Epping School Board Meeting 10/02/2025

001you are not ready. That's ready. Okay. Good evening. Welcome to the um Eping School Board meeting on Thursday, October 2nd, 2025. Our first meeting uh in the Eping Elementary School Media Center. Um if we could please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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. >> All right. Well, we do not have any public. So, if we have public, we will come back to public comments. Uh we will start with scheduled topics which >> we do not have any scheduled topics. We are going to start with reports. >> Um, so we're jumping right into principles reports. >> You guys want to rock paper scissors it? >> Do you

002already agree? >> First of all, I think there's been a long arduous journey to get to a place where we've tried some different things. Um, and I think in listening to letting the faculty in our building Hey, there's some changes here. Um, and that that feedback was was heard and kind of makes this environment a little more open and welcome and folks feeling. I think it's important to express that that that uh this gesture of listening and giving something a try that's different. Not only is it risk tough to take risks, but really I think showed that this current board and Bill and the rest of us really kind of are trying hearing and hearing voices and I'm hopeful that elicits um you know more uh participation more some of the things that we want

003to celebrate and I know that's the will of the board. So um I wanted to just share that that is that's been shared from at least the middle high school building and wow this is this is really great talking for a long time that's actually happened. So thank you. Um, additionally, just reminding folks, and I know they already met Lucy and Rachel last week, our two school board reps. So, they are excited to uh get back to the elementary school to their roots and do their report next week, so they're fully aware. Quick update. A little odd doing so much time in between principal reports. Um, so it's kind of old news, but uh we did the homecoming week, the whole thing. It was pretty fantastic. You know, like always, the weeks the weeks are

004really great. The high school students and middle school students were all participants in some of the spirit points and some of the activities at um assembly. Uh some of the feedback that we're going to work on for next year now is finding ways for our sixth, seventh, and eth grade students when they're in the assemblies to have maybe some of the opportunities to participate some of the events at one side of the gym while some of the older students are. That's that's new and so we can pull it off. We uh patent pending. We had our homecoming nonfire. Uh so uh because of drought conditions there we they we uh were forced to uh come up with I say pivot anymore. We use that word times but uh we were we pivoted and the kids

005were amazing. Um we went make sure we sent the parents said, "Hey, look, it won't be an actual fire." Um, but we were able to rig up thanks to Josh and some of the facilities crew. We had some of the portable lights that we had in the field. And I actually think the kids were far more engaged rather than standing around a fire. They were we had yard games, cornhole, mini soccer back. At one point in time, I looked and a bunch of 11th and 12th graders had put their phones down and all started playing Manhunt. So, some of the phone and some of the stuff that's happening in school or seeing some of those other places. They're acting like kids again. It's nice to see in most cases. So, um the dance was a

006success. We were uh we were great participants. However, the overall record perhaps wasn't what we wish it was that weekend, but valiant efforts nonetheless. I'll highlight the girls junior, sorry, the junior varsity girls volleyball team did beat Raymond. So, there was a highlight there. So, thank you to those ladies. Homecoming King and Queen, Kenzie Pettis and Bennettby, Prince and Princess Jack Pell, Jackson Pel, and Lily. So, moving on from there, the next big thing that comes up, uh, middle school activity night, which is sure to be a ghouishly good time, and that will take place October 24th from 6:30 to 8. Proud to report that PTO, I think, $500 on the um on the really fun activity where um I had to dawn a haircut. Thank you to Magpie's Barberhop who jumped in and provided

007all kinds of resources. So for those who weren't aware, they chopped the top of course the principal was the subject. We had a really nice blue dye job and >> looking good. >> Yeah. And uh so they students were able to raise a certain amount of money. They spun two wheels and those wheels determined what my beard and haircut look like. I ended up with a Roman helmet which in bright blue is a mohawk that goes this way. And uh the beard was called a monkey tail which essentially was the tail of a monkey which they wrapped around like this horrible dreadful. The only regret I have is that my own children would not take a homecoming picture with me at the Harvey farm because of it. So I I didn't think that one through.

008But it was fun nonetheless. PTO mag awesome fundraiser and we'll do something for somebody else is the subject next year. So anyone who like to volunteer why you looking at me. >> So uh thank you. It's been a great week. Thank you Christine Stephanie Sterszo our department heads Matt representatives to the to the budget committee. That was that was a great process your work. A lot of you were there to support nightc. >> Can you do that over him too? Oh, can I interrupt for one second just to say on camera we did not post we did not get our our agenda posted 24 hours in advance and I just wanted to acknowledge that we had some some challenges but I did want to we're supposed to post within 24 hours and we did not

009this this is probably the only time that in my experience but we will we will not >> we will do better so sorry to interrupt but I wanted to not forget that >> you guys have questions I do not have any questions. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Um well, we echo a lot of what he said, especially about last night. Um it was um it was great. We actually commented earlier. We felt like it was a nice way to just really celebrate a lot of what's going on through the process of the budget. Um so, thank you and um you know, for the work there and again to Gwen who came and sat through the whole thing as well. So she's always a trooper and comes and supports that swim. So she's wonderful in

010that way too throughout the process and right till the end as well that when we all left giggling and laughing a little bit as we walked out on the spot and I got to give you my seat and I sat down like maybe I should But then it was like one more question. >> It's always how it goes. >> But uh yeah, I thought it really talk about what we do a little more in depth. I thought it went really well overall. It was engaging, interactive comparing it to all the others. All the detail that was provided was amazing and definitely appreciate. >> Thank you guys. You make us look good when you do your work and you come in and you you do all a lot of the heavy lifting. But thank you. >>

011Speaking of bragging, Miss Peterson, Alicia Peterson, one of our grade one teachers has uh in our BLT meetings, she came up with the idea to share that her town does this recycling project where they collect plastic bags um of various different um sizes and everything. But I guess the the one thing I learned is that they have to stretch. Whatever it is has to stretch. The plastic has to stretch that you collect. But anyway, it's a uh program put out by TX. So the material that for decking and such um and her town has actually um completed it several times and earned a bench. So TX makes a bench and gives the bench, donates the bench. Um but you have to pounds of plastic. So she said to the BLT, "Why don't we do this?"

012And we said, "Yeah, sure. This is great. Let's go for it." Well, um, it started on October 1st. We have 21 pounds of plastic already that the kids are collecting. We do need to manage a little bit of the older kids not trying to take the plastic from the kindergarteners as they leave the breakfast line. But other than that, we'll work on that. Um, but yeah, they've already collected about 21 pounds. We put a couple pictures in the report. You can see them carrying these big bags out with it. We were actually there yesterday when they were walking out with it. >> The kids are thrilled. Big smiles. >> How are you weighing it? >> Um I don't know the answer to that question. Actually, Alicia is doing it. >> A suitcase. >> Okay. >>

013Yeah, that makes sense. Where where are you storing the bags? >> So, we got bins. So part of the program is um they send you these these for lack of like plastic >> plastic >> like a Rubbermaid type thing. >> Oh, it's like made out of like the stuff you see the trifolds made out of. >> Yeah. Like like sign things. Yeah. >> And um and the kids can throw the plastic bags in those. And then um she walked she walked out with the kids the other day, yesterday, and they're literally carrying these and she's stoing them. Um I believe she's them at home at her house, not here. She's finding a place at her place to store them because again, it's a lot of plastic. 21 pounds of it is is only I think

014I'm looking at the picture, it looks like two or three bags of it. So, >> we're excited because it may take a little bit, but it's going to be kind of neat to have the kids see this really nice bed >> that's from their >> Have you thought about where you it's going to go? >> Not yet. >> I think we're probably a little bit Although it's only been less than a week that much. >> But I think when we get there, we'll probably be thinking about some kind of fun way. >> Yeah. >> It would be kind of cool to to do like a thermometer because they're like at what percentage is 21% I mean 21 pounds of a thousand, right? A thousand. Like they could they they make a little to see how

015close. Yeah, there's a lot of math. There's a lot of math in there. >> Thank you for volunteering to do that. next to the poster board at work. I'll do some red markers. >> No, that's a great idea though. That is >> is like for the kids to see. And what is what is 21? Is that That's more than that's like 2%. I think that's 2%. I don't know. Maybe my math is not right. >> No, that's less. That's like 2% would be 20. >> No. 10% 10% is 100, right? >> That's what I said. 2% 20. >> That's what I% >> did I say that okay because 100 pounds is going to be 10%. Do you see all the math that these working language start >> the budget under glad that it is going

016to be held off campus though because with recycling in the past you get a lot of bugs especially in the winter time you're going to get mice and rats. if they can get up in anything, that's what they're gonna do because that's perfect betting for them. >> Yeah. So, no, we're excited about it. And I think um the the other piece to that suggestion, which is a great one, is the student council is um teaming with her um to really help make that happen. They had their first meeting this week and um so Mrs. Callahan, Rebecca Callahan is leading the student council this year and um she's chimed right in with the said we'll help you. will be partners with that. So, which has been good. >> We've kicked off a few other clubs now

017and that's something that we we really like to see. Um, and I know we've had some conversations around stipens and maybe increasing them as we move forward so we get more clubs for the kids, but Emily Anderson's running a garden club. We have a Lego club that's being run by >> and Driller our dance instructor extraordinaire >> for the monster mash. If you recall, >> um they do a whole thriller remake dance Michael Jackson's thriller and so there's parents, there's kids, there's staff members choreographing the whole thing >> and they're also um going to do it at the what is it called? Is it a block party? Is that what it is? Yeah. So, it's here at the for the Monster Bash, which is also on the 24th. Um, but from 4 to 6 4:30

018to 6:30. Um, and they're doing it there and then they'll do it at the block party as well. >> Awesome. >> Um, and so far some good participation. She's she's not ashamed to kill people into it. >> It was really fun. Got a lot of compliments. >> Yes, it is. She's also got a video club that we've been helping kids make videos and then posting that push website on Facebook. Kids are excited >> we were a chance to watch the videos and talk to the kids afterwards and actually tried the muffins. Awesome. >> It was like a how to bake muffin. >> There was one about 3D printing and then another one about how to >> actually basketball. I watched that was in your newsletter. No, that was or sent out. >> Awesome. >> So,

019it's great to see those things participation. >> Yeah. So, >> and we do have a fall session of Girls on the Run as well. So, um they're running and they'll have their 5K event in November. It's in conquered. Um but that event is amazing. If you've never attended a Girls on the Run event, it is pretty pretty powerful. So, >> I would think that is one of best programs you see with kids. It's it's not just that I get to go jogging. There's a whole curriculum they talk to kids about decision making empowerment and my wife used to coach. My daughter started just I was able to get up there and cheer our team once >> you can do it. since you threw a shout out actually perfect time fourth and fifth grade band so

