Epping School Board Meeting 10/16/2025

001You're all set. All right. >> Good evening and welcome to the Thursday, October 16th, 2025 school board meeting. If we could stand for the pledge of >> allegiance. I 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. >> Can I ask why all the clocks in the school system are wrong? I don't know. >> We'll talk about that at board comments. >> We'll bring that up. I want to welcome Greg from Fremont. He is um joining us >> um as a Fremont school board member and uh so welcome. >> Thank you very much. >> Should we introd Well, I know we have name plates, but >> um I think we int um most of us

002introduced ourselves. Should we >> Is this young lady from Eping or Fremont? She's Lucy. This is our student rep. >> Student rep. She looks different from the last time I saw >> gear last time. Oh, that's right. It was 80s gear. That's why >> I missed it. >> I know. We We do have two stu um student reps. We have a junior and a senior. Um Lucy is um our junior student rep. Um our senior was um unable to attend and they come every other meeting. Okay. >> And they share with us what's what's happening in the schools. It's really exciting. >> Nice. >> Um, all right. Well, we'll get started. Um, we have public, which is exciting. Do we have any public comments? No. Okay. Are you sure you're going to listen? >> Are

003you sure? Okay. >> She's all in my water. >> We're going to jump right into reports and we get to start with Lucy student reports. >> Okay. So, hi everyone. Um, I wanted to start off by mentioning um a special opportunity that the juniors and seniors are receiving at school right now. So, a couple different colleges are coming in during flex times and during lunch times to share information about their programs and like how to apply. Um, so I plan on attending a couple that I'm interested in and so I'll let you guys know next time how they go. Um, athletic wise, the boys soccer team is doing really well. Their record right now is 13 and one. >> Um, the last couple games that the girls have played, they've been winning. Um, girls volleyball

004has also been doing super well. Um, there's a lot of spirit and participation at their games. Uh, football had an amazing win against Camp Bell High School who haven't lost in 30 games. And then senior night for all the sports are coming up. October 20th is volleyball, 21st is girls soccer, the 22nd is boys soccer, and then November 1st is football. Um, some academic highlights I want to share. Um, in English three, students are coming up with their own Native American stories. It's really sparking everyone's creativity. Um, and it's their first unit that they're exploring. Team sports is going on a field trip tomorrow to Mount Major. They're going on a hike, which I think is really awesome. >> 70. And then civics's class is learning about history of voting and learning how to vote

005in New Hampshire, which I think is cool because they're all turning 18 soon, so that should be >> um interesting to learn about. And then ceramics students are glazing pots that they've been making. Um in SST, plant animal science students just went on a field trip to UNH. Um they were judging cows and hay. And then from Eping, Rachel and Michaela Bour got first place on the dairy judging team. >> Oh, cool. >> Wow, that's awesome. >> Um, marketing students are making their own brands. Construction is going to make horse stables within the next few weeks and they're starting to build sheds this week. And then automotive students are working on different types of wheels and tires on their cars. And that's all I have. >> Awesome. Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Yay.

006>> Can I ask a question? >> Yeah, of course. When you said the team is building sheds. >> Yeah. >> Are they building just a shed or are they putting in >> each group has like their own different shed they're building? >> Okay. Cuz I had my shed built by Sanborn >> really >> high school and there and they came to my house and did the whole thing in my yard. >> I know that um the construction students are going to some woman's house to make the horse stable for her. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Um, but I know that they make the sheds at SST because I've seen like some >> That's wonderful if they can do that. It's just it's awesome. >> The other question I had was did you just say 14 boys

007soccer team 13 to1? They've had 13 games already. >> Yeah. 14. >> Didn't they just start in August? >> What do they play every other day? >> You know, it's mid October, right? I know, but that's a lot of games in >> They start the end of August, not the beginning. >> The end of August. >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> They like to play soccer. >> No, I think it's great, but I just didn't think they'd be 14 games. That's like crazy. >> Yeah. >> I heard that the the um was a real upset with the football team because this other team had this winning streak >> for 30 games. >> 30 games. And here we come in and >> on their home on Campell I can tell you >> Sandbone was at their football

008game and it would be announced around there >> that Eping won the >> No kidding. >> News traveled. >> Campbell used to be a huge huge rival when and when Eping played the higher levels. >> We had double we had six refs on the basketball court. We had police. We had everything because it was such an intense rivalry. >> Yeah. Escorted back to the bus. Oh, it did. Yeah. >> Yeah. That's cool. That's awesome. >> We actually and a soccer player was on WUR. >> Uh Wy Morren was uh at at the at a recent soccer a recent away soccer game. He's a defender and he scored and WUR was there. And so it's I think it was either on WR and maybe CO online. So that was >> that's awesome. >> Eping in the

009news. >> Well, you saw Did you see our football team with the feeding >> collecting all and all that stuff? That was a couple. So they were on the I saw Eping on there. >> I seen Eping in the news. Great. >> Well, thank you, Lucy. Feel free to jump in and anything else comes up. >> Uh superintendent reports. >> Not a lot of updates uh since our last time. Uh we had a great safety meeting today. um those who who attended it was our first of the year with police and fire and school administration and and I have to say it was it was very productive meeting. Um both Robin and and Matt were in attendance and we made some progress on a lot of good things and tasks to do are added to

010the list. But uh that was a I really appreciate the relationships that we continue to have with police and fire uh to support our our our students and and us supporting them too. So very very grateful for that. >> The other update is as all of you know we had our budget our second budget meeting with uh the budget committee last night. I I my take is I think it went extremely well. was 3 hours, but you know what? It was uh it didn't feel that long when I was there. And uh last night we had Chef Moss, uh Maria Hendrickson, our tech director, and Josh Martin, our facilities director, all present their budgets. And we had some really good healthy conversations. And we look forward to further direction from the budget committee. But there's

011no updates at this point of of anything to share with the public around where that's going other than I think it's going well. We're still in the presenting phase. Um there's only one last uh bit to present and that's the SAU budget and um and I know that they have some questions around the lease uh agreement uh project that uh we did is they've sent some advanced questions on on that. Uh so >> the roofing project. >> Yes. Correct. >> Yeah. So, but we'll uh I do appreciate that when they do get us the questions ahead of time and they've been good about that this year and and so I'm very thankful when we know we have that ahead of time and that's all I really have. I I just want to say that I

012mean you can put your own thing in there, but I I really liked being on a committee that dealt so much with student safety, like the really really down to earth important things that matter to parents that when they send their kids to school every day, they're making sure that the district is providing the best security that they can provide for their kids. And I I definitely felt that today without question. So, I don't have any kids in school anymore, but I I am proud to be able to to um send that message out to the community that our doors are locked. You are not going to come into Eping Middle, elementary, middle, or high school, whatever. You're not going to come into our doors unless you're screened. I even I had to show my

013license today to sign in for the meeting, >> which was a wonderful thing. I It didn't bother me at all to show my license. It didn't matter who I was. >> And that's important. That's important. It really was. So um and I think it it also enabled me to um >> understand our resource officer a little bit more. It's not someone who you unless you're a parent maybe or you've had, you know, discipline issues with your child or whatever that you get to to uh hear his voice >> and and learn more about some of his roles when he talks about what he does during the day. I've been involved in Epic for over 40 years in in the school, >> but I didn't really know much about our resource officer, >> you know, so

014it was nice to hear his input of what was going on and stuff like that. So, I just I I I felt I've never been on the committee before, but I I um I enjoyed the fact that we were really talking about student safety um and that we're we're we're we're good. >> And it was it was fantastic collaboration. >> Yeah, it really was. All parties there >> which was great to see. >> How many people were there do you think repres how many people I know there's many different >> couple from fire chief and assistant chief uh we had uh school nurses both our school nurses are on this committee we had uh school administration myself and and Mr. Mazone and uh SRO Greg Hur and two board reps. It was it was decent.

015It was >> the nurse the other nurse she said who was from Exit. >> Uh no she she her previous position was at exit hospital. Well, she said she said nursing from >> she's our she's EMHs. So, I didn't know what what she meant by that. >> No, she's our nurse. Barbara is our EMHs >> instead of Did you hear >> nurse extor [Laughter] um No, I I'm glad she shared stuff when we were talking about Narcam and all that. She shared information, too. So, um no, it it was good. I I actually am looking forward to the next meeting to see, you know, some of the stuff we talked about and we where we move forward. I liked it. >> Awesome. >> Anything else? >> Okay. Uh moving to committee. We did we did

016committee updates. >> So, this is this is actually the resolution. Robin uh needed some time because I don't know if you had a chance to look at it. There's a lot of resolutions and I don't know how quite how we want to organize that, Robin. Yeah. >> Um, however, there's a a lot of resolutions around open enrollment. >> Um, and then the the the school boards association, if you had a chance to look at it, said, "Oh, we like this one. We don't support this one." And so forth. And they because there's so many that are very similar >> because the resolutions were proposed by people like you, school boards who said, "We'd like this to be a cons a concern and so forth." And there was very a lot of very similar thinking. But

017the reason that we need the time today is that Robin has graciously again uh volunteered to be our representative at the uh meeting that's coming up >> October 25th >> and she needs to be able to vote on those things um and represent the whole committee uh opinion on on those different resolutions. >> I mean my job is to go there and represent the board. Sure. >> So I if when we do this tonight and we decide whatever direction we want to take. That's the direction that I will take at the meeting when it comes to voting. Um I I I don't know like I I have to look at them more, but um so um I have to be honest, I'm not fully prepared um to I didn't see it because it was not

018in a folder. It didn't grab my attention. But looks like there's 10 or 11 something like that. Yeah. Why does why does it start on why does it start on 13? >> I don't I think some of it's because they've gotten some of it's they've already got their own perennial resolutions that they they maintain and this would be adding adding to or updating anything. >> Yeah. And some of them might be resolutions that they brought forward that they haven't they didn't have a chance to present or or work on or whatever. But >> yeah, I didn't have to see if there were any that came in late because I know sometimes I'll throw in the late ones at the end with no opinion. >> Um, so do we want to do we want to just

019review one at a time sort of I don't want to say quick I don't want to rush, but we just can kind of briefly >> you'll see that there's a pattern that there's several that are very similar. >> All right. Yeah. >> Yeah. The first the first three specifically. >> It's all pretty much open enrollment. >> Open Okay. So the first So let's start with 13. So, does anybody want to just kind of summarize it? Um, or or or read it? >> So, I I the the first three are fairly similar. I won't >> I won't belabor the the point by trying to reread all the proposed resolutions, but essentially what they're looking for is to have the New Hampshire School Boards Association take up a resolution to discourage the open enrollment u u provisions

020that have been proposed. uh last year and it seems that they're being proposed again and for them to take that up to to say no. Um and the New Hampshire School Boards Association has come up with an alternative uh resolution that that I will read. Uh, New Hampshire School Board Association opposes any open enrollment legislation that would have the effect of f further undermining the reliability of projecting revenues and expenses in setting of school district budgets and or the effect of impacting revenues and expenses once school districts school sorry school district budgets have been passed by the community funding the majority of those budgets with local local property taxes. And in the next two resolutions, they pretty much say we we defer to that original alternate proposal as what they would recommend in in favor

021of the ones that were proposed. >> Gotcha. So instead of voting on each of them individually, I I think just giving Robin some guidance is in general as a board, do you feel uh do you agree with this sentiment that we don't pro support open enrollment or we do support open enrollment is really the kind of the general guidelines that Robin would need in order to to represent your feelings? >> I think we've said this many times on the board too. We I know I do. I know you do. I know many people do. I am I am in full support of parents have the right to choose where they think their child would best be served for education and there are many options out there. But when we're being forced by the state to

022um have this open enrollment that is financially going to hurt the district, >> right? Because it's going to hurt many districts. It's going to hurt all districts because I people need to understand that if someone decides that, you know, we live in Eping, but we're going to decide to go to uh Winnate, >> right? >> Winnit tells us what the tuition is. >> And then we have to pay 80% of that tuition. And on top of it, if you happen to have a special education student, we have to pay 100% of the costs for special education for a student that we never get to see or administer instruction to or to treat or or anything. So, am I wrong in that? I'm >> No, you're accurate. 100% right in that. So, I think what it's

023going to happen is it's going to really put a um burden on school district budgets because taxpayers, and I 100% support this, would say, "Why am I paying taxes for kids that aren't going to our school system? And why am I paying special education costs for our kids that are not getting their services in our town that they're going somewhere else? So, and then also on top of that is the cost of especially with special education, we are responsible for transportation, right, to get them there. So, >> we are if it's in the IEP, we would have to provide the transportation for special education. So non special education the parents would have to be responsible for that. But there's also the part of what a burden that would create on parents to say well I

024can't afford to bring my child to you know I want my child to go here but I can't afford to do that. So, it's it's basically going to be able to set a um a level of I feel discrimination uh for parents who don't have the means to be able to transport their child. >> Um so, it is not a wellthought plan out by the state. I I think it's a copout by the state personally and I I think it's another um piece of evidence that shows the state of New Hampshire wants to get out of the business of public education. They want to have everything um single like they just wanted to have it that parents will just pay for the education wherever they're going to go. But they want to burden the public

025school system with incorporating the funds for that and there's no help on our end. There's no help on our end. >> So just I think it would be hard to pass budgets. I think it would be very hard to pass budgets >> as as a as a parent and school board member. I do think it and an educator I think it it's going to wreak havoc on public education. Absolutely. >> Right. I think there's so many parts of this that are not well thought through that I think we're like 10 years away honestly from actually being able to do something like this. I'm not totally opposed to it in theory, but >> I think mostly as a board member it's and an educator kids are going to be coming and going and planning and personally

026I'm right now I'm not in support of open enrollment. So >> if people want to kind of weigh in and we can kind of that will help should help Robin >> I'm going to take a quick stance. She says from someone who dust the budget you know I think that when this bill was more presented you have states like Massachusetts that have done this and have made it very successful. But the difference is is that they receive a lot of their money through the state where our education is locally funded. So, when you're looking at local tax dollars that are going to have to fund this open enrollment, you're looking at these school districts right now that are still struggling with their budgets and how to stay afloat and how are you going to sustain

027these budgets and how can local tax dollars keep affording this and now we're going to get this bill that we don't know like we don't know what it's going to cost us. We don't know what school they're going to. We don't know if it's going to cost us $15,000 to maybe send them to Andover, right? Not working on Andover, but it's one of the lower cost schools or to send them to Exit. That might cost us 28. Like it's it's not state regulated. We're local regulated. So to put us in that same bucket as Massachusetts that's made us successful isn't fair to the state of New Hampshire. And I think >> right >> that's a good >> should have a big impact when they're sitting at the state level and talking about this that if

