NASB BOE 08-10-26

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

Recording

All
right, we'll go ahead. You guys want to
review that?
It's been driving crazy. Okay.
Approval or modification of agenda we
have added under financial report B
budget updates and under new business
we've added C hall of fame gym naming
dedication request. Is there any other
modifications or
>> not that I'm aware of? Just moving up
the U board assignments. That's all.
>> Okay. Um,
>> what did I do?
>> Um, but yeah, see it's covered under
this one.
>> No, because you didn't do that. We
didn't make that comment when we um
started.
>> So,
okay.
>> Yes.
>> Well, there's lots of people still
talking, too. So, if everybody stops
talking, you'll probably be able to hear
me because my I've never been told I'm
very quiet.
So, approval of minutes, June 22nd,
2026, public minutes. I need a motion to
accept.
>> I'll make a motion. Second.
>> Okay. Any further discussion?
>> Seeing none, all those in favor say I.
I. Opposed. Abstensions.
Next. Um, August 10th nonpublic meeting
minutes. Those are there.
>> I'll make a motion to approve. I'll
second it.
I. Opposed. Extensions. Next. June 29th,
2026 procedural defect special meeting
minutes. Any gross errors, issues, or
concerns with the minutes.
>> I'll make a motion.
>> Okay. Any further discussion? Seeing
none, all those in favor say I. I.
Opposed. Abstensions.
>> Next. July 21st, 2026, special board
meeting minutes.
>> Move to approve.
>> I will second.
none, all those in favor say I.
>> I. Opposed. Abstensions. Okay. Next, we
will open it up. It is 6:34. We will
open it up for public comments.
>> Where can I stand here?
>> If you just come up front just that
would be lovely. You'll be closer to one
of the speakers to pick you up.
Hengers
Meredith. I work at Bristol Elementary.
I just have a question. Um,
so we got ourselves into this little bit
of a problem, we'll call it, um, with
everything going on. Who was responsible
to make sure that voters knew we needed
that 60% because I believe on article
five it actually said um, if you wanted
to lift lift the tax cap, you needed a
60% passing.
Why was that not listed on the other
things that would have needed a 60% and
who would be responsible? Was it the SAU
school or was it the town?
>> We we'll get back to we always do
response at the Yeah.
>> Okay.
Any
further public comment?
All right, seeing none, we'll move on.
We do have a public comment at the end
as well. Um, response to public comment.
So, the 60% is typically um usually what
happens is when we send it, we send it
to our attorneys and then we send it to
the DRRA for review to ensure that
everything's on there correctly. Um they
usually check those kinds of things. Um
we were under the impression, we were
told, we were under the impression that
it just had to have a simple majority.
That's what I was until about July,
whatever. That's I was still under that
impression. So, um, so
>> So, so it went through the lawyers and
the
you were not told to put 60% on the
actual
>> the three-fifths on the on the ballot.
No.
>> Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
Correspondence.
>> Um, none.
>> None. Okay. Announcements and
recognition. We'll go with the student
rep report.
>> All right. So, there isn't really a lot
because, you know, it's summer. I think
everybody's been enjoying the time away
from school. Uh the main stuff is we
have fall sports beginning to pick up
over the summer. We've had summer
practices for all the teams like
football and soccer and field hockey.
Everyone's really excited for the season
to start. I know I am. I'm excited to go
to some games again and enjoy my time at
school. Uh school year starts in 3
weeks, so it's starting to pick up
again. We'll be starting the school year
August 31st. And I'm really excited to
be back. And students now have their
schedules on Infinite Campus to be able
to be viewed. So, if any parents want to
pass that on to their students so that
they can see what classes they'll be
taking, that's, you know, able to be
seen now. And that's kind of all I got.
>> All right.
>> Probably your shortest report you'll
have all year.
>> Good good breaker for you.
Superintendent report. Um so we're six
weeks in about and um the work being
done at Bristol Elementary is um
happening and should be completed in the
next week and a half or so uh and be
ready to open uh for the first days of
school. uh the buildings with the
transition and hiring a new facilities
uh manager uh were a little behind uh
because there was uh a lot of moving
parts, but since we have our new
facilities uh manager uh in in house,
he's now helping to organize and and get
things done. So, we have some uh waxing
crews in doing some floors. We have some
other cleaning crews. Um but our team is
working diligently to get the buildings
and the grounds uh ready for uh August
31st. Um there's the the the summer
sessions and and summer uh activities
have come to a close in in most places,
but the staff are still doing some
professional development. Um there's
some more tomorrow that's happening um
with some newly training, some reading.
Um so there's a lot of great things that
happened over the summer. Um, and
obviously we're working very hard day in
and day out to uh reconcile 2026 and get
2027 up and running so we can
get the year started.
>> Okay,
>> thank you. Uh, next financial report,
treasures report and the budget updates.
[clears throat]
>> Financial report. Um, so this came in a
little later than we'd like. Um, we have
a lot of
digging um and getting through the the
um we took a pretty good look at the
published audit FY the fiscal year 24
audits been completed. Um we're close to
finishing that the fiscal year 25 audit.
Um so there's a few documents capital
assets but materially we have everything
in for them to complete the audit. Um,
so we do expect that to be done soon and
we'll be getting into the 26 audit as
well. So the financial report, we
actually began with the audited
financials. Um on page four,
we started off with the FY24 audited
financials um for the actual
expenditures for the two funds that are
supported by um newfound taxpayers. The
general fund, we refer to it often as
the operating budget and the food
services fund. Um the primary reason for
doing this is to look at where you
started um and through the past few
years what put you in a position where
you're at a appropriation a budgetary
deficit starting off the fiscal year 27.
Um
we're still in the middle of closing out
the 26 year fiscal year. So we put on
the document though these are clearly
estimates still and we tried to make
this as simple to understand as
possible. It is somewhat complicated. Um
so as you start down on this and I I
think you have a colored copy of it
which makes it a little bit easier to
read. Um but we started off with a
positive fund balance in both funds. Not
much on food services. So in the last
two years um FY25 and 26 food services
has come in with significant deficits
with no fund balance. The general fund
is responsible for covering that. Um
as you note at the end this and and
we're at a very conservative estimate.
We think the worst case scenario in as
we close out is that we're at a total um
ending fund balance going into FY27 with
only 41,000.
Um this is most likely going to prompt a
request for a deficit appropriation as
we finish um closing that out going into
September.
Um I'll be giving a process for doing
that to to the school board. Um so you
can vote to go that route which is
another meeting that would take us into
tax rate setting to cover the deficit in
the appropriation between what we spent
not to you know cover the full like add
to your fund balance is to simply cover
the deficit.
So, first I'll open it up to you you
folks. Um, if you've had a chance to
review it, um, do you have any
questions?
>> I have one. I don't know. I don't know
if it's got
>> if we're there yet on it because I don't
have any fun.
>> No, it's okay.
>> But where it shows the money we have, it
shows a negative 300 and some odd
thousand to deposits. How do you have a
negative deposits? Because it says we
got all our money from the town. I I
still understand the concept.
>> So we lost funding, you know, we had
money lost in what was budgeted. So the
estimates and even if you look at the
budget versus actual on taxes,
[clears throat] you can see on taxes in
2024,
you budgeted for less than you received
locally. You got intergovernmental
receipts which is funding like Medicaid
funding. So there's a lot of revenue
sources that are estimated a year in
advance that were underestimated.
So it's not your tax receipts are
actually what you're you that's
predictable because the DRRA based on
your choices of other revenue and
credits the DRA is saying is saying
we're going to appropriate the following
to cover
>> and those estimates you're you're never
going to be right on on all those
estimates but they should be close. Um
in this case there there was some
material problems with it.
