001just the the minutes from our meeting. >> Yeah. >> From >> if we want to move, you know, if we can add that to move those. >> I just sent ours to just the other day, so I wouldn't do ours yet [clears throat] probably, but we don't have a packet, but we're going to talk about them. >> We'll talk about them, but >> not give you the minutes yet. >> I'm going to call to order the school board meeting of January 21st, 2026. If everyone could join me 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. [clears throat] Okay, I'm going to go through the board norms which
002are work together and be collaborative, assume good intentions, be present and prepared for the meeting, challenge the issue, not the person, and be respectful. Okay, we are on to minutes. Um, it's not listed, but we need to approve the minutes from December 17th. Um, which we had reviewed at a last at a prior meeting. I move that we approve minutes of >> Okay, second. All right, Alan and Nancy, any discussion? Okay, all in favor of approving the December 17th minutes. Hi. All right. Now we're on to January 7th minutes. All right. I'll make a motion to approve January 7th. Second. >> Okay. Kendra and Ellen. Um, any discussion? Okay. All in favor of approving the January 7th minutes? I I >> abstain 401. Um All right, we are on to public comments. True. I never
003miss an opportunity to share my self promotion. Um, so I would encourage the school to submit anything they want to submit to the Gazette for the March issues coming out before the election. Um, deadines February 15th. So generally edit for space, not much for content. >> Thank you. >> Any other public comments? Okay. Um, board discussion regarding public comments. >> I was wondering if is there something that we should maybe put in the gazette? >> We have to be careful what we say, right? >> We feel careful. >> Um, has previously I have done sort of a budget article sort of how we create how we craft the budget or something like that if someone wants to take somethingformational on. But I think the warrant articles are generally included. You know, who's running for office
004is generally included with their contact information. >> Would there be anything you want to post about the stage road committee? >> Um that has been it has been >> it's already been published and we're we're at a point we have a meeting set. So yeah, >> it's a day after, isn't it? After the deadline is it February 16th or 17th? >> 17th. >> Okay. So it's after that deadline. >> We already have like 13 people signed up and that's a lot of people. So, I don't think we need to be looking for more people to join. >> I mean, >> I just I couldn't remember if it if the meeting was before the deadline or not. And if it was before the deadline, we could say, "Hey, this is what happened." I don't know. >>
005Oh, I see. I see what you're saying. Yeah, it's probably a good idea for maybe Errol for your next one to maybe give an overview of what's going on. Try and keep that in mind. Not not for your next one, but the one after. >> Yeah, >> I would I would like to know who's on the committee. Yeah, I I can tell you that it's on the agenda. Do you want to wait for the agenda? >> Yeah, we'll talk about that. >> Perfect. Um, okay. [clears throat] If anyone else if anyone wants to come up with an article idea, all yours. [laughter] >> Um, okay. Agenda review. I don't think I have any changes except that we're going to add high school committee to board reports. Do we need it now public? I don't think
006so. Um I don't know. Yes. Um but it will be it should be relatively quick. Okay. Okie dokie. Uh review of correspondence. I don't believe there was any. So that is quick. Okay. No consent [clears throat] items? >> Okay. So we're on to immediate business. First up is actually it's the school moderator and the town moderator, Eric Rose. if you could join us up here, that'd be great. >> Thank you for joining us. So, this is Eric's first year as the official school moderator. He has been an assistant moderator for [clears throat] >> as long as I've been around. So, um this is not new for Eric, but I'll just since most of you have not been to a deliberative, I'll just give a little overview of what Eric is helping us out with here
007tonight. So, for those who have been to deliberative, you know that Eric's role is to facilitate the whole meeting. He's we have sent him the warrant article so he's familiar [clears throat] with some of the issues that are going on. Um what we need to decide tonight is who's going to present each of the school warrants. So [clears throat] typically we'll assign one board member to sort of present the idea, speak to it, answer questions, and then obviously other people can chime in as as needed. But um we usually try to assign them so that the work is spread evenly more or less. Um I don't think we have a copy of the warrants actually. Uh yeah, we do. Yeah, we do. >> So with that, I'll pass it over to you. >> Yeah, great.
008Thank you for having me tonight. This is really helpful. Looking forward to our session on the 7th of February. Um I got a a warm up with the town delivery session on 31st. So I'll be ready for the uh the seventh for sure. Um so yes, so I would like to understand who's going to be talking to the particular war articles articles um and you know if there's anything in particular that you would like me to know ahead of time regarding any of the war articles that would be helpful. Um so why don't we start with the first one which is the budget one. How will that one be handled? >> So that the NBC will have to present their recommendation. Um I as the NBC rep am happy to sort of speak to it
009after that unless someone else would like to take unless someone else take it on. Um it's usually so we usually have like a little cheat sheet. I don't know if what we're preparing this year. Um there there could be a cheat sheet showing the breakdown of the budget. Um potentially the default budget versus the uh NBC recommended budget. Um it usually breaks it down by category. If there are any increases, it will note where those increases are coming from or sort of explain those things. Um but >> typically I think there's like MS37 document or something. >> Yeah. So we will have copies of all those available for people. >> Um so I'm happy to handle unless someone else wants to volunteer. [laughter] >> I think that's debatable. I'd like to >> and I'm guessing
010we'll probably expect that most of the time deliberative session will be spent on >> I would anticipate so I mean particularly from the ones that the school has proposed I think um you know of our four I think the budget would be the most discussed. All right. Um, number two, [snorts] school building repair trust fund $250,000. >> Y >> uh, number three. [snorts] >> So, I am also happy to do this one unless someone else wants to. I had proposed this to go on the warrant to Jess um based on some feedback that I've received. So if anyone else wants to cover, they are welcome to but I'm happy to. >> Um number three. Okay. So Kendra number four >> pop off agreements topic. I would normally do that, but I won't be here. So,
011are you gonna be here? Do you >> think you could do that? >> Because it's a high school thing. >> Yep, I can do that. I >> have to put you under a bus. I didn't [laughter] >> No, no, no. [snorts] I was thinking I was going to volunteer for that one because I I figured either Missy or I should do the uh >> number two. So, I was looking for another one and I figured that would work. >> Perfect. And if you have questions or want to chat about it in advance for I'm happy to or I'm sure Jess would be happy to as well. >> Yeah. Or me too if you want to go through it with me. Yeah. >> It's really just um >> it's really just to look if people are
