001Andrea Folsam, Dulce Man Liploma, our amazing superintendent, Amy Doyle. Oh my god, I almost just cross referenced it with Mike Flynn in my head. I don't know why. Yeah. Our our VA, Laura Taylor, board secretary, Jody Condan, and our student rep, Lucy Beardmore, uh, who is exceptional, and Matt Stone running it. If we could stand, Lucy, could you lead us in the pledge of allegiance? >> Sure. >> Thank you. Algiance 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, guys. We have three sets of minutes to approve. One, one, session one from the May 7th nonpublic. Uh session two from the May 7th nonpublic and the regular meeting minutes for our May 7th
002schoolboard meeting. Do I have a motion to approve these minutes? >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion? >> No discussion. >> All right. Great. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Great. Motion carries. We are now at the first public comment portion of the evening. If you would like to come up, please feel free to state your name, um, address, and we ask you keep it to three minutes. >> This is Will. He's here for the poetry out. >> Wait, just wait a second, Will. We'll get right to you. Thank you for being willing to chime in. Terrific. Okay, great. Uh, no takers. We'll move on. Lucy, what is shaken? >> All right. Um, so I apologize. I think Kip has a game or maybe he's just getting back from
003practice, but I did not reach out ahead of time for any HMS or MSS updates or any additional details about senior festivities. So, I'm hoping he's coming and he can maybe add those at the end. I'm not sure. Um, but um, as far as high school updates, so prom uh was I think two weekends ago now. Um, I think it was pretty successful overall. Um, it was at Mount Sunip, so a bit of a waste away. Um, but I mean, the food was good, the decorations were good, DJ was decent, and we had good attendance, so I think it was generally successful. Um, we're also, um, as of today finished with AP exams. I think the last exam was AP psych, which was either today or yesterday, and then a couple people had to take
004late exams today. Um, but this year was my first experience with off-site exams. The only exam I took last year was in the auditorium. And from my experience, it went pretty smoothly. I mean, we had like Mr. Cody and tech support there. Um, which was helpful because I think a couple times like um some of the computers were a little acting a little wonky, but overall went pretty smoothly. Um, so yeah, it's nice to have those sort of in the rear view. Um, last week we also had the high school band and chorus concert. Um, that's always a fun time. Um, Miss Yatti obviously does a great job. Um, it was kind of a bit of an opposite situation where in chorus there was a lot of seniors um, graduating. Um, whereas in band it's
005really underassman heavy. Um, but I would say both groups did really well. I'm always impressed with chorus especially because I have no singing background at all. I really am just always impressed with what they have to share. Um and then you know band and jazz band I thought we did well also. So that was a successful night. Um senior festivities I know they had their senior trip last week and potentially a senior skip day planned for the near future. Um, I think Kip would have more details on that, but from what I've heard, um, senior trip they went to Apex, which is like an indoor like entertainment facility, I guess, with like an arcade and a bunch of different activities. And then after they drove to Six Flags, so it was kind of a lot
006of driving for not a ton of time actually at the places, but I think overall it was still successful. Um, sports. Um, from what I've seen, it's been kind of a tricky season because the spring is kind of short as it is and a lot of games have been cancelled and there will be teams with like three or four games in one week because things are just getting like pushed ahead. Um, but I do think that most of the teams are fairing well. I just came from a middle school um, baseball game. They were doing well, especially for a team, you know, like softball that didn't really have a coach going into the season. I think they've turned it around well. So, I think spring season is going well. Um, also on the middle school
007theme, uh, the Quebec the Quebec trip was last week. So, seventh and eighth grade French students, um, I believe it was Thursday to Saturday. Um, they were in Quebec. Um, they did a lot of different activities. um both like the historical side of old Quebec and then also like the sort of newer cultural experiences. Um and from what I heard that was really enjoyable. Um upcoming uh celebration of the arts is tomorrow um at the library. I think it starts at 4 um and it goes it starts with the younger ages and goes up. um academic awards night on Thursday and then the middle school concert is either next week or the following week. >> Um 27th. Okay. Um but yeah, I'd say we're still kind of in the busy spring >> time, but definitely
008at least from my perspect perspective feels like things are winding down and especially for the seniors, they really don't have much longer to go. So >> cool. >> Can we include a couple shout outs? One is prom photos were taken by a school board member Jonathan Dunlap. They were gorgeous. >> I was the one with pregame like the real ones are out now too and they were beautiful from Tina. >> That was amazing. It looked like it was on a fake backdrop I thought at Camp Methodius, right? >> Yeah, they were great. Thank you very much. I think people really appreciated those. >> Mhm. Top notch. And then I think celebration of the art starts at 4:30 to 5:30 for the youth from Harold. Um and then um sorry, any other questions for Lucy? Sorry.
009Okay. All right. This is great. Thank you. Thank you. That was excellent. Um, any board comments? Okay. Um, I will just add a couple things. if people should continue to track what's happening at the state house related to open enrollment. And there were a couple bills related to uh fund balance or unassigned fund balance that uh could be impactful for school districts. Um so we should just continue to keep an eye on those. I also wanted to um include a shout out to Susan Covert because she has done a really good job of sending out information about celebration of the arts, sports games, everything that's happening in the school. And I really appreciate Susan for all she does because it is hard to get that info out to non-parents. That's it. All right. Anything else
010for the board? All right. We have a student highlight. Amy, do you want to kick us off? >> Yes. So, we have Will Shepard here tonight and he was was able to come and move around his schedule. So, we're appreciative of that. And he's going to share his experience and some information about poetry out loud with >> Thank you for coming, Will. You can move it if you want. Yeah, >> I think I need personal. >> Great. >> It was it was a fun experience. I've done it for the last three years and every year has been really nice. First two years it was a senior who was really good and hope to hope to continue her legacy when next year. >> Um then I went on to the dairy opera house which was that
011was a interesting experience because there's a lot of different a lot of different schools and a lot of there's also like professional experience >> and did you write your own poem or did you recite something that you already knew? So poetry at lab is a poem organization and so they organized this is you have to find a poem you have to have two poems on their website then memorize them and recite them at like a local uh competition and then you go over to regional and then statewide and then I think it was like a month or two ago they did the nationals in Philadelphia. >> And did did you see the person who went from New Hampshire? >> Uh I don't I don't think it was from the Dairy Dec. >> Do you want
012to do part of your poem? >> If I if I remember. >> Okay. No pressure. And we're not going to know two of them like four months ago. Okay. Atorm song are brought across the lime clouds like tatter swift. The road is full all day where a myriad snows vanish away. The roadside flowers to wet the bear and be my love in the rain. first that the first day I >> wow chill that was really good. >> So that was the second one I did. Um I I liked it. I not remember my life what even the name of the first one was. So that's that's how exams and >> it has taken all of your brain >> right. >> Yeah. >> That is excellent. >> Will how do you pick like what's your when
013you're flipping because they used to send us like the books too. you could get like a little book or go through the website and there's just so many. How do you narrow it down? Like is there a particular topic you like or do you like, you know, like rhyme scheme, verse, free? Like what what do you like? >> So the way we got into it was freshman year we all picked up a really like started freshman year. It has a lot of So there's always a good dose of freshman there with a few of the sophomores and But I really liked it last year. I'm going to continue it and I really like keep nice and competitive. Uh the I started out first two years I think I just like read a random poem and
014like kept going through until I was like it's pretty good. >> Yeah. Okay. >> I could do that. Um last year last year I heard that you got extra points for it being difficult. So, I just I did kind of a dumb thing and I memorized two of the longest poems I could find and then I forgot like the last two lines of my second poem >> and I was like that was annoying. But uh this year I went through I went through nature and I just went alphabetically and I wrote down a few that I liked that weren't like crazy long but also substantial enough that I would kind of not be given credit if I had like a mess up a little bit some protection on those points. And I we had more
015discussion of like the scoring criteria this year which I thought was a lot more helpful. >> Good. >> Do they do could they do poetry out loud for the younger grades because I think this could also be something for fourth, fifth, and sixth. >> I don't think they can compete, but I think what Will was saying is the younger they start talk about the structure and >> um and they do a little bit of that. At least they used to in sixth grade where they would memorize, you know, passages or >> um quotes and things to share. So, >> pretty great. >> Yeah. >> Amazing. Any other questions for Will? >> I I have a question. So, I always think it's so interesting because so you clearly don't mind like the performance aspect which So,
