-time. Um, and
they've all been fantastic additions to
our building. Very grateful to have
them. Um, so welcome to SA90.
>> Hello everyone.
All right. Um, so a couple of new faces
at Marston School. Um, Anna Pulkari is
joining us or has joined us, I guess
I'll say, in fourth grade this year. And
then Mrs. Kathleen Rearen is our new
library and media specialist. So, couple
um retirements and and some leaving. Um,
she couldn't make it this evening. We
also have a one-year long-term
substitute, Miss Francis Ricky, who'll
be filling in for maternity leave in
fifth grade. But, um, just great
additions to our building. So, give him
a warm welcome and thank you.
eight's tall. Hi. Um, for Hampton
Academy, we have one new full-time staff
member. This is Miss or Senora Markeel
Nalt, who is our Spanish teacher. Um,
and we do have one long-term sub
position for health, who is not here
tonight. uh Danielle Sabari uh who will
be here for the year filling in for
Mattie Praum. So, thank you very much,
Marquette.
>> Um thank you all for joining us at SA90.
You won't regret it. I promise. It's
definitely one of the best, if not the
best in the state, probably maybe even
New England, maybe even the country.
Miss Paul Curry, I have to tell you, my
little No, no, no. I don't mean to put
you on the spot, but um my neighbor,
little girl, came over a couple weeks
ago and she said, "Hey, hey, Mrs.
Shepard, what do you know about Miss
Pulcary?" I said, "I don't know
anything. She's new." I said, "But if
she's come to us and she's going to be
your teacher, she's probably going to be
the best." So, she was very excited to
have you.
>> Good.
Okay. Well, welcome again to all those
new teachers and staff members. We're
really excited. The next on the thing
that I'd like to bring up is the
Rosemary Bua Memorial Education Fund.
Um, if all those folks could come up and
um, give us a little history. Don't need
to give me a history. Rosemary and I
were good buddies and had
had our children as students. So, um, hi
and thank you for having us. Um, I'm
Stephanie Bua Amport and I have with me
Amber Peacock Buttermore and Nathan
Sadler. And our two award recipients,
um, Jay McKenna and Hannah Lazerich. Um,
first I just want to give a little bit
of background and, um, my mother passed
about two years ago and we have family
and friends here as well. Um, and she
was a gift to our community. Um, she had
the ability to lead with respect,
empathy, and high expectations. And she
did that by bringing joy and love to her
classroom. Sorry.
And the way we've recognized her is we
took donations from when she passed and
we started a fund and we decided to use
those monies to support for uh teachers
in Marston School where she spent the
majority of her career over 25 years
fostering an environment of love and
collaboration and respect both with her
peers, her students, the parents, the
community and leadership. And so to
reflect on our process and our criteria
for that, I want to ask Nathan Sadler to
give an overview of that.
>> There'll go again. Um, so I knew Mrs.
Bua as a, you know, a guest teacher when
I joined here and um, I but I heard all
about her before and people spoke
extremely highly of her. So when this
idea came that they wanted to do
something to remember her and honor her
and as a way to give back to classroom
teachers, you know, we were totally on
board. It reached out to Dr. Costa,
myself, and then Mrs. Henderson. Um we
formed a small subcommittee um the three
of us and Mrs. Henderson and decided um
we developed a whole selection criteria
and a rubric um so that we would have
something to you know stand against and
and a criteria with which to measure um
our candidates or the nominees. Um and a
lot of it had to do with you know do
they create a joyful classroom culture?
Do they have high expectations and
instructional excellence? Um, do they
have collegiality and collaboration,
compassion and caring presence and
influential leadership? All the things
that um, Rosemary embodied in her time
in SAU, probably 21, but sort of 90 now.
Um, and so we sat down as a group of
four and we started to throw some ideas
around and bring some people up and um,
our first one that we brought up was Mr.
from McKenna was Jay um a longtime team
colleague of her a close friend um fit
all the things we were looking for and
we said you know as a first person to
kind of accept this and go on for it um
he'd be perfect we also named Jay to our
selection team so now it's a fivep
person team and the idea is um I serve
on on another organization in the state
and so when someone's selected they join
our selection team for the upcoming year
so when we sat down and went through the
process of selecting ing Mrs. Lazerich.
Um, we went through the rubric and we
went through everything. She will now
join the team this year and help us
select this year's winner and then Mrs.
Lazerich will step off and the new
person will join. So, there's always
going to be a new fresh set and a fresh
eye and a fresh lens. Um, we were
looking there was a lot of ideas thrown
around. First, it was should we do
someone new? But fortunately for us,
there's not a lot of change over at our
school. People come and they stay and
that's a good thing about Hampton. Um,
so we just altered it a little bit and
we really looked at the five areas that
truly embody her spirit and and how she
was as a professional and as an
educator. Um, so the fi four of us sat
down and then finally the five of us sat
down and that's how we determined um our
recipient for this year. So um, Mr.
McKenna's a longtime Hampton educator as
people know, also a coach in town. We
looked through the selection criteria
and he he fit all the marks. um as a
close colleague of of Rosemary's as
well, it seemed to just be a natural,
you know, for our first um honorary
member. So then we had Jay join the team
and we started bringing up ideas of who
could be next, who's our next teachers
and we threw a couple names around and
once we sat down and looked at the the
rubric to really measure um you know
Hannah, Mrs. Lazar rose head and above
anyone else that we had we had brought
forward. Um both phenomenal educators,
influential people in our community um
not just in our school but a little
broader. If any of your kids do garden
and nature club or have any interest in
maple syruping or environmental
education, they've probably worked with
Mrs. Lazar after school at some point
you've probably seen some of the stuff
that we do. But both tremendous leaders
in their own right um within our
schools. Um you know, people go to them.
They're respected. They're they're um
knowledgeable. they they do great things
in their classroom. I'm fortunate as
sort of the oversee and supervisor to
see the good stuff they do and to see
the impact it has on our students. So,
um we decided that every year now when
we get to mid-inter moving into the
spring, we'll sit down together. We'll
start to bring some people forward. You
know, the hope is that eventually staff
could start to nominate people, but in
the beginning it just it's kind of
internal and we're nominating the people
and going through that process together.
But, um it's nice that we have a
selection criteria. We have rubrics that
we use and we have a way to measure um
you know their influence and their
impact on our our school community. So
um as they said um Jay was our first for
the 2425 school year and then Hannah was
named our award winner for the 2526
school year. We did um something similar
to this at our opening staff meeting
except they didn't know at that time um
that they had been awarded. So it was
just kind of a surprise. it was met with
unanimous, you know, applause from
everyone on the staff cuz they are so
well respected within our within our
buildings and within the community here.
Um, so I couldn't think of two more um
worthy recipients to be honest with you.
We did get a small plaque which I think
I have um and Rosemary Bua and then um
each person's name and the year they'll
have or will be added to it. So every
year we'll go and get it re-enraved and
added to it and it'll just be displayed
for our staff and it's really open to
anyone within our building as long as
they plan to continue teaching the
following school year.
>> That's great.
>> I just wanted to thank the board for
being open to this and supporting it and
to Lois Costa for helping be a driving
force behind it and to the whole
nominating committee and especially I
just want to thank um our two n um award
recipients. Um so first what we're
giving them is they get um a monetary um
that's significant for teachers um and
my mom's favorite book was make way for
ducklings and so the I hope you learn
all the names and you can repeat them to
your students
are Jack Hacklack Macknack Oack Pack and
Quack. So please work on that. Um, we
were gonna insist that you sang um,
American tunes every morning and give
you a Bluetooth speaker, but we chose
not to do that, but any music you can
bring into the classroom would be
greatly appreciated. And she always
insisted that. And my kids to this day
give their teachers an abundance of
Tyonderoga number two sharpened. So that
is what we have here. So Hannah, from
all of us and from my heart, thank you
for what you do
>> and you're really important.
and Jay all the same. But it goes
without saying that um my mom love you
like a son
and the youth you
picture. Sure.
former fourth grade teachers in the
audience here
and sister-in-law and another former
teacher.
You guys come over here. Is it okay to
be here? Wherever you want.
There we go.
>> Oh, yeah.
So, just um you know, thank you so much.
I just want to thank the the family for
putting this together and supporting our
schools and our teachers. Um the monies
go right back into their classroom
spaces to support children and we're
hoping that this will be an annual
thing. So my hope is that every
September we'll be welcomed back to
present and share with you another
recipient. So thank you again for your
support throughout this. Appreciate it.
>> Well, thank you. It's absolutely a
wonderful honor and yeah, we're just
really excited. Uh Stephanie, I want to
tell you one quick memory of your mom.
It's about you. You went to Where did
you went to Yale? No. Where did you go?
Tus.
>> Tus. Right. So she and I were having a
conversation one day and she said, "Oh,
Tus." And I said, "Yeah." Somehow the
mascot came up and she said, "Well, I
don't know about that mascot. It's
Jumbo.
>> Was it?"
>> Right. And she and I had the longest
conversation about Well, that's a very
odd, you know, one to have for
university. But I do remember that very
much. Your conversation about you going
to Tus and about the mascot. She was one
of the best. For sure.
>> Absolutely.
>> For sure.
teacher.
>> I know. Many years ago.
>> Many years ago. I know. Well, thank you.
Thank you so much. Come back. Yeah.
Yeah. Come visit. It's great to see
everyone.
>> And another um not sad note, but we had
uh two staff members, former staff
members pass away recently. Um Dick
Tommpkins, who was my mentor 40 plus
years ago in the science department
here. Um he was like again just an
amazing guy. And um a front um office
assist uh administrative assistant,
Barbara Sawyer. Um again, there used to
be chaos that could rain in the office
and Barbara would just quietly bring
everything down and calm everybody down.
So those were two staff members. We also
recently lost a um um one of our former
students, Tom Yetton. and they don't
know if anybody knows Tom, but um again,
his mom was a teacher in Northampton and
he um yeah, it's just tough when you
lose former students and at a young age,
only 45. So
>> anyway, we always think of them, too. Um
all right, so we will go back to our
regular order on the agenda if
everyone's okay with that. Um let's go
to board committee assignments. Um, does
anybody have a um anything that they
would like to um report out on? For
instance, you don't have a budget
committee.
>> Yeah. Um budget committee tomorrow we're
going to do a tour of the DPW and a tour
of the SAU.
>> Um so that'll be great. Um it's always
really enlightening, illuminating for
our budget committee members. I also
wanted to note, and I'm sorry this is so
last minute. I just realized today next
Tuesday there's a budget committee
meeting at 6 p.m.
>> I am not going to be able to attend that
one. So, I was hoping somebody could go
in my place and specifically go over
this schedule a little bit um and what
we're going to be facing for budget
season so that they're totally aware of
what's coming up for the SAU.
>> Okay.
>> I think I probably can.
>> Okay. Why don't Wendy, if you'd like,
why don't we put you tentatively and
>> Yeah. Yeah. It's at 6 PM um next
Tuesday.
>> Yeah, it's it's not like it used to be.
Um
>> famous last words.