028they want to fund this type of programming we got to have more state support in our education >> because right now our cost per pupil is nothing close to what the state funds us like our cost per pupil might be $20,000 but the state's only funding us $4,600. That is not the cost per pupil. we can't >> right >> send a student for that cost. So >> I think it just needs a bigger discussion before it ever gets finalized and there needs to be more people at the table who are actually involved in education, >> right? >> Um before something like this ever gets passed to the state. >> I mean our our state unfortunately they pay 17 I want to say 17.6 6 to 17.9% of education costs where you have Maine that does

02980%. You have Vermont that does 90%. >> Um 17 whatever the state of New Hampshire doing I want to say I stay up so it's like 17.6 17.9. We are the lowest in the nation in the nation for state support for education, but we are the highest when it comes to education cost to the taxpayer. >> And that's that's a people have to understand that this is the we're not making these numbers up. This is reality. And I do feel um that it's going to force certain school districts with smaller schools with small populations. They are basically going to have to close their schools. >> I I think personally a a rural New Hampshire um because their test scores are so low because they don't they don't have the uh the industry to support their

030tax base, right? So they're always behind on everything. This is going to devastate this because you know the parents are if they have a chance and they can send their kid here and the school has paper to go here, they're going to do that and it's going to force them to close every schools. >> Uh do we really want to do that in >> No, I'm not disagreeing, but I just want to make sure Matt, Jen, and Ben have a chance to weigh in. I I think one of the other things that strikes me about this leg the legislation that's come so far that I've had the opportunity to review is it it shows that to me anyway that there has not been any conversation with anybody that works in education. The first one was

031to propose that this starts in the middle of a school year. Even from a fiscal side of things, like who didn't who didn't talk to an accountant or anything at some point about this, the just how loosely based it is in any sort of reality about how this could have a potential of even working seems to be missing from the get-go. So until they're willing to start having some of those conversations and bring in representatives from all around the state on setting some kind of norm up on what a timeline would be like I I think there is a potential where some some form of open enrollment works in the state but it can't be every single month of the year starting in the middle of the year like there have to be some expectations

032because we have budgetary requirements that we have to meet and then you can't it'd be irresponsible to to agree to a law like this that allows budgets to be upended at any point in the in the year, you'd risk state schools across the entire state falling into default. >> You risk losing a lot of business administrators. >> What happens right now? We're preparing a budget for March, right? >> And what if the legislature, because this is a bill that was carried over, >> so it could be voted on very quickly. What if it does go into effect on January? So, what happens to the budget that we're trying to present in March? Like, what are we doing passed? And so, you'd be stuck to the numbers that you're dealing with and you're going to have

033these unknowns. It would be one thing if the state was like, "All right, we're going to take a percentage of our lottery money or our liquor money or something to give it to public education." Like maybe they should be doing, but if they're not willing to figure out a solution to help with these >> budgets, cover education 100% throughout the whole state with not a problem. But but to that point though, I don't even know if we have any kind of a recourse option of trying to call for a special election or or you know anything like that to bring the town people together like we got we just got saddled with this by the state and now our budget's going to go up or we're anticipating our budget's going to go up x amount

034because of this and how do we fund it or do we find ourselves in in a situation where at some point during the year we have to go back to the to the town and say >> we we we've run into a shortfall. expended everything >> and we haven't done that. We we haven't we have not had an overstepped budget. >> No, I and I I want others board members and I think I think we kind of got the input on this one, but the complications are are are massive. We wouldn't even know how many students this might we be even talking about like SST tuition we plan for every year. We we we know and we're pretty close. We talk to students how many want to go this year, whatever, and we know and

035we plan on that tuition amount. this if it came in January as planned, we wouldn't even know how many students we're talking to a budget. We wouldn't even know what the impact is. Then the complications of I get there, these are kids. I don't like it. We've already paid that district some money and then they come back here like it just like whoa. >> There's really nothing good on either side of it. You can't plan for incoming. You can't plan for outgoing >> which is there's no middle ground. So, as far as I can hear, I would go with the New Hampshire School Board Association's recommendation and we would not support this resolution. >> Not not supporting any open enrollment at this time. >> At this point in time, you are Yeah, I don't have

036anything further to add. I do think though I said that and then I >> do think that it is a bit of a mood point because there's so many more steps before students can just start going to other schools. Anyway, the you have the town has to vote on becoming a receiving district. >> Correct. >> Right. So there's a huge process that has to unfold before you know >> is that the current legislation though because the last bill I don't think >> I I believe it is current legislation but but then that even adds other complications with uh well what about receiving districts and just not just sending districts and yeah >> so we got 13. >> So I'm going to go with we're going to go with the New Hampshire School Board um Association's

037recommendation to not support and that's what I'll vote on. Okay. Thank you, Robin. >> I don't mind taking the lead. I'll jump to 16. Um, New Hampshire School Boards Association proposes that the state fully fund all state public education aid formulas before the funding of any other state obligations. Short, sweet, and we know what they're alluding to is they've never fully funded their obligations. >> They did have an alternative resolution to that. So, that was from Chesterfield. the NHSBA had an alternative resolution to that minor change. >> So, we're going to support that. >> Yeah. So, yeah, they just amended say that they'd make an update to one of their existing. So, their change would be state public schools uh state public schools, public school districts, and public school education aid formulas uh before funding

038any other state obligation. >> All right, I'm I'm going to keep going if I'm hearing it. 17. New Hampshire School Boards Association opposes the inclusion of amendments to proposed bills that are not gerine to the subject matter of the proposed bill. Again, you can understand the rationale behind that is how we get a lot of the bills passed and whether it's in the budget, cell phone ban, uh, and others. And so, obviously, they want to keep them clean. And so then yeah, the NHSBA is saying not to support that because they don't they don't want to get pigeon holed into that having to be their stance for any non-Germanine legislation. >> I would agree. >> I would have to agree with that. I wouldn't want them to be locked out. >> So my answer on

039that is we're going to support the New Hampshire School Board Association >> to say no. >> Resolution, they say no. >> Yeah. >> 18 proposed resolution. All schools that receive state and or federal funding shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws regarding testing, hiring practices, and special education inclusion. >> Again, the New Hampshire School Boards I I'm stealing Ben's thunder. You've been doing great. You do it. Keep going, Ben. >> Oh, that's So, the NHSBA does not support that. and they bring up uh an example of uh the vouch the voucher program and how there are there's been moves to try and come up with some sorts of um testing and um certification around voucher programs and being able to to speak to how that's implemented and what impacts that would have. Uh

040if if the resolution were to be taken, then that would again kind of hamper the the schoolboard association's position to to argue favorably or or negatively against something that might impact public schools. Okay. Bill, you said 18. That's 17, right? >> Uh, the one I just read was this is 18. Yeah. >> 17 >> is the proposes the inclusion of amendments to proposed bills that are not mentioned the subject matter. >> That was 17. That's 17. >> That was 17. >> So, but what's our >> 17 17 >> 17 was a no. No, not support. >> I just want to make sure >> we're supporting the NHSBA's not support. Right. >> You got to make No. >> No. >> That's why we're doing it wrong. >> It says we're supporting the >> um >> 18,

041>> can you just put this in a little bit more layman's terms for me? So, can you So, so a school that receives voucher funds, no, a school that receives state and federal funds. >> So, they're not held to the same standards. So, for for any type of uh whether it's a um a private school EFA account, uh they're not held to the same standards that we are, even though they're receiving federal and state funds. And that's what this is trying to get at is basically like, look, that's fine if you're going to give money to other students. And the same is true for uh uh public charter schools, too. They have different things, too. they receive money and it and it's like, okay, not they're not all held to the same standards with testing,

042right? Because we we we literally have to put some testing scores on our ballots this year and and and and yet why is it that we have to be held to these standards when we're giving money to other uh educational institutions that are not held to the same standards yet they're still receiving public funds. I guess is the is my is my layman's understanding of >> I think it's a reversal of what they say about um core education. >> You want to say everything's equal, right? But then they go back and say create something like this that is so unequal and so uneven. >> Well, I just talked about testing the the hiring practices. We're required to have certified teachers. Other other buildings are not required to have certified teachers. So then that creates another

043whole layer of complexity that we have to continue to play by the rules. And the same thing with special education inclusion, >> charter schools and others can say, "No, we we don't want your your child attending our school." And yet we we clearly do not do that. And so that's all that this one is saying. But I also get the rationale behind the the the the school board's association of why they're just saying, "Uh, we understand what they're asking, but we we don't support it." >> No. No. And and I'm glad that Eping supports the fact that we want to have certified teachers in all of our teaching positions. That that's a goal we have. >> Well, we require it. >> Yeah. >> We want the most qualified version. >> Yeah. But it wasn't always

044done in the past, but this board said this is important that we have certified teachers teaching our students. >> So, we're not going to support that. Which I get that good. Um so we are not so we are not supporting this or we are >> no longer 19 a little longer. New Hampshire's public school infrastructure is a critical component of delivering highquality equitable education to all students. However, many districts across the state face significant challenges due to aging facilities, inadequate learning environments, and limited local capacity to fund necessary capital improvements. To address these disparities and ensure all students have access to safe, modern, and efficient educational facilities, we proposed a strengthened school building aid program, >> starting with $60 million annually with a scheduled increase every two years based on the New England Consumer Price

045Index to reflect growing needs and inflationary pressures. >> So, the New Hampshire School Boards again uh does not support this. they they lean on that they have two existing resolutions that they they state are similar and they are that they they're looking to um encourage the the legislature to fund the building aid program under RSA 1981A uh section 4 uh in one of them and uh uh fully funding the school building aid program pursuant to RSA 1981A. Um, so yes, they they do they do already have something in there to support it. Although this this one to me I I'd be I'd be leaning towards I'd support the the proposal to put some more heat on the on the state and be a little bit more specific and gives it gives a little bit of

046credence to there's at least something that looks like a funding formula to how they should be doing it and puts a little bit more stick tuitive to it than just we're going to let the state do it which you know unfortunately after a couple of the last court decisions that really gives zero bite to any anything. So, I I would lean towards supporting those. >> Yeah, I would agree. >> I'd be okay with that. >> The only thing about this is that this is really directing to districts that don't have the property value to support bonds. They can't get bonds to pass. >> Well, I think bonds have a lot of like regulations behind them, right? Like you can go out to a bond, but if your project isn't approved through state aid because the

047state only gives aid to so many projects per year and you have to apply for that state aid. It's not like you do a bond and all of a sudden you have state aid. It doesn't work that way. Like the state only gives certain projects funding. >> And the other problem is the inconsistency. It comes in it comes and it goes. So if I'm waiting to build a building that don't have they don't have the value to raise funds in their like mobile property like tax homeowners like us right we you know what is it 68.9% or um we pay for anything that happens in the school district >> I think this resolution is just trying to say the state owes it to all communities >> that that there should be a consistent >> state

048building aid application process. Not this it's available for a year and then it's not available for four years and now it's available. >> It's just fun in Lincoln, but we're not going to be it should be lower. >> Correct. >> All right. I get it. Okay. >> No, we are. >> We're supporting it. We're not supporting and we're going against the school. >> Yep. I would I would be curious to know how like okay they the the resolution mentions starting with $60 million annually but what is the process for accessing that money? >> So they don't specify it in here. I I would presume that it would be under the same kind of rules that they have for the state building aid fund now. Just the the hangup has been for the last 10 years

049or so on whether or not the state chooses to fund it, whether they open it. There were several years um actually from I think it was 2018 to 2020 that you couldn't even put in a project with the through that because they weren't funding it and then when it reopened they had a they had a stringent list of of qualifying >> um evaluations that you had to get through. So, if you didn't score like on on somebody's scale, if you didn't hit like 25 on a on a necessity, you weren't going to get funded that year because they were looking for places that the building was falling down. >> You know, if you if you need to get air handlers or something like that, >> well, you know, yeah, that'd be nice. And if there

050was more money to spread around, great. But where there were buildings in districts that were literally coming apart, so that's where they wanted that money to go. So, how how they set up the access to it, I think, is always going to be the state's determination, but this at least kind of forces them to every year there's you're going to start with a $60 million pot for towns to have access to. So, eventually you're going to get past the some of the districts with their larger need. And I think the the method that they've gone through has tried to help get some of the more affluent towns that could raise some of these funds um to be able to pay for some of that out of the pool and get it back to districts that

051do really have the need because they can't fund raise enough or or appropriate enough on their own. >> And I think the school board association is trying to take care of those districts that can't raise the funds. But for those that can, we don't want to be held back. >> It's just more guarant This is really just making the state have to be responsible to make sure the money is always there. >> Only the state would be responsible. >> Okay. So, we're supporting >> uh 20. I'm going to skip one and two. It just says conquered believes in feeding children. Uh three is the actual resolution. And it says, "Therefore, we submit a resolution to the New Hampshire School Boards Association to advocate to the New Hampshire State Legislature to create a universal and subsidized

052meal program for New Hampshire public school students." Um, obviously we want to feed students and there's there's all kinds of need for that. New Hampshire School Boards Association does not support it, but again, it's because they have an alternative. Uh um uh NHSBA supports that the state and federal government seek and provide viable, sustainable, permanent funding to provide a school breakfast and lunch at no cost to students and at no cost to local school districts. So they just feel they already have a >> and and though both the when it was put in in 2022 and amended in 2024, the the conversations were very heated about that and I think you universally supported by every school district in at the delegations from what I remember hearing was everybody was in favor of that and they

053were they were really kind of appalled that the state didn't want to continue it. So I I understand not not adding yet another amendment that's going to say the same thing. My question with this one was, if we want the state um to pay for all breakfastes and all lunch, do we need a child nutrition program? >> There's still some cooperating. Although you still would need to uh to regulate it and to like >> what what food can be served, what food can't be served and obviously management of the whole kitchens and still necessary. >> At what level do do we lose a lot of that control, >> right? >> That's not really part of this resolution. The resolution is just saying fund the program >> that discussion will come discussed yet. I I think

054similar to the other one is just a a reminder that like sure we're eing and it's a small we had a small balance at the end of the year. We're hoping to mitigate that but other other districts conquered clearly I don't know what theirs was but >> 200 >> $200,000 that is comes out of their budget >> correct >> to pay for meals not pay for the kids meals. >> That's basically what it is. >> Right. or they're not doing the paperwork or what whatever whatever the reason is, they they are left with a $200,000 >> uh bill, >> you know, and stronger regulations around how meals are funded, >> right? >> I don't they have to they have to essentially budget for that. That's $200,000 that you lose. You have these school districts out

055there that receive like private sales like Cole Brown for instance or one that they're not they don't get state funding. They don't get federal funding. They're just self-supported. They have an outside food company that provides all their meals. But I can guarantee you any kid standing in that line, if you get to that line and you go to get your meal and you don't have money on your account, you're not getting that meal. And it might stop. It's probably not great, but all of their kids still get fed because the parents are like, "All right, I gotta either sent my kid with a meal." So, I think there needs to be some something strong to hold people to that. >> It's not that we don't want to feed you, but >> how do we make