016I've gone to poetry out loud. It has to be like kind of nerve-wracking getting up on stage and like just reciting this poem. Um, so I'm always interested to know, so you've chosen to do this, but I have not seen you in theater. Like what makes people like choose one thing over the other? And this is just sort of like an opinion. >> Well, first first freshman sophomore year, I'm not going to lie, I was like, if I tell I'm doing poetry out loud for four years like that. >> Yeah. Um, but I really like last year I was really wanted to be more competitive, so I chose those longer homes. And I don't know. I think because like theater isn't really a class. It's more it's much more of a commitment if I'm like
017either I get the part and then I have a full commitment that like I've let other people down or something if I like don't do well. poetry out loud is much more like >> but everyone else is really nice if you do. So >> yeah, so it's almost like theater on a on a micro scale. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's great. And it's amazing how sometimes when you're like made to do something, you actually start liking it. It's weird. >> I'd also say it would be a good thing. I do a lot of public speaking, but I don't do planned speeches. Like I have topics that I have to do stuff on. doing something that is a delivered set of lines that is just you like if you have to do something within a specific
018like pitch timeline is actually its own unique skill and so learning this I think at your age is exceptional like it's a good it's a good thing to think through like everyone should learn that like recall um it's old school if I ever have to write a speech I have to make sure my end >> yeah you're like what am I rhyming to what am I doing what am I Yeah, that's right. >> It is. Totally is. I know. >> And weirdly, I bet people will be like, "Oh, I like I like how this >> almost like a phone." >> Said it. >> Anything else? >> Like an induction app instead of >> That works all day. >> That would be great. >> Cool. >> Thank you so much for coming. >> I have one
019more question. Are you going to do it next year? >> Oh, yeah. >> Great. Back to back. >> So, you'll get four years. It'll be excellent. >> All right. Amazing. Thank you so much for coming. Should we do a photo? She did. Yeah. >> A little bit, peeps. Three, two, one. >> Yeah, I'm like snow. >> Go home and enjoy this beautiful day. >> Yeah. >> Can I demand any starting track? Um, an indoor track team. >> You can ask Mr. Mer for that. >> Demand an indoor track team. >> Yeah. >> Oh, you did? Amazing. >> That's a lot of space for indoor craft. >> Well, like I think most teams just run in their hallway. >> I didn't know if there was like a >> They do. I'm like and I join a
020team and they're like they don't want to interrupt their hallways. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you all. Really appreciate it. All right. So, Laura does have to be on the road because she is going to a so much retreat for BAS. Um, it's called the Tri-State ASBO Conference. So, it brings Vermont and Maine and New Hampshire together for a few days of all business officials to talk about legislature and best practices in finance and HR and um and business. So, I'm headed there tonight. Yeah. >> Yep. >> So, given that we wanted to move a couple pieces Thank you, Matt. Uh, of all Yeah. of all things Laura over. Um, so she's going to run us through a couple quick thoughts on the fund balance and also our April financials. All right, those should
021both be in the packet. Yes. Um, we can talk about the financials first while Matt is helping me set up the the screen. >> So, in your folder, and remember they always go into the business office website um after they are approved by the board is the April 30th financial statement. We are seeing as we get closer to the end of the year with only two months left that our unassigned fund balance as of June 30th is 135,418. Um this is about $45,000 less than it was last month. We did expect it to go down a little bit more. Um while you don't see it on page three in the expenditure report, we do have a transfer of placement for a student which is costing us a little bit more. And so that's why the
022fund balance has reduced. That's our primary. >> I will say that the reduction um the positive balance in function 1200 which is special education is primarily due to teacher turnover to vacancies in um IAS and a reduction in healthcare as we had those 26 employees that switched instead of only five um rather than a reduction of services. >> Right. So, as we think about 1,200 as a whole, we've got salaries and benefits, and then we have our operations. >> Yep. Food service is still trending um towards a $75,000 loss this year. >> Okay. And we're talking Are we talking about >> Yeah. >> lunch prices at our next meeting, so everyone should get really excited. It's going to be great. >> Okay. Thanks, Laura. As ever. What what is the price tag on the uh
023>> similar to a business in that our books either end in the black with net income or in the red with net loss and at the end of the year those drop into fund balance. So fund balance is created in a few different ways. There's a lot of rules to follow um about fund balance but the three main components we have are overcolction of revenues. So, as we're budgeting, we set our revenues and we set our expenses. Our revenues change a little bit and they're they're finalized in September and any revenues collected over that amount um is considered an overcolction of revenue and drops in the fund balance. I cannot spend that. Um I can't increase my expenditure budget by the amount of my overcolction of revenue. That's the the municipal budgeting law RSA 32
024that we have to follow. Expenditures are lower than budgeted. This is the second piece. This is the one that we talk about a lot. Um, unfilled positions, staffing changes, or getting items, frankly, on sale. Teacher turnovers. All of those things contribute to an undersspend of our general fund, which would lead to fund balance. Um, in a lot of ways, an unspend of the general fund is very is to be expected. um we don't want to cut it so close that we risk ever overspending that allocation and our amount of money. And then lastly, any carryover from prior year, which would be expense, incumbrances or purchase orders that the school board has authorized us to carry into the next year um that perhaps ended a little lower than we had projected. All three of those combined
025to be our fund balance. strategies to manage this fund balance and apply it um at the end of the year. We talk about all throughout the year, right? We started talking this year in um our October statements about fund balance and what it's going to look like. So really, the school board has um strategies that you use to maximize our available resources to plan for future unanticipated expenses and to manage the tax rate. We want to manage that fluctuation of the tax rate. um $100,000 to 7 cents in order to make sure that you know the town can keep a stable tax rate as best as possible. By maximizing the contingency fund and reaching the recommended best practice of 5% um of our net assessment, we're able to retain stability within the school district for
026unanticipated expenses that might come up next year that we didn't know about in March, right? or cover unexpected costs or cover a revenue deficit that we might have in order to make up that difference when it comes time for tax rate. You do have the ability to utilize that contingency fund up until tax rate setting. So from July all the way through November. Um we also use it to fund encumbered projects. So projects that the school board has voted to to spend money on potentially out of a different fund can be used um fund balance instead to cover those and utilize our resources in a better way. Um two other ways we obviously know we return it for tax relief at the end of the year if it's not used to address other current district
027needs. We have other needs that sometimes come up. When it's a technology security audit and we find out that we need to improve our equipment or there's some facility security concerns that we have, we can use fund balance to um address those if they're not in the budget for next year. >> Yep. And then an a question that's often asked is we have fund balance at the end of the year. Can you add it to the trust funds? And the answer is unfortunately no. Not without planning. um we have to plan in the district meeting to vote to put that trust um that fund balance into a trust right in those warrants in March. And while we're in March, we don't know what the next four months is going to bring, right? This change in
028placement actually happened in March after town meeting. So, we don't know when those things are going to happen. But what we see here is that the warrant article would authorize us to put the money away from unassigned fund balance. The amount transferred would match what voters approve and then the trustees of the trust funds hold on to those funds. What that looks like though is that as a voted by the legislative body item that becomes the priority in the school board's ability to make decisions regarding fund balance. So, if the legislative body votes to put it into a trust, you have to fulfill that trust prior to fulfilling any other um obligations that you have to return for tax relief or the contingency fund. And so, that's where we want to balance that risk of
029putting everything into trust funds and then having nothing left to return. >> Okay, any questions on that? >> Great. And so as we look to our financials, we see that number that's on the front of them every month, which are projected on our fund balance right now is 135,418 to return to taxpayers. >> Yep. >> Or use for these other pieces that we talked about. >> Yong. >> Okay. That is very helpful. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay. Who's that? >> Thanks, Mark. Where's the conference? >> Burlington, Vermont. >> Oh, nice. >> Every year it switches between Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire. So, this year, um, last year New Hampshire had it. This year, Vermont has it. So, I have a couple hours ahead of me of traveling to Vermont. >> Woohoo. >> Yeah. But
030then you're in Burlington. >> Sorry. >> Yeah. But then you're in Burlington. >> Yes. >> So, that's okay. >> Yes. >> Amazing. Thank you. We really appreciate it. >> You're welcome. Um, do you want to vote on the financials or do you want to just do a part of the consent agenda later? We we can do it now. I have a motion to approve the April 2026 uh financials as presented. >> Yes. So moved. Second. >> Any discussion? >> Very helpful. Thank you. All those in favor? >> I. All those opposed. >> Terrific. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you, Matt. >> All right. >> Jim, are you ready? >> Come on up. >> Feet at the table. Yeah. >> Nice to Lucy. Yeah. >> Hi, good evening.