>> Yeah. But I've been working really hard
to keep them in the loop on everything
that's been coming our way. And I think
having them updated on what this looks
like at this current point and caveing
that with we are still learning um will
be very helpful to them. Um and that is
my only report.
>> Okay. Anything on facilities?
So,
>> isn't it center
>> September 19th?
>> The 26th. Okay.
Okay, great. Thank you. Anything on
capital improvements?
No. Um, we went through everything. Um,
they have everything they need from us.
It was approved by that committee and
now it will go back to the select board.
Okay. All right. Uh, let's see. How
about um oh well curriculum we're um
meeting on the 29th and 30th I believe
for with West um who we are partnering
with on the science curriculum which is
what we're working on this year. Uh
anything on grants?
Actually I don't think I'm supposed to
be on that one. Um Sarah, were you going
to do grants? I throw you under the bus.
If somebody wants to help me with it, I
have no experience with it. But um
>> I can. Yeah.
>> Okay. I mean, I was slated for steering
committee and then I would
>> All right. Well, we'll switch then. You
could do that with her and I'll take
steering committee.
>> Perfect. Works out great.
Um, anything on legislation?
>> Well, I think um we're going to go over
the tax caps today. So, right, there's a
lot.
>> Okay. Um, anything on master planning?
>> I don't think so.
>> No, we don't meet until November.
>> Okay. Um, I am signed up to go to the
National School Board Association. um
general meeting in October. So, I'll can
bring you back more when I go to that
meeting.
>> There's also a legislative meeting on
September 18th. If you want to go to
that one, it's going to be at um exit at
their um at Julia's which is on Lynen
Street. It's part of their um CT program
and that is going to be on the 18th.
That'll be in the if you want to go,
you're welcome to go. It's going to be
with legislators. It'll be from 9 to 11.
>> 9 to 11. Yep.
>> Okay, great. Thank you.
>> Y
>> um I don't think we have anything on
policy right now, but probably next
month. Uh anything more on the pond?
Will we able to get any dates yet to
meet with um the conservation
commission, recck department, or
>> Okay. All right. Keep us posted. Um
professional development. Uh we have our
first meeting coming up uh the 21st, I
believe. So, I'll keep you posted on
that. Anything on recck department? Oh,
no. I'm sorry. PTA. Anything on PTA?
>> I've got a couple. I've got stuff for
both. Um, let's see. Rec department has
their after school stuff going on,
including robot commanders, which is
grades 2 to four. A chess club for uh
kids. K through two fall sports is full.
Um, but there is still one group of
tennis in the park that's available. So,
if you're looking for stuff for your
kids to do after school. And then there
were a few things uh from the PTA uh
including um they got their check from
their recent fundraiser at the Brook and
it was $117,000.
>> Wow. Wow.
>> So, um that's very exciting.
>> That's awesome. Yeah. Um, on the
downside of it, there are currently no
PTA events planned because we have no
one to run events. We have no volunteers
to schedule them. Uh, so if you guys
loved the events that the PTA used to
do, including the trunk or treat, they
desperately need volunteers for that.
Um, they are specifically looking for
someone to run the Wizards event in the
winter.
the Wizards event.
>> Yep. Okay.
>> Typically March is when they do that.
>> All right. So, again, we'll put out a an
appeal to anyone and everyone that the
rec I mean the PTA could sure use some
extra hands and they've always been very
generous to this community and our kids
and um so if anybody has even an hour of
spare time that they could volunteer or
help with the PTA, we'd really
appreciate it. But again, I am well
aware that everyone is got 5,000 things
on their plate and we'll obviously do
the best we can.
>> The Wizards event also, just to chime
in, comes with a playbook and the
organization that we partner with to run
that event
>> really handles logistically um
they give you direct marching orders and
then it's just organizing a group of
people, assigning them a job, but it
comes with a playbook. for trunk or
treat that has seen a lot of different
evolutions. Um, that was born out of co.
Prior to that, it was like a carnival
themed thing. It could be whatever this
person wants it to be. It doesn't
necessarily have to be stepping in to do
what has been done. Um, it's kind of a
cool opportunity to make it your own and
and you know, whatever form that takes,
I'm sure they would be very happy for
someone to give what they can. Um
because it's a really it's a fun time of
year and the kids loved it,
>> right? Yeah. Okay. Well, we've put our
appeal out there and I hope people will
um be willing to step forward and give
just a little bit of time for that. um
the steering committee. We just had two
meetings and I think you're going to go
into it maybe a little bit more, but um
we came up with a draft of the new
district goals and
>> basically I think
>> we just kind of got a steer, you know, I
think we reviewed and refreshed anything
that was still pending,
>> but we also went forward and came up
with some new goals um to work towards
as well. And I and what made me happy
was I think we really made a point of
using the smart method and making sure
that it was you know specific,
measurable, achievable, attainable,
realistic and had a time frame to it. So
that was the part that I like the best
was that we were very specific about it
and and very um
>> yeah we really kind of kept it to what
we wanted it to be and not overwhelming.
Uh let's see. Wellness, we are meeting
on
uh one of these days.
>> I can look.
>> I've got it.
>> You've got it. I got it.
>> It's It's in September. I know. We have
a meeting on wellness. It's in
>> September 17th.
>> Thank you.
>> At 2:45.
>> I knew that was it.
>> That's okay.
>> Sorry. Sometimes the dates get lost.
>> Y
>> um and I guess that takes us through all
of our our separate committees that
we're on. So let's move on to principal
report and we'll start with Mr. Robbitai
somewhere.
All right, good evening again. Um just a
few updates of things going on at center
and some things that are upcoming. Um
back to school went pretty smooth. Um
really happy with um you know how our
staff operated throughout the August PD
days. A lot of hard work put in. you
know, in a short amount of time. Um, you
know, to welcome the students in on the
first day.
Um, first couple of weeks of school,
we're really working on responsive
classroom, getting students used to
being students again. Um, and, you know,
also welcoming our preschool and
kindergarten students. Um, many who have
not been in a classroom, you know,
getting them used to, um, the school day
and how that functions. Um, but it
overall was a very smooth um, transition
start to the year. Um, so I've been very
pleased with um how everybody's been.
Um, and we're already diving into
formative assessments. Um, we went over
our data presentation in August, so uh,
teams are already dibbling kids. Um, so,
uh, early literacy foundational skills,
looking at that. Um, so we're already
off and running, you know, seeing where
kids are coming in, um, or coming back
to us. Um, just a reminder to the
community, um, picture day at center is
on September 14th. Um our open house
event is going to be on October 1st. Um
more information will be sent out to
families about specific times or grade
levels. Um try to make it so that you
know if families have students in
multiple grades, they can access um each
teacher um for the same amount of time.
Um meet the teacher went very well.
Boohoo breakfast, which is put on by the
PTA as well. Um was pretty well
attended. Although it was um it was a
wet start to the school year, we still
had many parents that popped in um to
say hi, get to know us, learn a little
bit more about the PTA. Um echoing um
what the school board talked about. Um
you know, those PTA events are
meaningful to a lot of kids. So, anybody
in the community that's looking to give
a little bit of time, um it can go a
long way. There's a lot of uh folks
that, you know, work hard for the PTA in
conjunction um you know, with the
schools. So, um, anything can go a long
way. Um, just, uh, highlight again, I
will send out a principal newsletter
every Friday afternoon, evening. Um, so
please be checking that. We're trying to
put in a lot offormational flyers this
year, too. So, events that are popping
up in the community. Um, people getting
that information ahead of time. Um, but
a lot of, you know, important nuggets
about our school and districts. Um we do
still have one um position open par
profofessional um it says or ABA
technician um depending on the skill set
of the applicant. So um but otherwise
we're pretty well rounded for the year.
So we're off and running. Um the only
other thing I added to my report that is
different is we've adopted um the center
notes for dismissal plans. Um, so if
families are changing their dismissal
plan for their child, we are moving to a
more um, automated email system um, to
submit that to the center school front
office. So um, and I'm sure Mr.
Harrington will talk a little bit more
about the windows, but the window
project is at the very tail end. They
look great. We appreciate it. Um, you
know, our old windows were hard to lift
open. Um, some didn't stay open. So it
was much needed and appreciated by
staff. Um, and they look great. So,
thank you. Um, I believe that are those
are the highlights of my report. Um, if
anybody has any questions, I'm happy to
answer.
>> Anybody have any questions? I just had
one quick one. Could parents still send
in a note to
>> Yeah, of course. We'll still accept the
note. And, um, you know, if it's a late
um, you know, if it's late in the day,
we do ask that people call just so we
can make
>> Okay.
>> move it along a little quicker.
>> Prefer it to be digital. Um I in my
three years here, this has been the
smoothest start so far with um kids
getting home. Obviously, we have the
littles. So um sometimes a kid could get
on our wrong bus or you know the
something was communicated, but um of
the the days we've had these fewest
events that you know and my time in
Bedford as a assistant principal, kids
are getting where they need to go. So we
appreciate parental and caring guardian
communication. likely will follow, you
know, the plans that the kids come in
with. So, off to a good start.
>> Well, thank you.
>> Anybody?
>> Thank you.
>> Okay.
>> You're getting in your steps, Mr.
Sadler. Good job.
>> Nothing I like more than coming up here
and seeing everybody every day. Um,
great start to the school year. It's
It's a wonderful place where we are. Um,
a couple of things going up. Picture day
is tomorrow. We sent a lot of stuff out
about it, but bring your best smiles.
It's going to be a great day. I'm on the
17th. we'll celebrate Constitution Day.
It's another wonderful day um just to
teach the kids a little bit about it.
It's nice in fifth grade because they do
so much study about, you know, American
Revolution and the founding of our
country and all those things. Um on the
25th, we'll celebrate um the food
service workers for food service workers
day. I was talking to Mrs. Goer. I know
there's also like lunch hero day, but it
gets mixed up a lot of stuff and it's
kind of nice standalone day just to
recognize, you know, the behind the
scenes hard workers in the kitchen. our
Marston mail program which will send out
more information to our caring adults.
Um we'll start at the end of the month
on the 28th and then just for more
future planning we'll have our
openhousecurriculum night which is a
caring adult and student evening on
October 7th and again additional
information will come out of that. It's
a staggered event where you have a set
amount of time at each grade level which
is helpful if you have students in
multiple grades. Um just other than that
you know we're we're back in business.
we're rolling and just, you know,
getting the kids acclimated. Um,
learning our third graders names and
faces and interests and things like
that. But it's um, you know, just
wonderful to be back. It's the buildings
are great. Summer's a wonderful time to
recharge and get stuff done, but that
buzz when you're back in the first
couple of days is always exciting. So,
we're just looking forward to another
fantastic year.
>> Anybody have any questions? Well, of
course I do.
>> Educational opportunity program. Can you
just expand on that a little bit? EOP.
Oh, the EOP is our emergency operations
plan.
>> Oh, I had it as something totally
different. Sorry. Well, I'm glad I
clarified those that know or don't know.