020this is kind of something we share right um started today so people get used to traffic but we had our fourth and fifth grade friends they practice middle high school now that was really awesome so you know so with our seventh grade team meeting today actually We had plenty of adult >> nice thing on those connections. But we've begun the conversation at least just starting to uh to build on the program. We've connected the buildings with students having mentors come over and we've done this in the kind of spotty, you know, very surgically piloting. Yeah. Piloting it. And um so now we're trying to see how can we wholesale, you know, how can we bring more kids over here, whether it be tutoring, whether it be brother sister kind of programs. We've always had some

021great volunteers from the high school come in, whether it be the SST programs or teaching over there, but even just directly coming from tal components and requirements out of the way some of the time available tinge those kids over their uniforing um and has just started is our um field trips to Burley Farms. So through the partnership itself. Um so our kindergarten actually at this point we've had them all. Yeah. Kindergarten, grade one, two, and then third grade is coming up October 9th. Um and then fourth will go and then fifth will go. Um and the way it works is I know we've talked about this before, but just as a reminder, we have our our programming runs for K one and two. Um and it runs throughout the year um here on campus. So

022they go and do the outdoor classroom. um they spend two hours from 9 to 11:00 a.m. and they go out to the outdoor classroom. Um and then three times a year those primary grade levels go visit Burley. So they have a fall trip, a winter trip and a spring trip. Um our third, fourth, and fifth graders will have the two trips to Berley. So they don't do the outdoor learning in the class outdoor classroom, but they do it over at Bley. So they have a fall trip and a spring trip. Love it. It's wonderful. Um we're starting up the leadership meetings where um the members the Lizzie who you all have met or many of you have met who um is in charge of the program through SELT she joins us with Katie Leonza who

023works with UNH and so that's the Atlas program that you hear a lot about is that partnership with Selt and UNH coming together to be Atlas um and they come over here and meet with our some of our teachers who are on that leadership team which is really nice because it's a lot of those conversations about outdoor learning and How do we bring that into the classroom and how do we help um really kind of pair the science curriculum but also the social emotional um work that can be done both in the classroom and out when they're doing outdoor learning. So it's awesome. It's been since I started here five years ago, it was kind of when that partnership was just beginning. And so the way it has grown has been so impressive. Um, and

024I'm really excited to see where where we are at where it's in your building as well. And it's so in, you know, part integral. It's part of who we are now in Eping. In fact, we even had someone I think I don't remember who said it coming to me now, but said that's actually a reason why we want to go to Eping. We love the outdoor part. We've had several students home students this past week and that are coming to our school now that >> and we were talking about the outdoor based education program our classroom. >> Yeah, that's right. That's what it was and they said that actually is one of the draws for coming and being here with the outdoor learning piece. And we'll continue to what you said, right? So sixth, seventh,

025eighth graders go once a month high school and to your point when I start new thing. So there was the beginning adults and kids going outside of that first piece and and I lived it with my own son who started in sixth grade. By grade, can you can you res orthodontist appointment now saying when is going to be in high school? So it has the kids again. >> Very cool. We're proud of that for sure. >> Our clothing store is quickly coming to an end. Today is the second Check my closing swag, now is the time to do so. Check the newsletters. I put out a post again today. Just a reminder as well. And we've got some really cool stuff there. It's quite a bit quite a bit of different varieties. Stuff that are

026designed just for girls or women and then some for men and even some just t-shirts. combinations property. >> Pretty cool stuff >> and it's not we're not making any money off of it. It's not a fundraiser. It's just to get you know they love walking into a school that's something that you see very easily at the high school and all those sports a lot of what happens there. Um, one of the other things that, you know, is is big here right now is so little, but it is so big >> is our inclusion of ice cream on Thursdays. >> It's not as >> it's not cafeteria. Yeah. And it's not little in in the conversations that it's started in the community too because you know it is it is a shift. It's a change because

027it's having a lot of people come to that point where they have to be comfortable with or uncomfortable with meal charge policy and the idea of you know we've had a lot of very generous people offer to pay for everyone to get ice cream in a day and you know so there's a very interesting conversations and I give Moss um a lot of credit he had this um he responded really well to a parent who was just curious about it and offering this up and um I one of the more professional and respectful responses I've seen in emails came from us back to this parent it was very educational very um validating in what she was feeling and thinking about that, but um really in a good nope, this is where we're going and this

028is how we're doing it and it was it was just very representative of who we are in his response. Um but it but it's been great and the kids have a lot of fun and I think it's had an impact in the monetary val piece of things which we can't ignore so far. >> Happy smiling kids. >> We're still working on the logistics you've ever in the lunchroom with very young kids trying to navigate everything and wait in line patiently and all that stuff. So, there's a lot of pieces. We give the food service huge kudos because they are doing such a nice job with it. >> You're still looking for one >> and we are still looking for lunch. Yes, we are looking >> great. Two hours 11 to one. Please join us. We

029have a lot of fun. a great place to work. >> Substitute teachers as well. >> So, can I ask a sort of hard question uh about hard for me to ask, but was the in intention of the ice cream program to address the meal fund balance challenge that we have as a district? >> I think that's a great question and I wouldn't begin to answer it because it's not my decision. Okay. Um, but I would say that it's funny because I feel like in most schools I've been at, you have a treat. There's a day where there's a treat. And so it's very typical to find, you know, a day in the week where it's a day to look forward to. Um, so, you know, as far as the food service end of it, I'm

030not I'm not going to answer that because I don't know. I wasn't part of that. But I would say as far as experiencing it, I think it's an exciting thing for the culture of food, right? like the the environment and what it brings for kids and what it's what it's giving them to look forward to. My boss already always does a nice job. >> I would say it was coincidental uh at best. It was not intentional to make people pay their >> pay their their food. It is to reward students and to encourage them and as Moss knows it it's also to encourage uh other sales uh alakart sales at the elementary level versus where they didn't exist so much there before. It's expanding that because he wants that process to be be beneficial financially.

031However, because of some of >> one dude that's so >> never going to do it. >> Sorry. We were discussing them >> when you work very closely with people. You do it too. You point out my uh my tails. I've never played poker with any of you. >> Now, Bill says, however, when he's switching >> Thank you. That was that was very comical. That was that was good. >> Yeah, there's a comma. It is a comma. However, >> in addition to >> uh >> the new food policy doesn't allow students to charge alocart unless their balance is up and up to date. Sure. And so that has been very beneficial for us. I've met with Moss as has Christine on a regular basis and we're following. Has that policy had a positive impact? The answer

032is yes. Yes, it has. Those changes have had a positive impact. He also changed uh some of the lines at the middle high school to not embarrass children. They don't go through the line and then and then told that they can't charge or something. They actually are told their balance and whether they're up to date before they're allowed to even think about alocart charging and so forth. And and those changes have made a very positive impact in a in in a a good way for our lunch service program. is very measured and thoughtful and he approaches these things. It really is with dignity in mind which is important. We can all be on different sides should happen how that fund is taken care of but handles kids and families with the utmost. >> Yeah. And

033the last piece is we want to say to everyone the students are being fed. We were just talking about the alakart the additional charges are what are not allowed. >> Uh and so that is what we're talking about. what um so we have had a lot of discussion around you know that policy and feeding kids and um for students who receive free or reduced lunch um chances are they're not bringing in money from home. Have we cons have we thought at all about that? Is there a way a coupon some other way that a student because that's They're they're disadvantaged. They may not be able I don't know what it costs, but they may not be able to bring that in or put it on. I want to be thoughtful of all kids in the

034district that they have access to it in one way or another or not all the time, but could they I I'm just thinking putting my teacher hat on. Is there a way for them to get a coupon or something that goes onto their account? I don't know. >> No. If your is at zero. Um, and you bring in 50 cents, you can buy ice cream. So, um, and I we don't know, we're not allowed to know who or >> so, we wouldn't know, but I I would I would say that you see kids come in who charge ice cream to their account and you see kids come in who have coins in their hands or a dollar bill. Um, and so, and I would say a lot of kids are getting it or choosing to

035get it. Um, We wouldn't know that. Moss knows that. We wouldn't know that. >> But I but I think that we have to be thoughtful that there's a reason why students have they they have a zero balance and they are never charged and they they are not allowed out of cart which also means they may there may be a student that may never be able to get that ice cream. >> That's a reality. I guess I want to be I'm bringing it up as a as a as a let's let's be equitable for all students that their parents I have 50 cents to give them before that ice cream and if they they go >> whole year that that makes me sad >> honestly makes my mom part sad. >> So bring it up. >>

036I don't know if there's a way he could get reimbursement for it because it isn't. >> No, but the school could there's there's ways the school could facilitate it. Well, I think that that's where we might capitalize on the donations for those particular circumstances. You're not uh >> allowing students to carry debt, but we're not talking about students carrying debt. We're talking about opportunities. >> Yeah. >> I think there might be a solution. Thank you for bringing it up. >> Yeah. >> Other questions, comments, or our principles? >> I have a couple of questions. Yes. >> I'm going to be Debbie Downer a little bit. Um I have some questions about um after school programs. You had talked about um increasing stipens, right? Do we ever charge families for after school programs? I mean I

037I ran a French program here when I was the head of PTO here and I ran an afterchool art program. They were both eightweek long program and they were $50 per student to come in. If a parent wanted to go in the French program with the student, they paid $50 for the entire eight weeks and half of the month when the teacher, whoever was teaching it, got paid half of the money up front for supplies or whatever they needed for their classroom and all that stuff and then when it when it ended, they got the remaining balance of that. I don't think that I don't I don't want to keep on hearing stipens going up up up because we can't at what point do we stop, right? If you if you have a child that

038wants has a specialty music um art, theater, you have to go pay to do those things, right? Um, and I think if there if if there's if people are interested and they want to do it, they could pay. I'm not I don't know. I just at a time where we're being told to cut, you know what I mean? Like we're being the community is saying and not, you know, we we're having a hard time in this community paying our taxes and stuff to keep on upping stipens for afterchool programs that aren't they're wonderful. I 100% agree. We used to have parents pay to get involved with them. >> We don't do that now. >> Yeah, I know. Has it ever been a >> fan of having students pay or parents pay to play? I I

039love the fact that we offer after school activities. I respect the fact that there I work for a private school. We had parents pay for clientele purpose of that school. Um I love the fact that we are able to offer after school activities for kids to participate in things. they wouldn't normally be able to do. I don't want them going home and getting on Xbox as much as possible. So, we have some great programs and I'd like to get more. And keep in mind, we're not making anybody rich with our stipens and we're talking very small numbers. We get 25 bucks an hour >> and I'm not even talking about the >> but I amount as far as just the I think it's nominal compared to what they're giving those kids. So, you know, I