So, is there any potential for inbound
revenue that could potentially offset
>> the deficit through
>> probably not for 2026 because that we're
closing it now 27
>> um
>> adjustments that are being made may have
a shift.
>> No, not to cover that deficit from a
year that's closed. Um
we
we're going to well now it's a whole new
appropriation. So that's being
appropriated as well and the the we're
looking at that revenue now. We got we
got a default budget. So we're
distributing that. I give a little bit
of our process and the last item on here
is like what are we doing with 27? How
do you know going to know how to spend
it? because the default budget's not
looking at your school district to say,
"Yeah, you know, you have these
projects, um, new contracts, you know,
did it account for the full amount of,
um, special ed, um, programming?"
I don't think so. Because when you look
at how we spent even our grant funds, we
expected to spend, let's and
hypothetically, it's in the ballpark
that we got allocated approximately
300,000 for IDA. the allocated
expenditures that we would normally pay
out of that were close to 700,000.
And with those costs being mandated by
law, how are we going to pay for that?
So
when your expenditures are exceeding
that, that's when we look, we should
know that further in advance. So right
now, I'm working with special ed to say
realistically, what are those contracts?
Who are the students? And we're
allocating that default budget to
compensate for what they weren't able to
compensate last year. And if you look at
those
the amount of money in special ed on
this would be page two. I give a quick
it's like the the first question is how
in 26 does this happen? Like where did
it go wrong?
>> Right? So if you look at the the
functions, preK, special ed,
transportation, psychological services,
the general special ed programs under
the 1200 function code, speech services,
guidance related services have a huge
student impact too.
That one department
and which is one of those that you ha
generally you would say you have to
spend the money.
That's way more than what our deficit
was,
>> right? So you there's at a point you
can't just cover it, right? You can't
say, "Well, we're going to leave these
vacancies open." Well, how
800,000 in vacancies, you wouldn't be
able to operate.
So,
>> and as you said, a lot of this is
mandated, so we couldn't even
>> Yeah. So, we have a new special ed
director as well. Um she's we've started
off looking at all the payroll
positions. We're matching students with
contracts. We're going through every
single piece of it. Um Brian reviews all
the purchase orders with me, you know,
so we're looking at everything that
comes into us before we sign a contract.
We're like, is there another way to do
this? So,
um it's tricky. Um, but you have an
excellent choice in a special ed
director who is looking at all those
contracts, who's responsible, um, very
detailed oriented, you know, um, and
very involved in pulling the the, you
know, the student file and reviewing it
from transportation to all the services
in it. Um, we're going to be looking at
Medicaid. Should we be getting more
money? You know, like are we reporting
these things out, you know, effectively?
So these are this is not unique to
Newfound too. That should be understood
that schools across the whole entire
state are in this situation. I had
multi-million dollar overages in special
ed um in do but we also had 32 vacancies
on pair of professionals and we
didn't do some maintenance and other
things. So we started working on
covering it almost from the start of the
school year. Um so a lot of work goes
into that. You don't see it. Um, but I
can understand how a budget can get,
especially the smaller the school is,
you don't have the opportunities to to
cover it.
>> If we have a meeting about deficit
article to like cover the deficit,
>> even if we vote to go ahead and try and
do that, won't that does won't that
likely be on the ballot in March kind of
thing? That won't be a special election,
will it? and all and even if we want it,
it would still go before the voters and
they'd have to approve it. But wouldn't
it be on a large ballot as opposed to
something we were trying to
>> just,
>> you know, that's a good question. I
think you can get it in before then. Um,
I did some research on that. Let me see
here.
>> That gets expensive, too.
>> Definitely.
>> And any of those operating building
services, were any of that able to be
switched to the maintenance trust fund?
we are reviewing that.
>> Um, we're going through all the
incumbrances that were reported. We
found in in the documentation we have,
we're about 164,000 in incumbrance
corrections. So, we're looking at the
possibility that some of these were
duplicate contracts. We haven't paid out
on on the two major ones. So, I think we
may be able to avoid those. um we just
want to make sure they were two separate
purchase orders. So we're looking at
every line item. Um so that's why I say
this is our worst case scenario given
okay um we compared journal entries that
were in the during the rollover process
of carrying POS forward in our software
to the new fiscal year um to all open
POS. So we're doing that analysis now.
Um,
>> okay.
>> One of the pieces are are there items
that essentially we could vote
[clears throat] to be paid facilities
improvements that could be voted to um
pay those out of the facilities trust
fund instead of the general fund. That
could help too,
>> right?
>> That could also help in the 27
um revenue situation
>> where you would take Anyway, that's
another
>> part of that we need to remember. We had
like 1.3 million [cough] in December
[clears throat] in there. Mhm.
>> We're down around 7 or 800,000. If we
take more of that to balance, which is
fine to do it, we're going to be down
more. And there's no no surplus this
year. So, we're not put any more back.
So, that money is not going to function
in any way.
>> Yeah. It's so you you did put
significant funds towards reducing taxes
and a couple of those years. That's what
really depleted the unassigned fund
balance when you did that. So, one of
the recommendations I I would normally
say is to maintain fund balance in a way
that's responsible to for your cash
flows. Be careful about using it to
reduce taxes too much because then
you'll get a seessaw effect in each
year. It's a political and emotional
roller coaster for people to have their
taxes like, look, we got you very low
taxes this year. Well,
but next year you set it up to a point
where you're guaranteed to have higher
taxes. And what we try to do financially
is is create a stable environment for
taxation to try to similar to why you
got a tax cap, right? Was to limit that
tax growth every year. And we want to do
that by being responsible with financing
um with expense um management and and
which is why we have long-term capital
improvement programming to say how can
we do this over time. That's the whole
purpose of capital reserves, not to
supplement your budget, but to spread
out well-defined long-term plans so that
when you have a larger capital
improvement in one year, you offset that
by summary reserve so it doesn't create
a spike in taxation. We want people to
be able to live here and have
predictable tax rates. That's really
what you want to do is be able to plan
for how much it costs to live. And if
we're constantly doing that roller
coaster, um it it becomes painful and
emotionally painful for your community.
So outside of that, we also I did put in
um some information about Danbury.
That's something you're going to have to
address.
>> That's on that's on new.
>> Yep. So I did put in a path in here. I
did not expect to really discuss it
outside of this report other than
providing information that the public
could also see when we put it on our in
our board materials. Okay.
>> I don't know if it matters, but when you
get to the end of it, that was like
appendix C.
>> It's it's the next four pages. It's the
same four pages just doesn't say
appendix C on
the big thing we got.
>> Gotcha. I certainly
>> So it says it on every page. So you're
saying like
>> no we got four pages say appendix C and
then we got four pages of what we're
going to do and then when we get to the
end of that it was it was like one of uh
11 together when we get the end of that
there was another four pages which was
the same four pages
>> oh
>> on the big 33 page thing I got
>> okay
>> I did it didn't matter I just completed
>> certainly the copy I've got has
>> I have three pages is for appendix.
>> We do two. I have three.
>> One, two, three. And then there's
>> then there's a separate consideration
for managing a school closure. There's
like two of them.
>> Four, five, six.
>> One of them is just formatted
differently. One of the first one has
more information
that
>> it's just formatted
>> differently. when we took PDFs and we're
trying to combine them.
>> May I'd be happy to deal.
>> Yeah, we'll do.
>> What else? I'm not planning to do it.
>> Well, that was a joyous report.
>> It is the reality though.
>> The reality is
>> I'm glad we have you here to have that
to explain our reality,
>> right? I mean
>> I do not expect to produce reports that
long normally. Um we are trying to
>> just in real time keep you at least
understanding the path we're going and
we're moving forward with. Uh so
>> we appreciate the transparency as much
as I'm sure everybody does.
>> Yeah.