012interested in looking at that. >> Yeah. And just give a brief explanation of what why we're asking people to vote on it or consider it. >> Um you know not [clears throat] telling them to vote a particular way but just saying this is why the question has come up. Um this is um what we're looking at exploring. >> Will there be anything handed out specifically going into detail about the war article like explaining clearly what a top off agreement is? >> We could consider that. >> I think you can explain it pretty easily without handing something out. >> Yeah, I'm just saying just ask. >> Yeah, I think you can explain it pretty well. And I mean if you have any questions about the history too, why we didn't do it and all that, I
013can help you with that. >> No. Yeah. No, I'm pretty familiar with that topic. We've talked a lot about it. >> All right. Number five. >> So, we even have to discuss the ones that people brought up by petition >> submitted by petition are supposed to be presented by the people. >> So, the first four are the school boards, right? The last five are correct. >> And [clears throat] you sent me the list. Um, >> so five and six are Dick Bair. >> Yes. Okay. >> Seven is Maryann Clark. >> Yes. >> And eight and nine are for Arrow. Correct. >> Okay. >> And just so you're all aware, there was a change in the statute um this last session um which allows 10 minutes for a lead petitioner on a petition war article to
014speak to the particular [laughter] article itself. >> 10 minutes. [laughter] >> That is an extreme amount of time. So um yeah there's no requirement [laughter] but I'm sure you could have stay on the topic [laughter] >> preferably. Yes. >> Um yeah so just FYI um it's not the standard three minutes that we are for a speaker on any particular war article. So and it's just for the introduction of the article. So um as I understand it you know Errol for instance if you didn't use all 10 minutes you can't reserve the balance for later discussion but you can always come back and talk for three minutes >> right yeah >> got it >> okay >> so um what is when did that change and >> that changed in the last session um I think it's
015RSA seven that incorporated a sentence about like it says a minimum of 10 minutes. You have to you have to offer a minimum of 10 minutes. So it could be more if somebody you know the topic was particularly >> challenging um or you know large [laughter] um uh but a minimum 10 minutes. The lead petitioner can take us long up to that. >> So are you are you going to be limiting it to the 10 minutes? I'm going to be limiting it to the 10 minutes unless somebody really um desires to speak longer than that. >> Okay. >> Um and I'll be reaching out to each of the lead petitioners just to briefly discuss their articles with them and just indicate that they have >> Okay. >> Have there been any other um sort of
016changes like that that we should be aware of for deliver? >> That's the only one that I'm aware of. Yeah. Um but so deliberative session will run the way it's always been. >> Um could you briefly give an overview of sort of what happens if people make motions to change any of the warrant articles or any [clears throat] sort of limitations there? >> Yeah. Um so unless a warrant article is prescribed um the language is prescribed um the only thing that could change is a dollar amount. So for instance in the first war article which is the budget [clears throat] the only thing that can change is the dollar amount the NBC's recommended dollar amount the default budget amount can't change no other language can change so that's one of those situations where only that
017dollar amount change um for I believe and I don't know the the specific legal details on some of these other ones but um I believe they're all subject to amendment And if we have somebody who wants to amend an article, we'll deal with that amendment. We won't deal with an amendment on an amendment. We'll just deal with that amendment and then we'll move forward from there. So if somebody has a great idea on how to make an amendment better, they're going to have to wait until the first. So the topic, the subject matter of particular war article cannot be changed. That's not allowed. Um but there's a lot of flexibility even with that um stipulation in place. So >> okay, >> um yeah, it's good for the board to have some overview because things move
018very fast [laughter] >> sometimes and then we're voting and it's like a whole thing. >> Um >> Right. And I do um I'm sure an attorney will be there for the school. Is that correct? >> Yes, that's correct. And who would that be? Do you know? >> Um, I believe we have Abby Tucker. >> Abby Tucker. >> Yes. >> So, if we get into a particular thorny discussion about something um advising on legal matters is not my role in the meeting. My role is simply to facilitate the conversation fairly for all parties. So I'm not a lawyer. I'm not a legal expert and a moderator needs to maintain the travel. So my role will be simply to help manage the discussion so that it's fair and civil and gets us to where we need to
019be by the end of the day. um with citizens having opportunity to talk and discuss uh with with the board with municipal budget committee. So >> great. Um I [snorts] is it official that we're changing the venue? >> Yeah, we are changing the venue to the gym. >> Okay. So did they move basketball? >> Yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> Um >> starting at 9:00. >> 9 o'clock. DCS gym. It will not be live streamed. I believe >> recorded. >> It'll be recorded but not live streamed. So if you want to see the action, you got to be there >> or you can watch it later. [laughter] [clears throat] >> Very good enough. >> Babysitting will be provided. >> Oh yeah, babysitting will be provided. So parents are encouraged to come. We I'm I'm sure they
020will have very fun activities for the kids to do. >> Has that been publicized? I've seen it on Facebook. >> I saw the babysitting. Yeah, recently. >> Yeah, we'll I'll try to spread the word. [snorts] Well, we could include it in the gazette. >> Oh, no. That's too late. That's too late. Never mind. >> Be going out between now and then. >> So, it could be in the bridge. >> I think um they've posted on the DEA. I saw a lot of people asking about it and people not having the answer. So if if there is any other way that we can >> Yeah, >> like the bridge. I think that'd be good. >> Yeah, the bridge would be good. [clears throat] Um, you know, the town that sends the texts, would they send the
021one for the school board need deliberative session? >> That would be good. That would be a good idea. So I mean there's a lot of people that get those texts >> also. Um because the town delivery session is the week ahead. Um I can make a point to mention >> about the school deliberative session. So um so I can mention about babysitting, I'll mention about the venue. If there's anything else you want me to talk about just this will be at the very end. >> Yeah. >> So let me know. posted. >> It is posted. >> I think we've already posted for the >> deliverative. >> Yeah, those Well, they go out. >> Okay. Sign something about it. Okay. >> No later than Monday. I think we're going to try to get them out Friday
022though because the next door. >> Okay. >> Follow up on that. >> Okay. All right. Um, and just finally, is there anything else that um you think as the school board that I should know as we go into this school session that we have? >> I don't think I mean I don't know what's going to happen. [laughter] You never know how these events will go. Um, but I don't think there's anything done. >> Yeah. Thank you very much. >> Awesome. Thanks for coming. >> See you at the town deliberative. >> All right, we are on to budget review. I don't know what we want to talk about for the budget review. So, I've got um I finished working on some stuff today with um the Deerfield uh leadership feedback. We met yesterday, so I just