040mean, we're not talking huge increases. We just want to make it on par so that the teacher can sit there and say, "Yeah, instead of going getting a, you know, going home, I'm going to be able to stay with my kids take care of them." Yes. Again, it's very nominal. >> Yeah. Because I think our ultimate goal is is that increase in in variety too and just having opportunities and unfortunately, you know, we really we have the same we have some great ones, but we have the same ones. And so there's there's not that variety. And so, you know, in trying to solve that problem, how do we do that? And a lot of that comes with it's hard it's hard to be a teacher and and volunteer to stay after and >> the money

041it cost might be an extra hour of child care at home you know and that's costs such and such and frankly the elementary schools haven't increased timely little want to see again we're not talking major increases just something that would encourage people to take that risk How many after school programs you think that you know that we have now? You didn't have to give me an exact number in your top of your head. >> Currently we have garden club Lego >> you do passport anymore any of that >> girls but that's not that's not through the school. >> Yeah. >> Do you do passport anymore? >> No >> that that's really where Lego club goes through chess club. We're looking for someone to do chess club >> student council and yeah >> I could another

042instance where collaborating and sort of trying to work across. I do agree that those opportunities are huge. My kids went here. There were all kinds of >> a few days most were not and they were an integral part of the day especially if you know parents what I think I heard the word raise statements and and I I understand what goes with that but what we've talked about is is making them more equable across So they were able to list clubs and activities top of their head. There are more offerings at the middle high school. And I think looking at how we can be more equitable about making sure there are more opportunities spread across the grade rather than it's not necessarily raising the total amount, but perhaps working together. We talked a little about

043how that could work. So we've got a chess book right and you're we have you know a chess instructor that and we're sharing that piece some of our instructors with their splits that's there's a precedent for that so we have talked so I want to caution us on raising even though that could be part of the discussion but they should be equitable and we have more in volume at one perhaps should more >> thinking about the you just said chess. We have a chess team at the middle high school. Maybe some of those kids want to get some community service. I know you would need an adult, but that adult doesn't necessarily have to be good at chess if we have some chess. >> True. Just >> they just be their supervised, but maybe there's

044some kids that want some community service. That was just a thought and and we were to go back to your original point that utilizing those kids. What do they know? What do they want to offer? Maybe a friend a sorry Spanish 4 student wants to teach >> Spanish vocabulary. Just a thought. >> We should be sharing our resources. It's not a chess club. Um, the other question I had was, um, and I thought I heard it last night, but I I wasn't sure. >> You're picking up costs that the PTO would have normally done. >> Was that transportation? >> So, are they doing any? >> Yeah, the grade five field trip to Boston. >> Well, so this year they're doing them, but we were talking about for next year and then they would only take

045on the grade five field trip to Boston, which is the coach bus trip. They do coach buses. Um what we're running into unfortunately is that field trips to Boston can't really happen unless you do a coach bus, right? >> Um because of the busing situation, timing schedules and all that drivers. >> Um so they're they're we have said to them, we want to take those back. We believe being that they're curricular, they should be part of our budget. Um, but that fifth grade one is more of that celebration piece and more of the, you know, the treat, I guess, for lack of a better word, because you have a bathroom on the bus and >> it's a real treat. >> It is a treat. >> Um, so that was kind of in our conversation. It

046was that piece feels like a gift, you know, like a support, like we're here to support you and be a part of this celebration, this experience versus what should be ours anyway. We believe um in those curriculars. Didn't you also say that they would redeploy some of their funds to grants >> teacher grants program? >> Yeah, a lot of the money still comes back to the classrooms the kids by teacher grant or teacher wants to do something that's a little bit more unique, not something that we would typically budget for. That's the place you would go. Yeah, because I mean that's the purpose of a PTO is is to um >> is to enhance the the school and I mean >> field trips were a really big part of that. It was a big huge

047I mean we used to pay 10 grand a year for field trips because that you raised a lot of money and it was always went to field trips. Every single grade paid PTO for years and years and years paid for field trips. Um so it didn't have to go in the school budget because that was their main goal, right? um paid for the sound system, paid for the benches that were out there. So, there's all these different things. I was wondering what, you know, like I haven't been involved in PTO for a long long long time, but like what type of things are they contributing to that we're not that we're putting in the budget now that they would have been doing. >> The field trips the field trips is the biggest that's really the

048um the teacher grant is can be for anything small like math manipulatives that the teacher really wants like a particular um you know they have in for that up to we have two 3D printers in our um exploration class that are were funded by the PTO for that grant. So um they they're really open to it and one of the things we changed with the process for that is that the teachers come to us first and say hey this is the idea I have. >> Are you supportive of this? We say yes. We give our stamp of approval. It goes to the PTO PTO goes through the conversation and the vote and then they fun it. So it's a is pretty cool thing with very with a few tights but a lot of loose for

049the creativity of where the teachers are coming from. >> But it's good with like that equipment because it can be used by all >> which is the purpose of it can be used by all >> um assemblies and stuff like that. Do they have shows come in anymore? Do >> they supported last year we had the African drumming um and that very expensive artist residents? So it exceeded what we have in the budget for that and they supported that. And again it was um Sarah Budro comes and says hey this is what I'm interested in. Um would you be willing to support that? And they support it. So >> good. >> We continue to I find find in all of our conversations most recently with kindergarten parents um but We are always saying they're they're

050the most generous, most supportive PTO in my 20 years in education I've been a part of. So it blows my mind the the support we have in this community to help with the school. So >> the teacher appreciation week is >> unreal at both schools. I just see the pictures. I wish I could that doesn't happen everywhere. I'll just say that >> we have teachers sending pictures and Instagram stuff to look what they're doing for us to other teachers. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. No, that's not I do. I say like look what they're doing or nothing. >> Well, that all depends on your parents, right? Who going to do the group is only going to be as successful as the parents that dedicated >> parents for sure. >> Okay. No, that's all I had. >>

051Thank you, Robin. Any other thoughts, questions? >> All right, we're going to move on. Um, superintendent reports. >> Just a couple of things. Uh, one the policy in the food service. Thank you for bringing that up. It was uh was definitely one thing that we wanted to update. The other one I wanted to update on is the busing update. Uh, we had over 100 stops cut from our our routes. We did investigate uh some and some said we said, "Yep, you're right. That should be back in whether it's a long walk in the dark, no sidewalk or whatever." Uh, in the end, I think we added back 15 or so uh stops. But overall, I think it was went very smoothly thanks to the good communication with the with the community and also just listening

052to the community around those concerns and so forth. And so um the positive feedback I have heard from our police is that the backup traffic isn't the same as it has been in the past uh from the flow downtown and in other areas. So uh anecdotally it seems to be have worked very well. So I just wanted to give that update there. Can how the how are the developments doing? We are we having an issue with having a central point where they're meeting? >> We visited one development where they they had five or so stops originally and they went down to one stop >> and then we did uh we visited it and it was like oh that was quite a length and we added one stop back in. So at two different ends of

053that that this particular development we went to the other ones remained the same. they were were pretty much whatever they were recommended. >> Yeah. >> Uh the other one I want to bring up and I know I've spoken about it but I just want to make the public more aware is that SST our our school uh SE coast of technology is looking and exploring at adding electrical and this is really probably going to happen. And so during our budget season we're still in determination what our funding formula is going to be and we're working with the other sending communities. I want to say before we hold our breaths uh for too long, it has to pass in all six communities. So meaning that we all have a certain p uh uh portion of the cost

054of starting such a new program. Ours roughly estimated for the number of students that we currently have going to SST would be a very nominal 15 to $20,000 is what Eping would have to contribute to start this program. Whereas other districts that have more students would obviously contribute a larger amount. But I just want to point out that we're very excited about this that that committee has been doing the the work. Um and it is our hope that this year on every budget in the um in the sending communities have this on there and then we'll find out whether whether it passes in all communities and then we will be adding electrical to SST another opportunity. what they have. Why did they decide on electrical was because there are several programs that have waiting lists

055and those programs are automotive, welding, and what am I missing? >> Business um construction >> and construction. Those are the three building >> and and there's waiting lists on all three of those programs. So, it's hopeful that the electrical program might take some of that weight off of those waiting lists and students that are not able to participate just because there's too many other students already participating in the in those programs. currently the closest uh opportunity for >> the other thing which is an interesting piece of this is that students start enrolling early spring be ne before budgets pass. So, they are we are going to be very optimistic that students will sign up and then we will be all be crossing our fingers that they'll have to work it out if if it doesn't.

056But, um they're moving forward as as though as though otherwise they won't be able to fill it'll just be a mess. >> So, um and they'll they'll be accepting um >> first year juniors and first year seniors which is exciting. So they hope that the seniors will go when they typically go, which is PM. Um, but it'll be year one because it's the first year for everybody. So I'm sure we will have some interested Eping students. So that's it's really >> No one's missed anything yet. Pam Carr is working on those things and we will be putting those thatformational out uh during that time just to let our community know that we're hopeful that uh a new program will be started. >> Yeah. That's all I have for my update. >> All right, any comments,

057thoughts? All right, we'll move into policy J. Superintendent. >> Oh, I'm so sorry. I saw superintendent twice. Yeah, twice. Uh, it's that time of year uh where we have to uh give feedback. Bye everyone. Thank you. No, don't be sorry. enjoy your uh it's that time of year where we collaboratively develop uh my goals and so there's some that we've already talked about that that you'll see are uh repeat here and then really tonight I just really want your feedback around uh are there other goals that you'd rather have me focus on and develop and so forth. So the first one is is one that we've agreed to continue which is the development of the organizational chart. As we talked about this was not completed uh last last year and so we do feel that

058this is still worthwhile and for all the reasons that we already discussed that we do want to finish this project that has been started uh to really help with clarity of roles, improve communication and how it will be used in in many different circumstances. Uh both I see actually a couple different charts. One is going to have our job descriptions, which we've already started to update on in in our efficiency group or uh long-term resources group. And uh and we'll have the job descriptions and job responsibilities at one place and we can easily follow up on those. But really it enhances that collaboration as well. an understanding of are there are there roles that are are are can be combined and and uh responsibilities and so forth and it will help with that strategic planning.