Okay. Uh committee reports. Now it's
pretty much just when the meetings are.
All right. Budget committee.
>> Um, we have a meeting next week. I think
it's next Thursday. I think this
Thursday 19th. Yeah. Policy is this
week.
>> All right. Facilities committee.
>> We didn't have a meeting. Joe was on it.
>> Okay. That's right.
>> Paul kind of I'm not sure who the chair.
>> It has to re um set up because I think
Joe was. So, we'll redo committees.
Anyhow, policy committee has a meeting
on Thursday.
>> No.
>> Curriculum committee.
>> Okay. Building committee had a meeting
last Thursday.
>> Update.
>> So
in the meeting we had discussions
regarding
next steps regarding consolidation.
how given our state the best avenues and
approaches
um is it okay to disclose everything
that was discussed?
>> Yeah, it was meeting. Yeah.
>> Um we did have a vote to pause
strategically
any spending or movement for
consolidation given our current
financial state. It makes sense.
we will reassess and review. Um that was
one of the the major [clears throat]
things that the meeting was called to
address. Um we got an update on the
elementary school. Things are moving
along there. The construction crews are
underway prepping that school for the
start of the school year. Um and then we
briefly talked about the elementary
school in Danbury, but the bottom line
is um we wanted to bring to the board
here to and I will make a motion that we
should pause
any action for consolidation. And in
that, we're going to review what is
currently in place and in motion and see
if we can recoup or or stop spending
additional funds in pursuit of this
until we become more stable in our in
our fiscal situation. So, I'm going to
make a motion that we pause those
actions for consolidation.
Can we change it so that we don't say we
pause actions that we we make it so that
we pause spending action because
anything do consolidation fs out saying
pause it pauses everything. So you make
it so we could still work on
consolidation if there's things we can
do that don't aren't cost money.
So I I think internally we're certainly
going to start doing more data um
pulling more data to look at um cost
items in the consolidation effort.
>> Um so it's really pausing the movement
of working with vendors on um
>> the which is very costly you know um
>> multiple vendors are in here from
engineers to construction managers etc.
And we want to pause that and and really
look at um the cost benefit of the
planning stage and get some data, you
know, um and back it and also get some
real long-term estimates of of what has
has been discussed. What does that
really cost over time?
>> And and one thing,
>> just a minute, just a minute.
[clears throat] There is a motion on the
floor, so we have to finish the motion.
Sorry.
>> If you want to withdraw your motion and
reframe it or have further discussion,
that's fine. But there's a motion on the
floor that has to be addressed.
>> So I will I will rephrase my motion that
we cease spending associated with the
consolidation project
and allow internal data collection as
required.
>> A second.
>> Okay. Now we can open up to discussion.
>> Do we want to vote on it?
>> No, we can open it up to discussion. Now
we can discuss it. Sorry.
>> Nope. No.
I just wanted to like I kept trying to
be like wait a minute.
>> Oh yeah, sorry.
>> Because I'll be like I don't have like
>> Yeah. So, so it's more to just pause
spending, let some internal kind of wait
until you've got budgets a little bit
more under control. We'll just throw it
on top.
>> Do it at the same time. And and and one
thing that was discussed is looking at
the addition and seeing how we could
better that
>> to potentially
make our campus more equitable to
perhaps other communities like Huitt or
Winnwam or things of that nature giving
us an opportunity to look at what the
future may bring and how we could
benefit from that as a community.
It's a one-time spend of a significant
amount of money. What are you getting
for for that money?
>> Long term.
>> Yeah, long term.
>> Okay, makes sense.
>> Yeah,
>> that's my discussion.
>> Okay, any further discussion?
Okay. Um, all those we'll send to a
vote. So, all those in favor say I.
>> I.
>> Opposed? Abstensions. Okay. Anything
further from the building committee?
>> Okay. Wellness committee. They're
usually don't meet for a little bit.
>> They're usually good.
>> Okay. Tech council.
>> Haven't heard anything yet.
>> Okay. And transportation committee. We
got to get that committee set up
>> or have a first meeting there pretty
soon. Okay. Next, we're going to go
under old business, the Bristol board
representative opening. Um, so I know we
have three candidates.
I don't know where everybody is. Sorry.
So, if the three candidates could come
on up, I'll have you each kind of give a
spiel about yourself and then um we will
vote on the opening and then we'll
proceed from there.
>> Thank you. [snorts]
>> Oh, yeah. You can pull chairs around
whichever you prefer. Yeah, that's fine.
That was in our packet, too. I know. I
got the email. So,
>> so I'm going to go around like a clock
because that's how I do it. And you're
right in front of me. So, I'm going to
have you
>> must be at 1:00.
>> Yeah, you're right across from me.
>> My name is Brian Gallagher and I just
like to thank for the opportunity to
come in and talk to you. um why I sent I
submitted a letter of intent
uh with the interim [clears throat]
position between now and March for
I'm fortunate to be retired from a
full-time job and therefore I have some
some volunteer time that I'm going to
give back to the community.
have had the opportunity and I believe
the board has the resume I I submitted
um that I have quite a bit of experience
working in SA
over the course of my career
I've worked for two years in the
southwest part of the state
and school district which were joined at
one time like here in Newound and we
went through a process where they
separated experience with that. And just
going back a little bit, which states me
right here, but I was the first business
administrator here from school district
back in the early 2000s. So, um I
believe I have some background that that
could assist the board if uh you felt as
though I would, you know, fit in this
situation. I understand a lot of things
that Michael was up against in
particular the financial commands and as
a matter of fact I believe September 1st
he he's up against the deadline to
submit the proposal 25 to department of
education which would indicate as they
suggested to the board earlier whether
or not you ended the year with a deficit
or a surplus. Um either way, um it will
play out the way it plays out. That's
something that Mike was very, uh
talented to be able to to figure that
out. And when it does come out, I would
just encourage the board if it happens
to be a deficit that that you inform the
public sooner than later so that they're
informed.
The other part is it's about educating
the young people in the school district
as as as well as the adolescents to make
sure that they have proper skills to
move into the the real world. I I saw
the report from the high school this
year that there were approximately 86
students that graduated and it was
broken down that there were 43 that went
to two-year schools or went to to
colleges. Some entered the workplace and
one particular person, whoever he or she
was, entered the military and God bless
them. But when I added it up, it only
came to 63. So that there were 21
students that were unaccounted for. So I
think that's something that you know as
the board is very concerned about the
education each student who is in the
system has to have a pathway and we have
to do that in a manner that not only
provides them with the skills but at the
same time we have to respect the other
side of the equation which is the folks
being in the communities of Danbury,
Bristol, Alexandria and Hampton.
that are responsible for
providing the resources to accomplish
this task. So I don't want to talk a lot
about myself question if you like but I
do believe that I've got the background
having worked in two large school
districts here so five smaller districts
in that that region and they also
experienced breakups like contact.
So I thought I'd go forward like an
opportunity to maybe assess between now
and next March and then certainly you
know folks would have to make decisions
what they might want to do7.
Okay that's that's what I have to say.
>> Thank you. Anybody have any questions
for Brian?
>> Okay. Next we'll move on to Jake.
Hi.
>> My name is Jake Porum. Um,
I'm at the other end of the spectrum. I
have very little experience um in this
realm. um
uh when thinking of of volunteering for
a position like this, uh I I have
currently a senior coming into the year
of 2027
and um 2026
and uh I have a daughter who's going in
the third grade and uh this school
district has given so much to my kids
and given so much to my family. Uh, and
I figured it was a fitting time for me
to start giving back. Um,
with the limited experience that I have
in this realm, um, I do see some
benefits there. I have fresh eyes. Uh,
I'm a very objective and analytical
thinker. I have good attention to
detail. Um,
I've spent 15 years in law enforcement.