056it sustainable? How do we make sure your kid gets fed and then everybody else in the town isn't picking up your burden? But how do but how do we guarantee how do we do that without without essentially sending kids away? I mean, and this this this goes we're we're treading into that. >> Oh my gosh. >> No, I know. I know. >> Everybody wants to feed the kids. >> We do want to feed the kids. We do want to feed the kids. Want to feed the kids. >> Parents responsibility to feed their children. Let's let's leave it here and just go with go with the I think we should go with the New Hampshire school boards of not rec not supporting this one because they already have resolutions that >> but the rationale I'm sorry

057I tried to >> No, that's a ultimately they they have they have existing resolutions that have been placed and amended that they continue to try and look to the state to get funding for for a program like this. And I think no matter what that's that's what it's going to come down to. >> So was 19. that was kind of their same rationale for not supporting and we chose to go against them, >> right? >> I think >> because it it's a there's there's a subtle difference for for for this one that all that's being proposed again is to push the state to put put forth funding for the breakfast program or for the meals program. the pre the previous one that we talked about is really coming up with a little bit more of

058a a structured directive of not just we're asking the state to fund the state building a we're saying every year it should have $60 million put in it so it's not a question of is this program going to be available this year there's there's there's the subtle difference of what's being asked for in the resolution >> I would personally I would support this >> because I think it's it's and it's coming from conquered who who it's a heavy burden unconquered. It's not as much of a heavy burden on us. It's a burden, but um >> It could be. It could be. So, I I I would say I would say to go against the I would vote to go against this New Hampshire school board and >> 6,000 9,000 now 13,000. What's going to be

059next year? >> I think in the state of New Hampshire, we fund a lot of programs with electricity or >> food for your family or whatever it might be. Why not provide food and lunch for every kid in the state of New Hampshire? I think other states have proven it's been great. >> Maine and Vermont are two closest that do it now. >> I would be surprised. >> I don't know the cost of the program. >> We looked at the cost if we really went to everything. We're talking a half a million dollars. >> Oh, just our district if we picked up feeding >> a million dollar we would have to put in our budget because parents don't want to pay for their child's lunch. >> But I don't think we should do it at

060a local level. I think it needs to be done at a state level. the state federal just feeds every kid. And >> if the state if the state's concerned about that, they would say we will pay for every student in the state of New Hampshire to have breakfast and lunch for free. They would pay for that. >> Yep. >> I'm hearing that three are are in support or four are in favor of supporting it. So >> there you go, Robin. Support that. >> So the New Hampshire school board, it's not about me. No, we're going I'm only gonna be >> No, what we're saying is the the the the decision of the board is a three. Sounds like it's a 32 or 41 to to support. So >> to support this >> the school board

061doesn't >> number 20 is supported. >> Number 20 is support. So that's going to go against New Hampshire school board. Correct. >> I don't care about that part because they're not always right all the time. >> No, you're you're representing the board's will, >> right? So I'm representing the board. So, >> I might like have to choke when I have to hang up the thing, but I'll do it. >> Got to do it. >> 21. I'm going to uh kind of paraphrase. It's actually uh relevant to the conversation we had last night that a lot of people are unaware that um >> guns >> I can't wait for parents to really hear this. >> Guns are allowed on school grounds in New Hampshire. >> I hate saying that as as as a superintendent and I'm

062kind of grateful. Even if you have a policy against it though, >> you cannot. Our policy cannot supersede uh state law. >> You can't you can't you can't say, "Oh, we're going to allow it in even though the state says no. We have to go whenever the state says you don't." >> Is that a relatively new thing? Has that been there for a while? >> 2022. >> So yeah, >> I guess we'll have to look at our policies. >> We're not privately owned. >> I wish you could, but you can't. >> So this is again >> policies. You can't we may have to look at that policy. >> And then they just tried to vote on it last year last year. failed miserably to resend it. So >> you know we >> a right to

063bear arms is a very strong >> belief countrywide but in New Hampshire big time. So, >> so Conquered has come up with a very lengthy resolution and that's why I'm not reading it, but basically they're they're asking for uh again to go back to the federal law of of uh firearm free school zone is what they're asking for. And obviously their their rationale is telling people that's just not safe to to allow this. Uh New Hampshire School Boards Association does not support. However, it's again because uh they feel that they already have a couple pieces of resolution, one from 2022, uh will advocate for legislative action that ensures local school boards comply with federal firearm laws and policies is one of their resolutions, which the federal law still has uh uh school-free gun uh gun

064zones. And uh and then the the other resolution is supports legislation to restrict possession of firearms on on school property limiting possession to certified police officers only in 2020. Um and it goes on in 2024 the New Hampshire school board supports legislation to restrict possession of firearms on school property limiting possession to certified police officers only. New Hampshire School Boards Association further supports state legislation that would allow enforcement of the Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act within New Hampshire, which is what we don't have the authority to enforce at this point. >> So, we have a uh concealed weapons and an open carry that's allowable within school zones. Someone could walk into the epiddle high school to check their child out. They can have a weapon on them and there's nothing we can do about it.

065They can go to the football game and have a concealed weapon on them and there's nothing we can do about it unless we think there's some suspicion going on which we would locate contact the police and they would come up and they would evaluate the person themselves. But >> it's >> I get the challenge. Obviously, we're we're very adamant. No one I I I believe feels that this is okay. At least that's what I'm I'm >> uh in schools. Uh and so I find this interesting because in theory like I support conquered resolution, but then also I understand like but they already have two resolutions saying similar things, right? And and so or three of them. So, uh I think you know the will of the board is that is is we don't we don't

066support this and uh >> uh really we hope it gets back to >> and and I will tell you there is a case coming before the Supreme Court >> soon and if they vote in favor of it that means that the right to carry weapons anywhere is acceptable. hospitals, schools, wherever is acceptable because they're sticking to the right to bear arms. >> So, we'll have to wait for that. But we will not support this because >> I mean guns do not belong in school. >> All right. Uh there's only >> Let me make sure. So, we are going to stand with NHSBA. >> Yes. They don't support >> not support. >> Yeah. Not support. Yeah. >> Yeah. Conquer is essentially asking for the same thing that they already have for >> the recommendation from the

067New Hampshire School Board Association is we don't support it and so I'll vote for non-sup support as well when they do their their um tally. >> Um are we good, Jen? You >> Yeah, I just I I >> I know it's confusing. No, I was like >> the the their rationale the state board's rationale has been we already have something put forward that's similar to this so we're not going to support it. But sometimes we go against them and sometimes we side with them. So it doesn't really make sense to me >> if we're basing our rationale on that. So I think we're all against >> it sounds like we're all against >> somebody being able to walk into a school with a gun. >> So I don't know why we wouldn't support we support

068the proposal. >> I think it just it just comes down to not not having them reiterate the same proposal over and over and over. >> Right. But I guess I guess the thing too is like when you're there and um there could be a hundred school districts there, right? Or there could be 50 school districts there or 60 school districts there. So >> I think it's the the voting of the majority that happens is going to move it forward >> or not. >> So we will be one of those no votes >> that says we don't want this to happen. And we hope that we'll have a lot a lot of other school districts join that. So the vote will be for non-support, but you just never know. >> But how do we know that

069we still want this resolution to move forward? A resolution. >> Well, so they they already have they already have three resolutions that support the position of we don't want guns in schools. They already have three of them in in their their fundamental docks, right? So whenever they're going up and campaigning or lobbying at the state house, they're already lobbying to not have guns in schools. They want us to be able to have the gun-f free zone. They have three resolutions already that speak to that. Right. >> What they're what they're getting at here is they adding a fourth one now doesn't doesn't change any of what they'd be doing or changing any of the sentiment of the New Hampshire School Boards Association of we don't agree with this. We don't want guns in schools and

070we want the state to to back off from that position. >> Right. And we also have to understand this isn't the New Hampshire School Board Associ Association putting these resolutions in. >> This is separate towns. We have the right to put any resolution that we want and I would like to do that further. I would like to really look into getting involved in resolutions and and presenting them. Um but this is town saying this is what we want for the red school board. We're talking about redundancy, right? >> The school board in the past have said they even though they have they don't support this because it muddies the water. >> So that's kind of in the past what they kind said it just muddies the water. They already have it. >> It takes away

071from it takes away the the emphasis on their policy. >> It's hard because we're looking at these and we have to vote on these but then there's a whole slew of resolutions that they brought forward from last year that they are dealing with. So, it gets it gets very complicated. >> We have three left. Three left. >> So, where did we land where did we land on some of the ones I've had to deal with? Are we are we are we all comfortable with not with supporting the New Hampshire school board's recommendation because of redundancy. >> Yeah. Yes. >> And I will I'll I will say that when I Yeah. >> 22. Uh, New Hampshire School Boards Association should advocate for legislation to amend current statutes to allow a simple majority 50% plus one vote

072thresh threshold for the approval of school infrastructure projects that support the maintenance, repair or improvement of existing facilities, ensuring that essential investments in public education are not obstructed by unnecessarily high voter requirements. their rationale basically is is currently it's the 60% uh super majority. Um and they're pointing out that that's not that's used for new new structures, but also is what's being held for current structures. Um and they're saying it should be lowered to that 50% plus one to better ensure that those projects get done. >> I will say I agree with that. >> And the New Hampshire School Boards supports uh an alternative resolution. Um, New Hampshire School Boards Association supports legislation that would allow for lower voted legislative body thresholds to approve bonds intended for the maintenance, repair, or improvement of existing school

073district facilities, especially when the major major portion of the borrowed funds are essential to bring such facilities up to fire and other safety requirements or improvements necessary to meet the requirements of the minimum standards for school facilities. >> I agree. I I support that. So I I I actually >> semantics here. >> I I actually support the original one more so than than this the schoolboard association's alternative, but I I would almost want to propose u a culmination of of the two. I I I like a little bit more of the the the wordiness of the original proposal, but I like the idea of lowering the threshold uh to something below a supermajority. But I think the ambiguity that is introduced by the alternate means all right well instead of 60% well now you got

074to get to 59%. Like it could be something really asinine like that that would make it almost no change and and be acceptable so to speak. So I >> I think what they're concentrating on here though is the fact that you have towns that have such a lower voting >> that comes out. So they don't >> those towns never have an opportunity to pass anything. >> It well it certainly it always depends on who who comes up but I I would think it would >> I would be in support of either of these. I I think I like the original one better, but I would almost want to try and fi seek out the representatives of that delegation and ask them about maybe um either making a a friendly amendment day of to to >>

075I'm sure there's going to be amendments, >> right? And to maybe see about making a change on what they're looking for for for the the percentage. Um maybe a little come up with some way to kind of massage the two. >> Okay. So, could I do it this way? Could I say that we're going to support this >> based on amendments? >> You just say pass. >> Pass. >> You can choose not to vote on that, too. You could just abstain from >> it's the same from that one. >> I think I know. I know. >> I think there's just too I don't >> I actually like the 60%. >> I think it's 60%. >> I know, but in a district that's so small, >> but it's still 60%. So if you have 10 people

076that vote six out of 10 the fact that whoever shows up matters that's what show up you matter. If you come to vote you matter. >> If you're willing to come out there and stand in a snowstorm and cast your vote then you matter. So regardless >> I think if you make it sweep by the 50 mark it it poses a lot more >> negativity. So, do we want to support the original amendment or we uh bill or we want support or we not >> or are we going to support the alternative? >> It seems like we're all a little all over the place. >> So, just pass. >> I could be honest with you. I could go either way. >> Or do you want me to I was going to vote yes and then

077Matt's vote. >> I think we're going to do a pass on this one. It's going to kill me to do this. You know that. But I will pass on this. Can you record yourself passing? >> Oh my god. I will. I say for your pleasure. Let's move on to 23. >> Uh 23. Proposed resolution says New Hampshire School Boards Association should advocate for legislation requiring the state of New Hampshire to fully and consistently fund the catastrophic special education fund. >> Absolutely 100% even finish the sentence. ensuring districts are reimbursed in accordance with existing statutes and that students with highcost educational needs receive the services they are entitled to without compromising other local educational priorities. >> Absolutely. >> Um clearly the rationale is is it's not fully funded. It's consistently not fully funded and it's like

078oh this is what we have left. this is what we will give you and it's never to the extent that they >> uh say >> which is supposed to be 40% >> uh very similar to the other ones New Hampshire school boards association does not support again not because they don't want the funding they they believe in the funding they just believe using Greg's muddying the water they have other resolutions that they feel already get to get to this and several of them actually >> so we've been on we've been in both camps um tonight so um This is a big one. I mean, this is a huge A residential placement is $300,000. It does it does impact our general education students. >> Not even a residential. Like, we don't even they don't even kick

079in aid until the student costs $70,000. >> Is there any weight with a new resolution being added versus the age of some of these other ones? >> I was I was just going to say, so I'm going to veer into the other lane again kind of going there, >> right? In this instance, I would support this because the last time this got touched was 2011. So, it's been well over 10 years. And I think >> kind of giving that another shot in the arm of nope, we really do think that this is a major concern. It makes sense. >> I think so. >> I mean, just because we're on the camera and people want to know, we just got our um revenue right from >> 2324 for special education. These are all out of out

080of district, right? Am I right? Or no, the whole >> not necessarily special ed students generally across the board. >> The whole kitten >> 8 say 87,000 what it was >> like we >> and the state decided after >> 7,000 >> after their um review that we would only be reimbursed 267,000. So the town of Eping is automatically through taxation going to have to deal with $600,000 and that's from 23 24 right. We've already we don't even know what's already paid because we've already paid our revenue and we just we just got that >> we just got that. So well that's one thing about special ed is it's literally almost what a year and a half ahead. So people have to understand that like we when it comes to special education, we are we're kind

081of in a stronghold when it comes we have to obey the law. >> We have to you know I learned I learned this year that out of district we have to allocate $75,000 for every single student out of district in our budget. >> That's correct. We don't get any reimbursement until after we cross that threshold. >> The average the average um >> I do want to circle us back to the resolution, right? >> Well, I know, but I'm trying. >> This is about special education. >> I know. I know. >> Um the average um cost per student, what is it? $4,900. >> I4,700 4,700 >> from the state for >> I don't know what number you're using though. >> The state aid >> Oh, state aid reimbursement. Yeah, it's around 474,900. But we have to

082put in 75,000 for every out of district student >> and we're going to hope if we go over that cost we're going to get reimbursed >> but we'll never be reimbured with what the full cost is for us. >> Correct. >> So how would this resolution fix that problem? I guess question to >> y exactly that's what I'm saying. >> So the I was tying it all around. >> No I know I know I I was I was just trying to get back to the resolution. Um, so where do we where do we I think we >> you are supportive of it, right? >> Well, I I know Ben spoke in support of it. I would even E even though even though we said we work at I think because it was 2011 was the