023added it to the drive today. So, there's printed copies handed out and I'll have Lexi share it out [snorts] in an addendum packet tomorrow for the public. Um but there is a sheet in here um called NBC cut of 786,27 is the top. It's a short list. Um so we met yesterday to finalize some thoughts on potential cuts to reduce the budget by that almost $800,000. Um, so you can see on this list that that cut would, and this is minimally because you'll see a note at the bottom that explains why it's minimally. Um, at least nine staff members would need to be cut. Uh, and that came up to just shy of 400,000 including their benefits. Uh, cutting nearly $45,000 from classroom supplies and curriculum. Uh, 39,000 from equipment, furniture, and tech. 12,000 from
024special education. 17,000 from athletics and co-curricular. Uh cut 3500 from training and materials, 2500 from library. Um cutting graduation. Uh cut nearly $35,000 from maintenance and facilities. And then cutting athletic trips and field trips, uh which would be about $13,000. Uh those things got us to still needing to cut an additional $215,550 from the budget. And we were hoping to get some of your feedback as to what else to cut because we in good cons conscience couldn't recommend making additional cuts that wouldn't drastically impact our K to8 program because these are all cuts from K to8 and not touching any of our high school which we didn't think was fair or equitable um and would start to really impact our education quality in K to8. >> Won't we're doing nine staff members. it will, but
025we felt like we have to make it work somehow. Um, and we we felt like we could at least get to that point. Um, it doesn't mean it's not going to make an impact. It will be an impact. Don't don't get me wrong, it's going to be an impact, but we didn't feel like we could cut any additional staff members without being too drastic. And this is all the impact of K to8 without touching any high school. So, >> and staff members are teachers. >> So, I have a more detailed list that we can go over in nonpublic. >> Okay. >> What is uh cut graduation? What is that? >> So, we um typically every year there's a line in the budget for graduation to pay for caps and gowns, supplies, materials, whatever the needs
026are, awards for graduation. And that would need to go because that's not more important than educating a child with curriculum. >> Yeah. I just wondering what that included. >> Yeah. >> Do we have a number of what that kind of average cost for >> you have to approve it every year? >> Every it's budgeted for a certain amount. Um we fall back into default every year. It ends up back I think it's like $600, but we every year we try to increase it. This year we asked for 2500. Um it's if we end up having to cut something that that is what will go. Um we have [clears throat] had to borrow upward or use surplus upwards of $2,000 $3,000. It helps offset costs of um you know it's um fundraising committee tries to make
027raise as much money as they can for New York. Then they use some of that money to also pay for semiformal but there's every year could be a little different. Last year was a huge class, so it was a lot of it was a lot of money. There were a lot of rewards and a lot of other things that needed to be paid for um and caps and gowns. And then this year, um the class is a little bit smaller. So I suspect I mean it's not going to affect this year's budget. So we'll use whatever's in there and then probably have to ask for a little bit more. >> But next year if we have to cut that will be it'll be nothing. Zero. >> I was just looking for kind of a roundish
028number. I know the class sizes change every year. I just was wondering >> about 2,000. >> Yeah. But between two and 3,000 is typically what we need for >> Okay. >> things. >> Thanks. >> The cords, you know, you know, you can picture what's going into graduation. >> Yeah. >> Their diploma covers, you know, it's little things that add up. >> Yeah. Sure. Um I had a [clears throat] question. I don't even remember where I heard this. something to do with um special education transportation. Is there uh an option for parents to drive their own kids? >> They can, but we can't make them do that. >> Oh, no. No. I I just >> So, and we do. So sometimes we do have that happen um because maybe the student is too physically aggressive and
029it's hurt drivers or they have significant medical needs where you know the parents equipped to deal with that more than we would necessarily or a transportation company. So we do have parents drive sometimes and we reimburse them. Um but we can't make parents drive their own >> that is an option. I didn't know if parents of special needs kids knew about that option. Yeah, we're not typically supposed to like promote that as an option because we are obligated to provide it. Um, [clears throat] but there have been circumstances where the team has asked a parent to do that because of uh their students needs or a situation that's happening um that has escalated to a point of needing to ask them. And sometimes that's why we end up in a residential placement too. Um is
030if a if we are no longer able to safely transport a child or if the parents not able to transport that's sometimes how we end up in a residential placement. >> We have to look at high school transportation. I just >> as much as I hate to I you know what else >> when it comes to high school what can we do? Yeah, we did talk about that and I think unfortunately we we come back between a rock and a hard place because if we take away high school transportation, we still are going to have to pay for special ed transportation which is essentially which costs us more than what we're currently doing. So, I just don't I don't know. Like, yes, it seems like an easy thing to cut, but I think it end
031up with costing us it would end up costing us more than what we currently are spending, >> which is why we have the CVNA bus, >> right? >> And we did reduce [clears throat] we already had taken transportation down. >> So, we already reduced any kind of >> we have to send one to each high school. >> We don't have to for special, right? But we don't have to. >> So, correct. But I'm I guess I'm still like >> we got to find places to do it besides DCS. It can't all come from DCS. It can't. It's not >> fair to DCS. It's not fair to the students here. >> I've always been one that I don't want to cut high school transportation because I think if a child can't get to high school, they're
032going to stop going and that's not a good thing. But I think we e have to look at it somehow. either one not providing it and yeah we got to provide for special ed. Hopefully it will >> we could cover it >> balance out or you could balance it from the trust if we had to or we have to ask students to pay for transportation and enough to cover it. Not just a little stipen to help towards it, but enough to cover it. >> And then if that's too much, then people aren't going to take the bus and then we're still >> So what you're saying, it doesn't balance though because you're taking it away from like the regular transportation line and you're adding it to special ed cost. >> So the cost is still
033>> there is still money in the budget under special ed transportation. >> Correct. >> Not in next year's budget. We had taken that number out. >> I >> there are some amount of amount. >> It's not it's not for the students who would be partaking in the regular transportation bus. >> Well, I I mean I hate to say that we do away with it and then we cover it from the trust fund if we need to. >> Is an option >> because again we have to find more money. >> Yeah. >> And where are we going to find it? Are we going to cut tuition? you know, I mean, are we gonna we can't do that currently unless something with top offs happened, but that's not even going to happen for next year. It's coming
034up here. Should we explore it? >> Unless is it possible that I don't I don't know about the contracts, the ones that we have. Is it possible because you said remember you're going to look into a hardship? If there was a hardship, if we could get out of the contracts for the following year. >> Yeah. we're not financially able to fulfill those contracts there. I believe there's a caveat in um them that allows for that. >> And then we would send the freshman class, I guess. Maybe not the other. >> Yeah, we wouldn't be able to pull any kids that are currently in a high school. >> I mean, I don't want to do any of these things. >> I don't want to do them to DCS. I don't want to do them to the