059The other one is uh one that has also been continuing and I left it on there for a reason because I I think this is one of my top priorities. In fact, the meeting we had this evening was our book group that we had right here uh in this space uh we're reading uh Bnee Brown's Dare to Lead. And I think that the conversation was extremely valuable in addressing a lot of our uh moving forward as a team and understanding our roles and working on our own individual growth and our growth as a team. And so I've left this one on there as well. Some of the differences this year though is we're working with uh Kathy McCabe. She's an outside consultant who came to our our retreat. She observed our team for the the

060several days of that retreat. She's met with individual members of our team, interviewed those teams, and she's really worked with me individually. I'm wear I'm reading a separate book with her on my own leadership development and she's helping guide what some of those activities are and what we should do going forward. She sometimes observes some of our meetings and then just gives feedback after the meetings whether that's to the group or individually and I have to say that that has been uh a great addition to having that additional support and making sure that we're functioning as a team. I have to say the conversations are not always easy and there and sometimes challenging. We have to challenge our own growth and our own uh reflection of our own responsibilities to things and sometimes that work

061is hard but I have to say the team is what one of our terms is showing up. They're showing up to do the work and so we're very proud of that work and I have to say it's not the type of work to dive this deep uh I've seen in other districts. So I'm very proud of our team and the work we're doing there to tackle this. >> Did she used to work here Kathy McCabe? Uh >> I don't think so. She's a superintendent in New Hampshire for many years in the Lakes region, but she's written a book on trust. Um, >> she was a special person >> who worked here many, many, many years. >> Uh, and then the goal number three, I want to elaborate a little bit on. As we know, the

062Fremont transition is happening, and I think this is one that we were very successful on, but I want to change this goal slightly, and I want your feedback on this. This is an idea I think that you will all agree has been in the back of our minds to some extent. So as the state plays around with possibility of open enrollment, I really want to tackle this year and create some materials. So whether that's a video uh of what makes us attractive because I think there's other opportunities out there whether the state goes to open enrollment or not. I think there's students that could be much more successful here than than either Pinkerton or Exit or some of these larger schools >> where maybe we get some Deerfield students. Maybe we get some Raymond students.

063And so I really want to explore how do we market, right? This is something that public schools typically have never done before, right? It's not something that we have typically ever had to to to do, but it is an area I think we can reflect on our strengths and how do we communicate those strengths not just to Fremont, but to other surrounding areas as well. And I think it's a more proactive approach around what may come or may not come with open enrollment. And through these conversations, I have to say I've had some really positive conversations with my Southeaster superintendence group. One being Chris Andriski and and exit and we're looking at how do we share some just classes and some opportunities for students and he's been very receptive to that. We don't have any

064plans at this point, but we are in conversations around is that possible and what would that look like? Because our students already share SST >> and if they offer some some opportunities there, what would that look like instead of having a family go through a complete manifest hardship, is there a way that we could just say charge us for a course or we could have some of your core your students here? And so >> that is really kind of the gist of the goal. Number three is a much more proactive approach to how do we capitalize on our strengths here in EP. >> No, you're talking you're talking like 6 through 12. >> So, we're talking 6 through 12 at this point only because >> I think that's the area that needs to I would

065love to be able to say where we have the the space for others, but at this point we don't. We just really don't have the space for for elementary students >> um to come in that any kind of numbers. >> I I like the idea of like marketing materials and it's not not just to like hand out to people but we do have open houses. We have I was thinking that they had these three families that they gave tours for. It's almost like um you know we talked about like we are Eping or or you know what can Eping do for you? It's not it's not so much to like sell us, but it's something to walk away with that that a family would what what what what makes Eping awesome. I'm sure there's some

066cool taglines and whatever, but to walk away to talk about after school clubs, to talk about ice cream Thursday like in snap in a little snapshot or a trifold or something I I think is >> it's good good for us as a community also. >> I I think it's informing our community of after school activities or whatever. Did you know? I mean, we we we live in such a digital world >> and >> I still like the printed menus, the lunch menus, you know what I mean? Because >> where I think we're, you know, you you got to find something and it's not in your pile of papers. It's somewhere in there or in there and it's like, oh my god. So to walk away, it's a rem for me, it's like it's a visual

067reminder of like of what Eping offers or how awesome Eping is, whether it's a >> K to K to five and then a six to 12. I I really like that idea. But >> I think it does it targets a lot of new families coming into district as well, but those who may have not choosing >> effing schools today. So we look at surrounding communities, but I think there >> are real estate agents and others. >> Absolutely. There's a story to be told and >> you know we'll call it recruiting. Um but it's putting that knowledge out there of what the school has to offer so people can make those. >> Well, that's what other schools do. They >> recruit avoid the >> you know everybody goes I mean most people are at the town

068hall registering their vehicle. Well, if you have a two-year-old, you pick up a flyer because they you don't you don't you have no exposure to >> Eping schools. So then they they they often where do they go? They go to Eping Squawks and they say, "How are the schools?" And then half the people say it's amazing and half the people say they have their own opinion. So >> again, it's giving putting it in their hands for those that don't have a lot of exposure to the school. >> I don't see where there's some some challenges, some nuance to this as well of how how do you do that promotion without kind of overstepping or stepping on toes? I could see where because you're a member of the Southeastern uh superintendent group, you know, maybe it's

069something that collaboratively this turns into maybe there's like a I can't think of a better analogy right now, but like a marketplace of all right well what school districts have agreements come coming up and who want who wants to shop around like do we want to look at another school? What do other schools offer? Who's who's available? Like what what kind of capacity do you have? Is that something that could be a collaborative thing that helps open some of that up? viable because like it wouldn't make sense for us to try and bring in high school students from conquered but if there are other schools a reasonable distance away all right that makes sense >> yeah so I it would be collaborative I want people to understand this is not about stealing students from other

070districts it's about finding the right fit right and this is where I think there is a lot of agreement when it comes to open enrollment is that there can be some benefits if if the financials and other >> parameters are are fair and equable around that. But there's a lot of districts very close to us that only have a K8 type uh structure, whether that's Bington or whether that's Northwood and and so forth and Noddingham, they already have agreements with either CO Brown or Pinkerton and so forth. And so it's really talking and working with those communities and say, look, >> is that always the best fit for your your child to go to a 30,000 student high school? It might not be, right? And so really it's just for all the reasons that you

071said are exactly why inform our own community of of our strengths and I think it builds our own reputation in a lot of ways just to make people aware of of what we're doing. But then again I think it's preparing us uh for a lot of these conversations that are happening at the at the state level >> because I think that decision that's one of the u that's one of the bills that got passed back. It's going to be one of the first bills that is going to be put forward because is supposed to take effect January 26 and that has not changed the the timing of unless they change that during the thing, but that's going to be one of the ones that's going to be fast forwarded. So, >> lastly, if if uh

072if you have other feedback, please give it to me before I finalize this. But I also wanted to give you an opportunity. Was there one that I missed? There was there one that we talked about uh during the retreat or during another time that Bill, hey, we'd really like you to and you don't have to have an answer now, but we do soon. uh have to give me something. So, is there something else that the board would like me to work on that I I didn't suggest? >> I'm sure we can put our heads together and give an answer. >> I don't Yeah, I don't >> I mean, >> I have a thought on goal two, but I'll wait till we answer this question. >> And I had a goal one was something I really

073wanted to have addressed, so I think that's >> Yeah, I don't have any other goals. But okay. >> Um, but so one thought I had, sorry for this in advance, but how are you going to know when you achieve goal two? >> That is a great thing. Um, >> you don't have to answer that, but I feel like I you don't have to answer that, but I feel like at the end of the because since we just went through um the evaluation process, yes, you can check you can check these things. These are things that you can accomplish, but how are you going to know when you report back that you really have developed the leadership capacity to their full capacity? You're trying to bring out their their best. >> Yeah. >> How are we

074really going to be able to know that that happened in the next year? >> So, the first thing and I'm glad there was one idea that has come to mind and that is a measurement tool, right? Uh take a baseline. Now, you know, how do you think we operate as a team? rate that? How do you operate as an individual? How do we operate however? Right? You come up with this baseline of of things and then through our our our private consulting, our private meetings, our our big meetings, our book club, our other things. Then have a midyear and end of year, hey, how is your do are we operating better as a team now? And has that >> barometer gone up? Uh is one way that I think that we could measure that. Um,

075uh, other than that, I I just, >> yeah, I don't know. I think that there's that feedback piece. So, you're going to reflect on yourself, but I think that your team in through your through these these opportunities have to have some way to provide feedback to you that that we >> that somehow we might not get that direct feedback, but we need to get that honest feedback that they feel like this that you've helped them grow. as a leader. >> Would it be possible to get any of the excuse me, any of the benchmarking that um our consultant is providing because obviously she had to come in and take a baseline of where everybody was in order to kind of help guide the process. So I might have something. >> Yeah, that's a great one.

076>> And that's all I have for for that. I just wanted to make sure that we didn't uh last year we got a little late start on the goals and so I just wanted to make sure that we were >> Did you say anything? Sorry, I didn't want to scare you. >> Sorry. Did you want to say anything about goal one? You or >> No, I said that that's the one that I had a lot of um that I wanted to see addressed. So that's that's a good one. Yes. >> I don't know why. >> Sorry. So, so since we just went through the full evaluation process and Bill and I kind of had talked about um this next cycle, which we're a little late on, but I think that it is what it is.

077It's no one's fault, but I would like to suggest that we start to get feedback, midyear feedback, like mid January, and it's not as much feedback, but we need enough time. We need some time. So, we've got basically October, November, December, January. So, that if we can um get the feedback and and get the mid-year feedback done by the end of February for Bill, then that leaves us March, April, May, June, another four months to get end of year feedback. So, I'm kind of splitting it splitting a year into eight months. So that we because we we were and I take full responsibility as somebody who's not been through the process of >> the the evaluation. I mean I've been part of it but I haven't. >> So January and June that's >> Yes. So

078like I would like to have met with Bill by the end of February. So we would be you would be providing your feedback on these goals >> In January so that I can then schedule meeting with him in February and then we'll do the same thing again so we can be done for July so that next year we can probably closer to maybe September, early September when we're starting new goals. >> Perfect. >> Just thinking timelines. >> I just had a thought come in my brain. >> Go for it, Robin. >> What's happening? What's happening with our minutes? Like how is this being done? >> This will be recorded. >> This is being recorded. Same way >> be shared with Dag. You came to my >> Dany will still >> She never comes. She never

079comes in. >> I know. But I was like wondering, you know, what was happening with that because >> Hi, Dyney. Okay. Uh policy JIC. >> So I have to apologize. Yeah. >> Didn't make it in the folder. >> So there's a couple of things that have been happening and and and I take full responsibility. We're having some changes in the central office and and I have to first off commend Christine Q, who is is others are picking up the slack, but Christine Q is picking up the majority of the slack and in addition to her normal responsibility. So, first off, I want to say I I apologize for that and we'll get better and we'll work through that. So, uh Matt, I know you had a couple of comments on JIC and JICD, but because

080of of formalities, I I I really would just like to move forward uh and and leave them where they're at because one, I did not have the conversation with uh Chris Goldsac around the coaching uh aspect and question. I just want to say I did not forget about that question. and I just did not have an opportunity to to uh follow up with that. So I at this point there's no changes to JIC from last time. So I leave it still in just some pause. Uh other than Matt's question around uh consequences and and how that's implemented across the board. And if I remember correctly, Matt, a child is disciplined. Are they still required to suit up and sit on the bench or are they required and are all the coaches following that uh consistently?