031Thank you guys. >> Hello. >> I just realized uh well, I just didn't since I put it at the top stage and it's been five months since I actually gave a facilities update. So, >> I know you've seen my face a couple other times in between now for other things. So, um yeah, you're doing the facilities update. Uh like always I I look to do those three segments of uh in in-house staff highlights and um other operational things and then our finally our contract and CIP stuff. So >> uh so we've had an open position for the past three months over at the high school, our high school day position. So that wasn't by choice. Um I we struggled keeping that position open that long, but we've had a string of bad luck. I mean
032we had some great interviews. We selected some great great people to move forward and we did and then they would they would back out. So, um unfortunately we had to restart the whole process again. Um but that was a lot of time, a lot of time doing interviews, um a lot of time doing phone screens and everything. But, uh thank goodness we we have a candidate that's actually starting next Tuesday. And uh I did text him uh yesterday still in this um and he's ready to go and uh already selected a uniform shirt size. So I I'm I'm very very hopeful uh that that's going to work out. So again with the vacancy open that long and custodial since we don't have custodial substitutes um a little bit how we handle that days is a
033little bit more comfortably I guess to um to cover um our our maintenance gentleman is does really the custodial duties for a good portion of the day and then we have a second shift uh custodian come in and and fill the lunchtime just just so we can get maintenance continue to move along. and then at night uh they just uh get together and cover those hours. But >> um I know it's hard to think on a 90 degree day uh about the long winter that we had, but it's like >> there's a lot of stuff that happens in the winter. So snow removal practices, you know, just sports, everything that's going on at the high school specifically, it was taxing on on the custodian. So them specifically, you know, when you're in the building next
034and see them, you know, thank them for really come together and the hard work of covering uh the school and I I think they've done really well. Their attitudes have been positive. So um and then our maintenance guy like he wants to get out there and do maintenanceoriented tasks, but um but he's not frustrated. He's kind. He's he's outgoing and it's really been covering that well. So uh really looking forward to uh the new gentleman David start on Tuesday. Uh a couple other PD things. Uh we had a a facilities masters conference which is uh headed up by Asbo. I'm sure Laura can attest to it. That's her people there that run that. But um couple hundred of uh facilities directors, custodians, grounds people attend that event every year. It was in Portsouth. We had
035a couple res representations from ours and I of course uh went myself and um it's just a good time at PD. a lot of different uh swag you can get, but you you take a lot of classes, some from the state. Uh so, it's beneficial for everyone. That was that's been great. And then Rodney, our general maintenance person, uh took a class over at Lakes Region Community um just on uh really HVAC systems and um and energy performance measures. So, he really enjoyed that as well. And I myself I'm I'm completed one of the two part of being a certified school facilities manager through ASBO. Um I thought that I was certified just because of my length of service I guess but this is a kind of a not a newer class but it's an
036old class that I just never took yet and um that's been taking a bunch of time and but it's it's been good. So um moving on to work orders. Uh my dates are incorrect on that. I just noticed it. Uh so th this is actually from 121 to May 1st. So you know five months or six months worth of work orders. So I think we did really really good for completing a lot of work orders even with the short staffed. Um again I I really want to give kudos to our our general maintenance person Rodney that uh he's just a go-getter. He's organized. He he does a great job. So he's not going back and you know continually working on an issue. he really thinks things through and plus the custodians have, you know, gathered
037up and and said, "I'll take care of that. I have a skill in that area or I want to take this, you know, and uh and do it." So, I I feel I just want to give them kudos and shout outs for for this for this process here. Um and then even our uh scheduled work orders and our um our our monthly checks of things um I felt have been pretty consistent. I think we lost a couple there just with the absence of or the departure of our our day guy. I have to go into the system and assign it again and might have been a week or two without those work orders being assigned but everything's safe. Don't no worries there. Um finally some in-house highlights. I explained a little bit about the staffing
038over and how we handle that. Um but a big part for our staff is evaluation time. Um, this is a an opportunity where I sit down with them uh one-on-one, each individual person. We go through uh the evaluation form. They have uh plenty opportunity to discuss their own personal feedback and their views, offer suggestions about how the department can run smoother, any grievances that they may want to air out or or or talk about. And they usually run between an hour, hour and a half. um surprised how you wouldn't think that some of my folks are are not as talkative but they are one-on-one >> um when you talk about themselves and um and other pro operational things. So, um, we're starting that, um, Orlando, which is the day custo or the evening custodian at
039Harold Martin. Amazing job. He completed his 90 days flying colors. We love him. We're keeping them there. That that was a phenomenal hire. Kudos to him for staying with us. Little bit over the um I mean four three breaks went through this time frame. So, uh, the Christmas holiday, February and April. Um, again, Jug I I'm proud that my guys took a lot of opportunity for vacation time, which is great. Um, but, uh, they remain busy doing uh, carpets and hard floor cleaning and scrubbing and details. Uh, just catching up on some work. So, we got a lot done over there. Um, I wanted to mention something that's not on here, but falls into this category. And uh just operationally inhouse, like if you were to look at my budget at this time of year,
040I if Laura was here, she probably like she always tells me when I want to buy something, we're broke or you're broke, your department's broke, which means like we're spending all of our allocated budget, you know, or we're we're managing that well. Um, but I think um, like if you would probably see some es and flows on some things. Like I felt like this year we did really good on the just the general repair, you know, where other years we're spending a lot of time and money on paint and wall paint, you know, uh, wall repair and and other things. I I feel like we've turned that corner and our general stuff is really under control and went well, but then some of our contracted services went up, you know. Um, but some of them
041went down. like we haven't had like hardly any like electrical issues that needed heavy attention, but our plumbing, we probably exceeded budget on that. So, it's it's kind of a balancing act. Um, I think with the longer run times this winter season, we had some HVAC uh issues this year. Again, surprisingly enough, with the new boilers here and the upgraded systems at this school, we did fine. High school went much better than expected. But Harold Martin, we had like a a motor go that's expensive. We had two pumps go and then a variable frequency drive that >> um that needed to be replaced because you can't really repair those. So it was it was just like an expensive Harold Martin was expensive this season on uh it's it's see if you were looking at the
042budget and being like what happened here? Um those are some of the kind of the nitty-gritty. So um you know when we get budget time it's interesting when you when the board especially asked like well you had this how come you didn't spend it? Well, we have to transfer that to meet this huge need uh that wasn't budgeted for. So, um and through that process, I just really want to thank Laura for her time. We meet on a regular basis and go through we have the computer out. It's like Laura, where can I get money to do if we do this transfer? You if you do a wreck right now, I'll approve it. And we just let that flow. So, her undivided attention in her busy life and schedule just to be like, use account
043216, you know, it has just been really helpful. And I'm, you know, we can complete a task, you know, right at that point when we meet. >> Oh, sorry, man. I took your spot, but I'm wrapping up. >> Um, other contracted stuff. Again, shout outs to the town DPW. Again, long winter. Uh, their team did a phenomenal job clearing our lots all winter. Uh, Oakland and Landscaping did some mulch for us over at the high school free of charge. They didn't even tell me they were coming, but I was like, who did all that mulch over by the gym area? checked on the cameras. They were there over break. So, I just want to give public kudos to them for uh for just being on it and uh and a a valued partner. >> That
044looks great. >> Yeah, I agree. Um another shout out to like the fire chief. We spent um a couple days over the February break doing this annual safety inspections. Again, he's just like, "You guys just get out better and better every year. Um your teachers are getting the message. There's not a lot um that I'm seeing." Um, again, we always get some things to work on, but again, night and day difference uh from four years ago, so I'm grateful for that. Spent three days with uh Homeland Security, which always is fun. Um, we go through every single uh go through our EOP. We do a interior and exterior walk through the building. Uh, that those went really good. We got an A+ on all all schools. Um they were really proud that within the three-year
045time, you know, the gates, the window film, the radios, uh that were even doing the security redesign, uh they were just really thrilled with how much they did. But of course, we thanked them as well for the grants being available and taking advantage of. So, uh that went really good. Um I don't want to steal any thunder of uh safety and security committee but we met today and uh one of the auditors from homeland security and another representative were at the safety and security meeting today and we talked about best practices and um just really like a Q&A. I think they gave us great information about how we can you know we think of safety as the hardening of the building but that's really just the tip of the iceberg. We talked a lot about
046how we can give teachers resources and other opportunities and availability of some of those people at the state level to actually come to our school do PD uh training and things of because that's where they see that the biggest need is. So it was cool how everything made full circle in the past two weeks with that report. Um so it's it's it's really really cool. I know I'm talking a lot here but there's just a lot to go through. Um my goodness, like again this this is like the craziest time of year for me because just preparing for summer. Um a lot of time went into CIP. Thank you CIP committee. I think we really went through a lot and got a lot done and came to agreements on things. Uh a lot of separate