I've currently work in affordable
housing providing housing for uh
hundreds and hundreds of people across
New Hampshire. Both of those fields are
very thankless just like uh the job
you're doing now. You know, a lot of
folks don't see behind the scenes. Um
and
you know, if granted a position like
this, I I certainly would be thankful to
learn a lot and to be involved. Um,
you know, I do have a lot of other
responsibilities in my life, but that
was one of the the big decisions uh in
putting in for this is I'm not going to
do anything that I wouldn't be committed
to. Um whether that is just for the
short short term until March or you know
whether the community saw fit to keep me
on later. So, um, again, thank you for
an opportunity that maybe
>> Thank you. Any questions for Jake?
>> Okay. Um, Michelle,
>> thank you guys for being here tonight.
Um, my name is Michelle Sharp. I grew up
uh in the Newton area, graduated here,
so to both my children. Um I worked for
the school
for 11 years I think predominantly in
project promise after school program. In
the last few years of that I was the
assistant director.
uh seen a lot of turmoil going on these
past few years, especially with the
separation
um of the schools
and that's one of the I've I've seen a
lot you know working here being a
student here all of it you know
witnessed a lot seen a lot um during my
tenure and that's one of the reasons I
wanted to see on the school board uh I
believe we represent the families
you know, even if they don't have kids
in the school, um, in the community, and
I want to make sure that their voices
are heard, you know, and transparency
have been talked about tonight. And
that's one of the biggest things I know
many have a hard time.
so with their best interests and
account, uh, so I I have the attention
to detail and
and the drive to want to represent
Bristol to the best that it can be
represented even if it's just till
March.
I'll do everything I can for the town.
Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you very much. Anybody
have any questions for Michelle?
>> So, I'd like to ask a question to each
of them. Okay. So, is it your intention
in in March to stay on? Is that
something that you would consider doing?
last part of your question. I would
consider it if I were to be on the
board. I think I would learn over the
next six months how much I can or cannot
contribute. And if I'm able to
contribute, which helps the situation,
that certainly would be a big factor to
conserve large for the long term.
>> And I'd like to ask each of you the same
question.
Yeah, I mean that would be the the goal.
Sorry. Okay. Anybody else have any
questions for them? Okay.
So, what we will do now is we will vote
and go from there and we'll vote
clockwise again.
Sorry. We'll start with um and you only
get one vote. Just I guess I should
clarify that you only get one [laughter]
vote. Um, so we'll start with Brian.
Those who feel that Brian would be a
good addition to the board, please,
please say I.
Um, next, those who think Jake would be
a good addition to the board, please say
I.
>> And those that would like to have
Michelle as part of the board, please
say I.
I think it was one to three to zero.
>> What about you? I said I for Jake.
Sorry. I said it. I probably rolled it
in. I apologize, Ruth. I voted for Jake.
>> Thank you. So, three to one.
>> Okay. So, I make a motion to take a
10-minute recess um just to swear in uh
the new board member and have them sit
the board. I'd like to take I would also
like to thank Michelle and Brian too for
coming and putting in your names.
And just because you're not a board
member doesn't mean you can't
contribute. Everybody in this room can
>> come and help out committees. [applause]
>> So we'll just take a
>> and I'll second motion break.
>> Oh yeah. All those in favor say I.
>> Sorry I forgot about that.
>> Sorry because now we have to swear them
in so that we can do that.
>> Are these on?
>> Yeah, the mics are still on. We still
Yeah.
>> So don't start. Oh, you could just make
really annoying noises for um for
Siobhan. Siobhan loves it when we
>> Yeah, we had to turn up the fans because
they were so stinking loud.
>> No, I don't think
>> Just don't tell
Sorry, start yelling. Okay,
so new business. We're going to move on
to new business. Um we're going to go to
the Danbury School um building updates.
I go back to my email here.
Do you mind just kind of walking us
through your little
>> thing that you g gave us there, Michael?
>> Appendix C. Sure.
>> I know, but I'm totally putting him on
the spot
>> cuz he wrote it. So,
>> well, I I wrote it in a way that I
thought I was hitting like the pieces of
like where do you start with these
buildings, right? So, this is uncharted
territory. Um, and I we we should
discuss too um buildings have been, you
know, in the beginning of building the
co-op putting the cooperative together.
Um, some buildings were returned to
their towns, etc. So, this is going to
be a question for you to really think
about. Um, you hire people like myself
and Brian. Um, we represent the district
and we also, um, represent your
financial health. So, there are options
of what you can do with these buildings.
You don't have to sell them at a steep
discount to someone. You don't
necessarily have to give it back to a
community, but we understand why that
might be an important decision to make.
Um, we also know you could lease it out.
Do you want to bring this building back
into the district at some point in time
while still maintaining it and keeping
it a viable, healthy building? These are
the even I I think it was a $10.5
million insured building 10 years ago.
I'm haven't seen an assessment since,
but these are, you know, very sturdy,
strong buildings.
They do cost a lot to maintain. Um, but
they will last forever if you do it
correctly. And sometimes just having the
right tenant can keep that building
going strong, provide possibly a great
use for it. And that's why that's the
onus of this conversation. It's like
what what are your options? What can you
do? And what would you like to do? So
the first part is just declaring it. So
some of these are just procedural. And
this takes into account the new um
what is it 194? I can't remember off the
top of my head. I think we reference it
194 RSA 19461
um which requires you to make this
available um in a way for charter
schools. So this addresses that and
complies with that.
So step one is just determining the
building's unused facility which I don't
think we've formally done. I think
you've done that. We vacated it.
>> Yeah, we've closed it.
>> You certainly have vacated it um pretty
quickly. Um
>> well, we don't know if we've taken
anything out of it.
>> We have taken a lot of stuff out of it.
uh actually, we begin moving furniture
tomorrow. So, furniture will be
migrating over to various classrooms,
etc. Um we are renting two trucks to do
that. We have a a pile of staff
dedicated to doing it over the next two
days.
So it is in the process um of happening.
We have till July 1st to declare this
and we have to do that.
Um so there's a reporting it to the
department of education um marketing. So
go ahead.
>> July 1st next year
July 1st 2027. We missed the deadline
for this year.
>> So that would have been a little too
quick.
>> That is not entirely a bad thing. It
buys you a little bit of time and it
technically isn't completely vacated.
There's still things in it and things
that you need.
>> So, you wouldn't have been able to put a
tenant in anyway. So,
um this part I think is interesting and
worth doing and a lot of people rush
into this, but there are professional
organizations that will market this and
look at the best uses for it. So you
should know what is the value of the
building to whom
and that's this is just a plain way of
stating that and
um what needs to be included in those
proposals what to look at um we will put
it out to bid for um uses those are and
I'm not not speaking for you I'm just
saying these are some probably the most
val um reliable options of of what to do
with the
This also gives you multiple
organizations that could come and use it
and you get a choice of who goes in
there, right? It's choosing the right
tenant is extremely important. If anyone
here has ever worked with rental
properties or even in any kind of
construction or management piece, you
know how important the tenant is. It's
not necessarily the money you get. It's
are how are they up going to manage
upkeep utilities and everything has to
be part of this agreement.
>> [clears throat]
>> So, we would issue an RFP,
negotiate a contract. It tells you a
little bit about what kind of items you
should put into the lease. These are did
a little bit of legal research just to
get into like things that we need to be
thinking about. Um, a firm would
obviously um capture most of these. Um,
and then finally, once once you get to
determining and making a judgment on who
would lease it, if that isn't a
chartered school, you have to um go into
a 60-day notice period for this law and
that has to be made available. And then
you may even from there mediate an
outcome from that. So, if they were to
offer
um a certain amount of money for that,
you would have the ability to negotiate
a contract from it.