083last time it had come up. So I would support it or >> Yeah, I support it. >> 2011 was a long time. >> You're not a board member. You can tell them how you feel. So 20 number 24 >> 24 >> uh New Hampshire School Board's uh Association supports amendments to of RSA 91A to allow individuals with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act or because they are caring for a household member with such a disability to be counted as attending in person for the purpose of the establishment of a quorum. >> Interesting. Oh, wait. So, >> we're talking about are they talking about a school board member? >> Sounds like school board meeting. >> They don't have the word school. No, that well that doesn't uh >> I'm reading 91 members

084who are not able to be a quorum. Yeah, like a schoolboard member that if you had a disability and had to be >> But then I I have a lot of questions about this >> because if if it's a person who's um will you know cannot come out of the home but they're of sound mind >> they wish to participate and counted. Yeah. >> But what if they are not of >> is that is that a reasonable accommodation? Is that a Yeah. >> To attend not in person >> to >> So if we had if we only had two board members able to attend in person, but we had another member who we could zoom in just that member. >> Correct. >> Would we be okay with >> currently? No. >> No. >> But this

085is saying if they have a defined disability, right? >> And and they would count as >> sure >> participating. And and the New Hampshire school boards does support it. um with an alternative resolution and you can go down. It has just uh some minor uh changes to it. Um and then they >> actually I think I would skip this one. >> We're send that. >> I really would because >> I would support this one because they do reference public. So it would be you couldn't you couldn't zoom into a non-public >> and make a quorum, but you could zoom into a public. >> Okay. participate. Where does where does it don't we isn't there something that you um you can attend the Zoom thing, but you're not allowed to vote? >> No. So, currently it

086the the law is that you have to have a quorum in person >> in person >> and then you can have a board member participate uh via Zoom >> and then you may and you may have to do the >> the roll call vote. Correct. So the only real change here is saying that I'm a there's some districts where the three member board, right? And and so they're saying this is discriminating. I'm I'm making >> conjuncture here that that they have a three-member board, but I want to be on that board, but I know I can't be there in person. I have an infectious >> you in an accident, >> whatever. Uh and but right now the law doesn't allow me to make that quorum. >> Okay. Um whereas if under what they're proposing I

087could make that >> quum. This isn't talking about someone who's sick. This is a disability. >> Correct. >> Disabled. >> But by not allowing this. So you're saying that someone who is I'll just use the example someone who's wheelchair bound and let's say it's terrible weather out. There's still a meeting happening but for whatever reason they can't make it there. They can't get their vehicle there. what have you. >> Mhm. >> In a smaller district where you only have a threeperson board, >> then they they wouldn't be able to have that meeting potentially because they they couldn't have quorum because that person can't make it. So to to inadvertently discriminate anybody with a disability from even running for a position of any public body because they wouldn't be able to meet quorum >> is a

088is a problem. >> Yeah. >> And that's why this doesn't say just school board. That's why there 91A is for any public. >> I think this goes to not just somebody not being able to make it because of a snowstorm or whatever. This is someone who cannot ever make the meeting. >> I don't even think it's necessarily there's the potential for it could be all the time, but I I think this is just saying for for someone who who meets those requirements, >> whether it's all the time or some of the time, this this affords them the the >> capacity. That's what I'm saying. There may be somebody who wants to run for school board, but they don't have the ability to attend the meetings personally, but they can always attend them at home through

089Google or Zoom or whatever it is. >> Um, >> we shouldn't discriminate against them because their input is as long as you're able to have input and it's not their input is not coming from somebody else taking care of them, >> but it's their input that's being brought forward. >> We can't discriminate against that. So where do we >> where do we >> Well, the New Hampshire School Board Association supports the alternative. So >> I would support I would also support >> yes >> their alternative resolution. >> Agreed. Agreed. >> Okay, that's all I need to >> I think we are done with >> we are done with the resolution. >> See that wasn't bad. >> No, it was I mean there was a lot to talk about. It was a very good conversation. >>

090We had longer resolutions. >> We are going to move into policy. Uh, so I would like to skip JIC and go to JICD because that's the one that uh Matt had some uh uh questions on and I finally got to that and had the conversation with Mr. Mazone and and also uh um bye Lucy. Have a good night. >> Bye. >> Um >> bye. >> And sorry I apologize it took so long but it had to do with the number two of right in the beginning where it talks about restrictions from school activities. Matt had a question around uh such restrictions will shall be determined. Um you know um I have my my proposed language here not the original language here and uh anyway so the proposed >> the coach's discretion >> correct it didn't

091use the word coach but it did it did let led it to be ambiguous to who would be uh uh putting in that >> at the discretion of the assigned whatever. So here's the language that I would uh working with uh the administration is for that. Number two, restriction from school activities means a student shall attend school and classes but shall not not participate in any extracurricular activities including competitions, field trips and performances. Such restrictions shall be determined shall be determined and assigned by school administration is is so then it's clear who assigns that uh consequence. um and also around the limitations around what that those participation would be. >> So that's that's addition number two is is that >> that's the that's my proposal to change the question that that Matt was uh had.

092>> I think that makes is is clear restriction means a student will attend >> but I want to make so does when you say dispers a discipline um determined by the administration. Is that administration going by the discipline policy? >> Of course they are. >> Okay, that's all I need to know. Yes, >> I I have to make that because I'm against coaches. >> Coaches would not have the uh >> Matt was right when I brought it up to both Chris Goldzac and and Mr. Mazone. They're like, "Oh, yeah. I can see where someone might interpret it that way." No, it's determined by school administration and then that is communicated then to the other parties that hey sorry band teacher he's not he's not per performing because of this consequence or whatever it was >>

093and that's how it should absolutely so this was also the policy I believe we talked about um because this was this was um part of the discussion was around making sure that the discipline um the disciplinary actions carried into other schools >> that's where this started that's correct But we also talked about somehow indicating it reciprocating back. So like if you got suspended from SST >> and we did add that language earlier way back in the beginning uh when we like on the first read where we um >> we I know we talked about it. I did not see it in here. >> So whatever Epin's punishment is carries to SST. Yes. Whatever SST's punishment is carries to EP. I have I have the language. >> Okay. Can you >> all discip and this is

094on JICD but um all disciplinary consequences assigned shall apply to uh all school district property property under the jurisdiction of the school district including school vehicles andor while attending or participating in school sponsored activities. This includes but is not limited to the SECO school of technology, advanced building trade school, ELO sites, impact academy, or any other off-site learning opportunities as deemed appropriate by building administration. >> To me, that reads that our disciplinary consequence extends to them, but theirs doesn't extend to us. >> That's what that's what I and maybe that's a separate policy. So I will say I had a conversation with Pam Carr and we can't we can't we can't determine their policies but I will say from the conversation it is reciprocal and that is the understanding of of of SST in the

095example. >> So just as an example a student in goes I'm just using SST because it's the easiest example. We have 70 kids that go there >> every day. >> Somebody is caught vaping in the bathroom. >> Yes. and they are uh suspended from SST >> that discipline that suspension from SST should carry should but we don't live in a world of should we live in a world of policies so we need to have some sort of policy to say that if a student has is in a fight vaping whatever they do they they they break our >> policies >> school policies but they are at SST as an example or one of the other locations the we should have a policy because that is going to happen >> where if for >> it does

096happen and and what has I only can explain what happens right now let me explain so if if the example you gave uh uh two kids get in a fight at SST >> one's an eping one's a Samborn doesn't matter right and and the SST administration will call our administration and there is consequences here do we have that in the policy right now that says hey whatever you assign But let's say SST assigned um a 3-day suspension. >> Sure, >> we would honor that 3-day suspension. What is inconsistent, and I totally agree with you, is is is then what is the consequence here is what we need to talk about and and say, and I would say if Mr. Mazone was here, they'd say, okay, and fighting isn't a good one. I think they would

097be suspended from our school, too. But but like um >> uh vaping. >> Yeah. >> Um you know that now that's not a good one either. I think you're right. I don't know. Sometimes it just all be >> what example there. What if SSD exels them or suspends them for three weeks? >> Do you automatically want to force? >> Right. If we felt that was excessive, I guess. >> I mean, that mean that would be one of the question. What if you feel there? >> So right now what happens is the administration have conversations together and we learn whatever that infraction is and then and then our administration does assign what they feel is appropriate consequences here. So that is what happens right right now. I think that is be leaving it very subjective and

098I do think that we are going to run into a potential problem if if whether the information is not communicated or we don't you know a a parent is saying you know I he wasn't in the bathroom vaping and he you know they the two two students went in and I just think that if we don't if we don't draw the line on certain things and maybe it's not every single thing but I think we have to we have to >> be we have to hold students accountable. It's just because it's in it's another building. It's it's on school property. And so whatever that infraction is, if it's vaping, if SST suspends, but we do not well and it's in our handbook that we do not, then we we've got to we've got to figure

099that out. Um I just don't want to leave it up to people's discretion. That is what gets us in. >> So I think the pun I think the punishment >> needs to fall in line with what we said. So no matter where the infraction happens the punishment obviously SST or whoever sorry other avenues will impose theirs but when it comes back to us it has to follow our policies. >> Whatever the standard I assume there's a standard of you do and the things you get. Yeah. >> And you know, parents really have to >> kind of step out of this because unless you're in the bathroom with those kids, you don't know if your kid was vacant or not. >> I'm just using that your opinion as a parent, and I'm sorry, your opinion as

100a parent to me doesn't exist. >> But I think holding them to our policies allows us to say if wherever it happens is to an extreme, >> right? We don't have to necessarily abide by that extreme, right? we abide by what we agreed upon is the right penalty for whatever that infraction is. >> Yeah. Some so maybe some language along along the lines of should an infraction happen with one of our students at any facility that we have a relationship with, >> they will be >> their their their punishment shall be communicated to administration and they will they will tie it to the appropriate policy violation >> that we would have here. >> That's what that's what it says in the highlight, >> right? We don't we don't deal with the other school >> if

101it's S Sanborn or whoever's there. That's not our role, >> right? I think the only do is just that we're we're going to take the other the other districts. >> I know. But you know, parents will go well didn't get that punishment. So why John here? We got to we got to talk one person at a time. I'm just saying if you know parents will say well the other student from the other school didn't get that punishment so why is my child getting that punishment we don't care about the student from the other school we care about eing students >> right so I want to hear what you were saying about >> so what I was trying to say was given given what's in the highlight now that that to me as I read it

102that's how we're we're interpreting how we're dealing with the actions for our students under our control and being being sent from here. Like if there's if a disciplinary action took place here, that's how we expect it to be handled in all these other locations. What I'm saying is the addition to this should be that any infractions that take place off off our campus at any of these facilities, their administration needs to communicate to us. Absolutely. And our administration needs to take that violation and map it to the appropriate consequences in our policy so that it can be enforced here, >> right? >> Yes. >> But that's that's the only part that I see missing is just saying that they need to identify something there for us. >> We have to show that we're taking the

103um issue seriously, right? By we have to implement a discipline because it's disrespectful if we don't >> really >> I agree. >> I just wanted to be Yeah. in in the writing in the policy and currently we we we do have a practice of communicating with them and applying it but it is not in in the policy. >> Um >> since we're updating the policy anyway let's continue to let's just be as clear as we can >> like >> that we're going to follow the key >> it is communication is the key >> I will bring JIC and JICD back again. >> Okay. >> Um >> what read is that is that our second or >> it's our fifth at this point. >> We're doing it right. We're doing it right. >> What's the most

104amount of reads we've ever had? >> Oh, seven. I think we got two on one. Not since I >> Not for a long time. We had we've we've had one go. >> All right. The next one. I hope that you've had an opportunity um because uh of you go into our our your your folder, I did uh inquire about JBA and uh I will just summarize what our attorney uh said. Uh first off, uh New Hampshire School Boards Association's attorney, Will, uh did get back to me and basically he said, "Consult your your local attorney." So I did not include his response because he basically said, "We're not giving legal advice. Get your own legal advice." So So I said, "Thank you so much." Uh always always good to talk to you. uh our our

105attorney our attorney um uh has to I appreciated her her her response because I I think anyone who reads it can understand it. JBA as is not in violation of HB 1205. It is not in violation of federal law because ours is uh pretty generic. it does not go into those areas such as bathroom assignment or sports assignment and so forth. So she does not have a problem with our our current JBA. If we wanted to leave JBA in place to for recognizing that we understand that students can identify as transgender you we are legally uh in her opinion safe to do so. However, JBAR, she her recommendation is to resend JBAR where we do have uh uh instances of being in violation of uh both state and federal law because we talk about bathroom

106assignment based on the student choice, not uh sex assigned at birth. Also, we have language in there around uh um sports teams and so forth. And so her recommendation is to resend JBAR. It is our choice uh whether it's your choice anyways. Um I don't mean to say that but I was asked to get attorney uh input and that's her interpretation of >> uh those policies. >> So does it make sense for us to vote on JBA? Uh, >> first >> you don't have to take a vote on JBA if there's no change to it and there's no no >> well we've had a lot of discussion around it so I I feel like I want to take a vote. >> You know how I feel about voting on things we don't >> this is

107your board Julie I just did my homework it's our it's our board I feel like I just want to have make sure that we have a chance to talk about JBA >> before we move to JBAR. So if anybody has any thought personally I don't want to vote on things if we don't have to but I do would welcome comments. >> I do have one comment to make that um so while JBA is not in violation of the state law. It does conflict because our state law conflicts with 2025 Title 9 in that Title 9 does not recognize transgender people as a protected class of people. In fact, it doesn't recognize transgender people at all. >> Right? They don't exist essentially. So we are if we keep JBA we comply with the state as it

108defines protected classes of people from anti- from discrimination but we still are in conflict with the federal title N. Having said that, I support keeping JBA to have protection for that class of people. And it did sound like the last statement in that letter was the school board could delete policy JBA as well as policy. >> Yes, it is your choice. >> I mean, it's either >> or but all related to title N like that's the attorneys input on that. I mean the state and federal still still are conflicting. >> No, not really. They're they're >> she felt we were not in in >> Well, you read the letter and the only reason I did not put the letter in in the public folder is because attorney privileges uh if the board wants me to

109release the letter um to the public folder, I will gladly do so. But right now, the letter that we're referring to is only in the board folder. I am in support of keeping JBA. So am I. >> I am as well. >> Yeah, >> I'm in support of of keeping that. Um, as long as we resend JBA. >> Well, well, it's not exactly how I feel about it. >> That's fine. That's fine. So, but so based on that, it sounds we're at 4.5. >> I'm giving JB. Sorry to make joke but >> it was it was it was good. Okay. So >> So we're not we are we are moving on from JBA. We are not rescending it. Now we can talk more in depth as a board about uh how we feel about JBAR