035high school. But if it's not fair for DCS to complete, >> we still need over $200,000. Where else? Where are we going to get it from? I mean, we got to come up with ideas. She asked for >> then you're you're only punishing one class, just the incoming freshman. >> I'm not talking about that. >> We're not trying to punish anybody. We're just trying to figure out >> and I'm not talking about changing their high school. That's not me right now. I'm still thinking for me right now. It's transportation. >> What can we do to transportation? >> Ellen just said that, so I >> Yeah. Yeah. No, no, I'm sorry. >> I was asking if that's an option. >> Yeah. Sorry. So, but um >> I just did a quick calculation. Roughly the cost of
036a bus broken out in um for 55 kids would be about $1,500 a student per year. >> Okay. >> To cover to fully cover per student to cover the cost of one bus. >> And that's if those buses were full, right? >> Correct. That's assuming that those buses are full. So if they're not full, then you're then you're paying even more per student to try to cover. >> Yeah, we have to do like a pass. They have to buy, >> right? That's what I mean. It's going to get >> tricky that way. Um >> is there anything with um with Dale and our contract with them that with what we just signed with them in terms of the number of buses that we are taking from them? >> I'll have to look. >> Oh, but
037where >> here's an idea. Where would a bus another bus come from? Like you're saying as they're like a week. >> I'm saying if we we we just cut one bus. If we cut two more buses. >> Like >> Oh, I see. >> They're planning for this. >> I see what you're saying. Okay. >> Yeah. I'd have to have um Amber look. Have you thought at all about um you know when you look at the staff reductions you're looking at the low people on the lowest bottom pole but have you have given any thought to offering like an early retirement package >> and then you'd be getting rid of the people that are high up on the scale? >> Uh we haven't yet because the approach that was taken wasn't looking at staff who were
038the cheapest. the approach was taken at where we thought would be the least impact negative impact on students that we still felt that we could provide a quality education um without causing harm to our kids. >> I hear you. But if it's like a a K through five teacher, I know middle school still needs to be highly qualified, right? So, but if it was a K through uh five teacher, then you can if you offer the ones that have been I mean I'm not saying I want to do this. I'm just saying this a possibility because obviously you're losing the people that have all the experience that have been teaching for a while. But >> but that's maybe a possibility. >> Um we could it just not going to save as much necessarily if you're
039offering a bump for early retirement >> too because you have to pay that out. >> Yeah, I understand. >> So you're not >> you'd have to look as much. >> What are you looking for this year though? Like it would come out of this year's budget of retirement. >> Yeah, I see. And then you'd be paying less for your teachers next year because it would be lower. >> So we could pay that out of surplus. Is that surplus? >> Yeah, >> that's I think that's a really good idea >> and that but that's assuming anyone's takes us up on it. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, but it's a possibility. >> Yep. >> Wait. It's a good idea. >> Idea. Somebody suggested it to me. [clears throat] Um, where it says cut roughly 39,000 equipment, furniture, and
040tech, what kind of tech are we talking about there? Like Chromebooks, things like that? >> Yep. >> Okay. So, does that mean that were we ready to get new Chromebooks for this? >> We have a uh computer replacement cycle that we've been following that had been [clears throat] set. And so, it was, and Kristen, correct me if I'm wrong, it's getting new Chromebooks for the fifth graders. And then it would be Chromebooks for is it K or one? >> No, just when they get them, but there was >> there was some replacement computers for between K to four. >> Well, I thought >> cutting the amount was um cutting it in half and it was going to be enough to purchase Chromebooks for fifth grade and any other necessary needs that we have. I don't
041think we specify what grade. >> Okay. So yeah, [laughter] it was eliminate. It was basically eliminating all the new ones except for fifth grade because that was the new that makes sense for a rotation to keep going, but then it would be hope and pray and fix things until the one goes through until we can get back into a replacement cycle. >> So So how much more is there available in Chromebooks? >> Not much. Only to buy the ones fit needs pretty much. [clears throat] >> $215,000 is an awful lot of money. you know, I mean, I'm I'm looking at the, you know, the line that has all the computer programs that, you know, for curriculum that you're talking about getting. >> Yeah, we went through that. Unfortunately, a lot of the computer program, we
042did cut some, >> it's not even that much. I mean, altogether it's maybe 30,000 tops. >> Yeah. And we did cut a couple things from there, but some of the ones that are in there that are expensive are ones that every single teacher uses, and it is a core part of student learning. So the ones that really would make a big impact like six $7,000 are ones that we we just couldn't cut. [snorts] >> Have you looked at um we had discussed the um health teacher position and one of the gym teachers being like a 0.5 at gym and >> so I can't discuss specific personnel or positions in public. So that would we'd have to save that kind of conversation for nonpublic. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Do we have a sense of this
04335,000 from maintenance and facilities like what that would be? Would that be some amount of like cosmetic things? >> There were several items. We met with Chris. Chris was involved in the conversation. So Chris walked us through each of his lines and really trimmed where we could skip a year, but then we'd have to add it right back in for the following year because it would be things that would cause us, you know, more issues later on if not dealt with. So we went through the third or the 35,000 was cut from several different lines in maintenance. >> And is any of that like routine maintenance that we would generally do? >> Yeah. Perfect. >> Yeah. >> Love that for us. >> That's what like we really like >> we were really struggling to come
044up with another $200,000 that >> and like said we had started other things of planning for three million 1 million but like the three million was completely catastrophic and was just nonsense. And then the one million we couldn't even get we couldn't even get to where we are now with the cuts. We still didn't get to 1 million when we were trying to cut a million because it was detrimental to K to8. Um >> I don't know. I feel like [clears throat] we should flip this agenda and have non-public and then come back to this because otherwise it's kind of >> we don't really know what we're talking about. >> Well, I don't think we're making decisions tonight. I think what we're [clears throat] doing is sort of brainstorming and giving people an idea of
045what this might look like. >> We talked about it before and now I'm trying to follow up on it >> and we can't know if it's even been considered or not. >> But we're not going to give that level of detail even at deliberative. >> I Okay. So, we're not going to go into deliberative and say these are the people that are getting fired. >> Yeah, we don't need to. That's we just said we're going to have that discussion on public. My point is that that gives a lot of context to the conversation that we're having right now. >> Yes, that is correct. Um but and just so you know like we um to your point, we wouldn't make any final decisions on cuts until after the voting day and then we would come back