>> ult so it takes you through exercising
the rights of the charter school
>> and and just just to be clear if it's
not an equitable deal through a charter
school we're not required or mandated to
make that deal. No,
>> we just have to offer it.
>> Correct.
>> Just wanted to just wanted to state
that.
>> Yes. And it the law states we have to be
able to enter into um good faith
negotiations with the charter school. Um
and it's an important part of that law,
>> but it also states if that's if we sell
on a lease.
>> Which is not safe if we give it away.
>> Correct. Um that's Yeah,
>> I think
>> I just want to
>> So that's a that's a gray area because
remember giving it away is almost like
selling it, right? No, no, no. But it
>> here you can have my phone $1,000.
>> Which would you do?
>> Well, you're going to give it to me for
free.
>> You sold it to me for nothing.
>> So, I just that's an area I probably
want to discuss with an attorney just to
make sure. I don't want to use giving it
away as a way to usurping um the offer
to a charter school. I don't I'm not
prepared to be able to answer that well
for you.
>> I just want in there.
>> Yep.
>> Um
>> yeah, which is why I kind of started
with the conversation. And I'm like,
these are viable options.
>> So, are you done?
>> Okay. I didn't want to interrupt because
I do that all the time.
>> Yeah, that's okay.
>> Um, so I'm I'm there's several different
things with this.
>> First of all, um, when we've given the
schools away,
>> we've had the voters vote on it
>> and it's it's the entire school gets to
vote on it. So, even the board want to
give it away and put on there if the
four towns might want might say no. Um,
>> yeah.
>> If we don't do that, if we do this whole
lease thing, do the towns have to get to
vote on what we do? Like, do we say,
"Hey, we want to lease it to so and so."
Is it would that be something goes on
the ballot or is that just something we
could do because we have the building?
>> I'm agreeing with the community.
>> The law that the RSA states only because
I municipality rules match the district
ones. The district can do a one-year
lease without it being on the ballot.
Then it has to go to anything longer
than a one-year lease has to go to a
vote of the taxpayers
>> under the municipal rule. And that's I
tied it back to the district
>> and I know that Danbury is trying to do
a charter school and get it going. They
had a meeting I believe the other night.
Um but they're not off the ground all
the way and what I was told was and
I read it someplace uh it takes about 18
months to make that happen. So, I don't
I'm not sure how long that will take to
get um so one of the considerations to
me is it would make sense to keep us to
keep that building if we're going to use
it in the future. Definitely. But if
we're not going to use it until then,
it's a problem. I mean, cuz you got to
have pipes, whatever. You know, the
whole part of our savings was that we
weren't going to be maintaining the
building. So, we can't just have an
empty building there. We got to be
maintaining it regardless. So if we're
going to keep it in any way, we ought to
be using it. So somehow it's being paid
for as you're suggesting. Uh but the my
bigger a a big issue though to me is
Danberry's mad. Um if we if we even if
we give this to a charter school and and
Prospect Mountain takes it, then Danbury
can't take it or can't can't afford it.
I don't believe Danbury is going to vote
for anything. We need font if we're
going to do the consolidation plan the
way it's been coming at us. And that's
60% of the voters. And if the entire
town of Vic Damry is mad at this, we we
burned a big bridge. So it just
thoughts, not not sighting, not just
>> Yeah. I I mean the health of the
building and a strong lease does help
Danbury too because it will it will help
with offsetting the cost of the building
and offsetting it with a tax cap. The
revenue alone is important. Um the cap
is not on our budget. it's on a single
revenue source. So, it's a revenue cap.
Um, if you recall when we brought in
Hill, it was a little bit controversial
because it was one I think one of the
only there's maybe one being negotiated
right now, a below cost per pupil um
contract and the purpose was there was
little chance of us getting the unique
dollar amount to bring them in, but you
had the capacity. So for many people it
only I think passed by two votes but at
the same time it's it the decision to do
it replace roofs, replace driveways.
>> It yeah it paid for years overhead.
>> Um and we were very careful with how we
use that money too not to create
cyclical costs at the expense of your
infrastructure which is what we also
want to do here. So, it's really just
managing, unfortunately, we've got to
manage revenue very carefully um in this
district in order to allow us to
progress with, you know, paying for
costs that exceed inflationary levels.
Um we there was no expectation in a 2%
tax cap that we'd have special ed costs
like this, right? There's no there's you
have to have a 60% vote to get beyond
it. And that's proved very difficult. I
mean, you didn't get a 50% vote.
>> So, um, part of why we're here is to
say, look, we can do this intelligently.
We can pay attention to the CAP and
understand the responsibility that it
has with it, but still spend the money.
And, and this is another a perfectly
good example is we would have to go to
Damber and talk to them about look,
the a good use of this building benefits
you.
um so and by offsetting the costs in
your t own taxes. So, um, I it's it is a
community a community decision whether
or not legally you have to, right? You
know, so I think that's the beginning
stages. It's like even going out to bid.
A lot of the times you don't know what
this building could be used for. You may
actually really like it.
>> So, create create job opportunities and
sustainability. there are things that
could be returned to the community in
other ways outside of the realm of
education,
>> right? So, I think you could go from
being like initially,
you know, there's a lot of emotion in
right now, but it could be an
opportunity for us to say, hey, look, if
if you're going to consolidate or we're
going to manage that process a little
bit differently, hence the pause that
you just voted on, can we use this
building maybe to improve that? If we we
you know move quickly without much
thought,
>> how is that going to affect you 15
years, 20 years from now?
>> Well, it could contribute to the deficit
instead of helping us get over it.
>> Correct. And and it throws away options
that you could still have had
>> that you won't have.
>> Yeah. I I mean, part of what we're doing
here is trying to give you the best
future and and actually do some
planning. like don't just emotionally
run into it for the budget cycle only.
All right. So, there'll be nothing on
the ballot as of right now in March for
January.
There can't be,
>> Right. I just want
>> We have to come up with a plan.
>> Right. But I just wanted to make that a
vocal statement because I don't want
people to get misconstrued
with that. Um because like I've said
before, laws have changed since we gave
back
>> changing fast,
>> right? Um and then you also have House
Bill 1374 which is a little bit
different with how you give things back
too. So like there's all sorts of things
moving.
>> Yeah. I I did reach out to the
Department of Ed and we got a response,
but they just emailed us the law.
>> I'm like, so that is something we could
read. We're well aware of it. Um, but
more importantly, it doesn't favor the
perspective of the district and what
districts should do. There was no
guidance from the Department of Ed,
which is indicative of some of what
we've seen in legislation. It's like, so
this is one of the things we've been
founded on is public educ education. And
it's like a cornerstone of being
American in my opinion. And
what
>> so we're trying to do it thoughtfully.
This is not of let's just make money off
the building. It's like how can we make
the most of this opportunity and while
still providing us options and
flexibility
um for the future of the whole community
and by future
30 years from now, right? These
buildings last way longer than our our
short-term memories and so do our kids
and our grandkids and our families. So
it's like just think about it a little
bit.
>> Appreciate all the information.
>> Yes, we appreciate the digging.
>> Okay. Schoolboard committee assignment.
So we'll have to reassign
committees and we'll bring it up at the
next meeting. So Jake, I don't know. So,
I did look up what he sent as to who has
what and what has nothing. We don't have
anybody on the wellness committee or the
transportation committee.
>> Yes. See, I know I was on the
>> That's why I'm like that little
checklist that's in my um schoolboard
bag that I forgot.
>> Well, because I know Joe was on that.
>> Joe was,
>> right? It was Joe and I.
>> Joe was on facilities committee,
>> right? Joe was on facilities. He was on
>> So, we've got one for the budget
committee, which is you.