Um, we're required by law to submit that
with the Department of Ed, the state of
New Hampshire every year in October. It
just outlines, you know, what we would
do in case of an emergency. All three
schools are extremely similar with
slight nuances in terms of who makes up
our team. It gets signed off by the
chief of police, the um chief of fire,
chief McMahon, who's also I forget his
other title, emergency management for
the town, something like that. And then
we actually have to have um the building
inspector, Mr. I I know his name is
Greg, our invitees, um also has to sign
off for it. And so we have them sign off
on our plan and then we submit it to the
state. If everything goes well, it's
what we use to kind of oversee what
we're doing. And I know I'm sure Dr.
CASA will talk about our safety night
that's going to take place on October
15th, but um the development of that
plan goes right into our daily
operations. So, it's our emergency
operations.
>> Thank you for clarifying. I thought it
was extracurricular.
>> Our extracurriculars are ELO's, extended
learning opportunities, which we'll
start up, jump rope club, garden, nature
club,
>> possibly Lego club. There'll be a few
others coming up. I know we're supposed
to write out our acronyms.
>> No, that was okay. I just got the wrong
acronym, but
>> So, just you know how we keep kids safe.
>> Thank you.
>> All right. Take care. Thank you.
>> Hello.
>> Hi.
>> Okay. I'm Tom Walder reporting out on
Hampton Academy. Um the first week of
school with students was phenomenal. Um,
I'm so proud of the faculty and staff
and the community and the students and
everybody that came together to make the
the start of school a great experience.
Um, I got my first time doing the bell
ringing ceremony which I was very
excited about because I had heard about
it. I'd seen pictures um and I was
telling the um PTA earlier that when we
were going out there it started to rain
and I remember asking Amber, my
assistant principal. I said, "Well, what
do we do when it rains?" And she says,
"It's never happened before."
>> That's true.
>> I'm like, "Oh my gosh." Okay. So, um,
thankfully the rain held off long enough
for us to have the ceremony and we got
to ring in the new school year. Um, and
since then it's been pretty smooth
sailing. You know, we have always have a
few minor um, tweaks with schedules and,
you know, last minute registrations, but
for the most part, we've started off um,
pretty good. Um, some of the new things
this year, most of it's pretty similar.
Um, the advisory program was revamped
over the summer. So, we do have a
committee that kind of came together to
really look at kind of specifically, you
know, what do we want students at
Hampton Academy to know, right, beyond,
you know, the the content area
curriculum, you know, how do we really
get grounded in what our community
values are? Um, and so the the
curriculum has been kind of developed
for the first few months and we're going
to keep building it out throughout the
school year. Um, some things that we're
working on actively is a partnership
with Westad to look at our science
curriculum with the rest of the district
through the year. Um, and one other
change this year is that Chromebooks,
we're going to be letting them go home
Monday through Thursday and on Friday
students are going to keep them here in
the building and that's part of a
concerted effort to kind of be mindful
about how much screen time students are
having access to. Um, so we're having
conversations about the educational
value of what goes on on a screen and
how we can kind of use some of our old
school tricks to keep learning going.
Um, beyond that, you know, we've been
having some conversations um with our
SRO and we've mapped out our safety
drills for the year. Um, we've got
picture day coming up on the 17th. Our
open house is on September 24th. Um, and
for the most part, I'm just I'm really
excited to be here and I'm looking
forward to what comes next. Um, also not
here on this, but we've had some
conversations about field trips. Um, on
tonight on your agenda, there's an out
of dis or out of state field trip. So,
anything that goes out of New Hampshire,
you know, requires board report. We also
been talking about fundraising and
planning for the environmental camp for
sixth grade and then also what the
Washington DC trip would look like this
year.
>> Great. Anybody have any questions?
>> Okay, thanks very much.
>> Thank you.
One one comment about the DC trip this
year is just so everybody's aware the
eighth grade is very large this year and
um there are some talk of maybe needing
another another bus. So there will be
lots lots to talk about this year to
figure just to figure it all out.
>> And the price has gone up.
>> Yep.
>> Significantly.
>> And the price has gone up.
>> Yep.
>> Okay. I agree, Wendy. Thanks.
So this is the first u month of a whole
kind of student services report. So
Emily Fixler, our school social worker,
typically would give a report as well.
So um Emily and I are kind of going
together to do it just that way if you
have any questions, it's easy to ask me.
So in terms of our registration for
students, we had a very busy um
registration season. We gained roughly
eight new IEPs. There may be a few more
because sometimes there are hiccups
during the um registration process and
we find out a little later kids have
IEPs.
Emily's also worked with those families
who may be experiencing homelessness to
work on helping them connect with
resources.
We are also both working with Lindsay
and food services in order to help make
sure that our students who require free
and reduced lunch indeed are signed up
and receive it. In terms of our
preschool program, I think it's
important to remind everyone that
although we do have a tuition, if you
are eligible for free and reduced lunch,
you would receive a discount off
tuition. So if you're on reduced it's
50% free lunch would be free
and 68 hours of hunger is going to start
up on October 2nd. They are going to be
using the community room again. The
first distribution will be from food for
thought. There are a couple new clothing
initiatives as well. Um dress for
success or for school success has moved
to a new location. Um it is now at the
St. Vincent Depal clothes closet. Also,
Hopes and Hangers is an initiative that
was started by a Winnacana High School
student. The idea is to kind of have a
personal shopper go in and look for
items for individuals so that they don't
have to go in themselves to help
maintain some confidentiality and
dignity.
Our mental health team helped out with
our annual suicide prevention training.
At the start of the year, we do a piece
of our training through Vector, but they
also went in in each building to talk to
staff about our specific board policy
around suicide prevention and the
procedures for what to do if you have a
concern about a student. Um, I've added
a little um kind of nugget to the
student enrollment chart which includes
our numbers of students eligible for
McKini Vento and also who are in foster
care currently in Hampton. And then
Emily had wanted to include just a few
flyers for you. So those were included
as well.
>> September is also suicide prevention
month. just to be um aware there'll be
some stuff that will be coming out from
the Cook Center just to have our
community aware of the importance of
this topic and what we can do to be
proactive. So, thanks for bringing that
up to Dina.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks.
>> Okay. Um if we could take a moment and
just look at the Oh, no. We have Mr.
Smith coming up. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.
Sorry.
Awesome.
>> It's okay. I'd be happy to let you take
a moment over uh
>> No, no, no. While you're taking a
moment, it's really interesting to note
um the enrollment uptick.
>> Yeah. From 9007 to 9:42. And that's
because of the withdrawals, but it's
also the new registrations that um came
forward this year. So, it'll be curious
to see if we stay there or if we've got
students that are not accounted for that
that number drops. But that's a really
healthy start to the school year, which
I was glad to see.
>> I'm sorry, Tim. Go ahead.
>> No problem. So, to piggyback on the
enrollment stuff, um, in looking at our
re-registration information for this
year, that would be where people log in
and verify their information or update
it in Alma. Uh, we have about 50%
compliance at each of the three schools.
Um, so we are actually going to open
that back up in hopes that over the next
week we will finish getting the rest of
that information updated from people.
Uh, that is the way that we have updated
contact information for emergencies uh,
for those newsletters that come out. So
that would be our primary way of having
that information in the system because
that's where the messages get pushed
from. Um, and other than that, as far as
the school year goes, we're off and
running, addressing issues as they
arise. Um, and just hoping that within
the next week or so, we start to settle
down and even out. So, if you have any
questions,
>> anybody? Um, well, first of all, I think
it's a great idea that they're not
taking those Chromebooks home. you might
have a big chance of having everything
um um you know ready to go on Monday
morning as opposed to dead laptops which
is always a problem. Um what happens
when you don't have all the all the
parent compliance what like I mean what
do you do next? So generally, well, in
the past, what's happened is we kind of
just have to accept what's been put in
and then leave the old information in
there and address it as people say that
they're not receiving communication. uh
which is a less than ideal way for us to
go about it because then in the event of
an emergency we might have an old phone
number or if we need to send out a
notification about something we might
have an old email address which is also
the way that you would get into Alma to
be able to see your students schedule or
their attendance or report cards. So all
of those things play on each other.
there anything that the SAU can do to
facilitate getting parents to get their
paperwork in?
>> Well, I I put the reminder out on my
newsletter last week and I think it's
those kind of things that we'll continue
to do. And I know that um the home room
teachers are pretty good about it as
well. So, we'll just keep we usually get
them.
>> Okay.
>> I'm I'm optimistic. I don't believe it's
been a problem.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. Family's good about it.
>> Have to do like a residency thing. Um,
well that's a great question. Tim, do
you want to
>> So, we don't actually require regular
residency proof. Um, that is done at the
time of initial enrollment and then we
don't have any requirements currently
for that on an ongoing basis.
>> As a leadership team, we actually had a
discussion about this recently uh that
it might be beneficial to do it at least
at the transition points between
schools. Um there are a lot of districts
around us that have transitioned to an
annual uh proof of residency.
>> That's that's why I asked because I
believe Winnip kind of it's an annual
>> um residency thing.
>> Okay. Well, they yeah being a
cooperative I could understand that,
right? Because they are coming from all
over. But yeah, it's something that we
could discuss and if it's something we
want to do, we could certainly come up
with a form.
>> You let us is just wondering why, you
know, why and if we were not doing it or
doing it and other schools are. But that
answered my question.
>> Okay.
>> Does anybody else have any questions?
Okay. Thanks, Tim, very much.
>> Thank you.
>> Evening everyone.
>> Hello.
>> Um, we had a busy summer this summer.
Um, a lot of stuff got done. I asked a
lot of facility staff and they did a
phenomenal job. Um, we did a lot of work
over at Center School and Marson School
with the flooring, just trying to get
that back up to snuff. Um, and they
accomplished a lot. It was great. Um,
summer went by fast. Uh, felt like it
was very short um to get everything done
that we did. Um, to touch on a few
things, center school, Mark mentioned
the windows. Uh, the windows I just got
a punch list today. The windows are are
pretty much done. waiting on shades for
the most part. And then there's small
easy punch list items for touch-up paint
um that type of stuff. But um that
company did a phenomenal job also. They
really did. Communication was great. Um
one of their lead supers on the job. Um
I've been in his back pocket pretty much
every day and he's been awesome. So um
we also had boiler started over at
center school replacing that. The boiler
has been ripped out. We got the two new
ones in. had uh electrical done on
Friday and AP was there on Friday also.
Parsons was there. Um they've got that.
We're really just kind of waiting on
controls at this point which is good. Um
did some paving over at center school
too. We got a seven more parking spots
which is nice to have. Hopefully
alleviate some of the issues out front.
Um Marson school. We did some flooring
over there. uh new flooring in the
cafeteria, the annex, the nurse's
office, and the SRO's office. Uh
basically putting down what we have
here, so it's a lot less um
a lot less maintenance, a lot easier to
take care of. Um Hampton Academy been
battling some ERVs still. We just had
somebody here the other day, but we're
trying to get that on the run, which I
think we do have a lot of the that stuff
on the run. Um and then the usual summer
stuff. Um all the PMs that we had. It
was a busy summer, but it was good. Uh,
we do have a couple projects coming up,
too. We have center school in Marson
School. Some roofing projects, some of
the smaller ones over at Center School.