110>> transgender and non and transgender and gender non-conforming procedures. >> And we would be are you able to open them up in our schoolboard policy and look at them? >> I didn't know what I'm looking at online right now. >> Perfect. Okay, that's what I'm access and according if I'm correct and if I'm wrong, let me know. But according to the attorney, we would be in violation of JBR if we kept that policy. We would be in violation of both state and federal law. >> According to our attorney, yes, that was her her her >> and her recommendation was to resend that policy. >> Yes. Yes, it was. >> Okay. Oops. So, um I would be in favor of of ending it. Um because I know we did discuss the NHIA um guidelines and I

111know that um that we that's a that's a tricky situation because it does impact our athletic program. >> It impacts other students. U >> yes, >> schools are at risk of forfeiting seasons, forfeiting games and so forth. So, um I I I think this current uh policy um has some really important information starts with purpose. What's what's the purpose of it? Terminal I'm just reading this because not everybody's has it in front of them, but um terminology has a lot of definitions um and then references procedures. I think that I felt the procedures um aspect of this policy was um really pertinent and guidance specific issues. So it really talks privacy, official records, names and pronouns, restrooms, locker rooms. This is where this is where it does reference NHIA. That's where I think it might

112need to be amended and I would support that. But I am not in support of and and it's it's quite lengthy and it covers a lot of information. It was approved in recently. Yeah. >> So, I am not in support of rescending it, but I would be open to seeing an amended policy. >> So, I have two questions. Is there a certain section in here that the attorney said violated? Is it like should the whole thing or like what section? >> So, she was >> um only because of the guidance I gave her here. Here they are. um if we asked her to please dive deeper and uh how what would what are your recommendations? Of course, you know, we're charged by the minute or the hour. So, so I got the information we needed

113and and I said hold off on that if that's the direction of the board, then that's the direction of the board. So, we could come back with >> uh take a look at it. But some of the areas just off the top of understanding of it is it could be locker room assignments. It could definitely be the the sports assignment, restrooms. Uh those are areas that I would foresee as needing to be amended. >> And how does it >> all the kids at risk in terms of well could have them be disqualified from attending some sports events or hosting events? >> I'm sorry, can you ask that? >> How does this put sports for example at risk for all the kids? So the I only can go by what 12 NH 1205 says and and

114that has changed where our current policy basically says a student makes the choice based on on what they consistently uh recognize or or or um >> identify as excuse me I don't know why and then um and then but the current law says it's sex assigned at birth and so that's some of the big changes in the >> we haven't had to deal with this because we're just elementary so we've been lucky we we've been able Correct. >> You're not you're not connected. Fremont school is just not connected to NHIA. >> Well, we're we're just elementary. So like all the high school takes care of. So we've been able to take these two >> but the NJ could basically pull us. >> Yeah. >> Um that we would not be able to compete in the

115state of >> Yeah. So we're just elementary at the elementary school. We don't have to. >> Right. So we would not we would not be able to do that. >> I think it's important to to note that in our number six It's section four, guidance on specific issues. >> And number six, that's where it talks about we defer back to NHIA. There we say, so I'll just read that just for the record. As a general rule, in any other facilities or activities where when students may be separated by gender, transgender students may participate in accordance with the gender identity consistently asserted at school. Okay. Now we go into intercolastic athletic activities should be addressed through the NHIAA participation policy. >> So whatever is their policy, we're saying right here we abide by their policy >>

116and they change their policy based on the state and federal regulations. >> Right? But we're still saying we are going to follow their policy. Whatever their policy for participation says, that's what we're going to follow. So I don't see how okay I understand that there's conflict between the state and federal um levels on these issues. There are some still even with our JBA there are still issues. I want to operate within the confines of the law. I do. But what I want more than that is to protect kids. So I am not in favor of amending this policy at all. I I think we keep it as it is. >> But you do know not amending or rescending this policy puts us at risk to lose federal funding and we're going against the law. Okay.

117>> I just I just I want you to I want you I want you know that's what you're saying. We're going to go against the law and we're going to risk losing $4 million. >> I think there's a lot here. Um and >> it's a temporary law >> and and uh >> Oh, I don't agree. >> Okay. I think we would have I think from what I've heard we would have lawsuits fading in the town of Evans because we're not resending this policy. But I don't you know whatever my feeling is this our policies dealing with bullying, harassment, hate crimes and all that should be so strong in the district that it covers discrimination that we're dealing with. So our policies on that should be should be solid and implemented in strength so that anybody

118no matter I don't believe in protective class. So, anybody, no matter who you are, no matter what you do or what you want to do and don't do, our policies should protect your right to come to school every day and not have to worry about being bullied, um, being harassed, having hate crimes against you or language and all that stuff. And that is where our administrators have to be very strong in implementing the policies that we put forward. >> I'm going to agree with you and then disagree with you. I agree with you that we should have policies that protect everybody. And in a perfect world, we could just have one generic policy, one general policy that says we don't support bullying, period. But because we don't live in a perfect world, there there is

119a need for protective classes that are more at risk for v vulnerable populations need more specific language to address specific issues for those demographics of people. >> Yeah. But when you do a protective class, you're discriminating against another class of people. So when in my opinion, and this is just my opinion, if you're going to say what this policy says, right, you could go into locker rooms or or or bathrooms or whatever. Um it disrespects and does not give a safe environment for other females. >> How? >> Because they don't want a male in their bathroom. >> It's not a male. It's a >> No, it's a male. I'm sorry. Unless you have gone through a a full transition, medical transition of your body, you're either male or female. What you feel may be different,

120but you are either male or female. And if you're a female, you go in the woman's room. If you're a male, you go in the male's room. And female do want not want males in their bathroom. >> I just want to redirect us. >> You got it. Because this is this is just like >> Ben wants to jump in. I'd like to make a proposal because I can see we're we're passionate about this and it's a it's a concern that I think we we all share in various degrees across the board. I'd like to I'd like to propose making a motion and that would be my motion would be that tonight we resend JBABR in order to remain compliant with the law with an amendment to come within the next or with a revised policy

121for JBAR to be presented within the next two schoolboard meetings that complies with New Hampshire law and the NHIA guide books. I will not vote for anything that does not include public input on this very important issue. So we have a motion. Does anybody want to second that? Okay. So without a second that does not move forward. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. So, um, in regards to what Jen specifically read, um, in terms of that that this policy does say that we are going to follow NHA, IAA policy that I do not see the need for an amendment. Um, and I do not I do personally I do not support rescending this policy. So, do other I'm gonna put you on the spot, but would you like to share your thoughts? >> I

122have so many thoughts. Um, >> this to me is a seessaw, right? It is probably, you know, one of the toughest things because I look at both sides of the equation on this one. And Robin, I see your point in terms of when you allow transgender students to go into an opposite, you do from folks I've spoken to, they're just as offended and bullied on the other side of it. Mhm. >> Um, so that's the part that keeps playing in my head of which way to fall on this side of the fence is it has to be fair and equitable across the board. I think when we look at this policy, you're forgetting about those others that are impacted. >> So I I do think there's a little bit happening on the flip side uh

123inadvertently. Um, so that that's where I struggle with it today is we're forgetting about that other piece that is truly impacted with this policy in place. >> Julie, may I make a suggestion? >> Yes. >> That we don't take action on it tonight. >> That was going to be my next >> um I do run it by legal again and say if you had to >> uh make this in compliance, >> right, >> with uh state and federal law, what would that look like? and I could have that by the next meeting and then we could continue this this conversation at that point of whether uh you were okay with what they proposed or we're not okay with what they proposed at least then we could have further conversation >> um around that. I think

124we have made progress. >> Uh we've we've kept JBA at this point and now the conversation is still on JBAR and this really was the first time that we've put this one forth. >> So I I would suggest that we get uh a draft and that's all it is for your consideration >> and we don't have to we don't know we don't have to accept that draft we still have the opportunity to resend to amend everything still on the table so I mean we looked at JBA three times this is our first time looking at JBR so we will get more some insight and then we'll then we'll continue the discussion >> I will tell you I'm being open and honest I will not support any policy that allows males to go into a female

125bathroom, locker room, >> or play in a female sport. That's where I stand and I'm going to stand by that. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think I think it's pretty clear we all have some strong feelings on this particular topic and >> that is why >> I didn't support it when it came the first time. >> That's fine. Yeah, I understand that. Um, thank you everybody for that. Um, >> we have one more policy and it's it's an easy one. >> Thanks for coming. >> Um, there was no input on KCD, so I assume that you're all good with it. >> So, >> oh my god, that one has to change up. That was the public gifts donations um where we upped obviously the amount dollar amounts of for acceptance both with the principles, myself and

126and then what was required for a um public hearing. Um and so if there's no further changes, I would recommend that you make a motion to move this one forward. >> Do I have a motion to um approve? >> So moved. >> KCD. Yeah. >> Yeah. I'll second. Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? >> I. >> All oppose. That passes. 5 Z. >> Perfect. Thank you. Uh, next was just a personnel update. Uh, this was asked uh to put on there and we uh executive admin assistant. That's in my office. We actually have first interview tomorrow and and uh several many uh scheduled next week. So, we're we hope to have that filled soon. So, we were pleased with the number of candidates and we'll see what that that uh turns up.

127We still have two special education teachers that we're advertising for. We do have uh what we feel is a very good um uh people in place with contracted services and also others. Uh so we we do feel that that is going, but they are still being advertised to fill. Uh grade five teacher, we did hire uh a long-term sub for this position. She does have her bachelor's degree in uh elementary education and but she is still an interim and will be fulfilling this as a long-term sub uh role. And then the last one is speech pathologist. Uh this has been advertised for a while. Um right now it's being filled with contracted services. As always we hope to have it filled with our own person. Um but it is being filled with contracted services at

128this point. And for custodial I think we're We just filled our last position. So awesome. >> We're in decent shape that way. >> And that's it for personnel. >> Thank you. All right. Financial, business, and district services. >> Again, I just probably echo what Bill said. We had a really good budget meeting last night. Um the departments did a really good job presenting their budget and I think they came really well prepared and we were ready to answer the questions. We always appreciate getting those questions beforehand so when we come there we're not scrambling for the answers and we can actually provide them. Um there was some things that they asked to be they have this new um share drive I think it's called >> SharePoint that's the name of it that >> yeah that

129some people can get into or not. I finally figured out how to use it and I started dropping stuff in. Um, I did drop a few more documents in there today that they requested last night. Um, so >> we can't get to them though. That's the problem. >> Yeah, that part I can't figure out for you guys, but I put them there. I did also email them directly to Mike. Um, so if he shares them out to the greater board, um, great. But I just shared them that way. Um, but I thought they were very healthy discussions and um, I think we're going in a good direction. Also, Jake sent out today a um, survey to the two board members as well as the two select boards to see what dates might work for them

130to sit down and have a meeting. So, those two big topics are around the loader and around the walkway for the voting. Um, and Jake sent out another email today to the budget committee in regards to the loader and some good discussions I think he had um, and some good alternatives that they might come up with. They do have a truck as most know that caught on fire in town um, that might have an insurance claim behind it. And so perhaps there might be an alternative of looking at there how we could use the insurance money if it's deemed totaled um to purchase the load or with some additional funds coming from the school as we would have part ownership into that um so those discussions can happen with that smaller group and then come

131back to this bigger group for discussion. Yeah, I want to commend just pause there Jake uh listening and watching last nights and he reached out and had a phone conversation today about the loader and so forth and so I just want to say that collaboration is is really uh trying to happen and so I I just want to thank him for for that. >> Well, I think the budget was shocked to hear that we weren't allowed to use a loader and that they were no longer going to be able to plow this. To be fair, the loader is no longer in good enough condition for them to lend to us anymore. So that was why that had changed. It wasn't that they just >> stop letting us use the loader. >> They were not going

132to >> it's not safe right now for either department to be using. >> I thought actually it was a great opportunity for discussion because it's a lot of money. We're all agreeing and then the conversation about how much we use it versus how much the town uses it. just a way to make the best use of our tax dollars. >> Um because that's what it is. You know, they need it, we need it, you know, we don't need it very often. What are we going to do with it for the rest of the year? Nothing. You know, we don't really have, you know, it was it was a it was a good way to kind of discuss and and look at it like this doesn't make sense. Yeah. >> You know, why is one one

133right entity? >> Yeah. one entity paying the full amount when we could >> Yeah. >> Right. So, we could share that. So, that was that was I thought a great discussion. >> Definitely. >> I'll be very curious to see what the outcome is. I bet it's going to be very creative solution that's going to benefit both hopefully hopefully benefit both the school and the town. >> Definitely like just always say I truly enjoy Jake and the communication. He always reaches out after our meetings. He sits in listens to our meetings and will call me the next and say, "Hey, um, so that collaboration that we continue to build with the town and that we're not seen as town against school, at least when it comes to administration, is super appreciative and I I really enjoy

134that. Um, but I think even this new structure I kind of wanted to touch upon just real quickly, that >> in the past it was always the board saw the budget and then it moved forward to the budget committ. >> Um, and this year the board is all all there listening to these which is what we always wanted the budget committee to show up so it wasn't like you're hearing it for the first time when it comes to you this is naturally just happening that the budget committee are hearing it but the board members are there and they're hearing at the same time so I think the conversations are better I think once it comes to the board level you've already heard all the discussion you're already informed versus vice versa >> it was like

135oh what are you guys talking about I've never heard this before talked about this for the last two months. >> So I personally think that this new structure is really >> which was the purpose of my war to begin with. >> I'm just curious as to how the board is feeling about it. Um I know it's a complete change but from my perspective >> they're throwing a lot at you and I saw the files you already put out there and >> Oh yeah, >> I'll show you how to get to the site probably. Um, but you >> but you you're so quick to respond to it and and it's incredibly thorough. Even comparing it to others that put it forth, it makes it much easier for the dialogue that takes place. >> Can't you see

136the um on their face that they're impressed with the fact that it's like we can give this information like this um and that you're so you can explain it easily um so that they don't you know I see a big difference. I see a big difference was and that was the whole purpose of me. >> I don't mind it because it helps me hear what they're asking and we have more I feel like we have um we've we've been looking at this budget for a few years. So, I kind of I can see the lines and the um the actuals and so it's just an interesting perspective just to hear what what kinds of things they're asking about >> and I'm kind of listening and >> highlighting sometimes. >> Yeah. Because you'll still have your

137turn too. >> Yes. But I also think it gives it gives confidence to the community when if they watch those meetings that we can explain every single expenditure that we're asking for and we have the data to back up every single thing we're trying to put in the budget. Um, and I think that's important. You know, it's just not a budget that's out there. >> It's a budget that we can explain easily and the the back information for it and I think the budget committee can um they feel comforted in the fact that they're getting very very honest adequate information. >> I just feel that >> for me I feel like they're more informed this year. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> I think they're hearing it firsthand which they never got before. They were kind of