>> One for the facility committee, which is
Dana.
policy committee is Dennis and I. The
curriculum committee is me and you. The
building committee right now I wrote
that now it's just Dennis
>> Dennis
for wellness me for tech council
and then it's got or you and I because
negotiations hasn't been added to this
list was supposed to be you and me and
then you on professional development as
well. Wait. I wonder if I
Okay, so Jake, if you can just email me
what you're kind of interested in, if I
need to reshuffle things, um, we can do
that and then I'll send it out to
everybody um before next meeting and
then we'll vote on it. And for this
month, we'll just kind of cover if any
other meetings show up that isn't
assigned, we'll just kind of cover and
we'll work it out as a
>> You could give the school board.
>> Mhm.
What was your [laughter]
>> excited? You didn't mention
>> you're bu doing building management now,
right? So, facilities might be a good
thing.
>> Yes, that's a that's a good point.
>> Um,
[snorts]
>> no, you get to go to the school board's
association delegation meeting. That's
all you, Dana.
>> All right. Hall of Fame gymnaming
dedication requests.
>> Yes. Last year, um Jamie Larash had sent
a request to the SAU um asking um if if
we could potentially rename the New
Found Memorial Gym or the New Found High
School Gym for Mr. Blakeley um who was,
you know, a teacher in the district for
a number.
>> Yes. Yes. Um, so I'm I'm following up on
an agenda item from last year where uh
Jamie Larash had submitted a request to
uh rename the uh gym to in in in honor
of Mr. Alan Blakeley who was a district
employee for so many years. Um so and
and I know there's um I don't know the
the the process that goes along with it.
I know that the high school has prepared
a plaque, you know, in preparation for
said event. Um
>> I I talked to Mr. Tivy.
>> Y
>> and I can't
>> I knew his dad. His dad is a lot. His
name is Jay. Is this Jacob?
>> His father. Yeah, his son.
>> J I talked to him about that a few
months ago and he said he was hoping to
do it, but he really wanted to wait
until we fix the gym up, get some
paintings and stuff like that. I think
that may not happen. Michael. Um, so
that's all that's so it's we're still
kind of in the works this RT was
concerned, but
>> And an issue is Al's had health issues
for several years. So
>> okay,
>> so that's the request being put forward
to the board. If it's something we want
to move forward with, I will
>> I mean we got the Mills oval for Mr.
Mills
>> and Al you got the Blakeley Mill
scholarship which they folks have pushed
for years. Al has like 14,500 kids on
his Facebook page. One of my kids, one
of my classmates got ALS. Al, you know,
six years ago, Al and four of my
classmates went to Michigan to see him.
That's how that was.
All right. I make a motion to um
dedicate the high school gym in honor of
Mr. Blakeley.
>> I second it.
>> Any further discussion? Seeing none, all
those in favor say I. I
>> opposed.
>> Abstensions.
>> Well, that was the easiest motion and
approval of the evening.
>> Excellent.
>> I just realized that when we updated the
agenda, we [clears throat] lost one of
the letters that I think we need. We
never
>> the student reassignment request is not
on this agenda.
>> It was on one of mine.
>> So, the first one that they sent, but
not the one that was updated today. So,
it's not on the one that's printed.
Okay. But it was on our first one.
>> So we can do that.
>> Because it was on the first published
one and then I amended the agenda to add
those two items from the original
agenda.
>> So we are fine.
>> To do that. Sorry.
>> No, that's fine.
>> Not that.
>> Thank you for noticing that because I
would have just
>> missed it.
>> Missed it and I was reading my original
agenda first. So um next new hires.
>> Uh yes. So, we're excited uh to hire
Cody Lambert as our facility director
and uh Susan Guieri as our um middle
school assistant principal.
>> Okay. I make a motion to accept the new
hires.
>> Second.
>> Done.
>> Any further discussion?
>> Opposed?
>> I have a quick question. Right. Did he
work here before? He like has been no
>> because
the building committee he was all new
found up so
>> that would be awesome.
>> He had newfound gear on
>> I didn't even notice that.
>> Oh yeah.
>> Okay. Next accepting resignations.
>> Yes. Uh unfortunately, so Liliana
Apante, our world language uh instru
teacher, and Mark Miller, um middle
school case manager in the special ed
case manager.
>> I'll make a motion to accept the
reservations.
>> I'll second it.
>> All right, any further discussion?
Seeing none, all those in favor say I.
>> I oppose. Abstensions. Okay, next Fisher
Cats ticket raffle. So, at the June
superintendent conference, um I won um
20 tickets to the Fisher Cats and
thought it might be nice to either give
them away to the community, set up some
sort of a
>> No, I didn't mean to me, Brian,
[laughter] but guess what's happening
this week?
>> What is happening this week?
>> The penny sale.
>> Oh, the penny sale.
>> That'd be a great prize option, buddy.
>> Have it.
>> How about that? Does that help the
community? Right.
>> Yep. So
>> they gives $6,000 scholarship to a
graduate here in Newfound. They do a lot
in the community, the Rotary. So as you
will know soon.
>> So I have no objection.
>> Yeah. If they give back.
>> Sorry, Shanghai. That was on the
[laughter] agenda, but I got there.
>> Sheesh.
>> I thought you was going to ask them.
[laughter]
>> So did I.
>> I thought that was the hand. I don't I
don't know if I could get 20 people to
go with me to a game like that. Brian,
>> you don't need
>> I don't think you could, but that's
>> I'll make a motion to allow those
tickets. Do we need a motion to go to?
>> Well, you won them for yourself or for
the district.
>> He just wanted to make
>> um we're I would put I would donate them
to Rotary if you were
>> I'm just saying public,
>> It will benefit the district and the
community.
>> No, no, I know. I'm what I'm saying is
is if if he won them at the school um at
the superintendent thing for himself
>> then he can do whatever he wants.
>> Yeah, they were for myself.
>> But he right so he can we we as the
school board don't have to because he
didn't because I was more of a give to
our It's very good of you.
>> He just wanted everyone to know
>> he wanted everybody to know now
everybody can go on Thursday night to
the Rotary penny sale and bid on
>> it's a good advertisement. We'll put it
in the paper.
>> Right on, Tom. That's a story I would
read, buddy. [laughter]
>> Um, next we have um student reassignment
request. [clears throat]
we discussed um we need a motion for a
decision for the student reassignment
request.
>> I make a motion to not allow the student
reassignment.
>> Okay, I will second. Any further
discussion? Seeing none, all those in
favor say I. I opposed.
>> Sorry. Okay. Um
and that is it for the meeting. Uh next
we have our next public comment on
agenda items. Only two minutes per
comment.
>> Yes. Go for it, Audrey.
>> Thank you for coming, Audrey.
>> You're welcome. My name's Audrey.
[snorts] I'm from D. I'm one of the
people who wrote the chatter. It has
passed the legal aspect of the state of
New Hampshire. Um, and I just want you
to be aware of the HB1374,
which you haven't read yet. Um, it does
declare in that new law, which goes into
effect in September, the governor has
signed it in July, but since the school
is not legally closed yet, you will fall
under
that states that if a town wants to um
withdraw from the district, they only
need the town vote.
the district
separation. It also states that if a
school district closes a t school in a
town, then they must
give it to the town if they want.
So just keep that in mind. That is the
new law. And I know Alexandria and Hein,
they gave a one room schoolhouse. They
bought a one room schoolhouse back. But
this law would affect New Bristol even
somehow doesn't fit in it. So that would
mean the only people who would be
charging is
the new law.
>> I'm Erin Edwards. I don't live in the
district. Um I am a teacher in the
middle school.
So Janine Negger's uh just spoke in
public comments and she asked who is
responsible for communicating
uh the that we needed three majority or
60% for the CBA our teachers contract to
pass. Melissa said [clears throat] that
the attorney and the DRRA reviewed this.