047projects where there's still like little loose ends to clean up. um spent a lot of time trying to um uh get three quotes just so our we're we're correct on our numbers and we're we're set on that end and then just walkthroughs. It's like walk through walk the rock through just with contractors again being like okay did the scope change at all? I the cost might have changed in this but maybe we could do this. So there's just a lot of that at this season just preparing for when uh school gets out. So that's a lot of my time where it's eaten up. Um, also again, it's really caused me financially to go back and just look at our contracts that we've had for long time, like pest management and waste management and uh our
048HBACpms and and just like things that I weren't ready to dive into yet because of time and just like reaching out to other vendors just getting quotes to be like are is our number that we're paying good, you know, or is our service good? Is there other things that we need to expand on? So, I've of course taken biting off a little bit more than I can shoot and uh a little overwhelmed by that, but it's good. I I feel comfortable with that process and um that's again where a lot of my time is taking place. High school air handler 98% done. Uh little issue that was recognized, but they're going to finish that after hours. That this is like the project that never ends. Doing it a peace meal over the year instead of
049>> a month over the summer. This is what we get. But it's it's good. It's great. They've been really good. We're under budget or on budget with that, so there's no other surprises. Uh I I attached some pictures. I'm sorry I didn't have more, but there was we did some stair treads mid year over at the high school and then some parking lot sweeping contracted uh over the break. Then again, for upcoming uh summer work, it's like, you know, I really want the boilers and the redesign to go uh smoothly. So that's going to be a lot of my time. custodial is is excited um and energized to get into summer cleaning and take care of those things that drive them nuts every day. Uh I think we have a little bit of a new
050strategy for custodial in house work. Like anytime we a teacher moves a room, we're going to paint it. You know, it's like that's how we're going to get into the rooms. We focused on hallways, but now we want to get into the nitty-gritty spaces and do that. And there's a lot of a lot of uh room moves with the security redesign. And uh it's been great. Chris and I uh the principal have been uh meeting with those teachers that are moving into different rooms and being like, >> "Okay, even though this is a different room, how would you like this set up?" And then they're like, "We want shelving here. We want a whiteboard here. >> Can you change the color of the wall?" We're like, "Yes, yes, yes. We'll take care of that." So,
051um and that's fun. That's, you know, besides just the normal cleaning, they get to be involved in a process from start to finish and do these light renovations for hardly any money um in house. and it just makes them feel good about the school. So, pretty excited about going into that for the for these months and then um yeah, I want to again keep on going with the maintenance plan, chemical hygiene plan and schedules. So, um that's going to that's going to be my summer um for our summer as as a team. Uh but again just to really uh you know recap everything I just really want to give my team a lot of gratitude and thanks for uh just really sticking with it just remaining positive even though when things are tough when you
052know it's it's zero degrees outside and uh we got snowstorm coming every weekend you know it's they come in over the weekends to shovel and if we have you know a storm or an event every weekend or even if it's two inches but there's a weekend basketball, they're here, you know, uh doing it and it's like we stopped working, you know, six days and it's like so just thank them. Uh I I just want to give them I give them props. So it was a great great winter, great spring so far and um I think I think facilities is is is now getting welloiled. So >> that's great. >> I know I talked a lot. Um >> great questions. >> I have two questions. Did you send to your team the um remarks that the
053young student did? >> Yes, I did. I'm not good. I should have asked Matt. I'm not good at YouTube like clipping things. So, I was like, "Watch minute 37 in 5 seconds to this." And uh we had some great feedback. Like we even had a spouse of an employee >> um reach out to Amy and I just saying like, "I just really want to say thank you for doing that." It's like >> they were so happy, you know, to hear that. And um kudos to the kid that that wrote that. But yeah, >> that's great. >> Yeah, I should. >> Do you have like facilities branded like swag? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I probably can't get any, but that's great. You should. >> I'm looking forward to you to have a chemical hygiene officer
054button. >> Yeah. No, a badge. >> A badge. Yeah. You got You got to get a badge. Okay. Other >> Yeah. I was volunttoled on the chemical hygiene. >> Yes. Congratulations. >> Oh, yeah. It's in a policy. >> Sorry. Other questions for Jim? Go ahead. Yeah. How many people are on your How many people are on your team? I just don't know. >> Uh well 10. Uh but Matt 11 is our number, but we've been operating with 10. >> Uh I just think I mean these numbers are amazing and you know I just I I think they're doing great and I just wanted to echo that. You know I think um they are it might sound cliche but kind of unsung heroes. They have literally a thousand people come into three buildings almost every single
055day >> all year long who need to live and work and play and they really make it possible. And that's 11 people who who do all of that. Um and I think you've done a really nice job of fostering um a sense of community with the facilities department. So kudos to you. Thank you. >> I I just think they're excellent people. >> Thank you. I think uh kudos to the teachers and admin, you know, go out of their way to they look them in the eye. They're not there's nothing downgrading and I think there was a perception of that before, but not anymore. And I >> it it's not just me. It's it's it's the whole school community that adds to that. >> Thank you. Is is the security redesign are we when are we
056actually thinking we'd be breaking ground? >> Um >> theoretically >> right after the what was it the 17th is the last day of school. That's on a Wednesday or so. I think they want to start up setting up fencing by that Friday. Okay. >> And then bringing in equipment and uh materials stuff like that that following Monday. and and I can't remember did we get any uh homeland security or federal dollars? Zero. Yeah, >> we applied for uh grants but we're not selected to receive. >> Okay. But but they give us an A+. >> So that's like we should be at the top of the list next time to get more money. >> Right. >> That's right. >> Money talks. Yeah. >> Um, the only other thing I wanted to ask, Jim, totally shifting gears,
057is the, um, I know there, uh, I think Lucy's talked about like throwing out like the metal >> cutlery in like Harold Martin and Maple Street. >> The metal what? I'm sorry. >> Throwing out like the metal cutlery like kids toss them in the trash. Like, has there been any thoughts about I don't know. >> I don't know. I've had to do lunches personally for the custodial duties at Harold Martin and uh they do have that magnetic top that they're using >> and it's cool because kids that age go the weirdest looking thing to throw your trash in and we have two we have two barrels one that doesn't have it but that one gets filled up the most and so it does catch but the kids at Harold Martin are doing a great job
058so >> um I haven't been involved in any of those conversations too. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean, >> fair enough. >> Yeah. >> Great job. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Nice report, by the way. >> Thank you. Sorry for the typo on the date of you question. >> I was just thinking because we just had teacher appreciation week like do we apparently >> October is like national custodians day, but I feel like you know they've been working short staff uh staff is their Did we do anything? >> Sometimes the PTA does. >> PTA. >> No, the PTA does staff. They do the whole staff. >> Yeah. >> Um but and and we sent message we sent a message in October. >> Yep. >> And uh we do like a barbecue over the summer. Yeah.
059And uh do a little bit of training there. Uh sometimes I'll I'll let them leave early, you know, and try to give a little awards at that point. Just >> Yeah. Okay. >> Just wanted to make sure. And I also have to say at Christmas time the custodians make up it. Like teachers recognize custodians at that time for the day in and day out. The wad of gift cards they come out with and candy >> is is really really cool. So that is a great time that they really feel honored and um appreciated by the the staff's rooms. I think it's great. >> I would also just say just to remind everyone that like to your point, it's not just school hours. It's also after school care at both schools. It is town elections. It
060is town meeting. It is basketball games. It is >> Heisa. It is all of the things like >> farmers market. >> The farmers market. And that is wonderful. These are community buildings, but these buildings do see a lot of hard use and they look immaculate all year round. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> A facility director did like a calcul he is in Portsouth actually and he's like he he used this and I don't know how he figured out but he's like >> there's a million steps in this building every single day. >> Yeah. >> Like a million feet on the floor, you know, at different times throughout the day. I thought that was pretty interesting. like when you really sum up like you know how how many people come in and out of
061these facilities. >> Yeah. >> Which does which does remind me to also uh thank you so much for facilitating the farmers market coming >> during the district meeting because I thought that was hugely successful. >> Yeah. >> So really appreciate the flexibility and the work on that. >> I did well I mean actually Amy just said I was like they want to do this. just like, "Okay." And I just said, "Okay, yeah, sure." And they were like, >> "Having the tables was great." Like that was awesome. >> Yeah. We did give them a hand then like we had them in. This is how we're going to set you up. So it's been pretty cool. So I think uh there was there's been some discussions with them about maybe doing a weekend a month up at
062the high school. Um so we got some logistics to figure out with that. But um you know I think the farmers market is really cool >> if you have it on. So >> it's the best. >> Yeah. >> Awesome. Cool. Thank you, Jim. >> Thank you everyone. >> Thank you. >> Sourdough bread. >> I know. So good. Change that. >> And the honey. >> I can get it for you every week. >> Yeah. Good connection. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right, guys. Here we go. Is everybody ready? We're going to start with our board goals. as a note. >> Do do you want to say Kip has anything to >> Oh yeah, Kip. Sorry. Thank you. Thank you, Jonathan. Hey, welcome. How are you? Do you have anything you would like to add the student
063comments? >> Um, I mean, I'm guessing Lucy was amazing as always and covered most of everything. Uh, probably just touch on the senior stuff. She probably said senior class trip. I can uh affirm that it was quite spectacular. A lot of fun. Long day, but a blast uh indeed. And then things are really starting to wrap up. I think I have six days of regular school left >> uh before finals, >> which is a little bit uh wild and it's been a bit hectic recently, but for the most part, I'd say >> most on top of >> everything. Uh I don't have a whole lot to add for the two younger schools right now, although I know we talked about maybe trying to go visit one more time >> before the end of the year.