081>> Yeah. So, it's JICD. Uh >> you got JIC >> number two. >> Okay. >> In there it says a student who has been restricted from school activities may participate in practice at the discretion of the person imposing the restriction. >> That's it. So my comment around this was whatever that restriction is should be the same across the board. >> Correct. There shouldn't be any ambiguity in there of who's putting that punishment out there. >> And I had a concern with who's imposing. We should have a guideline and I'm not I'm I think it was said that well the coaches can do that. I'm not in favor of coaches doing that. Well, I think that that's where that language has to change because right now it says at the discretion and that is definitely language

082for >> differences >> assistant coach, head coach, whatever. >> We we also talked about um and I had brought up um the the discipline will follow follow students to SST impact academy and vice versa. >> Correct. I did have that. I did have that conversation with Pam Carr, but it has not ended up here. And >> emphatically, yes. Like like absolutely she supports whatever uh >> we work together as a team and and Yeah. >> So this So I think yeah, there's more work to be done on this. So we'll bring that. >> Is there are you going to be able to anticipate you're going to be able to get to meet with Chris? >> Yeah, I Yeah, I guess I will. It was just with some changes in the office that I did not

083in this last time. Um, let's skip JBA just for a second and go to KCD because KCD is is a first read. >> Okay. >> And if you go to KCD, this was the uh public gifts and donations and there were some changes. Uh, I was asked by the board um when we recently had some donations um what are the what are the parameters of of this donation? And so I did look up the RSA and we did work with the policy committee and this is our recommendations. They are in red. >> So we have upped it. So basically a principal can we're suggesting the change that they could accept uh a gift up to a,000 or less may be accepted by the principal where it's currently at $500 but not in excess of $1,000.

084Then the superintendent uh can ex accept all the way from uh 000 but less than 5,000 and the old numbers were over 500 and and then 2500 and then that will save some of those having to come to the board. The board still would look at anything in excess of 5,000 would be presented to and acted on by the school board. The biggest the biggest change though uh in numbers is where in RSA 198 uh 20B it is actually $20,000 is the limit uh that you would or more shall the require the board to hold a public hearing. So this is the number I'm not so sure you're whether you're comfortable with or not comfortable with. If you go up to the maximum of the RSA, you would not need to you would still need

085to see to be clear, you still would have to accept anything between 5,000 and 20,000. That's still a board decision. You still get presented. You still make the decision. However, currently, we used to have what was called a public hearing. We have to advertise it appropriately ahead of time, seven days in advance and so forth. And those are still some archaic ways that are still happening. And as you know from public hearings, typically we don't have people showing up, but um that is the rules right now according to our policy. And so that's what we are. So if you're comfortable, this is where or you have other suggestions, you are legally allowed to not have a public hearing unless it exceeds $20,000. And so that's whatever the board is comfortable with and whatever they wish

086to change this policy to. I think for the for the benefit of streamlining the processes where possible if we're legally allowed to to up those limits, it's not really changing how we act on any of it. Just >> ups the limits, which I think given >> the day and age. >> Exactly. >> Why not? >> Yeah. And if these haven't been updated since, well, 2018, but things cost more now. $500 10 years ago is very different than $500 today. I I always thought of I mean in my three years that I've been on the board I haven't fully understood the the public the purpose of the I mean I understand the purpose of the public hearing but it's to accept a donation. So it's it's >> if there's a conflict of the donation possibly you

087could have some question about it. Is it in the is it in uh is it in uh >> um the school values? Does it represent the school values? that gives you an opportunity to to weigh in and say, "Yeah, this is we're okay with this." Or, >> "No, we're not okay with this." But I don't >> I feel like we kind of vet that out. >> There have been a few things that have been certainly a high enough dollar value like when there was the the potential for the donation of all the work for the for the locker room at the SEU. That was probably$100 $200,000 worth of work. >> That's certainly something that I think well worthy of a lot of or the potential for a lot of public something like that. requires that

088a certain amount of vetting and everything has to go into it as well for that for that amount. >> So, just first read, think about it. Um, you'll take a vote on it next time. If I don't hear any uh changes, this is what you'll see uh at the at the next one. >> So, you you're you you think 5,000. >> This is what I think is appropriate. If you think that there's different numbers, um, that that's up to you. >> Are these all listed in the RSA or is it just the $20,000 listed in the RSA? It's just the 20,000 in the RSA. You must uh have the public hearing if it's over the 20,000. >> I think when I we had mentioned this, I thought I had said something about 10,000. >> That's

089up to the board if they want to >> 10,000. >> I was at this policy meeting. I >> I think this is what we agreed upon at the meeting. Yeah. >> And so, uh, at least from my notes, this is what I had to update it to. >> I'm comfortable with it. But uh other other other conversations >> and $1,000 for principles that should be >> and it still does require notification. >> Correct. >> We still have to accept the the school board still has to at 20 golf carts over 10,000. We still have to accept >> anything between the 5,000 with this current >> with the proposed policy. Anything between 5,000 and 20,000 you still comes to you. You still have to accept >> five vote. >> You just don't have to go through

090the process of having the public hearing. >> Right. Right. >> All right. I'm going to go back to JBA now. Uh JBA, uh I'm gonna say the same kind of thing I did last time very very quickly. Uh I know Jen has some thoughts on it too and and so forth. So JBA JBA is the transgender and gender non-conforming students. It has been suggested that it's to be rescended by the New Hampshire School Boards Association. And I just want to talk briefly like I did last time about the history just so we're all on the same page. Um these policies came out about around 2010. Um and and the NHIA adopted policies and this is really affirming that transgender students rights to athletics was really kind of some of the the uh purpose around the

091original JBA. And the major changes happened over time and it really started in 2024 where New Hampshire law HB1 1205 required students in grades 5 through 12 to play on teams based on sex assigned at birth. Now that's a change because previously it was really the sex or gender that the child identified at consistently. they were allowed to play on those teams and use uh certain school facilities and so forth. And so that is a big change in practice. The problem is that a lot of schools kept JBA at that time in their policies as is because that's what we were advised in 2024 because there was a lot of lawsuits that were happening. You may have remember some of those lawsuits. Uh and and so we were we were advised uh just to wait

092and because our New Hampshire law at the time was in conflict with federal law, the federal law was title nine that didn't coincide with the that new change of sex assigned at birth. and a federal judge uh put in an injunction that says, "Hey, partially blocking this and so forth." And we had locally the the cases that were happening here in New Hampshire, the NHIA, and for those of you who are watching and and and I know we use a lot of acronyms, that's our our sports governing uh athletic association. They updated their policy now to align to HB 1205. So that means that students are participating or only allowed to participate according to the governing athletic association by sex uh assigned at birth which again is that change where students used to be able

093to go play on sports teams of sex that they identify as. Okay. So now we have NHIA and New Hampshire state law aligning. The federal government in 2025 with the new Trump administration now brought Title 9 language to align with our HB1 1205 which really says sex assigned at birth is who gets to play on determine what what sports team they play on. At that time when the federal law aligned with the New Hampshire law, the New Hampshire School Boards Association advised districts to roll back uh the the policy and it really was because they want us to safeguard our funding. There were some concerns around that the federal government may withhold funding if our local policies don't align with state and federal policies. I have not seen that happen by the way. Um but

094that was some of of of the uncertainty with with that. So, as of right now, we still have JBA. It requires us to look at it and whether you wish to uh change the wording in our JBA, whether you wish to follow the New Hampshire School Board's recommendations and rescend it, that is up to this board. The last point I'd like to make is students are are in my opinion um going to be treated fairly equitably as best as we can under the laws that we have. Um I'm trying to stay very neutral and just try to give a very a general overview. I think uh our students uh that that choice of what team they participate on no longer exists because we our district does belong to NHIA and I will tell you we

095do not wish to forfeit a whole team season or withdraw from NHIA in sports. So, the safe thing isn't always >> the easiest thing. >> I leave it up to you. It's your decision, board. I It's my job to advise you and fill you in on the uh uh uh where we're at. And so, I think we can still protect students and I think we can still uh handle students um all students and work with families. regardless of their of of their circumstances and move forward. >> Can I ask one quick question because I just didn't catch when you said this happened. The um when the New Hampshire School Board Association, when did they recommend that we resend the policy? >> So, I think we're a little bit behind. Honestly, I uh I'm not quite

096sure. Uh my it was probably early 2025 if you had if I had to guess. I would say it was probably February or March. Um well, anyways, yes, I I I would guess >> I think everybody was waiting to see what the NIJJ was going to do. um the governor had done his thing and before he left office and >> well I think the timing is around when the federal government law then now coincided >> right >> with with New Hampshire law >> all change >> is when I think uh the New Hampshire I could get an answer for you but my guess is it was probably around February March of 2025 >> I I did some research as well and I didn't I didn't see that I'm not saying that that didn't exist I

097just didn't see that um I I found I discovered that it was in 2022 that NHSBA didn't recommend rescending it. They removed their own sample policy. >> Oh, interesting. >> They removed the sample policy >> in 2022. and they um they advised school boards to seek their own legal counsel surrounding what they did with their policies, >> which makes sense. Yeah. >> Because of just because of the the kind of political landscape and and >> yeah, >> you know, court cases that were pending, things like that. >> That certainly line up with our last revision of it. That was August 2021. >> Right. So we are behind on the eightball as far as when the New Hampshire School Board Association >> question. Did I not answer the right question? >> See I didn't I couldn't

098find that they actually recommended district school district school boards to remove their policy. >> Yeah. >> I didn't find that guidance. I just only thing I saw was that they were removing their own and then just leaving it to the to the individual districts to say you go do your own due diligence and what you think works for your >> district. But we aren't providing a sample policy anymore because there were too many >> okay >> too many variables I suppose and too many things that were still pending >> plus liability to them as well. They're like they don't want Yeah. Um, >> I don't want to belabor this, but but I do understand that we can get an answer to that. Uh, Bar Christina is very responsive a as is Will, uh, the lawyer