046and say these are our final decisions on what's being cut based on what budget was approved. So that was part of what I was wondering about with that that I had emailed you about. It was just so leading up to voting >> um voting day um what we're [snorts] just discussing it. We're not making any decisions and then the next board decide makes >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, >> and then >> sort of on day one because you have to approve teacher contracts the first meeting >> y >> of the new board. >> Yeah. So, the um >> Okay. I'm just trying to So, any of these things that we discuss like um I guess they just I mean if we if the if the new board decides no, they don't want to do it
047there, we just can have a whole new conversation about where it's going to come from. We can um but a lot of this lead work is important so that we have it prepared, ready to go. >> Um >> but potentially >> potentially a new board could come in and change completely flip it on its head. Yes, that is a risk. Yep. >> Um but it would it would not be wise of us to not have something prepared for any new board members coming in. >> Oh yeah. No, I'm just >> But [snorts] yes, you are right. >> Yep. I just I know a lot that's been being asked a lot is like people are wondering about all these things like the high school and um >> yeah, we're not going to know until after voting
048day, >> right? >> Yep. But and so until then, we have these conversations planned to brainstorm so that we have time to get actual figures in place so that when elections happen, it's within a few days that final decisions are made because that's really what we have to do because um like Kendra said, contracts have to be offered and approved uh for hiring and then hiring begins and then budget prep for um closing and opening up new budget season happens. It doesn't look like Yeah. Okay. We're not going to be doing any hiring though at this point, right? >> Depends on how many teachers might walk out. >> Right. Correct. >> Often when there's large budget cuts, there's it's not surprising to see several teachers leave due to instability. >> Yeah. >> So, so yeah,
049we could, you know, if an entire grade leaves, it's very possible we would have to hire for a to replace someone from that for that grade. If there was no one else who could move into that position, >> don't forget that these teachers are certified K through five or Yeah. I mean, it's not like a fourth grade teacher can only teach fourth grade. So, I mean, when Nancy and I taught here, teachers move levels all the time. >> There's usually some movement every year. >> But it's a collaborative approach. >> Yes. You know, >> it was always like it was, >> but it wasn't always >> all the time. >> Yeah, it was not always because [laughter and clears throat] had to be >> kids. Not always. >> We've had not always here. >> I
050feel strongly that it makes a stronger teacher to have taught different grade levels because they know the curriculum at different grade levels. And I know like I went I switched and did seventh and eighth grade. so beneficial for me to know like and also to know what they had in seventh grade and then have them in eighth grade. There was no honeymoon period. I knew exactly what they had the year before. >> I I chose to move on my own. >> Yeah. >> But then I was chosen >> sometimes [laughter] >> to move a different place. >> Yeah. Surprise. And it worked out fine. But it was like >> always works out. >> It does work out. But I still remember when I was being told I felt like I was in Charlie Brown's classroom.
051I It didn't even register. [snorts] But anyway, it all worked out. Okay. Um, anything else? This was sort of a mixture of B and C, I would say. [snorts] >> Yeah, I mean, pretty much aside because we won't need it. I don't really have anything else for budget review. I just put it because we're still in that cycle. >> Yes, it is done. The NBC is done. We don't have any more meetings. So I I can't beg people to attend anymore. >> I was disappointed in the public hearing. >> I will say that. >> Yeah. >> I didn't look back on it. I wish I'd said something. I wish I >> I always thought in a public hearing you had discussion dialogue during the public hearing >> and [snorts] I felt it was presented as
052>> citizens comments and that we weren't >> like we just like how we do citizens comments like we could say it and no one >> well you know I don't I and as I said I hadn't been to one for a couple years so it's possible that it changed but from previous years. I remember having conversations with the NBC about things and I know a couple people even asked questions and I thought at a public hearing the questions could be answered. >> They can, >> but I guess people chose not to >> which again is their choice but it it just I don't know. I and then I guess I'm just looking back to other years and then after when there was the meeting usually there was discussion about what was happened at the public
053hearing and that didn't happen but so [snorts] what I will say is I was not there unfortunately my daughter was sick so Ellen graciously covered for me thank you um I agree that it was weird it's not how I run a public meeting a public hearing which is to actually present information and say this is how we came to this decision. This is what we're looking for input on. This is sort of the broad overview of of the situation. So, I didn't there was sort of none of that as far as I could tell. The recording started a little bit late. Um but I too was disappointed in the format of the public meeting, but and there was sort of there were public comments made. There was a lot of support for the school and
054that was not acknowledged in any in any sort of way. Um, so I did find it also disappointing, but it is over for now >> and we have it >> was nice to be home last night. [laughter] >> It was nice to be home on a Tuesday. >> What What do we have two more meetings before? >> We have one more meeting. >> Talk about before deliberative. >> Yes. >> Yeah, I know that. I just um >> then two more meetings before voting day. maybe three. >> So there's Yeah, there's two in February >> and then when does I don't know when uh if we have one on the first week of March or if that's >> we should so there might be three. >> Yeah. So there's two in February and then the first
055week of March. >> Voting is March 10th, correct? >> And then there is a the first school board meeting. Is that Wednesday right after voting or is it the following? >> It would be would be the it would be the 18th. >> The Wednesday after I better change when my board comes might be a little [clears throat] [laughter] >> Yeah, the first the first meeting is always a a a wild meeting. Yeah. >> Everyone you need to be appointed for positions and committees and then you're basically voting on teacher contracts. >> Yeah. >> Um >> yeah, it's a quick turnaround. >> Yeah. >> All right. [sighs] Anything else for budget review or potential cuts? >> Okay. And we will there's we'll get into more detail on that. Okay. We are on to board reports. PTO
056update. Not um curriculum review board. Uh I think the big thing on that I have to find my notes. Um sorry you kind of got got there faster than I expected. >> That's okay. Do you want us to move to some? >> No, I'm fine. The uh the big thing is just that the um the ELA the their their draft curriculum is out now for review by people. Uh get the comments in and then I'll be making more decisions on that. Um uh other areas are basically comparing the ED um 306 rules with what their curriculum is right now. That's kind of the main stuff that everybody's doing. Would you agree with that? >> Yeah. Okay. And luckily I thought, "Oh, CRB's on there." And I forgot. I'm somebody who said I'd review the curriculum.