064Um >> possibly a field day or two. Yeah, exactly. >> And yeah, but again, I'm sure Lucy covered most of it. She always does an incredible job. So, >> it does. >> Awesome. Cool. Thank you. >> Apologize for being late. >> No, you're great. >> Um, also just if people have not been had an opportunity to see any of our middle high school sporting events over the season, it is great. The varsity softball team won in extra innings. Uh, there have been like great lacrosse games with Kip. They're a big great uh baseball games, uh track and field, like it's just worth if you're you're out and about, try to stop by a game. They're fun. Okay, goals. So, as we think about our goals, we set these every summer. So, these were set last
065July. Um I want to go through reflect on the progress that we have made. We'll go through and summarize also where committees are at the very end and use that as an opportunity to sort of accelerate our committee updates. As people are thinking through this between now and when we do our board retreat in three weeks, just think through like would we keep it, would we change it, would we retire it, etc. Okay. All right. So, I'm going to read these out. This is a really fun part for me to just read all the goals out. Curriculum and assessment. Uh the school board working through the superintendent will review how the curriculum and assessment process is delegated and executed currently without a curriculum coordinator including what we must do, what we must have and what
066we would like to improve on. Any thoughts coming out of CIA in particular? So we have spent the year with a really I would say fantastically robust CIA committee this year which has been lovely. Um the group has predominantly been split between half of the group focused on looking at new assessment tools and the other half of the group working on our visible curriculum. Um, so all of that work has been happening once a month by teacher volunteers and only happens in an hour period. So um yes, we're able to move the work forward, but there is a sense I think that if we would like to do more with our curriculum that we may in the future want to revisit um the like what a position a support position would look like. I would
067say. Okay. Great. Great. Did you do your review schedule? Like were you guys looking at some point or was that something that got kicked to next year? Looking at like what is we started this the very end of last year but looking at like all of our curriculum and does it go on timeline >> cycle. Oh >> yeah. So do you mind if I >> Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. >> Okay. So part of our focus this year was um we also and I know Chris has come to talk about the NEAS accreditation process. >> Yeah. >> So through that process the high school has identified the curriculum as the area that they really want to continue to work on. Um so our focus before we did the cycle was just to get a sense of
068where we were. We don't have a lot of um recent curriculum documents. So this team and as Andrea said, it's just slow work because you're really only meeting once a month. So if you think of about we've met what eight times and we meet again this Thursday. Um so during the that time we've created a template and we've drafted some documents. We spent a couple of PD days or partial PD days um coming up with those documents. They will spend a little bit more time on the last day of school and then we've got some summer curriculum work in the plan. Um once we have a a better sense of where we are, then we will develop that curriculum review cycle. Um we do feel and and it's not it wasn't a formal declaration, but
069we do feel like it's time for us to look at our illustrative math program. It was purchased see I was here for that initial implementation. So five or six years. >> Yeah. Um, so I and so that is, you know, common practice that you would come back after five to six years um and look at your data and and see if that those are the outcomes that you're you're hoping for. Um, so I I do think as as Andrea said, we've talked about, you know, what are the structures that are in place. Um, I've been meeting with some teacher leaders to help with the implementation at the building level. Yeah. Um I I I do have some recommendations, you know, when it's appropriate for us to discuss them uh through the budget process because part
070of the that would be additional work for those those folks and a lot of that work is happening after school or to go above and beyond their current duties, >> right? >> Um so that's cycle hopefully that that could be a a goal of the group by the end of next year. And I I think the other thing to think about and Andrea, we haven't talked about this yet. um is that assessment group um prior to you know when I was here in 2016 we had a a standalone assessment committee >> and I've had some conversations I don't know if you have where those folks really want to look at data they want to look at you know SAS data um as web um their common assessments it is right now we have curriculum instruction
071and assessment together and we may talk about a structure where there's a curriculum group because those people, you know, have and then your assessment data group and then the PD committee would really be your instruction component. So something for us to think about moving forward if we have one committee, two committees, three committees. >> Great. >> Uh and that would also allow other people um to you know have opportunities to have that work >> spread around. >> Yep. Amazing. Y thank you. The school board working through the superintendent will support the development and reporting of strengths and weaknesses of tier 1, tier 2, and tier three levels of support and make recommendations on future systems and needs. I I think what we've really identified here is tier one. The curriculum documents will help us get
072a sense of again what is the guaranteed viable curriculum for all students that creates a visible curriculum so that we're all on the same page. We do know early on we identified gaps in tier 2. So if you think about, you know, students that are in their classroom um and then special ed is really tier three. So you've heard our director student services Mandy come several times to talk about the number of kids in each grade level. She's done reporting. Um you all have a great a good sense of that. Uh but it's really that tier 2 that we know um that needs strengthened and that means looking at programming. Uh good news there. We have very very talented interventionists um at Harold and at Maple um and looking at the middle high school to
073see do we need to pull in more tier 2 interventionists. There is a reading specialist there, Kelly Fley. She's been there a long time. Uh but there is not a numerousy specialist or interventionist at the middle high school right now. So that comes up a fair amount. I think the classroom teachers try to provide that tier 2 u but we've had some conversation about that as well. Great. Great. Amazing. Okay. Finance. The school board will determine whether the budgeting process should consider using a targeted goal of a percentage increase based on projection of needs in order to build the annual school district budget. And 120. If you guys look at this, Rob sort of had this comment here. We were meant we recommend that we continue to look through the DOE25 what our increases are.
074Any thoughts coming out of finance? I know that you guys are in more of like a review fund balancing mode, but any other thoughts here other than um about thinking about a targeted goal of a percentage, but just like continue to be under review. Think that that's not the right thing for us. Any other thoughts there? >> No. No, not really. >> Okay. As we set the goals for next year, we look at them. I think we'll make our finance committee meeting probably more targeted on okay, what's the contingency plan if this legislation goes through or if this happens. >> Yeah. >> Because that seems to be a pending thing comes up left and right every week now. >> Yeah. Um continue to monitor legislation and continue to evaluate this effort. >> Great. And I
075I I think I wonder what Jonathan thinks about this too. We did talk a lot during the budget process about keeping that the increase under 5%. And I remember we went back to the drawing board again >> uh to make some additional cuts before it went to the budget committee. Um that was a lot of work and I remember when we went to the budget committee there wasn't really much left >> um for you know two to be cut because we really went through it and um >> that second part of the goal uh the exercise where we really looked at each individual department >> yeah that's all set >> yeah I I think so I think Laura she met with every every department every line redid every note um Yeah, I'm just gonna say
076see above. Yeah, I thought we did a good >> It's kind of hard to talk about a percent at this time of the year. >> Yeah, >> right. >> I mean, it would be completely arbitrary. >> Yep. >> Yes. >> Okay. Safety and security. >> Thank you. In response to Homeland Security audit, the school board will support the development of a security redesign project proposal, including estimated budget at the Hopville High School. Uh approved and underway. Does that sound good? approved and underway with target I would add to that they'll see that in addition to that like what sort of either programming or reads to to make sure that >> it's adhered to things like that just because we build an entrance >> yeah like they're going to use it right so we need to
077make sure that the I guess the instructions or Yeah. Adherence to like the proper procedures happens and and that would just be due diligence. We spent time to build it. We need to make sure. >> Yeah. That's great. >> Okay. Um the school board working through the superintendent will continue to support the development of a district-wide approach to school culture and safety that involves students and staff. >> Yeah. I mean, for me, I think, and we've done a lot of work on policy to really look at the things that were missing. Um, this year, I think we've done a nice job of updating some of the core, um, policies related to Title 9. Um, we've done a suite of discipline policies that we've been working through. So, those J policies, um, we have done, and
078I I joked with Jim about the chemical hygiene plan, but we did not have one of those. And so ensuring that chemicals are are stored safely and accessed safely and we're removing uh chemicals that don't need to be there anymore. Um we just finished up the policy on suicide prevention and so now the school counselors are are meeting one of those last days of school um to update that plan. Um so this year has been a lot about policy and compliance. Um, the other thing as we went through the audit when I first came on board, we really had to look at the support we were providing under the Mckin Vento act, we talked a lot about that. We did a whole suite of those policies because there's a lot of appendices that come with
079that. Um, we identified a new Mckin Vento liaison, Janette Sanchez, and she's done an amazing job. Um, really interfacing with other districts. She went to a training today. Um she's just a really thoughtful, caring person and I think the families really benefit from um the support that she's offering them. Um we continue to look at um curriculum in the the classrooms. So Harold Martin and Maple um did a pilot year of fly five which is a responsive classroom or center for responsive schools uh program that is going to continue for next year. It is primarily being implemented by school counselors or in the wellness classrooms but complemented by uh classroom procedures during if you have students in the school you know we do morning meeting K to6 um so that's really where that carryover will
080be >> great okay sorry elementary schools okay this is great feel like I am in information systems with Sharon Baker circa 1993 typing. Okay. Communication. The school board working through the superintendent will take steps to understand, develop, and support the changing and varied needs of Hopton families across the district. We talked about NEAS, diligent community, um survey for families. There anything else? Like you I think you've done a good job of thinking about lots of different stakeholder groups. Where are we at? Yeah, >> we just had our most recent stakeholder team meeting. Thank you for for coming to that. Um the safety and security I know um Jim talked about that briefly, but um I saw a message that Harold Martin principal sent out about uh some of the drills that we have to do.