099over at New Hampshire School Boards Association, and I didn't, uh, understand that as as a as one of your questions. I'm sorry. I would have been able to get an answer for you. >> That's okay. I should have >> to um, but we can get that answer because I think it is a difference of perspective and and understanding. Is it just a removing of the sample policy or is it a true recommendation of rescending is a very different >> it may be different for for some of our some people's decisions. Um I can only speak for myself. It does it won't matter for my decision. I do not support rescending the policy um because I think that we owe it to students, all students to protect them and there was a point in time where

100we felt that this when we specifically designate one particular group, it is because we something has made that group more more vulnerable and and somewhere along the way we someone decided that this vulnerable group of people needed some extra attention to protections that that that they needed and I don't know that anything has changed that would prevent them from now meeting those protections that we at one time thought they needed. I also don't think our policy really takes a firm stand on the athletics participation part. So I think that we are safe there should that ever occur that we are challenged with making that very difficult decision whether or not we allow or don't allow when we stand under what NH I whatever I >> um but you know I think that I think that

101at one point again we we we recognized that this was a group that needed some special protection and I don't think anything has changed to say yeah we recognize that this is a vulnerable population. We need to look out for them. >> I would agree with everything Jen said and I just want to echo the fact that we have a policy in place because I I do believe that as us as a school district, we do look out for all children. However, sometimes it's not enough just to say that that's what we do because we are trusting. There's a lot of people in this district. There's a lot of teachers, administrators, people have their own personal opinions about lots of different things. And so we, as Jen said, we we felt the need at in

1022015 to approve this policy to protect this um population of students. And um again, I just echo what Jen said that I I think that things haven't changed to the point that we we don't we no longer need this polic. in in the research I did too. Um, a lot of this policy when it when we go back just to make sure on the dates. So, we approved it on originally I guess in 2015 and then it revised at 2021. So, we actually were I guess a little bit ahead >> before the 2022. >> Yeah. So, in 2018 um Governor Cenounu signed into law house Bill 1319 which which amended what we refer to in our legal under our policy JBA. We refer to RSA 354A, which was New Hampshire's law against discrimination. And Governor

103Cenounu's bill that he signed in um on June 8th of 2018 added it it added gender identity and gender expression as a protected class for the for the state for RSA 354A, which we cite as our legal reference for our policy JBA. What bill did he sign going out of office? >> I don't know off the top of my head. >> But there are some things and points I want to agree with Jen on. If you read the policy, just because we have JBA does not mean that we're in violation. Uh it does not our JBA does not specifically address athletics. It does not specifically address um U bathroom use and facility use. And so those are things that may be in JBA R which we have to yes >> to to revise. And so

104there there's two pieces here then that JBA my personal opinion does not conflict with what my understanding of of NHIA rules HB1 1205 again students this does not address students playing sports or facility use JBAR would require some modification for us to be in compliance with current New Hampshire and federal law. >> But we don't have to make that decision tonight. >> It doesn't. In fact, >> we're talking specifically about the JB and and I like your question, Jen. There's a difference between being rescended getting further legal advice on our on our our thing because that's just my opinion, right? I'm not a lawyer. We could send it to legal, too, and say, "In your opinion, is this in violation of current law and I think that's doing our due diligence. >> And then I

105would also suggest that we uh have them review JB ABR what changes would have to be made in order so we're not jeopardizing uh out of compliance of of state and federal law. Could I could I also throw on that we also have or we already have to look down here policies ACA um and AC um and JICK around bullying and harassment. Is there any is there anything preventing us from rolling the language in JBA into ACA and just making it a universal policy instead of having two separate ones at this point as long as they say that we're not in violation again I yeah I think you could >> because I said we need to do some changes to policies and stuff we need to really tighten the bullying uh harassment and hate speech

106um into the policies and they have to be >> and these are the ones that just just >> I like that >> suggestion and and to your point I think >> as much as I hate having to spend money on legal you know where where there is the the reference to 354 A2 and the current law do those laws conflict with each other or do are they complimentary because it's not like that hasn't happened in the state before Um, I guess it sounds like there's still a little bit more information to be gathered, but I think the the bigger concern for me would be as long as we are not actively in violation of state or federal law as it stands, then I don't I don't see the need for it to to go away

107at at this moment. But if if that's not the case, then I would rather us on the side of being legally compliant than not. I want to know the legal statute of the law. >> That's what I want to know compared to what is active as of 2024. Um what is what is the statute legal statute of it? And if we are in if we are in out of compliance for it then we we just we can't break the law. >> New policy. >> Yeah. Can't break the law. If everyone is in agreement then uh I will take this uh and bring both JBA and JBR uh to legal counsel and as soon as I have those feedback from legal counsel I will share it. >> So we are not taking a vote. >> We

108are not taking a vote tonight is what I'm hearing. It's because >> not until not until we get some >> we're we're leaving it in effect until we have further information. And Bill, you mentioned that some schools districts have rescended already and some are keeping them. Correct. >> That is accurate. >> Yep. Uh they're across the board differences. I I found many have and and for whatever reason and every district's different and that's why we have these conversations, right? Um many have withdrawn and others have not withdrawn. I think you smaller districts smaller districts have rescended but larger districts have >> like Manchester 19 schools under their belt >> you know >> and I do think it's important unfortunately to consult with the attorney aspect of it >> absolutely >> and then I'd want to

109quantify a dollar right so if we're looking at the possibility of funding we're gonna say not resend it throw it out there and there's a chance funding could be taken away. What is that ramification of it? So quantify that >> we can get the dollar amount for >> just to have that as a not that that's the sole reason on why because I I do believe when we start looking at this you know my comment will stay the same is I'm worried about bullying and harassment across the board and we have to make sure that whether it's JBA or any of the other ones that it's consistent and that most protective, >> right? >> Yeah. Because I don't believe in a singular protective class. I believe the policies should be for everybody. They should be

110handed separate because all you do at that point is you're creating a reverse discrimination. I feel >> I agree with that to a point, but I think that if you look historically, there have been certain classes of people that have needed a little bit of extra language around having receive having their rights. And if you look historically um you know we have this liberty and justice for all and we have that all men are created equal and there there have been lots of sayings utterings of that historically from the birth of our nation and that has not always been the case. So um we can I I think yes getting more around it and and if I don't know that really um legal is gonna it's still so contradictory everywhere that legal is really going

111to give us anything. I don't know maybe maybe it will maybe it won't. Um but I also don't necessarily think I'm not looking to break the law purposefully break the law. I'm not. However, historically there have been times that laws have not in the best interest of people. There was a time that people of color could not come to public school and that was the law and it wasn't right but it was the law. And I would like to think that I would if I were the person sitting there standing up for that group of people at that time when it meant breaking the law that I would have broken the law. So I'm willing to break the law to protect kids. Maybe I just said that on camera. I think we're you're taking a

112very reflective approach to it and not a rash harsh like just consideration more information whether it's fruitful or not we'll have to wait and see but uh I think it's >> could he give us something in writing >> oh he will they they do they do I think they charge for the word he's really good at that >> no I will share exactly whatever their response is I will share with with the board Yeah. >> Well, appreciate everybody's input. Very thoughtful input in this um sort of um >> controversial topic. >> So, thank you. >> We are going to move any last comments before we move to personnel. >> No update on personel. >> May I ask I don't know this answer, but do we have any openings? And if you're not sure exactly, maybe

113we could discuss this at >> I do know some, but I will get the exact numbers. We are still with a long-term sub in uh fifth grade that we are advertising for. We still have contracted services for some special education case managers. So, we are still looking for some uh more permanent positions. >> Um however, we do have people and and we do think that they're being successful and in front in front of our children. >> Um one custodial staff member at this point that I'm aware of. I think we have all our parents at this point. Um so, duty >> and oh yes, one lunch and recess duty. Um but I will get you the update, but yes, we do still have some >> um um and then we do have a a maternity

114leave and and things here, but overall we're very pleased. We've been in better shape this year than we have been >> uh recently. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Um can I digress for a second and ask how many people are cold? >> I just I am I am like my body language is I'm I'm very very cold. Robin, we know very >> I was feeling it. I am very comfortable. >> So >> look at that. We have God. >> We'll have to get the instructions on how to control. >> Oh my god. >> Oh heat down for cold. >> What was it? >> Push the red for heat. Up for heat. Down for cold. Do not let Robin touch it or Ben. >> How do I walk in? >> I'm glad. I'm glad. I'm glad.

115I'm like I am absolutely >> I don't usually get closer. I'm resolved. >> Okay. >> And I tell him to put a blanket on. >> I'm bringing my blanket next time. >> Okay. Uh we are moving on to financial business and district updates. So, I don't have a whole lot to report other than we did have a great um I felt it was a very good productive budget meeting last night. So, thank you for the board members that came out even though it is the budget committee's meeting. It's always nice to have you guys there in the audience to hear firsthand what >> and those who watch it remotely that watch it just to hear firsthand what those things are that we're presenting in the budget versus, you know, hearing about it a couple months

116down the road. So, um I thought it was really good. They asked some really good questions. They've been very good about communicating, I have to say. Uh, we we did get some questions ahead of time that we knew were coming and so I have to say we're very pleased with that and we as always had a quick response. Even some of them came at 3:00 yesterday or whatever and we were drafting some responses. But overall, uh, I as always and I've already commended Christine and the team and and they come prepared. I have to say our team has always come prepared and it's not always easy by the way. >> It it's a fast timeline with the beginning of school for principles to meet with their their leadership teams and and talk about uh budgeting

117and they're like we just got the kids through the doors. We we still got our rosters to do and like you're asking us to do this and like yeah we are. >> And we did send it out um on Monday um to the whole budget committee. Um, I know that they had some challenges on their end of where it went, but it was sent on time on on Monday. >> And and so we're I know it must be a little different for you guys. I have to say it's different for me because normally we're at a more polished state at this point with the presentation and where we're at. We've already had our go and and stuff. So I I can only imagine. But you must be thinking all your questions and thoughts and hearing

118it for the first time as well. But uh overall for a new process so far I'm hopeful and and we'll see where it goes. I don't think we even saw that like the three of us sitting next to each other and things would come up and you know be like well what about this and hold that for your board meeting remember that >> that's the first time we really like it I I felt I felt a good vibe in the room it was very it was collaborative not >> uh adversarial >> right that's how I that's how I felt it so um Yeah, they asked there were good questions asked >> and next Wednesday, right? >> So that next part is not this coming Wednesday but the following Tuesday this same week as our board