Uh, we're doing the 1999 section that'll
be done, I think hopefully October. I
think I have a pre-construction meeting,
I think, on the 17th. Um, and then
Marson Schools over the cafeteria.
They'll be replacing that sloped piece.
So, yeah, it's been busy, but good.
>> Are you all set for staff? Yeah, we are
fully staffed, which is a good thing.
Yeah. Awesome. And we have somebody uh
part-time here, but it works out very
well. Just three days a week here at
night time, and that works out great.
So,
>> good.
>> Yeah, it's good.
>> Anything else?
>> Thank you.
>> Good. Anyone else?
>> Okay. Um and we have Miss Scoucher.
>> Did I say that correctly?
>> Go.
>> Ger, sorry.
>> Go.
>> Go.
>> Is that French?
Goa
>> Lindsay.
>> I had a busy week last week, but it was
great. Um, I made it to all three
schools for breakfast and for lunch just
to kind of take it all in and see how
everything goes and how the kids are
doing. And it was really eye opening in
great ways. Um
the students are definitely interested
in seeing what we have to offer. We now
have um a full fruit and vegetable bar
at the academy um which has been on
chicken patty day. I saw students
wanting just salad and getting a yogurt
for their protein and a roll to go with
it. They did not want a chicken patty.
>> Um I was actually shocked by that.
>> So it was really nice to see. Um,
for parents, I think you'll be seeing a
lot of communication from me, which I
think will be important, especially as
we start out in this new school year. I
already sent a newsletter out last week,
so hopefully everybody received it. Um,
but there will always be a separate
breakfast and a separate lunch menu. And
I can only fit so much on the lunch
menu, so that's where the newsletter
will come in with more details. um that
hopefully, you know, parents can look at
the menus, plan ahead with their
children, make sure there is adequate
funds on their accounts, um make sure
they're making purchases that parents
want them to make, and if there's any
questions about anything related to
nutrition or food service, I'm your I'm
your number one. Um
we did have a little bit of a an uproar
with um a second slice of pizza last
week and the biggest thing was you know
it's the first week of school. We're
getting back on track. Um so it's
coming. I think our biggest thing is
making sure students are visiting the
register first to make sure there's um
you know that $1.90 extra for them to
get the slice of pizza.
>> But also the bigger thing for me is
seeing full lunch trays and not seeing
just a slice of pizza with, you know, a
small piece of fruit, but actually like
taking advantage of trying new foods.
And there's a fine line with that,
right? because we don't want to waste
food, but we also want to encourage them
not to be hungry and eat foods that they
might want to try. Um, so that's part of
the education piece with my staff as
well as parents that I think will be
important. Um, not just now, but
throughout the whole year. Um, but the
students are really excited about school
meals and it's been really fun seeing
them all um, in school. So, the biggest
thing is again just making sure parents
are aware of how to put funds on the
account. If they for whatever reason
can't, we make sure they, you know, get
the help that they need, whether it's
filling out a free and reduced form, um,
contacting me to help them with anything
in terms of making sure can they access
my school books, can they bring cash in,
is the cash being being brought in,
being brought to the register? I think
that's a big one, too. It gets lost in
the book bag. Um, so yeah, I'm here for
parents. I'm here for staff. I'm here
for, of course, the students. But, um,
just know, I think that's the biggest
thing is just the communication piece
I'm going to be big on this year.
>> Can you tell me what are your ideas on
the waste and leftovers and things like
that? What What are your ideas on that?
Um, so
I think I mentioned, so coming from
Seabbrook as the nutrition director
there, I did a taste it Tuesday where
students could actually taste a lot of
the things that we were going to put on
the menu and then they could look
forward to it because they voted, yes,
this tastes great. I I want it the next
time it's on the menu. So we we gauged a
lot of um student preference that way.
So giving them foods that they would
enjoy and not assume that, you know,
everything we put out is something that
they're going to like. Um, I think
another part is I've thought about a
share table. Um, but with that there's
again there's there's a lot of
regulations behind the scenes. So
there's a lot that has to do with food
safety and who's monitoring and you know
things like that. Um, but that's
something I think we could utilize if we
had enough hands on deck to move forward
with something like that.
>> Did you have share table at in
Seabbrook?
>> This year was going to be my year if I
was still there to do that. Um, because
we were noticing a significant amount of
waste specifically with milk. So, a lot
of students were taking milk but not
drinking it for whatever reason. They
ran out of time. they they had trouble
opening it. They didn't ask for help. Um
so I feel like I wanted to try it, but
again with all the rules and
regulations, we just didn't have enough
hands. Um and it was something I kind of
had on the back burner and wasn't ready
to try. Um
but I think it's doable as long as you
know have the right resources for it.
But something like milk again, you can't
leave milk sitting out either. So that's
where and technically we can't take it
back. And that's what's so hard about
the food service and nutrition aspect is
the federal guidelines are very strict.
Um, and I don't love them, but it is
important to follow them. Mhm.
>> But the time and temperature and food
safety aspects of a lot of it is what
kind of holds you back on some of the
aspects that I would want to move
forward with.
>> Okay. Well, thank you and thanks for
your efforts and thanks for looking into
some new possibilities.
>> Yeah, I have a lot of ideas, but I also
I'm not going to go all in. um really
taking time to do training and um just
getting everybody up to speed to make
sure you know we're not over
complicating things. We're simplifying
things so that we can move forward with
other great ideas.
>> Okay, thanks very much. How about anyone
else got any questions?
>> No. Okay, thank you.
>> Dr. Basta. Right. Thank you. Um, as as
the principles and the staff alluded to,
it's been a great opening. Um, the we
actually did a feedback survey for staff
to gauge how people went in terms of our
our keynote at Gerity. We also had a
wellness fair and the Cook Center, Lane.
Um, and we received really overall great
great feedback. People really seem to
liked Edgarity. they found the time on
that Monday 31st very meaningful. So, I
was glad to hear that. Um,
you see that we've we have I continue
with the goals that we had last year.
We'll we'll shape them a little bit, but
we'll get to that just in a bit. But one
of the things that we're trying to do is
to be proactive with what's going on
legislatively. So, as I said earlier,
Friday, um, September 18th, the
Southeaster superintendent have invited
in legislators, school board members to
have those conversations about some of
those important bills that are coming
before us, including House Bill 1300 and
Senate Bill 574, which has to do with
funding and whether or not um we put in
tax caps at the SAU and in our budget.
So, lots of conversations about that and
what that means and um lot of interest
in that. I will say that um we are
excited to tour the members of the
budget committee tomorrow afternoon
where we'll get to show them some of the
things that we're able to do as as Tim
shared with you as it pertains to the
floors, the windows, the boiler, and all
of those exciting things that we do over
the summer. Also, um there's many of us
who will be assisting with the seafood
festival this weekend. Um just parents,
be aware that Friday bus routes could be
a little bit delayed just given the
traffic on the beach depending on how
how those routes are running. So, just
be patient. If your child is running
late, feel free to call the school or
obviously for a student at 9642322,
but we'll keep you apprised as we
typically do.
We did come up with um a couple of
things. We did come up with a book with
the Lane Library and I never thought of
it that way. That was the top boat
getter. So we do have free copies
available. If people are interested in
joining our community read this year, we
have copies available through Lane
Library and also through the SAU. Just
let me know and we'll try to get you a
copy of that. I also shared with you a
draft of connecting caring adults, a
parent series that we would like to
partner with SAU 21 on. We are trying to
get some grant money to see if we can
provide um dinner and daycare. That
would be 5:30 to 6:30. um some great
topics that are coming up, including
we're we're looking at if you take a
peek at it, you'll see there's things
like setting the school year up for
success, our school safety night on
October 15th,
college and career pathways,
um screening and the panel discussion of
THC, Inc.,
um nutrition meal planning. I think that
Lindsay Goucher will have a lot to say
on that. Cyber security for parents with
the Atom group. We're looking at how do
we support our kids academic support and
then wellness and self-care. So, this is
going to be a try it this year, see how
it goes, see if we can get some more
people out to engage in these
conversations and then go from there.
So, more information to follow on that.
Um, THC,
could you tell us about that acronym?
>> It's it's about marijuana. Oh,
>> it's it's really about what is the
impact of marijuana. We know that many
states, not New Hampshire. You're
>> really showing my age.
>> That's okay. Um, not it's not legalized
in New Hampshire, but they do have some
some research about it. It's a it's a um
they've been showing it around the
state, and people seem to have an
interest in seeing that. There's also
another one that we're looking at as
well. So, it's just if parents are
interested, they can see it. Um, I think
it's pretty informative and I the plan
is to have some people that would help
us lead a conversation about it, right?
So, yeah, no problem. And then thinking
about the
new staff, we talked about that already
and I gave you a copy of the agenda. I
hope it's in there. Um on October 7th,
we'll have our first district safety
team meeting.
Over the summer, we did um
develop a memorandum of agreement as it
pertains to safety planning and our
community partners. Just thinking about
that as we're trying to really firm up
reunification this year. On November
3rd, we will have a full day in service.
And during that time, staff along with
Hampton Police and Hampton Fire will
join us for I love you guys training. So
that is all about reunification and what
that looks like. So we'll look forward
to doing that on November 3rd.
What else can I tell you? Um, as you've
heard, West Ed is going to work with our
science committee. I'm really excited
about it that we're able to get such a
incredibly brilliant person, Jenny
Sarnner, who is one of the leads at West
Ed who has agreed to be our consultant
and lead us through science curriculum
work. I'm really excited about that.
That'll take place on September 29th and
30th. that we will begin by developing a
shared vision for teaching science.
Thinking about coherence in our
curriculum, methods and materials. We
anticipate this taking probably two
years. I think one of the things we
heard at our steering committee was how
do we balance the needs with um those
things competing at our time. So to do
the science curriculum the justice that
it needs. Much like math, we see this
being a two-year commitment where we
would be setting the groundwork this
year, making changes, and then next year
doing some implementation and
re-evaluating it in terms of its
effectiveness. The goal being obviously
to increase science achievement,
thinking about the formative as well as
those summitive New Hampshire SAS
assessments. How can we um you know have
our kids college and career readiness?
We know that science is really important
as it pertains to
careers in the future, STEM, STEAM, and
all of that. So, we're excited about
that work. We did a really deep dive
into handbooks last year. If you recall,
we looked really extensively at our
parent handbook, our staff handbook, and
our substitute handbook. So those were
all updated. On August 27th, we hosted a
substitute teacher guest teacher
training and during that time we review
um some of our policies. We also talk
about safety, which is hugely important
to all of us. We understand that a good
day for our guest teachers and
substitutes means a good day for our
students. So that's really important to
us that they feel prepared and they feel
comfortable in the classroom and if they
have a question they know who to go and
they they can ask and then of course you
know this is the time of year where we
have the required trainings and I've
made a list for you. We are using Vector
this year. This is a new platform. Um I
think that we heard it's a little more
time consuming than it had been in the
past. We also hear it's a little more
informative and it really pertains
directly to the laws of New Hampshire.