081Um I know there's also been some drills at the other, you know, two buildings, but I think the communication part um for me was really the biggest learning curve for me was around the budget. We put a ton of information out there about the budget. Um, just when I was curious looking at other um, school districts, I I mean, we didn't make videos, which maybe that's a goal um, that we could have, but I really felt like every time we had a conversation, we would go back, update those documents, repost them. I mean, there is a lot of information. Um, and I I think that improves transparency. Um, I've had a lot of community members reach out with very basic questions about a line. You know, Laura knows every line by heart, so that's helpful.
082Um, but I think the communication piece, um, Matt and I have talked about the website, we've talked about parent square. Um, we're looking at how we can leverage parent square a little more. It's a powerful tool. >> Um, we did do some shifting with our lunch balance policy. I don't know if remember that one that was like 30. >> It's very very long. The policy where you have un um >> unpaid policy. So we've uh really worked on our communication across different platforms because that policy starts with communication from the food service team and then it goes to the building level then it comes over to the SAU. Uh so we tried to clean up that communication as well. >> Great. I also say that we I mean I think it has to do with
083communication but we changed how our policies are communicated um through our website. obviously used to be part of diligent and we got rid of that aspect of diligent through our latest budget um and have updated how both we displayed policies and archive them on the website so hopefully that they are more easy for folks to access both locate and access. >> Great. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Culture and climate. The school board working through the superintendent will proactively address goal one of the culture and climate section of the strategic plan. The Hopton School District will strive to create an emotionally safe, equitable, and inclusive environment for all students through the action steps laid out under the goal sole objective. Uh we had previously talked about portrait of a learner, student leadership council, peer outreach. Anything
084else here that we're thinking about guys? >> There was something that I didn't we didn't mention early on. And Kip, I think you're on the student athlete, what's that group called? >> That group is the um >> HMA. Yeah. >> Hopkins Mentor Athlete Alliance. >> Do Do you know anything about it? >> Yeah, I went to one meeting at the start of the year. Um >> so I didn't know the name of it, but uh um >> I think it it's a it so it was a student who started it. I think it was a student who was interning under Mr. reserve who wanted to sort of create more opportunities for athletes who weren't necessarily captains but wanted to have an impact on like the athlete culture. Um I think most of the meetings and
085I haven't been to any since the fall but I think they mostly discuss like sportsmanship and different aspects of giving back to the school community. >> Yeah, we discussed a variety of things. was originally based off something that's run at John Stark because we had an athlete who was competing in conjunction with John Stark. Uh kind of brought that back to Hopkin. Um a lot of our focus too is on like the outside of like the actual sporting uh events and whatnot. Um including like making sure that like we're aware of um and preventing hazing and all sorts of other um issues associated with youth sports. But again, yeah, there's just not wrong and it's like broader than just um for captains. It's a lot of upper classmen participate in it. And I think that
086there's a wide representation across disciplines and sporting disciplines in the group. So >> maybe a group I'd be interested in having come >> kind of talk a little bit. I think you'll find at the college level, most colleges have um a mental health athletics, you know, club or organization because they recognize >> that that can be really, you know, high pressure and stressful. >> Yeah. I I a couple of times this year received emails from coaches of other schools um to Dan to to our athletic director or to the coach just sharing what Kip and Lucy um alluded to which is that our athletes are kind and they um you know we just received one today um about a team that's rebuilding. They're young. They're just trying to field a a team and the coach
087was just so appreciative that you know they go to other schools and you know they're getting crushed but on top of it the athletes are are rude and you know and purposeful but we really look to make it a learning experience recognizing that you know we are often the team we do have good teams. I mean you just have to walk into the high school gym to know you know we have a good sports team here. So there is one thing to be a strong athlete but it's a you know that complimentary part to um be a good human being and and I think that really contributes to that safe and equitable and inclusive environment. >> Um we also had um a unified track for the first time this year and we had a student
088that went over to start to compete in that. So >> also just trying to expand opportunities for athletes of all skill level. >> Great. I was also thinking, so it's interesting because you were saying that the uh Huffington Mentor Athlete Alliance was started by a student. The other thing I was thinking about was the Best Buddies Club. Yeah. >> Um which became official this year, which is also started by a student. So even this though this is a goal that you know technically is from the school board working through the superintendent. Some of the things that I think have had the most impact on our culture and climate really have been student driven. I would say that what Laura has done a great job of of um kind of organizing and encouraging the wellness committee
089>> and there have been some activities at different schools if they did um in terms of staff like mental health they did some yoga um and we are actively planning um some activities for students and staff so >> great work with the wellness That's right. And Harold Martin did start a student council for third graders. >> I know. >> That's great. >> I think that almost all of them said they wanted to be on the student council. So, I think there were some broken. >> Oh, no. >> But it was it's an enthusiastic pool. So, we'll take it. Okay. Cool. >> For student council. >> Uhhuh. >> Sustainability. school board working through the energy management committee will take steps to understand and develop a district-wide policy related to sustainability, energy management, and waste reduction with
090a report due to the board due by April 2026. >> Well, >> we don't have a report, but we have a policy that's up for first read tonight. >> Yep. >> Oh, well, we actually did have a report that Jim presented at the last meeting. What am I talking about? Yeah, Chamar presented on energy usage across >> the district going back to before the >> Stevens project. >> Uh what was that called? What's that thing called? >> The um Stevens project which is the >> performance performance contract. >> Thank you contract. Yep. Y >> and I may be out of turn for saying this, but it seems like also the that committee's work spills into everything else from CIP to safety and security with the building redesign. Like it spills into every single decision made
091from what light bulbs we picked to everything. >> Yeah, I think that'll be an interesting conversation that we can have during the um >> retreat. >> Yeah. For sure. >> Great. Amazing guys. It's a big year. Yeah, it's big time stuff. All right, do >> um Okay, those will get cleaned up a little bit for grammar because obviously I'm not the world's most grammatically perfect typist from um Audible to notes for your points, speedy. >> Thank you. Um do we we didn't actually do committee goals this year, I realized. Do we want to do do you want we just want to talk about the work? I mean, we sort of encapsulated it here. I don't know if there's anything else we would want to put onto this document that would be for other committees. Um,
092finance is encapsulated here, wellness is encapsulated here, PD sort of ties into curriculum, EMC is sort of this has this goal. Was there anything that any of the committees that were all on that we felt like our work was not represented well on these goals? Okay. Okay. Um I would love for everyone to think about going through the as we think about the retreat in three weeks. Definitely what we want our goals to be. Ay's going to talk about her goals in just a second, right? Is that okay? Um we will do a little bit of thinking about the strategic plan. Um because we are probably due to start thinking about that process. So how do we want to evolve that? Um, and last but not least, how do we want to think about our
093committees and the way that we run those next year? Do we want to go back to sort of a goal-based committee um, format? What does that look like? So, we don't need to, we're not going to dissect that tonight, but you know, just get your get your, as Pero says, your little gray cells clicking people. All right, Amy, can you roll us through? Yeah, I mean, I just really tried to add my part in as I went, but I think for me, as I think back at the beginning of the school year, I'm so thankful to the team that you have seen present over the over the course of the school year, um the principles, the different directors, um I I really feel like the support that they've provided to me, um to let me
094know how things have been done, um patient with me when I ask 5,000 questions, um just because I am one of those curious ious people. Um, as I look back on the year, I I just I think about all of the people I, you know, have to thank. I couldn't do my job without Jod. Every day that I come in, she has to remind me of um to keep my feet on the ground and maybe eat some lunch, right? So, I appreciate that. Um, but as I think about like moving forward, I I do feel like I've spent a lot of time this year and the team, as I said, has been great about this is how we were doing things. doesn't have to stay that way. >> Um, and I've really appreciated that because
095sometimes you come into an organization and I do think it was helpful that I knew a lot of the the infrastructure and what was here. >> Um, I have not been shy that this has been like this is where I want to be and I'm thrilled, you know, to be in this position. Um, it is a wonderful community. people have been um not just welcoming but also supportive um and um also very appreciative you know of the work that I think we're trying to do together. Um when I think about my goals for this year it was to get acclimated and to figure out how I could contribute not just from a building level as a building principal here but you know at the district level. Um I do know a lot about curriculum. I
096really appreciate what you had said earlier because I am I know that if we want to improve um instruction at the building level. Um it is not something that I can give my full attention just because there are a lot of other competing things for a superintendent. So I think as we look to next year having those conversations about what what you had if that is a priority how will we prioritize it? What does what does support look like at the district level the building level and the classroom level? because that's really how that works. >> Um I've been thrilled with the curriculum committee. Um they have they really embraced that they want a visible curriculum. They want to be able to have documents um to refer to. We've had some turnover. Um you know
097that we have lost some longtime teachers that take their institutional knowledge with them. Um we're hiring a lot of new graduates. I'm excited about the people that we're bringing forward today. um assessment looking at data. We have some people that are just really chomping at the bit to help us make you know make those incremental gains because just like trust you know improvement happens in those very small mo month to month season to season when you look at your SAS scores from year to year or your as web scores from fall to winter like you want to have those celebratory moments. I think we've tried to leverage in the area of curriculum instruction and assessment. We've tried to leverage our federal dollars in new and in in new and interesting ways using title one to
098offer the afterchool tutoring. We've got a lot of feedback from parents. I want to thank those that have filled out those surveys. Um we do know that that was new for us to offer that. Um it was and it's tricky because in a small district you have the same number of people that are tapped for a lot of different things. So, we had great title one um teachers that met with those students for the majority of the school year and it was there was a good result and I think both the teachers and the parents were happy with that. Um when I think about safety and and security when I go to CIP um it is the area where you've got Jim who's really an expert um and then Jonathan and Robin now Jonathan and
099Jonathan and Laura and I mostly am like what's an HVAC system? How can they hijack us through that22? >> Yes. Yes, there's a lot of that, but they are, I think, really complimentary and asking good questions about how do we be good stewards of the facilities that we have. So, a goal that I have there, and I know we've talked about it, is looking at our CIP. Um, and really extending it out a couple more years talking about um end of life. Um, Jim is a great steward of that work. Uh, culture and climate is really important to me. You know, that I've sent out surveys throughout the year to just see how people are feeling. Um, I have an open door policy. I try to meet with anyone that wants to meet with me.