138hearing it from the board's perspective to them. >> Right. I feel like this year they're asking better questions and they're actually like engaging in the conversation which is so healthy. >> I thought the way you set it up, you gave them what they asked for, which was the percent increase and and so you you've you've taken out some of the details but but given them what they wanted, which is numbers and percentages and why why is this increase and what is and the account notes and things like that are easy to follow. >> Yeah, the notes are good. Yeah. So I No, I thought I >> Yeah, >> I think I think they've been far more invested in the process this year than they have in the past. And um I think a lot of

139the questions are far better informed questions that they're asking which is nice instead of kind of it seemed like in years past it's been more reactionary and this year it's been more thoughtful I think as they've approached it of what what would it mean if you needed to to change this or or um I guess really kind of more proactive like what what impact do these line items have on things instead of kind of the well how would you deal with Yeah, >> that in >> well that >> it felt like in previous years we we are we as a board uh and and obviously the administration are defending the budget and it didn't feel like we were defending it. >> I agree that's a very good perspective right on. >> So >> okay and

140on that note >> thank you um approval of minutes. So, >> oh, sorry. Question. >> I'll let Robin go, but I just wanted to I want to jump in on one thing that um Christine brought up to. >> So, what I was gonna say is like um we have the meeting next week, whatever whenever they decide whatever day it's going to be. Um I'm looking for direction of the board for that committee. >> Like, >> okay, we were going to ask the same question now. Now, that things came up last night around the the loaders. I think it's specifically the rotor, not the loader, not so much the the walkway, but it's a large ticket item. >> A little bit of guidance on what the rest of the board feels would be appropriate, I think,

141would be helpful >> to prepare for your meeting. >> Right. Got it. Rather rather than going negotiations and then coming back to the meeting afterwards. And correct me if I'm wrong and I might I might have totally not um have this right in my mind, but I thought the last school board meeting we had said that we do not need a walkway. >> Oh, I think we're talking about the loader first. Are we talking about loader and there are two? So, just to put everything in >> anyone who's not following us at home, >> we have agreed that we'll have two representatives. It's Robin and it's Ben who will meet with two selectman representatives to discuss two topics that we need further guidance on and agreement on. One is is the loader uh around purchasing

142this loader who who benefits from this loader and so forth. And so clearly the budget committee is not the appropriate place for that conversation. It is the appropriate place for these two entities and we've tked that and that will happen. The other task is around the voting site and the selectman's wishes to extend a walkway uh possibly to ease the voter uh >> access. Thank you. Uh and those are the two topics and so yes uh start with loader. >> Let's start with the loader and maybe we can >> I'll just speak. I would I would like a I would love to see a shared cost between based on what I heard last night. What that shared cost is, I don't know, but I think we both have a vested interest in getting a new

143loader. >> We're not throwing our money away. It's going to benefit the the town and the school. And so I would love to enter in some sort of agreement with the town to share the cost of a new loader. So, just kind of to update you in the conversation Jake and I had today, maybe might be some events questioning >> maybe >> um that if this vehicle is deemed totaled, so it's a big if, right? Um >> Oh, the truck. Yes, >> the truck that was on fire. There's a possibility that again this is all up to whatever may happen that they could receive the town could receive $80,000 in insurance money for this truck. So if it was deemed totaled at that point after January 1st the town could purchase they can't purchase a

144truck because that goes against the warrant article that didn't pass. However, a loader would not be considered a truck. Therefore, they could use the insurance money to purchase this loader. Again, if the insurance claim was approved and this was all to happen, let's say they got $80,000, they would be looking for an additional $60,000 if said loader was $140,000. Right? So the conversation between Jake and I that obviously will come back to the smaller group was if this was to happen, how could the school possibly fund the $60,000? So we had a really good discussion back and forth and I said I think there's a possibility through our trust funds because the bigger concern is that this isn't impacting next year, right? So if this $140,000 was to pass our budget, that's going to help

145next year. But we have a motor that's not working right now. What are we going to do this year is the bigger question. How are we moving snow this year? Um, so in turn, we could purchase this loader this year. How could we do that? We haven't budgeted for it. We don't have it in our budget this year, but we do have trust funds as well as we have um the fund balance that we retain every year that we have retained $489,000 last year and this year that we're holding on to in case of an emergency. It used to be fund balance could only be used if your budget was to end at zero. Now the board could vote to use in an emergency situation. Could this be emergency? Yeah, we don't have means of

146possibly moving. I mean, we could we would ultimately we would remove our we would use our trucks. It would take longer. It would take more, but we could make it happen. But in collaboration um if we could find either the trust fund money or um fund balance to offset this other 60,000, then we would go in joint ownership of said loader. that the title would be in joint with the town and the school and that we would have the ownership during the months of say November to March that it would be here on site for us to use through the winter months but then the town would have it through the remainder of the months for their usage. We would sign anou great world of possibilities that that could happen but that's one of the

147things that was presented today. Jake said it way better in his nice email that he sent out um mean it be removed from next year's budget. >> Correct. So it would come out of next year's budget. We would pay for it in trust funds and then we we could replenish our trust funds. If a warrant article was to pass this year through surplus money, we would refish our trust funds and things would be good. Um I think it's a great use of money if we were to go down that road. But again, this is very much like if they total this truck, I mean they >> and their selectments So >> there's a lot of whatifs, but that is another conversation you will hear while you were there. >> I I think there there's a

148few other things to this that haven't that haven't come up. And I think another funding source that given I know we're not on it, but given the the walkway conversation, there's impact there's impact fees that are available to us and the catastrophic failure of the loader certainly I think falls under something like that of it's got see enough road wear time because of the burden placed on it due to the growing town that it's failed and now it needs to be replaced. I think that certainly beats the burden of being taken out of >> impact fees and then the town gets impact fees just like we do. So I would certainly want to explore the potential of funding it out of that rather than necessarily having to put it into our budgets at all. >>

149There's also storage there. You know, I I would hate to see us necessarily just parking it on the lawn with a bucket over the exhaust pipe like you see in a lot of in a lot of other places and letting the weather eat away at this machinery for six months out of the year because it's up here and not down in the in the town garage. So, we we there's some infrastructure that needs to come along with this as well of we need to find a place here on site. Maybe it could be in the back corner of the parking lot where the buses normally park when we have travel teams or something. I don't know, but some form of at least semi-permanent structure needs to be put up that's going to protect that piece

150of equipment from the weather when it's here on site for us. There was I know Josh also mentioned some discussion about a salt bay. So maybe this is going to be something that's going to be kind it could be put together as a combined garage area where you've got the machine and the salt in order to keep the salt from getting spoiled and contaminating other things. this this is more than a $140,000 piece of equipment. There's there's a lot more that's going to have to go with this besides that. Um there there's some discussion about splitting the the cost because I think we don't we don't feel we're going to be putting many hours of use on this piece of equipment versus what the town might. I would certainly be expecting that they would be

151using it a lot during the spring, summer, and fall for for projects where we're anticipating really using it on active snow days and maybe a couple other days beyond that. So, I'll be generous and say we might use it 12 days and maybe put 30 operating hours on on that piece of equipment. So, trying to come up with some appropriate ratio, I think, of of how much of our funds are put towards all of this and how much the towns are should should be a conversation as well. >> I have a question. Why are we assuming we have to house the truck? because you wouldn't you wouldn't want to bring it back and forth for every single storm. >> We could I suppose I don't even know if the highway department Well, they should try

152to have it down there. >> Um and I don't know what the licensing requirements are for it. I don't know I don't know what capacity they use that loader in now. If they've been bringing it up here on a truck, then I'm presuming that it's not licensed for road usage. >> No, they they did drive it up then. >> Okay. Okay. >> And we have people who are qualified to do it. We have guys who can drive this. So, >> so I was just confused because if they had a loader now, >> they would be housing it. >> But this would be school equipment. >> If we were to purchase it, >> but if you do a shared thing, >> if we do a shared thing, there's no reason why they can't house it. >>

153No, it's only the inconvenience, but that has been what's been done in the past. So, they would uh the night before a storm it would be driven up uh or the morning of the storm it would be driven up. Um usually it's at 3:00 a.m. when there's no one else on the road cuz >> it's quite quite a sight to see. Yes. Uh >> but that's okay. >> It is okay. >> That has to happen because we're using it for such a minimal amount of time >> that it makes sense for them to house it and for us to get it when it's needed. And if that ends up being that that's fine. I just want to throw out all all the different possibilities. >> Well, I would want to know about that. I would

154want to have a is part of the shared agreement >> of who's going to house. >> Um and also there's no reason why we can't put salt into that agreement as well. >> So instead of us having to build a salt thing, there's no reason why we can't have salt but get salt for our convenience. But that's another whole conversation. And >> Matt, where are you leaning for the loader? There's definitely room for a share and some agreement to be made. It's it doesn't make sense when the town needs it. We need it, but we need it for a minute amount of time. >> Um there I won't say there's a deal to be made, but there is there's an agreement that can be made and >> you know the blueprint will happen, but >>

155let's make a deal right here. Yeah, >> I've got here. Nobody's really in favor of us footing the full bill for for this thing for the minimal amount of time to use it. Okay. >> And I think if the discussion comes up as to why did we put it on budget is because this conversation had to happen like somebody choice get a voter and so we put it on in our budget to start. >> I think we also need to kind of shoehorn into this conversation of there's to Josh's point last night. What do we do about this year? They don't have the loader this year. We don't have the extra truck this year, right? So, are we gonna use some of these funds or are we gonna come up to some agreement on rental

156of of this of this piece of equipment >> to make sure that we can take care of things? And that may fall more to us because I I don't know, and I could be wrong, if the if the town rents the the loader for eight months or whatever they needed to before we were to go into a purchase for the following year, maybe they can because the town took it instead of us, maybe that would allow them to use it anywhere, including school grounds versus if we rent it, is it only going to be subject to our employees and the school district grounds and not allow the town to be able to use it? there be a question on how do we address this year as well and I think both need to be addressed

157in this conversation. >> Ben, I think you made a really good point with the impact piece because you could say that this is loader is needed due to the condition of the current loader due to its usage on our increased popularity. I think it would be a way better use of impact fees to purchase this water now and use our impact fees to make sure the town and the schools are plowed versus a walkway that they're presenting impact fees for for voting which we already have a >> a new roadway that we just paved and put in. I think it's a better use of the town >> with no with no tax impact >> and it would have no tax and we could use it. >> There's some expiring funds in 2028. I know that's

158a little ways away, but it's not that far away. It's not that far. And and so it's like, >> use it or lose it, right? >> We could have so we could have it for this winter. We could go out and buy this thing next month. >> The key the key is for this winter, right? >> That's the bigger key. >> And you could say the trucks could do it. But for those who >> more time, by the way, I'm not just to be fair and honest. Uh we we need this and it and when you get big snow, our trucks are not strong enough to clear a whole to push back so much snow. >> However, to clear a parking lot on a typical snow, our our trucks can do it and they can

159do it. But if again, it's all about timing and so forth. And I don't want to bore people, but if it's like a 3:00 a.m. snowfall and with the loader it takes them an hour to clear it twice or whatever, then great, we're in good shape. But if it takes the trucks three hours or four hours and and then they can't keep up with the the the the snowfall because of the pace of it, then it's then it's canceled day or or uh in >> don't say the word what year are we putting that's correct. We just purchased this truck last year. I mean this truck Yeah, sure. It can clear >> an inch or two out of the parking lots and push it away and we could open and make sure things safe for

160people to walk, but 12 inches of snow. We can't move snowbanks. Correct. >> For a snowstorm. >> Correct. And your snowbanks will just kick. That's exactly how the loaders use. >> Totally agree. I used to plow. >> Okay. You know more than I do. >> You need that heavy machinery to >> get it off on the other side. >> And the almanac predicts the storm in January. >> So I feel do you feel like you have enough from the board? >> I think so. Robin and and unless anybody has anything else anything else they want to share, but >> so I have like no full purchase. We're not >> correct. person in impact fees for this year like >> I think for I think for any of it as as much as we can leverage

161into the impact fees >> because it just that just seems to make more sense for everybody in general like there's there's no need why why this piece of equipment needs to impact anybody's taxes we we've taken all these impact fees and we don't typically use very much of them and going forward now that we've paid off the the middle school expansion we aren't even drawing on those impact fees so I'd rather see that money that has come that has come to us through the town's growth get used >> rather than us have to ask taxpayers for it. And I think the taxpayers would appreciate us not asking. >> I do agree. I do think there's some negotiation that needs happening with the 60,000 because like Ben said, we may only be using it at 12

162days. Is that worth $60,000? >> Correct. Details. You're gonna bring and you're gonna you're gonna let's make a deal and then but you're going to probably bring it back to the board for our money without 40,000,000. We'll be coming back with whatever comes out that first meeting at the next school. >> But they all require board approval, by the way. The use of impact fees and the use of trust fund. They all require your >> approval. I don't think and tell me if I'm wrong. The last school board meeting when we we basically kind of just did a straw vote or whatever. Not even a vote, but an opinion of we do not need this walkway. Okay. Hold. Yeah. So, okay. So, so loader loader conversation is finished. the sidewalk. So, now we're going to

163talk about the sidewalk. >> I don't I don't think we need the sidewalk personally, >> but other thoughts? >> I don't either. I agree. >> Yeah. And I think >> we need the sidewalk. The new sidewalk. >> Not that I get a vote. I don't think we located like >> next to another sidewalk. >> Sidewalk to go around the sidewalk. people drive to get people whether it's a golf cart or a vehicle to drive the extended distance for the particular gym that we are using and not changing. Um so if somebody needed accessibility to that front door, but then there were people walking and there was let's say a a golf cart, they they could walk on another sidewalk, which we just did a very expensive paving project. Now, we're gonna repave >> um >>

164that's what that's what the >> select board is is asking us for this voting just for voting. >> 5 foot roadway now that goes up and around and they want six foot >> sidewalk. You have a long sidewalk that goes into the building, right? For voting. >> It's not even a sidewalk. It's a road. It's a road. >> You can drive a car. >> Is it the new gym or the old gym? >> The new gym. >> Okay. So, Then they want to they want us to think about putting a five-foot sidewalk next to that sidewalk so they can ride a golf cut or a vehicle which to me is a safety issue. If people are walking on this sidewalk or road to go up to the building, they are they going to back out

165or are they going to try to turn around on that walkway? >> The the objective that they outlined was to have the roadway that's there today allow drop off at the door. Right. That's >> And then you would have this additional space for foot traffic, pedestrian traffic, but it would be a oneway up so no one would have to walk or be wheeled or valve carded. >> But you're still taking that. >> No, I I I get it. I'm just so everyone understands what So that's that's the part of, you know, there's some big concerns. You can't just necessarily add five more feet of pavement. >> You would have to put a barrier >> and truly silo it. And I don't think a barrier would make sense there, right, when you look at it. But