So relevant but a little more timely. So
just something that we're all trying to
balance with our first year through
using Vector
>> and just that it's been a great start
and we're just very hopeful in light of
everything happening
um given our children and our parents
and our community and that we want the
schools to be everything they should be
for our students in this community and
just to make each day for each student a
meaningful learning experience. and
always willing to partner with parents
and anyone in the community who wants to
partner with us on this venture. So, we
can't do it alone, but it will take our
village. Our village is Hampton, and we
invite anyone who wants to partner with
us on that. Um, I've also attached a
copy of the Cook Center newsletter,
which is, as I said earlier, it's on
suicide prevention
and
the mental health series for September.
what's happening in terms of um what
parents can participate in which is
closely aligned to our goals. You can
see some overlap there and then the
flyer on the community read with the
lane library and then the SAU 21 SAU90
connecting our caring adults for our
parent series.
I think that's that's about that's
enough for now. Um I was wondering I had
a quick question about uh
>> we're having a challenge to fill some
support staff um positions and you said
you seek alternative methods to keep
them fully staffed. What what do you
what what are some alternative methods
that might be used?
>> Yeah, it's a great question. So um one
of the things we're always looking at is
we look at the IEPs. What are what is
required? Can we combine services?
um you know what is what are staff
doing? I so I think it's about carefully
looking at schedules. Our last option
would be to outsource because it's very
expensive to bring people in. But um
just being creative with schedules and
seeing what we can do to collapse um
services where we can and then of course
to continue to beat the bushes and to
see if we can get some more people in.
Um,
I don't know, Dina, if you want to
comment any further on that or
principles, but
>> we're not alone. I mean,
>> while she's coming up, I would also um
just highlight again that uh mental
health series, some of the ones that
jumped out of me that that jumped out at
me are Thursday the 17th, understanding
video game addiction. Yep. That's huge.
parenting through anxiety and
depression. Again, huge
depression, you're not alone, and how to
motivate your child. And there's a good
one, school avoidance, because we all
know that there's plenty of little ones
that just say, "Yeah, no."
>> Yeah.
>> Anyway, so yeah,
>> in terms of our support staff,
contracting staff is always a very last
resort. Um, our paraprofessionals have
um a union. So, if we were to need to
contract, it would need to be approved
through the union. That is not the case
for our ABA tax or RBTs, but the price
of a contracted employee is roughly
triple the price of a district level
employee. And it's really important for
us to grow our people and to be able to
support people. And unfortunately, if
you have a contracted service provider,
they could be the most wonderful person.
Most places have a stipulation that you
can't hire them for your district um
until they haven't worked for you for a
year or else you owe the company
$20,000. That's the typical like finders
fee.
>> Again, we hear these acronyms and I
think sometimes parents might not know.
ABA RBT and their qualifications can
>> registered behavior technician. They are
working with students doing applied
behavior analysis. They are overseen by
our BCBA or board certified behavior
analysts. Um, ABA techs are our staff
who work within our neck program. That's
the New England Center for Children. We
have a program in both center and
Marston for our students who would
likely need an out of district placement
if not in the program.
>> Okay. Thanks. Again, sometimes I feel
like we sit here and we
>> either misunderstand like me these
acronyms or we, you know, we throw them
out and then people it's like goes over
their head. So,
>> absolutely.
>> I just want to make sure we we have
people that understand what these things
mean and what they mean to our school
and how how important they are.
>> Yeah. Thanks very much. I appreciate it.
>> Welcome.
Okay, it looks like we have gotten
through all of the reports. So, if um
you wouldn't mind, I would ask if I
don't know if we can do it now.
>> Um for consideration of the minutes.
>> Oh,
>> she's pointing at me. I'm like, what do
I do?
>> No, you didn't do anything. But there's
only Yes.
>> Do we want to go to the You want to do
the entire consent agenda or just
>> How about the entire
>> Oh, yes. You know what? We actually we
cannot do the minutes. We should have
done them before Molly left.
>> Right. That's why I was asking. So,
we'll have to put those off till next
time.
>> Okay.
That's what I was just thinking as she
was leaving.
>> Um,
>> and we do not have any donations at this
point.
>> We've got we got backpacks.
>> Backpack and school supplies.
>> Oh, excuse me. Okay. So, do I not see it
in Okay. So, um, would I I would like to
entertain a motion then for
>> Let's see. Do we want to do the whole
thing? Do we want to do Northshore Music
Theater?
>> Actually, why don't we do each one at a
time so we can highlight?
>> Okay. So, I'm going to make a motion
that we accept donations uh which are
acceptance of anonymously donated
backpack full of school supplies to
Marston School and school supplies from
Exit Area YMCA.
>> Okay, I'll second the motion. All in
favor?
Excellent. That's four. And
there was another one here. Wendy, do
you want to do that one?
>> Yep. So, the second one is approval of
Hampton Academy field trip to Northshore
Music Theater. Um, and although that is
a day trip, um, it's my understanding we
are we are approving that because it's
out of state.
>> Yep.
>> Um, so I'd make a motion to approve
that.
>> Yep. Okay. And second. Okay. So, it was
moved by um Sarah and seconded by
Candace. And all those in favor? Great.
4 Z.
All right.
So, do we have any correspondence that
we need to take care of?
>> Nope. No. Okay. And have all of our
manifest been signed?
>> Yep.
>> Oh, look at that. Wow. We're on the ball
this time. All right. So, we're moving
on to um other things that are on new
business and I think you were going to
talk about the strategic plan.
>> Yep.
>> So, we had a really nice representation
at our strate
Yeah. Absolutely.
>> Yep.
Yeah.
>> Okay. Yeah. We had a really great um
couple of meetings for to talk about our
goals. What we do is we typically start
where
what we were able to accomplish last
year and then we talk about how we want
to move things forward. And as you know
um things come up over the course of the
year from last year and we kind of add
them on, right? It's one of those things
where we really need to do this or we
really need to do that. So we kind of
add them on and those are those natural
progressions. So for example under
communication you can see we're adding
under we always want to
improve our parent and caregiver support
for learning right that is that is so
critical to the work we do as a prek
grade 8 district. So what are the things
that came up in conversations we have
and again draft form we want to do that
SEU 2190 parent series to see if we can
get more people that would be willing to
come see if the numbers would increase.
Hopefully we can appeal to um parents
that want to come out. One of the things
that we also discussed was um report
cards as it pertains to um support
student learning. that was something
that came out in our master steering
planning and that people want to start
reviewing those. I know Hampton Academy
Center,
we're talking about specific tweaks that
they want to make. So, I think it's
timely that we look at that as well. Um,
again, it was kind of one of those
natural conversations that came out of
curriculum conversations that seems
timely. So, we've added that
under expanding partnership. We know
that the YMCA, interestingly enough, is
um now taking over the fund building.
They also have the before and after
school. So that's that's they're going
to take some center stage there. Um we
have Rotary Interact Club with the
middle school that was started last
year. So continuing our work with them.
We are continue to be a reaching higher
New Hampshire key partner. So that's
kind of still in planning. We know that
um what's going on with our town and
master planning in the capital
improvement plan and we want to continue
to be involved with that as center is
considered in that downtown area. So
that will be a critical component of
their planning. And then one of the
things that came up this year was senior
citizens and how can we enga engage our
senior citizens. I know that Mariah and
I, we we work with Heidi Teroscina. We
go over, we help with the bingo, but is
there other things that we can do?
Whether it's the coral concerts or what
is it that we can do to engage our
senior citizens? We're always willing
and wanting to do that. So, that's
something that we want to dig a little
deeper into. And then we know that we
could potentially um be addressing
changes in laws, which will be hugely
critical. um to all of us. One of the
things that we are preparing for be
because we don't know the outcome is
typically at this time of the year we
would engage in conversations around
budgets where we don't know the outcome
of our November elections we also have
to prepare two budgets. one which would
be our typical budget that we do but one
should there be a tax cap as it pertains
to SAUs and towards school districts. So
the work along those lines is going to
be exponentially more hours um than we
ever have in the past because we have to
prepare two budgets because
when that goes through or not November
3rd we have to be prepared either way.
So a huge um a huge lift on the part of
all of you folks who sit on those
meetings as well as the district office.
So we are concerned about that um
regardless of the outcome just that the
work it's going to entail along with
other potential laws that are changing.
So things that we're keeping an eye on.
And then
we always want to be thinking about our
students, you know, how do we give them
a voice in what we're doing? So, I'm
always challenging my leadership team
and my principles and assistants. How is
it that we're going to give our students
a voice in their in their schools? So,
that's something that's still on there.
And then one of the things that came up
in our steering committee was the need
to increase opportunities for vertical
teams to meet. Back back many years ago,
we used to have a language arts and math
facilitator. We do not have curriculum
facilitators. So the curriculum work
really falls on the leadership team. And
we've noticed that, you know, there's
for better or worse, there have been um
conversations that really need to happen
that we haven't been able to have
because um K5 is on one schedule and the
middle school is on another schedule. So
the the time that we have to have that
even during release days is one hour. So
it's really hard to have those
conversations. And what we heard is that
it would have been really helpful to
have those conversations as it pertains
to curriculum um and looking at you know
the scope and sequence of KA curriculum.
So something that I would like to
continue to look at in terms of how do
we find that time in the absence of
curriculum leadership.
So that came up.
And then under goal two, which is our
physical and emotional safety, was our
district safety team. And we really want
to be focusing on reunification. We feel
like that's an area that's been
identified by the leadership team as
well as staff that we really need to um
we need to solidify. And that came loud
and clear. And then of course a safety
information night. It's been probably
five or five years anyways since we've
had a safety information night and we'd
like to do that which will be planned
for October 15th. So, we have that
coming up.
And then internet safety and cyber
security. If you're if you haven't been
watching the news, there has been an
increase in cyber attacks since February
of 2026.
Um, we know that educators are hugely
vulnerable. Um,
hugely vulnerable and there have been
districts that have been shut down for
days on end because they are victims of
ransomware. And so,
yeah. Yeah, it's kind of it's kind of
happening around the nation. And so,
what are we doing about it? How are we
preparing for it? You know, this summer
the Atom group came in and addressed the
leadership team in October during our
early release. They're going to address
our entire staff so that our staff can
become aware of it. And we also want to
put a parent information night out as
well. This is hugely important. What
people don't know, and I didn't realize,
was they are stealing children's
identity and kids don't know until
they're 18 and they go to apply for
college loans and they come up with all
of this history.
Unbeknownst to me, they target children
because they have a longevity of not
being found. It's pretty scary. when we
heard some of the things we were all
just like Mariah we were a gasast at
what we heard what we saw and and I'm a
prime sub suspect they say
superintendent and principles we because
we have a lot of data we have a lot of
information so it's it's pretty scary so
really not opening email not um really
being every time you touch your phone
just being really careful about what
you're responding to. So, so staying on
top of that and then um
GoG Guardian has gone up significantly
which is how we keep track of K children
and being safe on the internet. So Tim
is looking at doing some of the pilots
to see if we have some cost savings
there. So that's something that he wants
to make sure we don't lose sight of. I
love that. I think it's perfect. And
then of course we are continuing our
work with MTSS behaviors which is our
multi-tered systems of support. Thank
you for reminding us about acronyms. I
appreciate that. Um you know how are we
using data to set goals around um
children who are not able to access
learning because of behaviors that are
interfering with it. and what is it that
we can do um to
reduce the numbers of behaviors so that
kids feel more regulated and more on
task with their school assignments. So
that's something we're going to continue
to work on and we'll be involved with
the department of ed. Um Sue Antico
helps to lead that work as well as Dena
and myself.
you know that last year we had a goal
for finding tier 2 tier three supports
as it relates to behavior. Um we
actually um purchased wayfinder and it
is now we are in implementation of that.