They check and they advise on how the
ballot would be rigged and that you were
under the impression that that you
needed a simple majority. So you guys
were not told to put three-fifths
majority on that on for the CBA
regarding the teachers contract.
But Gordon, your lawyer,
reached out finally to our uh lawyer,
our AFT lawyer, Terry Dunovan. We've
been waiting for him to respond to us
for quite a while. Um Tyler, our
president, was informed on the 14th of
what's going on that we none of us have
a contract.
He then sent an email to the SAU
requesting the DR letter with this in
writing. He did not get a response. The
21st again, there was an email
requesting that.
Then Bordon responded finally on the
21st that he would get back to Terry,
but he didn't. Then Terry emailed him
again on the 3rd saying, "Hey, what's
going on? We still haven't heard from
you." And then he finally finally got in
touch with her on Friday afternoon on
the 6th after 5:00 and he sent her an
email
and the email said
he said it was a mistake for the
district and the union to assume that
the artic the CBA article was adopted by
a simple majority vote because the
article did not have the required
majority that's needed to override the
district's cap. So, he is trying to
blame the union and the SAU for this,
taking no responsibility for it. But
this is where it gets confusing because
the NTU does not compose the ballots.
Correct?
We don't We're not involved in writing
them up. We're not involved with
reviewing them to make sure that they're
correct according to the attorney or the
DRRA. We're not involved with printing
them, distributing them, counting them,
reporting the results of them to the
community or filing with them with the
state. We have no involvement with that.
Yet somehow we he's saying that we're
responsible for being for assuming when
we were told in a process that we have
no involvement in. We just finding out
the results.
So we're mistaken for
this thing that we actually have no
involvement in which is I I think
ridiculous. We have this we have 15
today is what the uh the 10th and we
start on the 25th. We have 15 days and
we have no teachers
and we just found out from he just
finally responded on the on Friday. So
our union still does not have the SAU
has not provided the um letter from the
DRRA stating that the vote did not pass.
Still, we still do not have it. The uh
lawyer did not provide it to our lawyer.
The lawyer did not provide it to our
president. We have nothing.
So, I just like I just I'm kind of
trying to figure out like who actually
does I want to know who does compose
those ballots, who does review them, who
does actually print them, who does
distribute them, who counts them, who
reports those results to the community
and who files this with the state
because somebody made a big mistake
uh in I would say an egregious error. I
mean, this is huge. And so, not only are
we getting absolutely like
like pretty,
I think, horrific uh levels of
communication
after we have signed contracts back in
May, made plans for our family, like you
know, this is a huge financial decision
and nobody's taking responsibility
at all. And no one is even stepping up
to actually like have a modicum of
respect for us as professionals and
employees of the district to try to make
this right in any way like is there any
type of you know accommodations that are
going to be made because of this error
anything that's going to be done. So
this is the the union is I would say um
staff members are pretty upset. We love
I This is my favorite school I've ever
worked for
in all my years of teaching. And but I
gotta I have to This is I'm making a
living. It's not because I love kids
like love the kids that I can go in
every day. I also I love them, but I
also have to, you know, pay my mortgage
and and put gas in the gas tank and, you
know, buy food for my family. So th the
this, you know, just kind of not taking
responsibility thing, I think really we
need to know better what's going on. And
the fact that like we still do not have
that letter is very strange and it's
making um the union as a whole very
uncomfortable because we have no idea
what's going on and there's 15 days we
we don't have any teachers for the
school system. None. Nobody signed a
contract. We have I have people asking
me of like, do you know when we're going
to get the contract?
>> Any further public comment?
>> My name is Reage. I don't live in town,
but I do teach at the high school.
speak.
>> So, as you just heard, the timeline of
uh is very concerning to us and uh for
we feel that it's very hard to conduct a
group when we are not hearing any
communication. Um even just the simple
we receive your communication. There has
been very little communication.
I have spent my own summer trying to
assure members
the best I can with very little
information to go on. I cannot tell you
how stressed this makes myself, makes
all of us as teachers.
We get into teaching because we do care.
I care deeply for each and every kid
that comes to my classroom. But as we
just stated, we all need to make a
living. We are all just like you, all of
us teachers. We pay our taxes. We have
expenses. And just take a look at the
world around you. Expenses and the cost
of living are going up everywhere.
Teachers counted on the SAU having told
us back in March
that the contract was offset, the issue
contract. People counted on that raise.
People counted on that cost of living
increase that came in the contract. To
have that taken away until the middle of
July
and then when we make requests so we can
review the information, those requests
go unanswered.
It's very disheartening.
Now, when I say is very hard to trust
the SAU, I'm not arguing this at one
person. I don't want anyone here to walk
around thinking that I'm pardoning you.
I'm saying as a whole, it's very hard to
trust when there is no communication.
I don't know about any of you, but if
you did not know what your pay was going
to be, what your health insurance was
going to be, how much it was going to
cost you, we are scared. We are
concerned. We want to be here. We I
wanted every day when I just saw I got
to teach a push again. I want to be
here, but if I can't afford to pay my
own expenses to be here, how can I stay?
I don't think any of you can blame any
of us if we say I can't afford to stay
here because I counted on that raise. I
counted on what the SAU told me to be
truthful and it was incorrect.
I don't understand how we can go weeks
without communication, how you can just
act like this is not happening. People's
lives and families are affected.
We are scared and concerned and we feel
those needs are not being adequately
met. We feel the information we provided
is not adequate.
We [clears throat] hope this is fixed.
Thank you. [applause]
Go ahead.
friendlow, New Hampton. Didn't think I'd
be agreeing with Aaron and uh Tyler, but
um I too asked for a copy of that letter
from DR several weeks ago and I did not
get it. And I asked, can I trust that I
will be sent a copy of this letter or do
I need to request it under 91A?
I thought trying to be friendly that I
would get it eventually and never got
it. They have a very valid point.
if they consider that they don't have
contracts
at the very least. And at the at the
last school board meeting, it was made
very clear
that if they wanted to find another job
that they could, that they were not
going to be held to a contract that was
now invalid.
But the district should have reached out
and said, "We cannot commit to the
increase raised, but you still have a
job.
You will still get a paycheck that first
week school." And for them to feel that
they don't know if they have a job or
not is wrong. And this district needs to
address it tomorrow.
Number one. Number two, it's not the
union's fault.
I think it falls on the attorney. I
think we need to get another law firm
because
when if we're going to talk about
responsibility, what triggered this was
Rick Alpers from the budget committee
when he got up at the deliberative
session and added money to violate the
tax cap
that triggered the 60%. on the budget,
on the teachers contract, on the HOA
system. So if you want to point a figure
and finger and say this is the person
who's at fault, he was Rick Alton
because the budget committee didn't
agree with the tax gap. They didn't and
they violated the state law and the DRA
pointed out that they were in violation
of it as well. But if you want to point
the figure finger at the guilty person,
that's who you can point it to. This is
what we're left with. But the teachers
deserve to know that they definitely
have a job. Now, maybe some of them are
not going to be ended up being hired.
That decision should have already been
made and those employees should have
been let know before now. And you know,
I question
when DRRA notified the school. I don't
question that they're correct in the 60%
requirement.
I question how it was handled.
So, um I hope the district gets their
act together and at least does that. And
um we need to move forward. It was
expressed at that last school board
meeting that they were going to be doing
some finetuning and they were hoping
that they could find some money and come
to an MOU with the teachers and maybe
come up with well we can't honor the
percentage rate or we can't honor the
percentage on your insurance but we can
go you know maybe an extra thousand
dollar or maybe you know some other
tomorrow for some negotiation. But if
that hasn't been done, that's wrong. And
and I I hope that gets addressed the
right way. And I think it's totally
ironic that we're talking about becoming
landlords and leasing Danberry maybe
forever to somebody else when all of a
sudden when we were looking at buying
the bank building, the public seemed to
say, "Oh no, the school district has no
business being a landlord." All right.