057[laughter] So, so I have it up here now to make sure I do that this weekend because I totally forgot. So, that's it. >> Okay. Yeah. Uh, superintendent report. So, um, I decided to share into the drive the um report that I made for town reports. So this is so that you can see the superintendent report. Um it's printed out in front of you as well. Uh this is the superintendent report that will be going into all the town meeting packets. Uh so that you can see it's just kind of a general overview of things that have been going on in all of our SAU schools. So just kind of a general overview of the year. That way you can see that before that heads into the town packets. >> Awesome. All righty. Um, high
058school committee minutes. Are you want to talk about it or you want me to talk about it? >> You can. Um, so Kane and I went to we got together and we looked over the contracts mainly >> mainly the CHS and the CBNA. I mean the PMRO com contract is pretty straightforward. So the big things that we came up with is that we noted that um CHS contract doesn't have a ceiling on their increase when they can make to our tuition charges. And so we suggested that's something we should probably make sure is in the next contract. Um, we said that uh CHS contract adds the net high school debt service bond payments. I don't remember what what we meant by that. Do you? >> Yeah, there was just some language in there that we
059we weren't >> we weren't really sure. Yeah. >> How to interpret that? >> We did we did actually kind of come out of it and say we need to meet with you to go over some of this stuff because we didn't really get it. Okay. >> Yeah. So like things that uh like CBNA with the the cost for capital repayment of the principal and interest. Um and then we noticed that CHS doesn't have a date when they need to supply Deerfield with the tuition rate. We need to make sure that we have a date because that was a big thing. So those are kind of the main things. Uh the other thing we talked about was the bus, but we ended up taking care of that in another meeting. So, >> right. Um, do we
060need to approve them the minutes or >> uh the high school? Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. And Yeah. >> Well, I don't know. I think we need I gave them to you. I just opened up my copy. >> Make sure they're in there. >> I didn't check. >> They're not in the um >> if nobody has read them, then we shouldn't we probably shouldn't put them. >> Okay. Okay. >> So, maybe >> people have read them, then yes. Okay. I did share it with you, Jess. So, if you don't find it, just let me know. And >> I called it um High School Matters Committee. >> Yeah, they're in that shared drive. Uh the um they're not in the >> Oh, they're in like your committee drive. >> Yeah. >> Okay. [cough and clears throat]
061>> All right. >> Well, we'll just table those and then we can review them in depth for the next meeting. Yeah. >> Do we need to approve them or do we just sort of adopt them? These are like maybe minutes. I don't >> Yeah, same kind of thing. But they you should kind of make a motion to do to formalize them because they go in the record shared out because they are public. >> Coolio. All right. Informational items. School property lot stage road. >> Okay. Um so I'll read you the names of the people that joined the committee. Um Jared Cena Haley Andrew I'm not sure how you say it. Androzoi >> Andrew Okay, I was close. Andy Robertson, Greg Bitmore, Gregory McHugh, Kevin Burville, Barbara Brown, Jen Rearden, Terry Burke, David Muso, Chris Warren,
062Errol Rhodess, and Nick Floyd. Um, so what I did is I sent out a um email thanking everybody for, you know, what they wanted to do and then I did a a Google form for what would be a good meeting and I put a bunch of meeting dates out there. So, the best date is uh Tuesday, February 17th. We got 10 responses. Two two didn't give me answers on them. So, I don't know if they said yes and then didn't do didn't put no because they weren't sure. So, I don't know. So, I just picked that one anyway. Um, eight people definitely said they could go. >> Where are you meeting here? >> Well, that's what I was going to ask actually. Kristen, would that that would be a Tuesday evening at 6. Would it
063be possible to use the school? Of >> course. Okay. >> So, I'll send you an email, the date and the time. Okay. Um, and I told everybody I'd send an agenda with the date like probably in the next week. And I figured what we do at the first meeting is just I'm going to go back and review those 17 September 17th public hearing that we had. Just write down everybody's ideas and I'll have that printed out and maybe just kind of discuss it. And my thought and you and I'm welcome I'm welcoming any help here. [snorts] Um, my thought was that there might be people that are like, "Oh, that person's kind of an expert on that. That's kind of an expert on that." and they can maybe go off and gather information and we
064can get back together. And then the other thing I thought was we really should have a um field trip to the site so everybody walks around and sees the site. >> So that's kind of where I'm headed with that. >> Um so there's multiple people on the list who are from various committees in town. Are they representing the committees or are they >> That's a great question. I I have absolutely no idea. >> Okay. Um, I can I can ask that, but I my I was thinking they were doing it independently of their committees, but >> I just didn't know because like Haley I think is >> she's on the conservation >> conservation select. >> Arrol's on everything. >> Two select represents the town at large. [laughter] >> Kevin's Kevin's on the budget committee. So,
065>> andy Robertson I mean he's the town administrator and Lee >> we'll just assume that people are doing it in their individual capacity. It's what I was thinking. But yeah, >> if I would say if a >> I I figured the first meeting I was just going to go around just ask people to say their name and why they're interested in it. Yeah. >> And then that'll give us an idea of why they're there. >> Cool. So, >> do we need to do anything to formalize those members of the committee? >> I don't think so. As long as you guys just keep some kind of notes. >> I will. Meeting and I have to do a public announcement right for the meeting. So, how do I go about doing that? So, if you send that
066to me, um, I can send it to Lexi or just send it straight to Lexi. Okay. And she'll post it. >> Lexi's last name. >> Nelson. Nelson. Got it. I'll do that. Yeah. And I was CCing you just so you knew what was going on. >> Perfect. Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Okay. Anything else for school property stage road? >> Now, we're on to policies. >> All right. On to policies. Ellen's gonna talk on that. Don't stop talking. >> Ellen show. [laughter] >> All right. Um, >> so Nancy and I, we've actually met twice on this >> notes. I don't know if you can understand. >> I've got a million. [laughter] Well, I I can just go by my notes. All right. So, uh, let's talk >> do the easy one first. >> Yeah,