So we are doing training for our
counselors and psychologists but it is
available to our entire staff.
We are looking at how do we um identify
kids and then how do we exit kids? Um
what are the signs that show us that
they're moving in the right direction
whether it's through attendance whether
it's through more on task behavior
whatever it might be. So really getting
specific. Miles Planet who is our
behaviorist for the district. He is
helping to lead and coordinate that work
which seems very appropriate and again
just trying to provide more targeted
support and interventions. How do we
help those kids who are really
struggling? Right? So, there's that. And
then looking at curriculum and
professional practice,
um multi-tered systems of support as it
relates to academics. Um really becoming
data driven. What do we do about those
students that are working below level?
How can we give them additional support
to close those learning gaps? and how
can we set realistic goals um as it
relates to tiered instruction. Um so
that's important to us. We decided after
a look at STAR last year, which is the
assessment we use to monitor kids grades
2 through 8 in the fall, winter, and
spring. We decided that it was really
important that some of our
interventionists like reading
specialists, math interventionists had
more extensive training on reports. So,
we're doing more extensive um training
on STAR. We did consider like NI was we
did consider I ready and we decided to
stay with STAR. It's giving us what we
want but we need to do a better job
utilizing some of the reports that they
have. some more extensive training on
that which is happening this fall. And
then you heard about our work with
Westad um excited about that. They are
the science behind the nextgen science
standards. So Jenny Sarna is flying out
for that training on the 29th and 30th.
She will be meeting with the leadership
team um during our second uh meeting of
the month. She comes on virtually and
she works with us for about an hour to
make sure that we're moving our teams in
the right direction. She's incredible.
Um I'm excited about that work.
And then of course we we still feel the
need to continue to look at
differentiated instruction. How do we um
challenge those kids who are working
above level? How do we support our
students that are working below level?
and how do we support staff who might
need some support with how to do that?
So, that's something that we're going to
continue on.
This year, our professional development
plan does expire. So, we will be working
with our professional development
committee on on making a update to it.
We will also make sure that it aligns
with our teacher effectiveness plan
because you remember last year we made
some changes to that plan. So we want to
make sure it is aligned with that and
that it is in compliance with state
guidelines
and we'll submit that to the department
of ed by April May when it is due. And
then last but certainly not least is our
teacher effectiveness plan which is our
supervision and evaluation. How do we um
provide staff with feedback? We are
encouraging it to be a reflective
collaborative process and an opportunity
to give people the pat on the back for
the good work they do, but yet how do we
grow teachers that might be new to the
profession and how do we support them if
there's an area that they really want to
get better at? And then of course um
thinking about some of the changes that
we made which includes things like
portfolios if people want to develop
portfolios or if they want to do a peer
observation. So encouraging that as
well. So we've added some really nice
changes at the recommendation of our
staff. So we're excited about that as
well.
But I'm open to um something that you
were hoping for that we could add. Um
you know, we want to make sure it
represents
what we want as a as a board and as a
community. And if there's something that
you're thinking really wish X Y and Z
you know that was the whole purpose of
our second meeting was to really just
brainstorm because what will happen once
you find these acceptable which I hope
will be tonight even if it's in draft
form is the schools then have to build
their goals that should be in alignment
with these goals and then staff has to
write their goals which are due by
October 31st and that's how
everything stays in alignment, right? Um
so which is why we did this a little
earlier this year. It was that push to
get those meetings in with all staff
before the October I think it's the 30th
this year because of when the 31st
falls. So they just asked that we do
that. So
thanks for letting me push this. So and
this is really hot off the press. So,
>> so does anybody have anything at this
point that they think they might like to
add or take away? Or do you want to have
maybe
a a week to think about it and then send
Lois any ideas or changes that you might
like? Would it be okay to give you
changes like within the next week? um
this is a draft so I would ask that you
accept the draft and then if you want to
it's going to be like you I'm going to
update this all year long like if you
say to me I really wish that I think
about last year one of the things that
came out was from a parent it was a
great suggestion it was can we send the
recordings of the schoolboard meetings
out with my Friday newsletter of course
we can you know it's one of our goals
communication we changed that goal mid
here. Um, I think that we're open to
like doing whatever it is that people
want us to do as long as it's
financially right feasible. So,
>> okay.
>> Does that make sense?
>> Yeah. So, people can either in the
public or here on the board can submit
suggestions or give ideas at at any
point.
>> Yep. And and families can too like they
can send me an email and say, "I really
wish you did this." Okay. And it doesn't
preclude
our schools from also setting the goals
they need to set. Like I know that, you
know, we're still implementing everyday
math. That's still going to happen. You
know, I know that people are still
working on, you know, literacy, right?
That's still going to happen. This is
just kind of a a more focused approach
so that K8 what we're doing.
>> Okay. Okay. So, I guess I would
entertain a motion to accept the draft
of the um district goals. So, moved.
Wendy's moved. Sarah second. All in
favor?
>> 4 0. Good. Thank you. And please provide
any feedback that you have. We'll we'll
make the changes as we have to all year
long if we have to.
>> Okay. So, the next thing we're looking
at is the 2026 special education
um procedures.
And I guess the only thing and I I will
ask um Miss Jensen myself, but I guess I
wanted to know me personally, what
changes from last year's plan are in
this?
>> That's a great question. And of course,
>> I I know I know I I thought of it as she
was leaving. I'm like, "Oo, I got a
question." But I will I will find out
from her y and um at the next meeting
perhaps she can bring whatever changes
from last year to this year have
occurred in this document.
>> Yeah.
>> Does anybody else have anything that
they would like to know about this
document?
>> Do we need to approve this? Is there a
timeline on this?
>> Um I don't think they are because my
guess is they were handed down from the
department.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> So I don't think it is. I think it's
>> Okay. It is what it is.
>> You could just ask or
>> I will ask also. Yep.
>> I just like to see changes, you know.
>> Fair enough.
>> Keep me up to date.
>> Yep.
>> Okay. So, that's that. And now we would
like a financial workshop on tax caps.
>> We have someone from the public here. Do
we want to check? I'm sorry.
>> We want to check and see if she wanted
>> I will. Would you like to have any
public comment or any input?
>> Okay.
Okay. Well, maybe wave.
>> At any time, wave if you need something.
Okay. Yeah.
>> Um, so
>> nice to see you, Liz.
>> Are you?
>> Yeah. Thanks for coming.
>> Yeah, definitely. Are you doing that?
Yes. Okay.
>> Candace is has
>> perfect.
>> Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Candace,
>> yeah, this this one's a doozy. So, I did
my best to kind of distill it. Um I
actually was thinking depending how we
feel at the end of this maybe next month
we do like a 2.0 of the same topic. Um
especially because of where um the
voting falls and like our November
meeting I think is after. So that's
something we could consider unless or we
could move on to another topic. But um
so in November we're going to see um
HB1300
um on the ballots for us. So essentially
what happened is HB1300 passed this past
legislative session signed into law by
the governor. It took effect September
1st. And so it's a new state law that
requires every New Hampshire community
to vote on whether to place a two-year
cap on how quickly the local property
tax levy for schools can grow. Um
there's also a separate fixed cap. So
there's two caps. Um the separate fixed
cap is on what what they're calling
central office administrative spending.
Um although that's not a defined term um
anywhere. So, um the caps, if they did
pass, would take effect uh beginning
with the fiscal year 2028, they pass uh
with a 60% um uh amount of voters voting
yes. With this measure, u all ballots
are counted. So, when they're
calculating the 60%, it's yes, no, or
abstain. So, if somebody leaves it
blank, in other words, um it counts as a
no. So, um and they are not bifurcated.
So, you can't vote yes for one and no
for the other in terms of the two caps.
So, you're either all in on both or
neither. Um, okay. So, the the first
one, this is the cap on local property
tax levy. What does it mean? Um, it's
not a literal cap on the school's
budget. So, they're not, you know,
saying this is, you know, what you can
do on the budget. What it is, it's it's
a cap on how much we can increase um
each year. So, basically what they're
using is this formula saying um you you
can't go above this amount of local
property taxes being raised for the
school district. It can't be higher than
last year's tax levy times 1 plus um
inflation plus growth from new taxable
property. There's a little bit Maria and
I were talking today. There's a little
bit of um lack of clarity on how we how
we use the figure of inflation. Um but
inflation for anybody who doesn't know
um they're using the one-year percentage
change in the consumer price index for
the Northeast region in March of the
prior year. So if this passes we're
talking about March 2026, which was 3.6
6%. I won't go too far in the weeds, but
basically there's it's a huge difference
whether you're going 1 plus 3.6 or 1
plus 036 in terms of what this final
number could be. So that's obviously a
big deal that we're trying to figure
out. Um if you go on the state, you
know, website, they're interpreting it
one way and then Mariah was reporting to
me that there are lawyers that are
interpreting it another way. Um, so when
they say growth from new taxable
property, they're not including
revaluations or market appreciation on
properties or change if there if there's
ever a change to the assessment meth
methodology, which I know is something
that's discussed a lot. Um, it would
include things like new construction,
additions and improvements,
redevelopment, subdivisions, um,
property that maybe wasn't taxable
before, but now is taxable. Um, and then
just important to note that any bonded
capital projects that were uh, certified
by the DRRA are excluded. um from that
calculation.
So what does the impact um you know
potentially look like? So basically the
the the struggle here is that school
budgets inevitably contain a certain
amount of unavoidable cost increases
every year. So we might face expenses
that grow faster than what that formula
allows. So if we imagined a scenario
where we did that calculation and the
formula said okay Hampton next year you
can only increase by 3% in terms of what
you know the tax levy can be what
happens um unfortunately the law doesn't
cover saying oh well you also can only
cap your special education costs at 3%
you can't cap your transportation costs
at 3% health insurance collective
bargaining agreements that we're already
part of um utility costs etc if they're
more than 3% we're stuck with those
costs so it's not like they just go away
or that they get kept or that somehow
the state intervenes and covers those
for us. Um it's limiting how much money
we can raise as a town to pay for these
costs many of which are you know we are
mandated to pay. Um so if we have
unavoidable cost increase of say 5% we
have to make up that difference from
somewhere. Um and what are our options
if that happens? So the big one is
reduce costs. Um and unfortunately that
looks like programming, staffing,
increasing class sizes, etc. Um we make
up the difference through some other
form of revenue. Um use available fund
balances were allowed or appropriate.