119meeting. So it's always Wednesday the budget >> Wednesday Thursday the board meets. >> Okay. Well just not you have a week off but >> just want to put the date out there for people that they can come to the town hall and see that >> October 16th I believe is the exact date. No, the 15th 15th >> 16th meeting 15th >> October 15th 16 town hall to go over more school budget. >> We will have the facilities department, the technology department and food service department there to present and I will do the normal opening to talk about some things that might come up during those conversations. So we'll help guide that conversation a little bit um and then let our directors lead the rest of the way. >> If you would like join us and

120come along and hear it. You're always welcome and you can always watch it as well. >> And you're always asking questions just like everyone else >> as you're reviewing it for the first time. >> Ask us questions as well. >> So you can stop in, talk to us, go through it. I'll >> But I want to say thank you to to to Matt and Robin as well. So we had a meeting uh already scheduled earlier and and my team was feeling like Bill, how do we present? what is this? This is so different to us. And you two were very gracious in in sharing your thoughts and preparing our team. So I want to say thank you. That was very collaborative of you to help us prepare uh for that. >> That did a good

121job >> because I mean every question everything you put up there that they asked every Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We anticipated. And a huge kudos to how it was presented and the detail. And for those that haven't watched it or don't want to, >> how many lines were flat, no increase even with all the inflation factors that are out there was amazing to see. So, it was scrutinized when we talk about taxpayer dollars and making sure we're asking for what's needed >> versus wants and making sure we're, you know, being good stewards of the money. That was definitely seen last night. >> No, I just said I thought it went well. Yeah, I had asked um the budget that um Christine emailed to us >> was um what the budget committee had asked for with the

122percentages and the default >> but I do like to reference the actuals from 20. So she did um >> do that which was great and then she was stealing it from me last night. Um, but I think she I do like that. >> I like that because you can see what we spent on it and did we actually need all that money or did we go over? So, I think she was going to email that out to everybody. >> Perfect. >> Because it's already done. >> It's done. It's created. >> I find a copy >> and you can stop and pick up a paper. >> I like that paper. >> Yes, I can do that as well. Just email paper. Otherwise, I'm emailing to you. I know this. >> Yes. So, um, look for that.

123That will be coming. >> The next thing on our agenda, you asked for a few things to come back at the last meeting. One of the things on there was the impact fees and when those expire. So, I did speak with Jake today. Um, ours expire in 2028. There's currently $116,000 um remaining in those that are going to expire in 2028. more questions about it, but >> there more funds that expire beyond that or those the most >> Those are the most recent >> chronological expire. Okay. >> Yum. >> And they are use it or lose it, but you have till I >> was going to ask you that. Do you use it or lose? >> Yeah, you actually have to return it to um >> the developer with acred interest as well when you

124return this. >> And how much do we have in total? Not just what's going to expire soon. >> I had that number. I think it was, don't quote me on it, it was between four and 500,000. >> So, those are conversations, right? Like Jake and I can have those conversations. We can go back and forth. We both feel that that might be a really good use of the impact fees to purchase the loader. Um, again, we'll have these conversations with the budget committee and everyone else because it does keep coming up. We do currently have it in our budget um to purchase a new loader. However, you know, we're looking at maybe five times a year if we get a good winter at this point. Historically, our winters haven't required very much and do we

125want to take that full investment for five storms, you know, or is it better the town's loader is not functioning well right now and they don't feel comfortable even dropping it off for us to use because they don't feel it's safe. So, you know, if the town has a bigger need for a loader, does it make sense to go to impact these maybe? Does it how does that look? And I think those are great conversations that are going to come up in the budget process. But we will present it in our budget and let the conversation kind of flow from there. Um, but that is one avenue that Jake and I were talking about could be a good avenue to explore is using those impact fees, especially where they use the schools for voting um,

126and things like that and maintaining our lots for voting. It is kind of a town school >> for storms in general so the school can open and all that. that I think will definitely come up and be some good conversation that we'll be having. >> And after this year, we're not taking any more of the impact fees to pay towards any of the any of the loans. Correct. >> Correct. >> So for the for the middle school expansion that had been on the book, you were taking $9,000 every single year offset >> this year before last year because we had a payment this year. So I already requested the last 90. Okay. >> So, are should we be continuing the conversation about the walkway access motor? >> Just real quick, my >> I'm sorry. I

127thought we were there. >> You were talking about impact fees, but impact fees were directly related to the walkway, >> right? >> Okay. Sorry. So, I kind say this was what I found out about the impact fees. Now, let's go to the walkway conversation. Sorry. And that was a $12,000 I believe the quote was for a five foot walkway. Um, currently this summer we put in our six foot drive roadway that goes up past the OD gym and now connects over to the elementary school. It is a one pass through. Um, and it would be great during voting time if you had a golf cart going up there or any thing like that traveling up that road. During this the conversation came up um about if traffic or golf carts were traveling that path where

128would the walkers be and that's what started kind of this conversation around the walkway. The town's thought to doing the six foot was to give people a 3x3. If you're coming this way you have three feet for your body space and people walking up would have three feet of their body space. That's their justification for the 60. I and myself and I myself and Jake and Bill kind of talked a little bit. Jake and I first talked about it. We think it's just at the point that we can keep going back and forth with this. But my recommendation would be to take two board members and two select board members and just sit down and have this conversation because I think everybody has different thoughts and opinions to this roadway, what this roadway was intended

129for, what the legal requirements are, you know, for the handicaps, are we making it accessible? Um, all of these different feelings. And I think us going back and forth or even Jake coming in still just doesn't answer the bigger question. So, I would recommend pick two school board members and then I can give those two school board members names to Jake and let him know and he can navigate setting it up with a software. >> We just don't have enough answers to give you and to say we support this, we don't support this and I definitely know that you don't have enough information to take a vote whether you want to use impact fees >> and you're not getting data back either. I mean, >> we're we're >> Jake is trying and that's why we

130came up with the recommendation like look you guys have someone have a conversation feelings to it, right? So, I think Jake is getting a lot of personal and then a lot of the true impact, you know, and so I just think there needs to be a bigger conversation. >> Well, and there's really two questions. One, are we in support of using Well, first of all, are we in support of this? And then two, if we are in support of it, are we in support of using impact fees? Right? There's two two separate votes here. So I do agree that >> correct. And and right now I don't I don't even know enough of what they're proposing to say whether I like it or not because there's a lot of other pieces here. Right. >> Just

131the roadway alone uh we have to monitor during the weekend. We have to monitor and we're putting up some flower pots to stop people from just inadvertently not >> harming or whatever. are just inadvertently, oh, I didn't know or whatever. And now if there's two roadways there and what's the aesthetic of that and and so forth and and all for one day a year, >> no, I'm not I'm not saying I'm I'm in disagreement with it. I'm saying I don't have enough information to say I support it or I don't support it. What I do want to say, and I know the the board pretty much knows this, and Matt, I don't know if you had a chance to share it with others, but I am not in support of ever moving it to Allen

132Gymnasium. It it needs to stay at the OD gym for numerous reasons. And I I think I articulated that well, and I can share that with anyone who wishes to understand why. Uh um I'm not understanding this inconvenience of 200 feet versus student and staff safety >> where that space is designed to be cordoned off both for voters to stay separated and for students and staff to stay separated. And I'll just bring it up to one point. Guns are allowed on on voting uh grounds including schools in New Hampshire. And that to me trumps >> any 200 foot walk. I'm sorry. >> We did measure from the um curve cut out in front of the island gym which is down a little bit ways to the gym entrance and it was 133 ft. >> 133.

133Yeah. >> Yeah. I'm trying to look at because I do think we did um $12,000. >> Do you want to jump in? >> Sure. I think I think there's potentially some other conversation worth having amongst ourselves while we try and get a further conversation set up because I know you've talked about putting flower pots in now and how some of the usage for that would go and if we're already discussing using impact fees uh certainly where some are going to expire sooner rather than later. I I think or I guess I'll just share my opinion. I think I think ultimately we're going to want to place where there's probably some sort of automated fashion to be able to operate access to that. So, say ambulance wanted to be parked near to the field to be

134able to get to to athletes or fans or anybody who might have a medical emergency on a game day or something like that rather than it being a padlock or or anything like that, something that could be easily accessed. If we're if we're going to go through the effort of putting in a sidewalk and taking on all these ch logistical challenges, why don't we address them all at the same time and figure out what's going to work as a whole instead of continuing to piece meal these projects together over the next five years and and try and come up with >> So that's why the the we're in complete agreement and and that's why the flower pots are more of a temporary solution right now. uh you know what I'm talking about the very big

135ones that will car can't yes we can move them for an event or whatever if we need to but for right now it it ensures safety and and correct and proper use but it pauses the conversation until we can >> figure out what's happening >> I thought I thought we did do some type of a vote but we didn't >> around that topic is the ongoing expense of whatever's there is an electric gate for example >> the plowing everything that go, >> right? >> Do we have any two volunteers who would like to volunteer to speak to this? >> I think last time I said if we didn't put this in for the safety of our students, why would we put it in for voting? We h there's more than enough help out there for

136for people to get to the gym. So, if we didn't put it in previously, right, you brought up talked about a three-foot path this way, a three Because there was talk about well a car could drive up there or a golf cart then you're then and pedestrians are coming one way in the golf cart I because just because they do not like it in the OD gym that's what this is all about they want to go back to the Allen gym that's exactly what this is about. So volunteers, >> depending on how open and willing they are for a meeting time and venue, I'd be happy to to do it. Just if it's during the the work day, have to be something where I could try and zoom in or call in or something along

137those lines. And if if I can get a step away from work for a meeting or two to to come down, I'm happy to do it. But that would be my only see what their availability is. >> Yeah. Once I have the names, then I will give Jake the names and then he will reach out to the two of you to arrange what might work best and speak with his two members. >> Yeah, most everybody on the board meeting with Jake. I'm sure you expect me to >> Are you volunteering? >> I don't mind being an alternate um somebody else. >> I don't mind being an alternate and we have two. >> We have some Yeah, we have lots of willing people. I don't think it's going to be like a multi, >> you know,

138and then you can come back and share with us what you're finding because >> do you support it or not or whatever. >> So if you can't make it if the meeting doesn't work, I'm happy Matt or I we'd be happy to jump in. I think there's >> I think we're all pretty much willing to >> I just want to be clear. we wish to support and we've always been good stewards of supporting uh voting and and Yeah. and we continue to do that. >> I would say we do. >> Yeah, we do. But this is also we're talking about changing our the layout of our property, >> right? >> We're already talking about a loader that we may not have and how are we going to maintain our >> we need we need a