100Um which gives you a lot of input and feedback uh to to you know to act on. Um, I've been really proud of the policy work that that we've been able to do because I think policy is what drives the structure and I think if we can give our administrators and teachers and students those guard rails of whether it's how do you act on the bus to you know how do we um respect each other and our differences that that is really we've done a lot of policy work this this year and so Suzanne and Andrea thank you for meeting and you know the 5,000 things that we've done there. Um, finance. I I feel like I'm learning more. I don't I don't know. I'm asking less questions about lines or I've just given up
101trying to keep up with Laura. I I'm just like, what line is that again? And she knows it so I don't have to go and look for it. Uh, the conversations around fund balance. I'm I'm really glad that you gave that little primer. Every time I talk to Laura, I learn something new about fund balance because I think sometimes there have been conversations and I know that they come up. Why don't you just give that all back? And she's like, well, you can't. You know, some of it has to go into this bucket or the voters voted on this. So, um, this year for me has really been, um, you know, how you just know your strengths. I know a lot about curriculum. I was a teacher for a long time. Um, I don't know
102as much about facilities and passing the budget. I'll be honest, I went home that day and I was just floating on on air. I felt really proud of the work that we had done to bring over the finish line. And um, there are a lot of questions. Um, but I I really was proud of of that work. So, when I think about next year, I feel like I have a good foundation. I have a lot of opinions about curriculum, um, culture and climate. how do we improve those and just continuing to learn from Laura and the finance committee and also the community about what they need to know about how we spend. >> Um there are a lot of food service rules that's also I I that was a new learning for me. So and
103that covers a lot in facilities and um CIP and uh finance and wellness and food service. A lot of rules about food service. I know. >> I probably talked too much. >> No, it's great. Okay. >> There are more words about food service than >> unexpected >> anyone ever knew. >> And Tracy Barker knows all of them. >> All of them. >> She does a great job. >> Yep. >> I will say I think that like you it's I would imagine not having been a superintendent hard to come in as a superintendent in July when the board is setting its goals and then you have to immediately set your goals and your new team can set their goals and thinking about what that looks like. And all school districts are in many ways the same.
104And Hockington is also pretty unique in a lot of different ways. And despite having been a principal here, as you know, our budget process is very different from the way a lot of other school districts do it. And I think uh you have tackled a lot of areas with a lot of elacrity, um nimleness, and grace. Good job. I appreciate that. Thank you. >> All right. Anything else on Amy's goals? >> Great. Okay. Okay, great. Thank you. >> Great. Um, okay guys, this we're going to talk through our board meeting schedule for next year, which I know feels unhinged, but we just want to make sure that everyone's able to think through it. So, if you can go through this document is in the folder. A few things that we try to do. One is
105we do try to go ahead and give people a nice break in the summertime so that everyone can go refresh, recharge. That's partially so that the public doesn't have to tune in necessarily and also so that the administrative team can do what they need to do and we can all do what we need to do. Um, school is starting early this year. As people might recall, it's like a full week before the Labor Day recess. So, we're going to we're proposing starting uh on 8:20, which is a Thursday. uh and then we'll go through Labor Day and then we'll start again uh a week and a half after that. There are uh five six meetings that are on Thursdays. There's a couple reasons to note that we have found through many years of practice that
106coming in from a long weekend or a vacation to a Tuesday night meeting particularly during budget season is the worst. >> Not great. Uh because it means that no one can be prepared. you have to have your materials in extra early and usually there's a lot that has to happen and so it behooves us to try to give us a couple clicks to move to a Thursday meeting when we think there's going to be uh time off or something else. Um we also have a work session in there that's in October. We talked about given this year whether we thought that was too early, too late, but we thought that that was good and enough time uh to get the initial budgets together for our presentation. We do have an asterisk around the 15 meeting.
107Jonathan specifically because that is a meeting on a Tuesday right after our winter holiday. However, if budget committee wants you to present that Wednesday, we need to have that meeting so that you can run through all the materials and we can make sure the presentation's good and we're fully prepped. So, if we're not presenting, that might move a little bit just so it's not like a hard entry. Um, but we want to make sure that if we're depending on what the budget committee schedule looks like that we're giving this group enough time to get to a presentation that they are jazzed for Jonathan to deliver. Okay. >> And that's the same thing with the March 30. >> That's right. Exactly. >> I was like, what does the double asterisk mean? I I I was curious.
108>> Yeah. and then the and those ones because right after the reorg meeting that starts into the nomination schedule and so that's trying to figure out if we need to have those meetings back toback or if we can sort of space it and do an interim meeting between in there because as the other thing that I think about Suzanne just so you know is going right from and Jonathan from our school district meeting right into reorg that meeting I think everyone's so tired that it's nice to keep that meeting really short but then you want to make sure you can still do regular business and And we may or may not have a new member, but it's it's hard to be a new school board member right after the school district meeting. So, >> what
109are you saying? >> I know. Um, so that's it. Um, this has been overlaid with all of our holidays, with election days, everything else. But take a look if there's anything like obviously we only need a quorum, so we need three members or more, but if there's anything where you guys have comments, we're happy to rework it. I just are we aligned with like you had said like John so that budget can present like I I just don't want to have another snapoo with with town meeting or >> we did our work back um >> few years ago we did a full work back five years >> but we have not done we don't know when the public they don't have the full budget committee 2627 is so I would note to reach out to
110Karen to ask that we know when the public hearing is So when we know who's presenting what, >> um, >> yeah, >> we don't want to do that again. That's it. That's in the list of things to we learned the hard way once. We don't ever want to do it again. >> Yeah. >> Although we can also now be like, also, here's our schedule. >> Yes. >> Do it real accordingly. Got it. >> All right. Thanks, guys. Thank you, Amy, for taking the first pass. All right. Um, May newsletter. >> It's going to go out this week. Yeah, >> we all went over stuff >> content. Andrew is working on um a little come to the Maple Street play. >> Yep. >> And there's something about >> a wellness bingo. >> We don't need the
111community. >> A committee member, but I did. >> But no, was there >> there's a wellness bingo for I sent Laura a draft. >> You did? >> I did. I got my >> Oh, then we can just write up a little blurb blurb. Yeah. >> Okay. Will you send me a little blurby blurb? >> Yeah, if you send me the blurby blurb, I'd like to I'm going to send out our newsletter. And by me, I mean I'm going to send it to Amy to pass along to everyone. Uh maybe tomorrow, likely the next day. >> That sounds great. >> Great. If that's okay with you. >> Oh, yeah. >> Great. Thanks. Because I don't have that capability. >> Great. >> Also, that should go into our goals. This will be our second year in a
112row that we have sent out three schoolboard newsletters and I think they're actually pretty great. I get good feedback on them. I'm pretty excited about it. >> Communication. >> Sure does. >> Yeah, >> sure does. >> All right, I'm gonna add that in there if you guys are okay with it. If you bring us your policy. >> Okay, great. Who wants to talk about policy? I do. >> I don't think your links are working again. >> What? >> Oh, you liar. >> They sure are. I'm like, I just checked these yesterday. >> Really? >> You have to look at the public version of it. It's really wonky. I know. Wait, really? >> I have the I have the member agenda open. >> I'm on the diligent and when I try to click on him, I'm
113getting uh Diligence is working with a link but not it's not taking to it. It's working on a full laptop. Maybe Yeah, maybe that's the problem. >> Yeah, >> could be could be a hardware issue. >> All right, we're going with user side. >> Dilent was acting really weird. Let me log in. I had to relog in. >> All right, >> that's weird. Well, on that note, uh we have two do three four is it seven policies tonight. Um so you'll notice that predominantly we have a suite of J policies that we are working through. >> Um a couple of the policies had not been updated in 20 years. So um student conduct on uh the bus student conduct on school buses that that's GIC and the corresponding GICC-R um those needed to be updated