And now here we are. The precedent is
that the schools were given back to the
towns who gave them to the SAU when we
were formed. And that building should be
given back to Danberry to do whatever
they damn well please with it. And if a
charter school is going to happen, then
they can work with the charter school.
But we shouldn't be getting involved
with it at all whatsoever. It should
follow president and go back to the
town.
>> Hi, Emil Crystal. I teach science here
at the high school. Small point off of
um France Point schools hire in the
spring. So, by the time that you had
already told us you have this
opportunity, we won't hold it against
you if you seek work elsewhere. The jobs
were already taken. we don't have the
opportunity to go find work elsewhere.
So, we are now stuck in this rock and
hard place of, you know, you guys won't
hold it against us if we try and go find
work elsewhere, but there is no work
elsewhere and we also don't know if
there's stuff for us here. Okay, that is
a a hell of a rock and a hard place to
be presented to us as a benefit. Thank
you,
[applause]
Sarah. I'll hold your hand. So I am
nearing retirement within a year or two.
Unfortunately, all of my retirement
earnings are based on my salary when I'm
leaving. So that if my salary goes back
to last year's instead of advancing to
next year's year beyond, that's a
continual financial loss for people that
are close to retirement. and those of us
that are close to retirement do not have
5 years to stay and wait while the
salaries start building up and up and up
again perhaps. So it's a negative for
younger employees who aren't advancing
to the system and it's negative for
older employees who are now going to be
active for the rest of their retirement.
Jump on a point that was made earlier.
Um, can we get an update on where we
stand on these contracts that were going
to be reviewed and are there contracts
that can be reviewed to make some of
this or do is that not something that
can be done now because we haven't heard
update on the 21st that will go through
the attorneys, right?
>> Communication back and forth will go
through the attorneys.
>> It'll have to go through the attorney.
>> But we're not hearing back from the
attorney. That's the only problem. He's
not
>> I can follow up, but
>> but because because it's a because it's
the union, it all has to go through the
um through the attorney. Do you have
suggestions if we're not getting
responses from the attorney what we
should do?
>> I will follow up with Brian and and work
on that. It's all I can I can't really
say much unfortunately.
>> Amy Fairbank Bristol. So I just want um
the RSA policy that she knew about about
the building going back to the town.
>> Are you familiar with it already?
So my question is is because I don't
know it. So um if you is it because if
you choose to close a building because
you're not going to use it for student
regular classroom time or
you're going to change what you do in
that building.
>> It's also one of those house bills that
we have to wait for the legal um opinion
of how it's going to operationalize.
>> So because I and I also wanted to speak
to the fact that we talked about special
ed and I've been you know, taking a
break from being at these boards
regularly. But there was a big time that
we were in significant trouble with our
special ed being outsourced. We had to
bring them all back in and that brought
us revenue back in um or we weren't
paying out. And so if we know our
special ed, it seems like numbers are
getting bigger, not just in our school,
but all around the state. Um our special
ed is getting bigger and it's
unpredictable about um how much we have
to give to each student based on their
needs. um and the fact that uh that
could fluctuate all the time and mess
with not only their their education but
also our regular kids and we have to
balance how we get that money. Doesn't
it seem like revenue is going to have to
be a big factor for us moving forward in
which case we're going to have to find a
way to be competitive revenue-wise and
bringing money in. Even though it's not
about it's about educating the kids, but
if we're going to keep the buildings or
keep kids coming here and families
coming here, we've got to produce
something worthy of it. And I know that
like other schools have Huitt and what
is common that that's a long-term goal
for us and you know we have these
buildings and if it doesn't affect that
then maybe we need to start thinking
sooner rather than later because I think
we're going to be in the next couple
years in the same thing. So, I'm
wondering like I know you said that um
you have a long-term plan, but is it big
enough to be able to handle the
increasing special ed process?
>> Any further? Yes. Go ahead,
>> Tom. Following up on that special
education, there's the Lakes Region
Superintendent Group that was looking to
form
a a basis for helping
>> cover. I was just wondering what where
that stands now. Is that part of
>> what you're looking into or is that
still in the distance?
>> In the distance.
>> In the distance. That was just a study
committee. They had just got funding for
study committee and get things going. We
went to the meeting of about this like
in August or whatever and it's still
>> June
>> still not off the ground yet kind of
thing. It's just they were going to have
another meeting about talking about how
they're going to get some
>> and share share costs. Yeah.
>> Yes. Uh you should make yourselves
familiar with the legislative report.
They did a two-year study on special ed
costs in New Hampshire and percentages.
And that report just came out. I sent a
copy to Paul. Um I could forward it to
you, Melissa, and maybe you Brian for
months. But um it stated how much over
the state is compared to the national
averages on special ed spending and cost
and numbers, significant numbers. Um, it
was a very lengthy report, very
detailed, and I think we need to take a
look at it because I think
we overkill in many ways. The kids that
really need it don't get the help they
need, and the kids that really don't
need it take up a lot of dollars. And
there's no oversight over all of these
contracts with booth services and on and
on and on. The sky is unlimited. And
that's what's gotten us into trouble.
>> What was what was the reassessment of
reassignment?
>> What is that all about?
>> I we voted that we were not doing it.
>> What is it?
>> Uh it's confidential.
>> Well, does it have to do with the
bathroom?
>> Oh, no. No, no, no. It's a student
request. We can't I can't discuss it any
more than that.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Somebody
Okay. Um any board member comments?
Oops. Sorry. Sorry. I missed Janine
again. Would uh could we please have a
microphone next time? Um, we're kind of
struggling back there sometimes with
what you're saying. And I know at one
point you either passed a hand one
around or you had one.
>> We've we've never done a microphone in
here because
>> we can maybe we can move the table next
time.
>> I think if we face that way it would be
better.
>> Yeah. Maybe maybe because of the
ceiling. I don't
>> the auditorium is really hard for us to
hear anything
>> because we can't hear each other.
>> Okay. Yeah, maybe we can just re
>> I think if we're all facing that way, it
might be a little bit easier for next
time if we reassess the table.
>> We could just try that call. Thank you.
>> Okay. Board member comments.
>> I just want to throw out a reminder that
because we've talked twice about the
students starting on the 31st, don't
forget seventh and eighth graders are on
the 1st of September. teacher
>> and I I read the special ed thing that
Fran was talking about and one of the
things he talked about was that the
percentage of special ed kids is going
up.
>> I mean school populations are dropping
but the percent so the percentage might
go up anyway if it's the same amount but
it's actually even more because they're
finding more of them essentially.
It's not going away.
>> And one comment that I'd like to make is
that despite everything that we're going
through right now, everybody at this
table, including Mike and Brian, are
wholly committed to coming out on the
other side of this in maintaining
everything that we can to ensure
continuity and care for the children and
education that they deserve. Nobody has
given up on this. Nobody is throwing
their hands up in the air and walking
away. This is an ongoing process that's
going to require a lot of communication,
a lot of effort, and a lot of
collaboration
and patience and grace and and sometimes
we're as much in a bad spot as everybody
else, but we're trying to navigate it as
best we can.
>> Go back to the original budget. I'm
confused. These guys are saying they
don't have
>> Well, we'll we'll explain it. I'll I'll
meet with you after Chris.
>> All right. Any further board member
comments?
>> Seeing none, I need a motion to adjurnn.
>> I'll make a motion to adjurnn.
>> I'll second. All those in favor say I.
>> Opposed.
Okay.