139loader probably more than we that five times a year. We probably need that more than we need the one time. >> And I just want to acknowledge that >> we just had a massive paving project. I wish the town had brought this up prior to this very expensive >> paving project that we just did. >> You know, the timing is not >> so it is what it is. But, you know, >> and it has nothing to do with the I'll say this. I know that the gym is named after Ryan and last name has nothing to do with this. This is a safety issue. >> We should not have to cancel school for voting and having it in the OD gym eliminates that completely. Kids can go to school full day, no problems, no inter

140there will be no connection between students and the outside people coming to voting. Um it's a it is a safety safety issue. the time our kids are not there but our teachers are because we have a lot of PD days and um and so we want to we need to protect our teachers too. >> Yeah. >> So we need to protect our teachers just like >> but we have had voting days where the kids occasionally and I remember I worked the polls one time and um >> I don't know who it was ever came down from the state but they didn't like the students walking in the hallway going to the cafeteria when they were voting. It's supposed to be a very secure area >> to protect the voters. is protect the voters, the workers

141through those hallways in front of gym. >> This is not a big deal. I don't know what the big I don't know what the big problem is. It's it's in a very welllit big space. >> All right. >> And there are three times that it will be needed. >> That's what brought the discussion. Okay. >> Three elections that will take place. >> Yeah. And last year there were four. So Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yeah. So instead of one, so there would be three times. >> Okay. Got more reason why we need to separate more time. Correct. >> We don't want to close school three times. >> Correct. >> All right. Um, moving on. >> Thank you. >> Public meeting minutes September 18th, 2025. >> Any questions, comments about it? There was a missing

142name. >> Yeah. Um, >> does anyone know her? >> Yes, I do. >> Name. >> It's right there. Mrs. Frederick just put Mrs. >> Fredericks. >> Can sure >> Mrs. >> Yes. Yes. >> Any other comments about the public meeting minutes from September? Uh, sorry. Yes. September 18, 2025. Oh, I did see something. Of course I did. Um, it in the meeting minutes it said that we did not approve the July 17th. We're still on the July 17th, 2025. So, >> we had a long discussion. I was just >> I'm so sorry, but I'm so sorry, but we did not we did not approve the July 17th. >> Yeah, we didn't. You're right. So, so the meeting minutes are accurate. However, we still have to revisit the July 17th. >> You'll see them next Monday.

143>> Okay. >> Sorry. >> So, is that confirmed now that that portion of the discussion in the minutes is correct? >> Because that that was the last question was making sure that the wording from that discussion around >> Well, I don't know. I'd have to see. >> I don't think we've gone through the edit. >> We discussed it. >> The question was needing to go back and check the script one more time. July 17th meeting minutes were not accurate. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And I don't see I don't see any mention of that at all in here. >> She It's She said at the very >> Is this the meeting? Yeah. >> She said that um >> it basically that we did not approve it. >> Okay. So that's that's accurate. But it was a

144a reminder to me >> that we need to bring it back. >> We would have dropped them. Yeah. >> Yeah. That we still have to get back to July 17th. >> If you're in there, >> I have them pulled up now. So, I will try to figure out. >> You were writing some things down. Yeah. At the last meeting because it was really confusing. >> And Christine, I know you were editing the name. And if you want if you want to add um Mr. Frederick's name down towards the very bottom of the meeting minutes as well. >> There's a there's a highlight in there. >> Thank you. >> All right. I'm gonna wake up at 2 o'clock in the morning. >> Yes. So, do I have a motion to ex to approve public meeting minutes

145from September 18th, 2025? >> Some moved. >> As corrected. Thank you. As corrected. >> Um I'm sorry. >> Moved by Ben. Seconded by Robin. >> All in favor? >> All opposed. >> Oh, I'm so sorry. >> I was not in attendance. >> Um Yes. And extensions. >> Yes. That passes 401. I'm so sorry. Phone is ringing. It's my kid. >> Um, okay. >> I don't believe there were non-public meeting minutes. >> No. No, I don't believe there were. Um, no. >> No need to approve it. >> We do not need to approve the non-public meeting minutes since you're on. So, started up. >> What was I just going to say? my hand. >> Oh, I just wanted to I just wanted to remind um >> if we can get a a print out of the

146resolutions so the next meeting we can go through them and you can you know >> you want to put resolutions on the um agenda next. >> Yeah, because it's going to have to be because then it's two weeks away after that. >> Um and then that way we can go through them all and you can inform me in what way the board's feeling. So when it comes to voting be a scheduled topic. >> It will be scheduled topic. >> I just want to just remember that to put that on there. >> So, will we have non nonpublic meeting minutes from >> Did we have a nonpublic we did have we did have a meeting before the 18? >> I do not recall, but I believe >> Yeah, because we were we were supposed to be

147talking about Bill's contract and we ended up having other discussions. So there wasn't there was >> so there there should be some some >> but they're not in the >> full Okay, then that's what we'll do. >> Yeah, it was a short it was short one from 5:30 to 6. Okay, thank you. >> Just can we back up real quick just to because I have the minutes from >> July 17th up. >> Yes. So just I think I'm following them and I think I see where the error is and I just want to confirm my thoughts. I'll go back and watch the video as well but Ben made the motion to encumber. Seconded motion carries but then Ben resends the motion. >> Yes. So then the resin carries. So then Ben makes another motion to

148encumber the funds. That motion fails. Then Julie makes a motion to encumber the $71,850 from the 2425 budget surplus payment option one and that's the one that carries. So that's the vote that's wrong because you never voted to use surplus >> correct. Yes. >> Okay. So I highlighted that. I will go back and watch that part. >> Thank you. >> Does that sound everybody? >> Everybody sounds >> okay. Thank you. Okay. manifests. Ready? Here it goes. Accounts payable deposit on September 18th, 2025 in the amount of $356,722.82. >> So move. >> Second. Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? That passes 5. Accounts payable deposit on September 24th, 2025 in the amount of $43,542.50. >> So move. >> Second. >> Moved by Ben. Second by Jen. All in

149favor? >> I. >> All oppose. That passes. 5. >> Payroll deposited. I'm going to do all three of these together. Payroll deposited on September 12th, 2025 in the amount of 323,127. Payroll deposited on September 12th, 2025 in the amount of $94,519.14. Payroll deposited on September 12th, 2025 in the amount of $3,282.78. So move. >> Second. Moved by Ben, second by Jen. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. That passes 5. >> Payroll deposited on September 19th, 2025 in the amount of $315,29648. And payroll deposited on September 19th, 2025 in the amount of $28,910.38. >> So move. >> Second. Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? All oppose? that passes 5. Payroll deposited on September 26th, 2025 in the amount of $1,771. And payroll deposited on September 26, 2025 in the amount of

150$35.98. >> So move second. >> Moved by Ben, seconded by Jen. All in favor? I. All oppose. That passes. >> 5. There was um a question I think it was the last meeting where there was like four of them that looked exactly the same. It was like 629 629 149 14 like a duplicate. They were separate. >> Okay. >> Wow. >> Did we do we need to approve them? >> Are we good? >> I think just for clarification it wasn't an error. It was not an error. >> Nope. It was reissued. So it went out once and then it got reissued. >> Okay. >> So it was the reissuing. So it was correct. You'd have to approve both of the original. >> All right. Board comments. Matt, >> my only comment real quick is a

151huge thank you to everyone that's working on together budgets, not just for the school, but for all town. >> Um, a lot of work goes into it. So, if you're not watching the joke last night with thousands of people watching, um, but take a moment, understand what's coming up on the ballots and and what's going to be asked for. So, a lot of hard work. >> Money. >> Thank you. >> My only comment would be uh from getting to to watch the budget process from home last night. Uh sorry I wasn't able to join unfortunately but uh again my compliments to everybody involved in the budget process last night. I thought it was very well presented. I think the budget committee asked some very well thoughtout questions. Um and I'm very excited now having seen

152the first session go through. I'm excited to see how the rest of the budgeting process goes this year. >> And I'm also now looking forward to having some further conversations with the SL board about future projects. Robin, >> no, I don't have anything, believe it or not. >> Okay, you might. We'll come back to you. Um, Christine, >> I don't have any. >> All set. Thanks. >> Um, I just want to thank uh all the people that were involved in setting this room up for us for uh the seating arrangement, the video. Um, I really appreciate us trying it out. Um, I do want to ask um that maybe I where would we locate this video >> and when would we I don't want to put pressure on anybody, but where I know people might

153want to watch this. >> So, when would it be could we expect it to be posted and where is it going to be posted? >> So, tomorrow morning, Maria will be bringing the video down to when um at ETV at 8 a.m. and then there. Glenn will be posting it and we're hoping by 10. >> Oh, time the latest. >> Yeah, that's awesome. I think that's we because we did discuss getting it out there in a reasonable time and personally I think that's very reasonable. >> She drops it off at 8. I don't know what schedule is, but I would hope by 10. >> That's awesome. Posted. >> So, look forward to that. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you for being here and detesting this. us in our journey. >> Yeah, I would

154and I would suggest between now and maybe the next meeting people take a quick look at what it looks like and sounds like because I know that we are going to have a discussion maybe a scheduled topic. >> You can have feedback. Absolutely. >> And in three in two other two so I think the first November meeting, you know, we should have that. It should be a scheduled topic to um to vote on the location >> of our school board meetings moving forward. Um, and also I just want to add that um our Fremont school board rep is going his name is Greg and he's going to be joining us at the next meeting. Um, >> good >> as of as of right now. So that was the plan. He was going to fly to

155um he was hoping to come tonight but it didn't work out. So he will be coming to all the meetings. So what's going on? >> Excellent. >> So any any last comments? >> You know I just want to double check some dates. Matt, I have Wednesday for next Wednesday for a budget. Yes, >> we do have one. Not related >> not related to school. Okay. But there is one. Okay. Um >> pretty much everyone. >> Yeah. And Bill, we have another When's our next policy one? Are we having another policy one? I don't see it. >> Of course we are. >> I know we are, but I just don't see it. >> I'll find it for you. >> If I don't have these on here, I don't know what my life is. Okay. All right.

156Um, we're not having a nonpublic. >> We're not having a non agenda. >> Well, I thought maybe we did, but we do not. >> Okay. All right. I just emailed your >> October 14th. >> 2425 actual >> October 14. They see that email. >> Okay. Perfect. Thank you. All right. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. Second. All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you everyone. Good night. >> 100 p.m. All right. >> Thank you, Maria. >> You've been my