067>> the fraud. >> Yeah, the fraud one. So, DIH, fraud prevention and fiscal management. Um, we had no problem with that. So, we're totally okay with just moving that one. >> Moving that one forward. Yeah, I'm find this again. >> I literally have like 20 tabs open right now. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Got it. Okay. So, um is it okay if I make a motion to to move DIH uh forward >> to accept it? >> All righty. I will second. Ellen and Kendra. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor of approving policy DI. >> I believe that's a brand new one, too. >> Yeah, it's a new one. >> Okay. Now, um I want to do the DID next, which is the inventory and management of of assets. So, we just um we just had
068a couple questions that we weren't sure about that. So, this is the one where if you purchase things with federal funds, you have to keep a capitalization schedule on it. And >> yeah, and so we do do that. >> We're we're required to do that for grants anyway. If we purchase something, say through um a title grant, we have to slap a label on it saying it was purchased with title one funds or title two funds, what year? Um and then we have to keep an inventory of those things. So we do have to do that anyway. Um in accordance with those grant federal rules. >> Okay. So um that was just we weren't sure about that because we didn't know. So, if you look in the um policy, I don't have it in front
069of me right now, but you need to insert an amount and you need to insert a person if we're going by and this is the New Hampshire school board policy. So, so these um [sighs] this policy deals more with your building assets. So before so say you've got say Kristen wins the lottery next year she doesn't she's like heck this I'm out and she doesn't come back and you got a brand new principal who comes in and the principal wants to all of a sudden throw half the supplies away in the school in the dumpster. You need to have a policy in place that basically guides that decision making so that expensive materials aren't just thrown in the dumpster without consideration of other factors. And so you set a limit. So say if something has
070a potential value of over $500, that might have to come back to the board for approval or to myself for approval before it's discarded. >> Right. But it does I mean and this isn't this is furniture, textbooks, library books. >> Yeah. >> And then it had an other. So I don't know if we had other there but we were just saying that if >> this policy makes sense with what we do and this is something like Nancy and I don't know because this isn't anything we deal with, >> you do need to add a dollar amount and you do need to add a person in here. >> Insert position. It's that second paragraph >> and then a dollar amount. So, we're fine with it, but understand that >> we don't really know anything about this.
071So, >> so usually [laughter] it's usually it's the superintendent get that gets put in there, not the business administrator. >> Okay. >> Um, and then I guess the dollar amount um shall not be less than. So the sentence for everybody so they know it says the capitalization threshold established for single items within any of the asset classes which were furniture, textbooks, library books shall not be less than put a money in except that and then has some exceptions but is this something that is typical for business and so they'd have a normal kind of money. You might want to >> I mean you probably don't want to be >> might want to put this off to another reading so that I can um talk with building level admin first >> to establish a dollar amount
072before we kind of just arbitrarily throw one in there. >> Sounds good to me. >> Like I said that you know Nancy and I are kind of like >> yeah [clears throat] >> blind [snorts] leading the blind that one. >> So um okay and then the last one the crowdfunding one we had a lot of questions on that one. Um we were the Okay. So in the crowd crowdfunding is when you raise money through internet stuff like I'm assuming you have like a catalog and yeah they or even like I know like a lot of the schools will send >> online sites and you go and you get money you buy things different oh it's different that's fundraising that's not crowdfunding okay >> crowdfunding is platforms like gofundme where people just donate chunks of money
073>> to a certain thing a person a project they whatever or there what's the other one popular with educators, the crowdfunding one. Uh where you can people can donate to like a project that a teacher is doing. Forget what it's called. >> Um >> I just don't >> It's not like Amazon when they put out their class wish list. >> No, it's not. >> not like a class wish list. It's not fundraising. I mean, it is fundraising, but it's not like a class fundraiser. >> Okay. Crowdfunding is basically just donating pockets of money. Donor's choose. That's what it is. >> Um if you had like a thermometer saying we're trying to do this, >> right? That would be crowdfunding. >> It's not when you buy specific things. So >> like Amazon wish list. You're you're
074buying a supply. You're not just donating random money, >> unassigned money. >> The cataloges um are not sent out by the school. That's always PTO. >> PTO. Yeah. >> And again, you're buying a specific item from those cataloges. You're not just donating money to a blanket pool, >> right? Yeah. Although they always ask if you want to add >> well >> add to it. But yeah, >> so crowdfunding, think of it as like pool funding. >> Okay. >> If we were trying to >> unsigned items, >> fund raise for a new basketball >> hoop or something. >> And all of these D policies, the DFGA, the DID, DH came out of our audits as policies that we need to add. >> Yes. Yes, they're new. Yeah. >> So, um the So, then my next question
075is I've got my crowd. Oh, you just add it up and just touch something else. >> All right, get it back. Um, so I guess what our big question was, if you look at the crowdfunding amount, if I can get that up again because I just lost it. What the heck? Um it it mentions KCT uh KCD which is public gifts donations. So like if somebody decides to give a gift to the school, >> the numbers that are on this aren't anything like the crown funding. They're completely different. So what our question was is is it okay for them to be completely different? >> Do they need to mirror each other? And >> they should align >> because >> if it's referencing our policy KCD and you guys have set an amount in KCD, that