166you >> we've done so good to have the building look once. Why do we want to put something silly in it? >> The only way I can get it would be I think on voting days if we put saw horses, you know, some of the the portable barricades up between the concrete sidewalk and the access road. I think that suffices a barricade. I don't agree with doing a six foot because it's going to mess with the drainage and everything that we had all engineered for the road that we had put in. >> And I don't realistically that extra foot I don't think makes the walking any more or less difficult. People are can be polite and say excuse me and shuffle around each other. >> And by allowing that roadway to be open for drop

167off at at the door if if necessary, >> I think we're we're alleviating a lot of those problems. But I I don't want to I don't want to go into anything that's going to >> disrupt the engineering that went into what we had. >> In an ideal world, I I think they came they should have come to us when they knew about the project and and pitched this so we could have had it all done at the same time. >> But I I I can acquies a little bit that putting in a concrete sidewalk to the side and putting up temporary barricade to allow and vehicle traffic at the same time >> would make some sense and in general not necessarily upset the aesthetic of it all. But then there's still some questions of who's

168going to take take over all that maintenance of now it's >> going to be another >> 200 and some odd feet of material that we need to take care of. It's not pavement so it's concrete so you can't do the same things with salt and all that. So there's there has to be some consideration around that, >> right? >> And I would agree if you if it was I think the discussion has to happen, right, to to figure out what that pieces. If you were to put a barricade there, I would we can use the loader. Um I would do the concrete ones that are movable where a loader could place them out along there to silo it. So you wouldn't have to leave them out, but there is a cost to one, you'd have

169to purchase them, store them, and then of course have the team to put them out and remove them. And we are looking at three different election days coming up, right? So that's it's one thing to say it's all once every four years or every two years, but when you have three in a year, what does that do for the additional expense? So >> I understand the piece of it. Um, you know, this has been a heated discussion uh back and forth and you know, I I like the fact that this all stemmed to those that don't know, of a charge of about $8,000 to keep fire personnel there. That's what it comes down to is that $8,000 that's on the town's budget is to have fire personnel there that they could bring people from the

170parking lot where they could drop off and escort them, wheel them, bring them in the golf cart. Does that not seem like an exorbitant amount of money? Um, >> that's for it requires. >> Oh, but that's still that's still three days >> of how many people? >> It's like it's it's like four of them and they get detail pay and and it's and it's several members. Like they there's two people in the morning, there's two people in no, there's two people. >> It's like $3,000 a day. >> A 13 14 hour day though. >> Are we required by law to have >> Well, that's was going to be my question. That's going to be one of my questions for them is like what is required by law? Why do you have to have the fire

171department there? Before this was moved to the OD gym when it was at the Allen gym, we didn't have fire departments there and we had people walking from the big the big parking lot because all of the handicap parking lots were taken parking spaces were taken. Some of the people that would be pulled up in front and dropped off had a very difficult time if they had a walker or a wheelchair because we never cut out that area. >> They would have to go down 15 ft down. Um so that would be an issue I have. And then there's another issue legally. >> Um >> the people that are running for office legally have a right to be within a certain distance to be able to, you know, stand and and have their signs and

172all. Um, and I do have concerns if the the goal is to come up this new roadway that they want and come out front to drop off at the beginning of the building and they're going to come down. Are they going to come down the existing roadway? Because how are they going to do? They're going to back up and >> they would have to leave out it be a oneway all the way around. So, they'd have to go around to come back. >> But that's what I'm saying. So, >> I agree. And I mean, not saying the safety issue too of for voting day, there's kids running around everywhere. That's what I'm saying, right? Because people bring kids >> and they should because they have to. Yeah. We want >> It's a great experience for

173them to see the voting >> to bring your children with you to vote. Well, bring your children with you to vote. You should be They should be safe. >> Absolutely. >> So, can I just ask Ben and Robin, do you feel like you have enough input from us as a board? >> I think we've hit all the topics. I really but it's been good because like you guys brought up a couple other things I had thought of just >> I mean I think it's basically going to be the town is going to come back with why they need it and we're going to come back I mean now I know myself one of the questions are going to be like well legally why do you have to have that many fire personnel or whatever there

174>> right how many do how many do they >> and we all know that we've had we've had um people who have come with walkers um who have declined to go in a wheelchair who have declined to go in the golf cart because they don't want to do that. Uh and and I'm sorry, but working in assisted living, >> there's a pride element there that exists that they don't want to do that for. >> Um but so that would be my that would be my thing. So I I I think we're fine. I think it's going to be basically based on what we don't what my biggest thing was is I wanted to get the board's opinion of do we even need this sidewalk? We would never have We don't have any intention of ever

175putting a sidewalk in or a road like that. So you said no, you're not in favor of it. You're not in favor of it. I'm not in favor of it. You're not in favor of it. I >> I would want to see a little bit more discussion around it. I'm not >> like right now I think the safety concerns outweigh putting an additional spot there, >> but but I do understand >> where you want folks to be able to have access to the building. Um I think there's enough mechanisms to get folks from the parking lot >> to the voting. >> Okay. >> So after reading the attorney general's off uh letter >> and deciphering it >> um >> basically what they said is that it has to it has to be easy access to

176the building. So what that in my opinion what that means is that there can be no obstruction in the way that would prevent easy access into the entrance of the building. >> I think we made it easier with the paving project. Much easier. >> That's my opinion. My opinion is that when you say easy access, you're saying that there can be nothing in the way that prevents you from easily entering the building. It's not about distance or any of that. So, I think we we're fine in that level. I mean, we it's very clear um to be able to do that, right? I mean, it's there's no obstructions in the way. There's nobody hampering your way. There's nobody, you know, there's no golf carts in your way. There's no there's no way of uh candidates

177are not in your way. So, I think we have [Laughter] I think I think we we meet that easily accessible. I do think it's important during that discussion is that budget line is inclusive of other things. It's in they lumped in a lot on that budget line. One is the fire personnel, one is the the food for all the volunteers. So that line needs to be broken up to figure out what is the true cost of having that personnel there versus the potential cost and impact to change everything of where it is. Well, I will tell you I used to cook for the >> All right. I think I think we can we I also feel pretty confident saying we're gonna have more than one meeting with them to get through this. >> I think

178it's fair to also say like that the town does have the added cost for the overtime for the fire department or whatever whomever they deem necessary to come up, >> but we have a cost too as a school district >> for maintaining those facilities. We set up our custodians are out there. They put out the boots. down there taking down the booths where, you know, we have people on staff the whole time. We like, so they have a cost, but we have a cost, too. And I think it's a shared obligation. And I don't think that we should be on the hook for their cost, nor should they be on the hook for our cost because it's town thing. So, it's a split. And yeah, there is a cost, but we we're obligated to do

179that for our residents, >> right? But exactly. We're paying overtime. Yeah, >> we're paying over time to people to do this stuff >> and we don't build >> my glasses. >> Okay. So, I have our input and we look forward to future discussions about the sidewalk and the loader. Yes. >> All right. Approval of public minutes from October 2nd, 2025. >> Well, are there non right? >> Well, they're public and there but they're in draft form and they're not finished. >> So, I don't think we can highlight. Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, we're gonna >> draft form. >> They're not done. And the reason for that is that there was two different feeds out there. >> One was the feed that >> Hang on. >> The reason for the minutes not being finished is because

180Daphne was >> Dagy. I'm sorry. I don't know why I just >> Dany next. Dagy had seen the schoolboard one that ETB put out and it was like an hour and a half >> which the length that we put on our website was two hours so she didn't have all the minutes >> right so that's okay we can correct that dag I figured as much because I did see that the one that uh there was a great video by the way but the one I think that got posted on ETV was not it it got cut off so >> that's why they'll we'll move that forward Christine did tell me today that she can drop the meeting tonight on our YouTube channel and put that on the website that where you can find it. >>

181Perfect. >> Yeah, we did that last week too and Maria's really great. >> Yes, exactly. >> Behind the scenes >> getting us the link. >> Yeah. >> Is there a way maybe this is a little Feel free to feel free to veto this, but like could we send that out through Parents Square? >> Absolutely. I'm just thinking I'm just thinking because >> I can do it tomorrow as soon as Yeah. >> As soon as it's ready >> because that's if it's if it's ready quickly. We don't want to dep depend on if ETV has uh people on vacation. >> I don't think it's so much people finding it on our our >> it's the audience that we can't get to. Yes. >> That that goes to ETV. But but absolutely we can put it out.

182>> I don't know. Maybe like so >> we will we will share it to parents. So, um, >> a suggestion would be on the calendar for the town where we list it as well. If you can put a link to it, that way if someone goes out there, that's where that link will be live. >> Yeah. Because I think it's important that um we don't have control of if ETV is having any correct correct difficulties. We have to make sure that we have that out there somehow for the public. What what also about speaking of that maybe um the rotation of our digital sign maybe the weeks that we have schoolboard meetings it wants to rotate through like school board meeting Thursday >> because isn't it usually a rotation information >> updated on the digital

183>> just to get that >> it's so nice we have public we have public again we have public the school board meetings were always supposed to be on the school calendars >> oh on the district calendar oh Okay. They were always supposed to be on. >> If you go into the website, there's school calendars in there. >> Not that printed. Yeah. The one page printed, but they're definitely on. But honestly, honestly, we went back and forth on our schoolboard meeting calendar long after the district calendar was approved. They're kind of Anyway, >> uh so we're moving October 2nd to >> We'll get the finalized. >> There were no non-public meeting minutes in the drive. Uh, did >> We didn't have a nonpublic. So, this shouldn't be there. >> And and we're back to July 17.

184>> More importantly, are they finally correct? >> Yes, they are. I read them and >> Christine took it upon herself and thoughts on July 17th, 2025. >> Oh my god. >> They're finally right. I think we need to >> I'm sorry that I bringing it up, but that's fine. Like, can we finally end this? Yes. >> Did anyone do I >> motion to um tick mark? >> Motion made by Robin. Uh seconded by Ben. All in favor? >> All that passes 5. >> Finally. >> Hallelujah. >> Our best accomplishment of the night. >> All right. Manifest. Here goes. >> Here we go. So long. accounts payable deposited on October 3rd, 2025 in the amount of 142,854. >> So, so move. >> Second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? I. All oppose.

185That passes 5-0. >> Okay. I'm going to do the next three all together. Payroll deposited on September 26, 2025 in the amount of $328,985. Payroll deposited on September 26, 2025 in the amount of $95,85220. And payroll deposited on September 26th, 2025 in the amount of $4,330.80. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? I. All oppose. That passes. 5. Payroll deposit. I'm doing these three together. Payroll deposit on October 10th, 2025. in the amount of 344,49622. Payroll deposited on October 10th, 2025 in the amount of $11,8767. And payroll deposit on October 10th, 2025 in the amount of $690.31. >> So moved. >> Second. Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? >> I. All oppose. That passes 5-0. Board comments. We'll start with >> Ben. All right.

186Uh, >> the only comments I' I'd have tonight are again to to say how well the budget conversations seem to be going thus far. I hope they continue through the through the rest of the process, which I know is going to be the SAU in a couple of weeks. Uh, and then the budget will be coming to us and I'm looking forward to having our our review of what the budget committee presents to us. Uh and also thank you to everyone on the board for the healthy discussions on both JBAR and all the conversation around what we will uh be discussing with the town in regards to the walkway and the loader. A lot of good input on that and and thank you for bringing up a couple things that hadn't at least crossed my

187mind yet to discuss during that. So thank you >> Jen. >> Um we had just mentioned earlier maybe coming back circling back at some point to our norms. I put a note down already Norm's feedback for next meeting and also finalize my goals. So those will be on the next agenda as well and next agenda will be a little fairly full. We'll also have EMC here giving an update on the completed uh project as well just around that. So it will be fairly full agenda next next. >> Okay. Hopefully we won't need one. Um I uh >> to piggy back. Yes. To piggy back on the norms. Um actually I talked to Ben and >> I did send out the draft by the way. I have >> Yes, we saw that. But um Ben made

188a good suggestion that um because I was going to suggest we we have it as a scheduled topic, but if people weren't prepared to talk about it, so even though I hate to kick it down can down the road, we will kick it down the road and we'll come back to it as a scheduled topic. >> And the draft is out there. So review it, please. >> Yes. And can we send that to Greg? >> Yes, >> we we met. So we met for about a half an hour as a public workshop to just talk about schoolboard norms and then um Bill um captured them into a doc. So we can and we can certainly update or rearrange or highlight or just delete if things are redundant, whatever we want to do to um so

189thank you for bringing that back up. >> Anything else? >> I don't think so. >> Robin. >> Okay. [Laughter] I just want to let you know Robin it is 8:26 >> and we are going to a nonp >> so keep it short. >> Uh if you keep it short I'll keep it short. >> Well I have important stuff to talk about. >> Okay. Um during our uh safety meeting uh emergency meeting today uh when we were talking about all types of training that our teachers are going through and you know and all that stuff. I unfortunately this week I've had the opportunity to talk to four different families who lost students to suicide. >> And um it got me thinking like we do all of this staff development for teachers to learn how to handle

190all of emergencies, you know, active shooter, all types of stuff. But what do we do for our students? >> So we have signs of suicide is mandatory. You told me that. Yeah. And but I want to see I want us to seriously start getting into assemblies where students have the ability to listen to people who are dealing with these issues, have survived these issues, have youth that they can relate to. Um I think there's so many different or and I know there's money involved with that, but there's also money involved in staff development, right? So, I just think I I I'm thinking about like South Carolina. They had four mass shootings in one month in South Carolina. Now, they weren't in schools, but still, children need to understand the complexity of the world that we

191live in out there. And I'm not even talking about elementary level. They're too young for that stuff. But when we get to the higher levels, they have to understand And they have to hear people that, you know, people who have been in games, people who whatever, they have to understand that choices you make and the consequences that you suffer from them can be horrendous and they have to also, you know, what it does to your family, what it does to your friends, what it does to your schoolmates, what it does to your teachers, what it does to adults. So I I just think that I want to see us spend time in I had assemblies all the time when I was in high school all the time about different topics and stuff like that. And

192I don't see schools doing this anymore. >> I really don't see schools getting into all, you know, yeah, we can have the all school pride thing and all school, you know, wear your pajama day and all that stuff. That's that's different. We're talking about life issues that these kids are facing out there in this world that exists today that they have to know if you're going to drink and drive and you get in a crash, if you pass away, you don't come back from that. Your family is forever changed by that decision that you made. And we have to we have to let kids understand that your decisions you make matter and there can be a drastic consequence for that. So I I just I think we need to spend more time in this the