And then there is a methodology for
seeking an override of the cap. Um which
basically means voters, we have to go
before voters and it requires a
supermajority vote um to allow that. One
thing that was really important to me as
I was researching um you know this the
law as it finally came out is that I
found it to be you know it it it says
when you're reading it on its face when
you look at your ballot it will say that
it you know this does not affect
classroom instruction or schoolbased
services and I just think it's really
clear to understand that while this may
not specifically call out classroom
instruction or schoolbased services we
have an overall budget um and so if the
levy is capped if what we can raise as a
town is capped. Um, we only have so much
money. So, if if our costs increase, we
have to make budgetary choices that do
inevitably affect programming and
staffing. And ultimately, that would be
classroom instruction or schoolbased
services. Um, so what would this look
like in Hampton if we used this year's
operating budget just as an example? So
I just looked at okay fiscal year 2627
our operating budget increased 5.1% over
the prior year's operating budget but if
you really look at it um we were only
1.24% above the default budget. So again
that's just your example of how these
fixed costs that we are locked into or
these mandated costs um that we are
obligated to pay um are quite a bit
year-over-year. Um and that distinction
is really important. So, um, it just
demonstrates how much of this budgeting
process is not discretionary
year-over-year. Um, and the other thing
is inflation is an economic index. It
does not reflect the rate at which our
actual contractual and mandated expenses
might increase. Um, so those costs can
move differently than what CPI is doing.
Um, HB1300 says we're stuck with that
formula no matter what um, absent the
override. So again, if under the formula
our tax levy can only go up by 3%, we
face cuts outside of the non-contractual
and mandated expenses, it has to come
from somewhere. We lose the ability
essentially to to raise that money and
cover those costs. Um what about the cap
on central office administration
spending? So this is a fixed cap. So
this is the other part, the part two. Um
this is separate from the property tax
levy cap. And so what this is saying is
that there is a 6% co cap on central
office administration costs increases.
So again unfortunately it's it's not
it's a little bit ambiguous because
central office administration cost is
not defined by statute. So what we are
interpreting this to mean is you know I
I won't go through the whole list there
but it's basically superintendent
business administration HR finance and
payroll purchasing legal services um
certain district level curriculum
directors etc. There's several items on
there. What it doesn't include are
classroom teachers, food services,
facilities, transportation, special
education, or principles. Um, again, the
problem being that the language in in
the new law is a bit ambiguous. So, we
do have some uncertainty as to what's
going to fall under that central office
administrative expendure expenditure
versus what what would not. So, I kind
of just tried to boil down what I think
some important questions are as you, you
know, weigh this in November. Um, one
thing in Hampton we have to think about
is what about link on it? So, we're
unique because we are taxpayers that
fund two separate school districts. So,
in addition to the proposed cap on
SEU90, we also um have to look at SAU 21
as well. Um is HB1300 a cap on the
school budget, which um I think it's
just easily sort of misunderstood as
that. No, it's a it's a the main cap,
the one on the tax levy limits how fast
um a town can raise money to cover the
cost of the schools through local
property taxes. Um, if we vote yes, does
that mean that what we're doing is
saying the school budget is limited to
only inflation increases? No, that's not
what happens. Um, the formula, as we
said, also incorporates qualifying new t
new taxable property growth, um, but
doesn't include revaluations or market
increases. Um, if we pass the 6% cap on
central administration cost, does that
mean, oh, 94% is going right to the
classroom? No. The 94% still has to
cover many of the non-classroom expenses
as well. So remember our transportation,
special education, facilities, food
services, etc. So it's not like you're
saying, "Oh, that whole 94% is going
right to the classroom." Um, is there a
priority on what gets cut if we're
forced to make the decision under that
cap? So it passes and our costs are
above whatever the formula leaves us
with. Is there um an order of priority?
No, there's not under the statute. um if
our costs to maintain our current
programs rise faster than the amount of
local revenue we're allowed to raise, we
then have to make a decision on how
we're going to close the gap. Um and
then what happens if we vote no? Um an
important thing to know is this will
appear again on the November 2028 ballot
as it as it stands. Um so again there I
probably could have gone on for an hour
about this. I was trying to distill it.
>> So if we wanted to again I can maybe do
like a 2.0 of this next month. um or if
there's any questions I can attempt to
answer anybody for anybody, I'm happy
to. But
>> one of one of the things that um we were
talking about this today with a group of
teachers who are obviously concerned
about this, right? Um
one of the thing that has come up is
that there's actually um a lawsuit
that's challenging the constitutional
validity.
>> Yeah. of the statewide ballot questions
under House Bill 1300 and the RSA 32
col5-I
where they're saying House Bill 1300
requires a vote at the November 26 and
28 state general elections on adopting
two local school funding caps, a
property tax growth cap and a 6% SAU
central central office spending cap.
What they're saying is they are
challenging it on three grounds.
Confusing language,
complex structure, terminology, and
material omissions prevent ordinary
voters from understanding the practical
impact of their vote. Misleading claims.
The ballot language explicitly states
that the caps will not affect classroom
instruction or school-based services
despite the reality that mandatory
budget cuts under fixed costs
constraints will inev inevitably impact
core operations and services. and three,
improper bundling of choices. The ballot
forces an all or nothing vote on both
caps together, even though the
underlying statute indicates the
legislature intended for voters to have
the ability to vote on each cap
independently.
So, it's something that we're really
going to have to navigate um given the
muddy waters that we are currently in
and we're just waiting to see where that
goes. Um that was about a week ago and
they
>> Who was that lawsuit by?
>> Um I want to say it was I want to say
>> it was parents.
>> It it was a parent and I think
>> a school board.
>> And a school board.
>> And a school board. Yeah.
>> And they are injunctions.
>> Yeah.
Okay. So, I don't know um where it will
land. Um they said that we should know
more this Friday. I have the state
meeting this Friday which is going to be
in Plymouth and we should know more
then. But, you know, the issue is is
that they have to get these ballots
printed and that's the things that we've
been talking about is that we know how
long it takes to get the ballots
printed. So, the concern is is that it's
supposed to go to ballot to print this
Friday. So, we're hoping to have more
information about it, but as of today, I
don't have anything. Um, you know, I
serve on the executive board, so I'm
really um on the pulse of this as as
many people are across the state. Um,
you know, it's amazing to me that New
Hampshire was number fourth in the
nation. Um, when you look at how little
we get for funding, right, we are the
50th, you know, we get we are the lowest
paid in the 50th state for how much
conquered or the state supports public
education. And yet we rise to number
four. You know, it's kind of like it's
it's worth noting this moment in time
because what happens in the six next six
months, I'd say in the next year
could really rewrite what public
education looks like in New Hampshire.
We are at the tipping point and this is
the precipice, right? And I think there
are real fears right now of what this
means.
as somebody who has
spent a 27 years and you as well
building a district we can be proud of.
And to think that we could be
dismantling it
staff and programs is is I can't tell
you it's heartbreaking.
>> Yes.
>> It's heartbreaking to be in this
position and you don't see people
emotional at meetings. You're seeing
people emotional at meetings. You know,
these are these are adults that
are just really frustrated.
>> I don't know. Mariah, do you want to say
anything?
>> Yeah. Ah, that was awesome, Candace.
Thank you so much. That was very
informative. I'm going to piggy back a
little bit off that if you don't mind.
>> Before you go, yes, we would like a 2.0,
right?
>> Yeah, I think. Yeah.
>> Okay. Um, and so I'm just going to piggy
back off that a little bit because we
also have House Bill 564.
Um, that is
coincides with this a little bit and
makes it even more confusing for House
Bill 1300 because there's
about the SEU office and there's two
separate definitions. So, House Bill um
1300
is central office administrative at 6%
tax cap.
They are considering that as what we
sent the state every year. But since
we've been SAU
90 who we consider central office staff
has been the superintendent, the BA, the
special ed director, the accountant, the
administrator assistant, special ed
secretary, and the half position of
special ed secretary. So we have like
six and a half employees. That's it. So
they're saying that
special ed is not in that. So we would
have four employees. That's all our SEU
office has. It's four employees.
But then if you look at House Bill
um 564,
they want us to separate
SAU expenditures out into a separate
warrant article. So this year I'm going
to have two warrant articles, one for
the SAU and one for the budget of
everything else. Normally we have one
budget because we have one district.
So they definition of SEU office is
completely different
verbiage than what they consider a SEAU
central administrative. So how do I do
that? I'm going to have to figure out is
it those six and a half people plus
technology plus facilities director plus
what expenditures would be included in
that? Um,
and then when I pull that out into a
separate warrant article, how am I tax
capping only the four employees in that
separate warrant article? Like, how am I
going to be able to show that? I don't
know. How do you how do you show that in
a warrant article?
So, that's a really big gray area. The
other thing for um
House Bill 1300 is we will need a
secretary. So we would need a vote to
have one of you become secretary so that
you get
um the counts from the ballot. It has to
be one of the school board members.
>> Is everybody touching their nose? And
then so that's another thing we we
should think about.
And then on House Bill 564,
since we have now two budgets, I have to
have two separate votes by the budget
committee. So they can't be done at the
same time. So I have um Amarie Galinus
coming in this Friday to discuss the
calendar. I emailed it to you because I
just kind of broke down what I know we
have to do. But we are going to sit down
and try to figure out how we can um do
our meetings with the budget committing
budget committee as well because you
guys will be voting on two warrant
articles and then I have to bring it to
them. But the SEU office has to be voted
on before January 1st. That's a
completely new date.
So,
I don't know how we're going to do that
yet. So, so Amarie and I are going to
talk about that. They also have a new
law that the budget committee votes on
default budget. So, not only are they
voting on our budget, they usually just
vote on the proposed budget. They're
taking your job and voting on the
default that's supposed to be school
board, but they change law. So you have
to do it and then the budget committee
has to do it.
Um so we could usually when the budget
committee goes through it like we
normally vote
>> default and proposed you really right
because I've always put both on. So for
me to show it to the budget committee
it's not going to be a big deal because
I already do that. Some districts don't.
They just send the proposed and that's
it. But I've already done the the
detail, so that won't be a big deal.
It's just they're gonna have to vote on
both. So,
they could vote.
They usually don't vote the day that I
we present. They could vote on default
then and then have another meeting and
vote on the proposed or they could do it
all then, but the SCEU one has to be
done by January 1st. But there's really
kind of four things that have to be
voted on.
>> There's it's messy and it's confusing.
>> Regular default then the tax budget and
the tax.
>> So the whole thing reads as kind of two
things to me. one like the implication
is that we as voters don't know what's
best for our own district and in the
state of local control we have big
brother breathing down our neck trying
to tell us exactly what to do um when we
know our schools and we know our
teachers and our town comes out broadly
in support of budgets because
you and your team are extremely
thoughtful in how we prepare them and
they are as anyone will tell you
extremely transparent in that process.
So to me, this is also like let's cast
doubt. Let's separate out that SAU
administrative budget so we can give
people a choice to maybe save a buck.
And you know, it's trying times.
Inflation is high. There's a lot of cost
considerations,
>> but now we give them
two steps ahead to say, let's
consolidate all of these.
>> Nobody wants to spend the money on this.