076should align with the dollar amount listed in that paragraph. >> Okay. But just so you know, they're not even close. Um gosh, I can't I just missed >> Yeah, because this is just a this is a recommended policy from the school boards association. And so they just they put a random number in there that >> I can get it up. I can get it up again real quick. So the K can you read the numbers on the case while I find this nicely? >> Um any appear says the superintendent may accept gifts in the amount of 500 or less. Gifts gifts in excess of 500 may only be accepted by the board. Um, additionally to RSA 198, um, if the gift is like 5,000 or more, it would require the board to hold a public
077hearing regarding the action for gifts less than 5,000, the board will post notice of the gift >> for the scheduled board meeting to discuss it. >> Yeah. Whereas if you go to the crowdfunding, it has um [clears throat] the superintendent. Okay. So it um doesn't have the principal. Oh, yeah. No, it does have the principal. I'm sorry. The princip Sorry, sorry that Kristen, I didn't mean to get rid of you [laughter and snorts] there. The principal can take up to $500. um the superintendent can review it up to 2500 and then the board any unanticipated fund of 20 oh I guess the they can do 2500 so if it's like so up to five up to 2500 must be the principal up 2500 and up is the superintendent and then 20,000 it requires the public
078hearing I probably have that wrong let me read this we've looked at this so many times you I believe this. Um, so the building principal, >> so >> can approve >> up to $500. The superintendent can approve up to 2500. And then anything more goes to the board >> up to 20,000. >> This one is only up to 5,000. Doesn't even have the principal in here. It's just the superintendent. So those are the big So should we change KCD to to go this would be the New Hampshire School Board Association. It's not our call. It's you guys [laughter] decision to make. Either you can change the dollar amounts in KCD and bring that for policy review for next time to add >> or we can change the amounts >> in DID to align with current.
079>> So what do you guys think? >> So we already approved KCD. Yeah, KCD is a policy that we last approved on June 2022. >> We haven't approved it. It's >> Yeah, this was previously. >> It's not one that's up for review, right, >> at this point, but when we saw it mentioned in that one, >> we pulled it up to see. >> Yeah. So, like four years ago, this was approved. Not sure. >> Which one has remotes? >> The new one kind of because that one has less steps. >> Yeah, this is just like >> 10 500. Yeah, it doesn't even have the principal. It's the superintendent. 500 the board. >> So 500 goes to the board. >> 5,000 is the board. And then if it's above that, you have to have a hearing.
080>> I think we should uh table these and and review KCD and then >> Sure. If you guys want to look it over. >> Yeah. >> Well, I mean >> I think anything over 5,000 requires public hearing is a little bit weird. >> It see it seems like a Yeah. I mean, because this one is >> RSA says 20,000, >> right? So, how this would be based on the new the New Hampshire School Board Association that's going by new RSAs, >> right? I'd be more inclined to have the numbers from the new >> to reflect in the KCD. Yeah, that's kind of what I think too. And I also like I like the um that this has got the principal, then the superintendent, then the board. >> This is not a problem. >> It's not
081like people are dying to [laughter] give us money. >> Like we got 20 grand rolling in. So yeah, >> we're going to approve this and we should do KCD anyway. >> Absolutely. >> So do we just table this for now and then? >> Yeah. Yeah. As long as you guys if you want us to we will change KCD to reflect this one. That's what everybody is. >> I just haven't reviewed KCD. So I don't know. >> You know, that's why I was saying if we >> put that on the next one so that we can review KCD and then >> So you want to review it the way it is right now, not with us changing it. Like >> Right. Because he's Yes. >> Yeah. Well, then I'll have the comparison to this. >> I
082was going to say I think we should probably do it both ways. Have it as it is currently. And also, >> we can do that, right? >> We can make the changes and have it ready to go. If everybody decides they want to make the changes, that's not a problem. >> But then you can compare it. Yeah. Okay. So, so we'll move to put these both on again for I don't know is it third or fourth reading, but >> fourth >> I'm not sure. I don't remember what it is. I think it's I think this was Yeah. Okay. and Nancy and I'll make the changes to that to reflect this just so that we have it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I think that makes sense. >> Sounds good. All right. And that's it for
083us. >> Okie dokie. >> All right. >> Hey, I brought my own last. >> I know you did. I know. I thought it was awesome. >> Uh we're back to public comments. Wow. >> Jaclyn Trimmer, Candy Road. Um, I was at the NBC meeting where they made their their latest proposed budget where they went through their thinking behind the cuts and and they had thought that it would be six teachers and some Chromebooks and resources to cover the amount that they cut. And I I was upset enough when I heard that and um it would it would be K through five. So it wouldn't even impact my children next year. I was still so upset on behalf of all the kids K through five. So hearing tonight that actually I couldn't even keep um up
084with the list as you were reading it, Jess. um you know cutting I wrote down nine teachers 45,000 in classroom supplies 39,000 in equipment and tech and then no graduation field trips athletics I it's it's the word actually that was running through my head is actually one that you said later which was like this is punishing this is punishing them this is depriving them and this is dismantling those were just the three words that I don't know how we can look at this any other way that you're taking this much away from the kids. It Yeah, it no matter what it's it's punishing them. And so I I really hope that I don't know if something turns around um because I'm I'm really disappointing and disheartening. I just hope for the best. Thanks. >> Thank
085you. Other public comments? Okay. Um, I will make a motion [clears throat] to go into non-public pursuant to NHRSA 91- A 3 section 2 subsection C and J. >> I'll second it. >> Um, roll call. >> Yes. >> All right. I almost forgot to say I was pointing at myself and I almost forgot. >> Thank you everybody. >> Um >> policy abbreviation >> um >> the DF >> Oh, here I I have it right here. >> There's DFGA. >> Yeah, DFGA is the last that's the last one. That's the crowdfunding one. DFGA is the [clears throat] >> and that would be that would be a brand new policies. >> G as in goat. >> G as in G whiz. >> Gwiz, I'm gonna have you guys hang out for a little bit and Lisa step
086out for a minute.