193culture that's out there that we we have to spend more time educating especially our high school kids um be because we have kids smoking pot in fourth grade for God's sakes. You know what I mean? We >> Yeah. I think um maybe we could get some data from our school people about I know some of it's embedded in curriculum in health classes and things like that. So I mean I I'm not sure if like a schoolwide assembly on on signs of suicide is the best way to address that but I do know that there are pieces in schools. >> We can review what we can talk about that as as >> well there are state programs that can come out and do things as well. >> Sure. I think. Yeah, sure. Um I I I

194just want to pick I am gonna interrupt you for a second because um you've made sometimes we talk about mental health and you have and and what you're talking about we we we schools do focus a lot on students mental health because we >> but it's it's kind of ironic because what you're talking about in terms of like students who are feeling hopeless um we're talking about their mental health and we are as schools we're really trying to address that because so it's not an assembly, it's it's the counselor that they may go see to check in with or maybe a school school teacher. So I think a lot of this is tied to mental health. >> Well, I'm not it's not just I'm not just talking about suicide. I'm talking about, >> you know,

195drunk driving. I'm talking about Yeah. >> I'm talking about um >> assault, all different types of things. >> I understand we've concentrated on mental health. I think we've gone too crazy with mental health and we make all these kids feel like there's something wrong with them. Ever since co it's been mental health, mental health, mental health that every one of them has a problem. Every one of them's depressed. Every one of them is whatever. So >> yeah, there are mental health is a huge aspect of what's happening in schools. So, I know it's tied it's tied to students making um bad choices. Um students engaging in risky behavior, students feeling hopeless trauma at home. Like it's just it's tied to their success, their academic success. Like it's mental health is just a massive part of

196what every educator is doing every day. If you feel free to jump in. >> Yeah, I think I think a lot of what many of us are trying to do is um attach the negative the stigma that is attached to mental health and not talk about mental health as a bad thing. Um, not to be too personal, but you know, we we talk about that in our family and it's it's it's in a lot of ways a preventive measure like you go to the gym, you get a good night's rest, you eat healthy well-balanced meals to make your body healthy. What are you doing to make your mind healthy? Right? And so what are those practices? And so I don't think mental health necessarily to be like, "What's the matter with me? I need to

197address my mental health." No, how do I how do I get to and sustain a place of being mentally healthy, like healthy thoughts around my decision- making? And so, I think that that is that is a big role of the school and educating the whole child, not just math and reading and but but yes, your mental well-being as well. We have physical um health classes um and so I I I absolutely And you know what? Some of this could be addressed more in health class. >> It and it probably is and we may not know that. That's that's more of what I was I think there's a lot of things that are happening and I happen to have a high schooler and a middle schooler. So I do hear some of what happens but >>

198and and I think a lot more is happening that I don't hear about. So So I just I don't I don't want to dismiss that the fact that this is really important that we are are talking about lot lots of things that are not just math, science, socialism and reading. But um but I do think that the school I think many schools are doing its part um because it's what kids need. But I think it would be helpful for us to know what are some of the topics that the schools whether it's the elementary school what are their overarching topics what is the middle school and maybe what's the high school what's just being it's just part of their their um whether it's through his assembly or uh or guest speaker I know like Haven

199I believe usually comes in I think there's all sorts of so how do we know that these things are being addressed >> I will get >> I think guest speakers or emails I think an email will be fine too >> thank you a great thing because even as adults we go to conferences and I think some of my >> best impactful conferences I've ever attended had an amazing keynote speaker that really told a story that you were like wow like >> oh my gosh that's what I mean by assemblies >> I remember as a kid too having a ton of assemblies and I I don't feel they happen as much anymore >> it doesn't happen as much anymore >> because they're expensive >> I don't even know I I think they just kind of went

200to the wayside. We do them as adults. >> Well, we do them. >> Yeah. >> Anything else, Robin? >> Oh gosh, you didn't get now. >> Um Matt, go let you know. Hey, I saw that. >> Oh, it's a good one. Come on. >> Yeah, I get picked on. Huh? Poor Bill. Catch it straight. Yeah. Uh, a quick shout out and thank you as we dare say we're I won't say in the home stretch of budget season, if you will, but one more meeting to go and all the work that's gone into it um across so many departments, so many people and everything in between has gone really well um from sitting on that side of the table and hearing the feedback which is great. And then uh lastly, welcome. >> Thank you very much.

201I like uh I'm no longer the newest member of this group. So So thank you. >> You're welcome. You're welcome. Glad to help. >> That's all I have. >> Okay, just go ahead because I know I got something I >> I'd like to say, you know, I've learned some interesting things here tonight that you know, just being different. I've been I've been on this the Fremont school board for >> 12 years. >> Wow. >> So, but I've learned things here tonight that because we're not high school, right? So something but just the way you guys do like I'm really interested in how you do in your budget. >> I'm going to go find I'm hoping there's a video online. I'm going to go watch it >> and I'm interested about what you meant by that's

202the article you you submitted because I want to know how did that change happen. So it sounds like you're submitting through them and they're giving you a budget. >> So that's just an interesting concept I haven't ever heard. >> Yeah. I had put a Warren article through asking uh basically saying um to end the budget committee as it was either a formal budget committee or an advisory budget committee because there's a big difference in in both. >> Um they chose to keep the formal budget committee and so now we're saying if you're going to be a formal budget committee then you're going to go by the law how it's supposed to >> I'm going to look into that. >> Yeah. >> Um but from the Fremont standpoint we're really excited to have our kids start

203here next year. >> Good. Um I know they did a informal vote of the kids find out where they're going and we're starting to plan that stuff out now and you know we're going to have numbers to if he hasn't shared already. >> Yeah. So there's a lot of excitement among the school board you know about the new options we have. >> Um and I know I've talked to a couple families who you know they're like happens where I'm going. >> So there's excitement within three months. So I can't wait to Thank you. That's it. >> Thank you. Yeah. Thanks for joining us. I mean, you're doing like double duty. >> I know. >> I had one Tuesday night. Now it's tonight. >> Oh, same weeks and everything. >> It is. So, our next one

204is >> the Tuesday before. >> Yeah. So, I have one that week. You have your next one? >> Yeah. >> I have school board the fourth, budget comm. And I'll be here the second. >> Oh my gosh. >> Wow. >> I do love the school board, but not that much. Yeah. >> Oh, I know what the other one. >> Sorry. >> Wait long enough. >> Okay. Um, I wanted to propose in the future, this is not anything whatever current, >> but I am interested in thinking about if we could possibly put a forum together and involve the PTO's in helping with that. Um, as you know is a forum. It can't be you have an opinion on whatever. It's just basically information that you're giving and the PTO by babysitting if they want in in

205snacks and refreshments. But I would love to put a forum together to explain some of um the um the special education costs because until like I had that meeting, >> I never knew that we had to hold $75,000. And how long have I been a schoolboard member? >> I never knew that. So how many other people don't know that? And I think the more we that we can get out to the community about um why the expenses are the way that they are and how they you know how this is what we offset with. This is what we try. I just think I think it would be a very valuable tool. You know, like tonight when I mentioned that $800 and whatever thousand dollars for special education, but we only got reimbursed 267,000 from the

206state that now we're stuck with, you know, $600,000 plus that we have to come up with as taxpayers, you know. So, um I think it's important for people to understand that stuff. Um and I I'm hoping and I would encourage the parents who might be watching this at home or word of mouth for other parents watch the budget committee meetings because that's when you truly get an ex explanation from the people who do the job uh of why things are happening the way I mean it's not just like oh they keep on raising the cost of it we're not raising the cost of education we're trying to >> do what we need to do for the students but also we're we're held hostage by the state right um of what they're willing to pay which

207is only 17% lowest in the nation um So people need to hear that information and I think they need to hear it from us in an informative form, you know, forum that I've held many forums before >> in elementary school for for very big for very big um things like when we were co-op, we held forums for co-op so people could understand things. >> Um and I I would just like to see us kind of moving in that direction so that we're very transparent with you know what our what our costs are. I know. I saw that. Uh, you know, like so people can understand more because it's so easy to I'm sorry all you people that do up in squawks. No, no disrespect, but it's so easy to think you know the answer to

208a question, right? And then you're going off and all this stuff is spreading around town and it's not even anywhere near the truth, >> right? >> And unfortunately, people are geared towards that type of information than they are. >> Then call Christine. She'll answer any question you have. Call Bill, he'll he'll answer any question you have. You can email any board member >> and we will try to get you the answer. >> I'm wondering if you know when you make your um deliberative session video if you could sort of in layman's terms just define a little bit about like the requirements and special costs because that is that is a topic that does often come up in terms of budgets and just >> not to highlight because I mean if you are a taxpayer who

209lives in this town and you have a child who is an out of district That's not your wish. Your wish is so so sometimes I think it feels very um like people are being attacked, you know, like my kids costing 100,000, you know, is is we're my kids spending they're spending 100,000 on my kid. It's not about that. It's just there's there's certain requirements. There's certain >> um >> obligations of the school district and um this is why you know special education is let's say it's 30% of our budget or whatever. It's it is it is because um if that were your child, you would want the best >> um for your child. But it is it is so maybe there's a way to put it in there. I'm not saying not do the form,

210but I'm it's more of a fat fact >> facts. Um >> any more anything that we can explain so that we're not hearing all the time, well, the law says we just have to do it and that's just the way it is because that's a copout excuse for me. We have to provide information as to what >> that sucks if it you know when you're talking about >> someone's child with a disability that's that that doesn't sorry if I said that inappropriately but that doesn't feel very good as a as a parent. >> No but we were thinking of having a special education uh night anyways just like we do for parent advisory and and so now we can cater that topic to include some of how that financing works. >> Could I could I

211suggest maybe trying to make it some some sort of make it a little bit more of an event because I know when it comes to some of these things. It's it's a bit of a dry topic and you know this is certainly the type of thing we'd want to try and get people to come in for the summer because nobody would come. But it you know I I like the idea of it kind of being a forum and and getting the PTO's to help coordinate with it. Maybe if we turned it into some some kind of an event in during the winter time when there's a few less things to necessarily go out and do. The weather's miserable, get the PTO's to do like a movie day or something like that. So the little kids

212can go see um something age appropriate at the elementary school. bigger kids can maybe use one of the gyms here and either do sports or watch movie here and then set up the media center or the Allen gym or something and have Moss prepare something so people could come in and sit and you know actually make it like an hourong thing. Have a little something to eat, have some coffee, have it be something that makes it worth coming out, bring your kids, >> but not have to worry about them and actually be able to have >> a long form conversation about some of this stuff instead of it being, hey, come on down, we'll give you a presentation. you know, we can try and figure out some ideas. >> You know, middle school activity nights

213are 90 minutes. >> You have a captive audience because you're dropping your kid off at 6:30. You have to pick them back up at 8. That's over there. You host something here. >> I will start finish. Everybody has to leave by 8:00 to go pick up their kids. That would at least capture those parents. Um, just a thought. Yeah. >> Or or or piggyback it with something else that's happening. You know, >> I just know when I run forums before >> it, we had packed houses >> because, you know, people want to understand their tax bill. They want to understand why everything is costing so much more. They want to understand that >> and and we it it helps us get away the stigma that, oh, we're just stacking education and we're just adding more

214money all the time. >> Yeah. >> So, I think I think it would be a good thing. >> Thank you, Robin. >> So, that that was my thought. >> Thanks for coming. >> Thank you. Thank you, Bill. >> Uh, no. Um, just I always appreciative of the board. I know you always have tough topics and we don't always agree, but I see a really high functioning board. So, I just want to say I I see that and and I just want to say I'm proud of that. So, thank you. >> And we can disagree and still respect each other. >> I know. >> Of course. And still like each other. Christine, >> I agree with you. I agree. >> Oh my god, somebody agreed with me. >> Christine. >> Oh, I I agree. We're great.

215We're a great crowd. >> She's like, "Let's go home." >> We have great conversations and sometimes in my drive home, I have the longest one out of everybody. And my 45 minute ride home, I'm like, "Oh." And I start thinking, "What could I have? I should have said that." But I think we have such a good dynamic relationship that >> it's always like I laugh on my ride home and I'm not like, "Oh my god, we're dysfunctional." So, we're a great one. But I think it is really good to have a forum. I think there's a lot of um complications, but not complications, but there's a lot to a school budget. And you can work in any accounting field out there. And until you've ever worked in a school district and had to deal with

216funding in a school, >> there is nobody out there that understands it until you actually have to touch it. And sometimes Bill and I will go back and forth about fund balance and he's still like, I still don't get this. Like I know there's a lot to a school budget. So I think the more informative we can be to educate our taxpayers, >> the better we're going to be in future years of being able to explain our budget. I think it's a great idea. >> Okay, >> that's all right. >> Thank you. Um I also wanted to add another schedule topic for next um we are going to talk about our meeting location. So, next our next meeting will be our third >> trial in the library. We're typically in we have been in the

217past in the town hall. So, >> um I would like to talk about it and vote on whether we want to continue um >> staying here. Um and maybe you can talk to your people. >> No, we'll get feedback and get feedback. Um, I did want to say I would encourage you all to take a few minutes to watch one of the meetings so you can see also how it appears. >> I love the school board so much that I rewatched the whole meeting. >> I do love the school board. Um, being on the school board and I thought the quality was great actually. You could hear everybody and >> it looks like you're in a school. It feels the last video you could see kids playing in the um out the window which was

218kind of funny. Um and I was like, >> "Oh, look at that. There's kids out there." So, um anyway, uh yeah. So, if you could watch a few minutes just to share your perspective, we'll plan to vote on that as a scheduled topic. Plan on a long meeting starting at 6, >> but we're aiming to end at 9, >> whatever allows. There there's room for discussion on end. >> Okay. Okay. Robin wanted it to end at nine, didn't you? >> Yeah. But sometimes I know sometimes it can't. I agree. No, I agree. Um and um yeah, so it was a great tonight was lots of great conversation and agreed. We can all certainly agree to disagree and I do think we are often very um we are always respectful of each other and that's why

219we have norms and um we will revisit that and sometimes I will try and rein us in so please I will try and do it respectfully but as as the board chair I think it's my job to facilitate the conversation sometimes I need a little help and uh >> three times >> um just to get us back on topic I'm somebody who goes off topic three times. >> Okay, Robin, >> we'll have words after. I'm just kidding. >> So, um, yes, Robin, I did have to try and re you in. I've been reigned in before as well. So, >> um, >> stop being able. >> Um, we, if I can do a voice vote, we are going in back into non-public. Uh, >> yeah, under RSA 91. Yeah. Under RSA 91A 3 section 2C. >>

220Uh Levit I. You can >> I pretty >> adjourned. Thank you very much. Oh, our next meeting is November 6th, >> right? At Eping Elementary School. >> Correct. Okay.