They get to decide what the narrative
is, make everybody write that narrative,
and then later on try to say, well, this
is why we need to consolidate. And it
seems like a very transparent strategy
there.
>> But it is incredible to me that in the
live free or die state, these people
have the audacity to say that they know
better than that, the Hampton voters who
are so entrenched in this community and
know these schools so well. That is I
hope I hope that everybody in town feels
like I do because what an overstep to
think that you know my town better than
me. Well, if you notice with the reports
that every year I've get added to, it
has to do with Lois and it's the BA and
superintendent and the administration's
salaries and or the expenditures for the
SAU. um because they assume that every
district is over spent in the the office
and that we have and it's so far from
the truth because if you looked at
actually looked at salaries and then
went into public and or went to like
Philips exit or any private school
it it's kind of a laughing it's almost
criminal.
It is. No one is is by any means like
Scrooge McDucking through a pool of $100
bills on their public school salary in
this or any New Hampshire town. It is
that's a joke.
>> That's what's frustrating because we try
really hard to run a SEAU with maybe
four people.
>> But it's it's wild to me because we also
have a mechanism. Our our voters have a
clear mechanism to say we don't want
that budget. They vote no for it and
then you get the default which is
already a conservative comparison to the
existing one. I would be shocked if
every district in Hampton and the state
weren't saying well this is our last
option. We're going to have to put in
every wish list item to this year's
budget. So that gives us a little bit of
a cushion for how much we're will how
much we can expand for that. And to me
it's that's more cavalier to our
taxpayers money. Like we are already so
conservative and responsible and
thoughtful with how that budget is
prepared. We already give people a clear
mechanism to say if you don't want to
vote for this, you get the default
budget which is also thoughtful and
transparent and conservative.
>> And just to be clear, we wouldn't be
able to do that though. So like so
people aren't like thinking that's
that's what we do because this would
take effect 2027 2028. So it we'd have
the cap on us for
>> but it's fixing for years. It's fixing a
problem that doesn't exist. If voters
didn't like the budget, they already
have a vehicle to say, "I don't like the
budget." It's voting no on the budget.
>> They also already had a vehicle.
>> They also already had a vehicle
>> for a tax tax cap. The this tax cap
vehicle existed if voters in the town
wanted us to have a tax cap,
>> get their 25 signatures and put it on
the ballot and people could vote for it,
>> and they haven't seen it.
>> Yeah. One more glitch would be
>> the winnac piece
>> because am I correct that still if all
of the towns don't if even one of the
sending towns vote for this that
everybody
>> it's it's unclear it's twothirds vote is
what it says or right it's it's unclear
>> and that was one of our questions
because we are one town and I don't know
how they're going to look at that they
were actually have our name on the um
Right.
>> What ifs because they don't know yet.
>> 2/3 of one town or twoird of 2/3 of the
town.
>> I think they said of the voters of the
voters. That's what I saw.
>> Registered voters, right? So,
>> no, I think it's of the voters.
>> How many people actually come in and
take a ballot?
>> Okay.
>> But even the way they're counting those.
>> Yeah. If they just don't vote on it,
then they leave it.
>> That's right.
>> It screws up. That's exactly it. When
>> that's what I was getting at one time.
So, it's it's yeah,
>> it's not I mean, it's just wild to me
that you could put this slop out and try
to cram it down people's throats and
say, "Oh, we know better than you about
what should happen in your school, in
your town,
>> even though we sit somewhere else
completely."
>> Yeah.
>> So, I've been taking every law
Zoom video, anything that I can take,
talking to other BAS because even the
lawyers are reading the law differently.
So it's not I mean so everybody's
reading and and they're all like trying
to reflect on
different districts and and even lawyers
are getting confused like I said with
the percentage of inflation.
>> Lawyers are reading it one way and DRA
is reading it another way and those are
com so extreme opposite numbers. Um,
I don't know
what we're going to do.
>> Yeah, they they they basically their
recommendation was to
don't try to explain it because if you
explain it incorrectly and it's
interpreted differently, then it's more
confusing. So, that was the
recommendation that the executive board
had for New Hampshire School
Administrators Association. And so they
said, "We just don't have answers and be
careful because it's not clearly
defined." When you have top lawyers in
the state that can't agree on how to
define it, right? That's a problem. I
mean, along with all the ones you're
we're all talking about, right? So, I
would say other than educating our
voters, there's not a lot we can do at
this moment in time. We're going to wait
until what happens. I mean, between now
and Friday, whatever you hear on Friday
is going to it is what it is. And so, I
think we just had to keep educating
voters to the best of our ability. And
you're doing a fabulous job with your
piece and you're doing a fabulous job
with your piece.
>> So, we are doing what we can do and
>> we just keep plugging along.
>> Yeah, we we have a colleague that put a
one pager out and I know Mariah's trying
to work through it. We just we want to
make sure that is it is to the best of
our thinking, right?
>> Yes. I'm working on default budget right
now. So, if I can get the default budget
completely done, it will give us an idea
like we can show what it would look like
if we had a tax cap and the two amounts.
So, that's what I'm working on um
>> right now.
And once I have a default budget, then
we can manipulate it either way. So, I'm
just I'm just really focused on that.
But there's a lot of things coming up
this year. I have um
electricity and oil contracts are due.
Transportation contracts are due this
year. Like there's so many things.
Insurance changes. So that's always goes
up, but they changed our um dental plan
for next year. They're getting rid of
it. And I have those those things that
you just mentioned are all reflected in
the this
>> budget report right here.
>> Everything you just mentioned is
something I highlighted. So
>> I Yeah. Can I ask you one question? This
timeline for when we're going to meet
the budget meetings, is it
>> does it match?
>> It matches the states for now. Um I'm
working again. Ann Marie is gonna come
in and we're gonna figure out the budget
committees piece and then once I do
you'll have another I'll update the
calendar. Um but for now, yes, we should
be fine. Other than I reached out to the
town this morning asking when they were
going to actually print ballots because
I do have to get them that language.
Even if they don't know if we're doing
it or not, it still has to be on a
ballot if
depending on when they're going to print
it. So, I'm waiting for that answer.
All right. Just wanted to add one more
thing if that's okay. So, I just think
if it didn't come across clear enough
when we're looking at the numbers, what
you're looking at is if this passes, and
I think regardless of which
interpretation of the percentage of
inflation you look at, even though
that's a huge swing of like 3%. Either
way, it may not even be enough to cover
the default budget. So, in in addition
to cutting all the the good things we
just talked about, are we breaching
contracts so we're going to be sued? You
know, where does that leave us as a
district? So contracts for teachers, if
we have to nonrenew them or not, if we
have to, it would go out in April. And
um I don't think that in conversation
with Lois and I, we would we would
definitely it would have to be positions
most likely in in um Oh, yeah.
And so, but it would not
be single departments like it would be
throughout all of departments because
it's just you just can't it's a
conversation we're going to have with
our leadership team. we've kind of um
we've kind of prepared them to have
those conversations
um just because it will be these will be
deep cuts and they won't it won't be
paper and pencils and supplies and
materials. We know that our budget is
pretty thin and 85% of our budget is
personnel.
>> So you can't
you can't cut paper and paper. You got
to it's going to be people and programs.
>> Yep. And the other problem is if it does
go through, it's a two-year and next
year's teacher contract
>> and that gets added in on top of that.
So you'd have Yeah. That would be just
as difficult because you're doing now
two years. If you have to cut the first
year, you know, you're going to have to
cut the next year.
>> Yeah.
I just think it's so important that we
all I mean obviously we'll be doing this
too, but everybody at home talk to your
neighbors about this because this this
upcoming election is there's a lot of
national issues that people are paying
attention to and you know my fear is
something like this sneaks through
because it can look pretty innocuous,
you know, if you're if you're not diving
deep on it. So we just all have to try
to talk to people about it and let them
understand what the real ramifications
are.
>> Agreed.
So, a question on my budget.
>> Yeah. Anything? Well, no, I don't. Once
you said what you said about the
different things coming up, I was like,
well, that makes sense. Well, now that
one makes sense. So, anything I had
highlighted was exactly what you
mentioned.
>> Um, so the health insurance will look
like it's overexpended because we do the
whole expenditure and then when we get
um withholdings from the teachers, we
put it back into the expenditure line.
So, at the beginning of the year always
looks wonky. Um, and usually special ed
transportation looks a little wonky cuz
we're guesstimating what the actual cost
is going to be. So that usually is a
little over.
>> Um, the only good thing is that they
kept the um our
retainage fund. Like I
if you want to look at the positive,
that's the one positive I can give you.
They kept our retainage.
It's good.
>> All right. Do we need to do the
secretary today?
>> Um I you don't have to do it today, but
I would do it by next meeting.
>> Okay.
>> What did she ask? Sorry.
>> So, we have to pick a secretary.
>> For
>> essentially, it's a it's it's a little
bit like what Danny does, right?
>> Yes. Okay. But it's just for the
November.
>> Yeah. So, it's it's
going going to the election and
overseeing the counting of the ballots
as it relates to the tax code.
>> Yep. And then whoever counts it has to
hand it to you.
>> That's okay.
>> Or whoever the secretary. Yeah.
>> Okay. But we don't need to have that
right now.
>> No, but we should have it done by
October.
>> Okay. So, we could do that at the next
meeting.
>> So, think about it.
>> I mean, I'll do it. Oh, good. Yeah.
>> I was thinking I was thinking of
volunteering on the day anyway. So,
>> thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Yay.
>> Are you guys okay with that? Do you want
Do you want to go and stay until
midnight when the concerts? You're all
welcome to
>> I know, right?
>> You can come, too.
>> That is a real neat crowd.
>> Uhhuh. It is great.
>> Yeah,
>> I'm usually there.
>> Bring me a coffee.
>> Well, there you go.
>> All right. So, next order of business.
Are we all good with this calendar? Do
you need I mean I don't think there's
any room for change.
>> It's still tenative. It's still tenative
and um
>> because I need the budget committee's
dates.
>> Other than that, our dates for October
should be all set.
>> Okay.
>> Um our last one was a maybe in November
and I think that maybe is definite
because the vote is the day before,
right?
>> Yeah. Yep.
>> We have to meet after Yeah.
>> the November vote.
>> Yeah.
the November every Wednesday.
>> Yeah, it's every October. Yeah.
>> So the November
5th I is it the November 4th.
>> Okay.
>> So the third they vote November 4th we
had did we did a maybe if we needed an
extra day work session but we'll
definitely need that depending on the
vote.
>> You're meeting on Friday. that I go to
when since I'm supposed to go and talk
about these dates.
>> Feel free to come
>> at the budget to visit me. Um
>> okay with these.
>> Okay.
>> At 11, I believe. Let me send you an
email. I'm going to write myself a note.
>> Okay.
>> All right. Well, then I guess we're all
good on that. We don't need to take a
vote on it. So, that's taken care of.
>> Um we did that. We did that. We did
that. Do we have any is do you see
anything else that I'm missing? No.
>> Okay. Do we have any need to go into
non-public?
>> I don't.
>> No. Okay. Well, then I will make a
motion to adjourn. All right. And Sarah
second. And all in favor? Thank you.
>> There you go.