114um had not been updated in quite some time. Um similarly JIC D uh had not been updated since 2007. Um, JCD is interesting because really what this does is spell out just this is just what we um already do um in our schools. Um there are JICDD is a policy that we do not have and need to have. um which outlines student discipline for out of school activities um when students are off-campus. There are small changes that again we highlighted in JR um which is student records and access. Um so really it was just updating the definition of parent >> um was was the change there. Um that was a statutory change. And then um last year, if you guys remember, we did lots of talking around unauthorized communication devices. >> We put in there
115a whole piece about the 2025 to 2026 school year. >> We're done with that school year, so we had to take it out of the policy because now the policy is old. Um so the change there is that it's just now high school students can bring and use personally owned laptops or other approved devices. Um you know if you bring your your device you're responsible for ensuring the devices are used appropriately securely storing them. Um so the nice part about this is we did have um like administrative input for updating this policy. Um Amy really took the lead on updating this so that there was administrative feedback um so it reflects what is happening um in our schools which is helpful. >> Woohoo. >> Um the other exciting policy you'll see is EAB which is
116the sustainability and natural resources policy. This policy came out of our energy management committee EMC. Um this was a good couple years I would say in the making. Um really it was the the committee really worked on it um in full this year and after we put it together we we met with all the administrators and had them take a look at it um and give feedback. Um, I also sent this to um, Will Phillips, who is the policy attorney with the New Hampshire School Board Association, uh, for him to take a look because this will be policy that is outside of the recommended, like it's outside of the the normal policy suite. Um, and so, for instance, we didn't know what policy code to use on this. Um so we added policy EAB which
117is what the recommendation was. And then the only um other thing of interest for this is the kind of the tracking that we would do with this sustainability policy is that uh the sup superintendent or their design likely Jim would update us on the district sustainability efforts. So that's something for folks to take a look at as well. So there's no action on any of these policies tonight. These are all first reads. Um light reading. >> We have been working towards a district sustainability policy since students for 100 years possibly I think almost a decade ago. I'm not kidding. Like if this if I'm not going to say anything, >> if there is positive movement with this before the end of the school year, there is a group of students who I will very happily
118email. >> Yes. >> Please CC me on that. >> 100%. Yeah, >> but this is like >> th those students are now out of college decade of work getting PhDs. Yes. >> Maybe. >> Yes. >> Anyhow, >> I feel pretty excited. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's it. Those are your that is your policy update that you've done. >> Sweet. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Thanks, policy team. >> Amy Amy really. Thank you, Amy. >> Cool. Great. Uh, also as a note, if you are looking at school bus conduct rules for those parents like mine who all your children ride the bus, you should get there five minutes ahead of time. We do do that sometimes, but on Monday morning, my children were sprinting down the driveway towards Greg. >> It happens to every family over
119now. That >> sure does. It's amazing. All right, with that, we are rounding the corner to the consent agenda. >> I I'm really excited about the new hires that we're bringing forward. Um I'm going to ask you to approve the resignations first because we have a unique situation where someone is resigning and we're hiring someone in the same meeting. So um Katie Griffin uh Maple Street School grade four teacher has resigned effective at the end of the contract and um we thank Katie for her work here this year. And then Carol Walker um the fax teacher at Huffington Middle High School has decided that this is it. So she is resigning um at the end of the school year. Decide that when >> I don't know. >> This is this is just coming up now.
120>> I just got it this week. >> Oh man. >> So um we have posted those positions home or family and consumer science as it is now called um is is hard to find a person because there isn't a licensing school any longer in in New Hampshire. Um, so we are going to be looking for a unicorn of sorts, someone who, you know, perhaps has that license or would be interested in doing some work um to be able to secure it. So, it is a part-time position. Um, and we can certainly talk about that more when we go into the budget season. So, if you could approve those two resignations, I'll move on to the new hires. >> Do I have a motion to approve the two resations as presented? So, >> second. >> Any
121discussion? We will miss Carol. She's been an institution. Literally amazing. >> Yeah. Been here a long time. She has >> um our first >> All those in favor? >> I Any opposed? >> Great. >> Um we come so at the last meeting we talked a little bit about some shifts happening in the district. And uh part of our CBA is if there is an internal position and there is a a teacher that already works for us and they're interested in a new challenge, we offer that opportunity to them first. So Selene Gordon, who is a current fifth grade teacher here, uh moved up to the middle high school um after a middle school math teacher moved to the high school. And so we had a little bit of a domino effect, but tonight we are
122nominating Jacqueline Reid um who is a new graduate from UVM and uh she lives fairly locally and we're nominating her uh as a fourth grade teacher to replace uh the position uh with Selene going up to the middle school. And then Maline Finsby um will become a grade four teacher. I know there's a lot of emotions around Maddie. U Maddie is a Huntington graduate. Um her mother is also a very wellknown and well-loved teacher and we're just thrilled uh that Maddie has decided to start her career here. Um she is also a recent graduate of UVM um and will be replacing Katie Griffin who you just approved that resignation. And then our final nomination um is Emma Breed. And Emma will replace Joe Montana at Harold Martin School. And interesting there, um, Emma did her
123student teaching here in Hawkington, uh, with Linda Nichols for half of the year and Barb Jenkins. So, uh, when I met with Emma this afternoon, um, she really is thrilled to come, uh, back to Hopington, uh, she spent the last three years, um, in Barnstead and, um, she's just thrilled for the opportunity and we're thrilled to have her. So, um, it just goes to show you that people really do want to be here and, um, there are new teachers and so I already know there's going to be some mentoring on the part of our seasoned teachers, but I'm thrilled to be bringing forward these nominations tonight. So, it's amazing. >> All right, we want Yeah. >> to approve the new. >> Do we have a a motion to approve the new hires as presented? So,
124moved. >> Seconded. >> Any discussion? >> Welcome. just so exciting. It's really exciting. >> It's really really great. Also, it's nice to see that there was a really nice interview process. So, thank you. Much appreciated. >> And and you do note that um Jack Jackie and Maddie are working on their lensure. So, there is a star next to their name as we navigate >> the DOE. That's great. >> Best wishes. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Great. Congratulations. >> Okay. Anything else under consent agenda? Do we have any field trips? Light breaking. >> Uh, none that have to be approved by you. No. >> Anything else from superintendent's update? >> No. I feel like I've talked about my goals. Um, I just I know that uh Lucy already brought it up.
125Um, we've got a lot happening between now and our next meeting. So, celebration of the arts is happening. Um, Kip Monday is the senior parade and barbecue. >> June 1st before our next meeting. Great. June 1st. Um and then >> I think that's Monday have we have step up days coming up >> awards nightmar this week Thursday is underassman awards starts at 6:00 and then senior awards starts at 7:00 that's in the auditorium um we have at the end of the school year artisan residence I think earlier in the year you we talked about how that uh grant program was cut at the state level actually at the federal level and then trickled down to the state level um and we have been able to secure funding for that. So, our artisan residents will start
126working with Kim Emerson and doing some work both at Harold and Maple. They're going to have murals on uh the like the uh sheds out back. Um so, I saw the design for Harold Martin today that Kim worked with and it's adorable. Um it is about promoting belonging at the school. So, it has little animals on it. It's adorable. Um kindergarten screening. We'll have our next round of kindergarten screening on June 4th. Um, as I mentioned, step up day, grade three will come uh to Maple Street on May 28th. We have a lot of field trips. Grade four will go and do their New London field trip. Grade two goes to Kimell Lake. Um, artisan residence. We've talked about the AP testing. I hope your brain is still feeling like it's online. >> Third grade
127stepup day for Maple Street is also Thursday night at 5:00 p.m. I think here. >> Oh, okay. Where parents can come. >> Where parents can come. Great. So, there's a lot going on and I hope to see folks at the Celebration of the Arts tomorrow night at the library. Um, it is a drop in situation starts around 4. There will be some uh presentations and productions from each of the schools at different times. So, it's a really fun event. >> Got to be great. >> Yeah. >> Great. All right. Thank you. All right. Real quick, we're going to round the corner here with committees, guys. Okay. We've already covered most of this, but if there's anything salient, I do have some late breaking safety security policy. Anything else that committes? Great. CIA meet Thursday >>
128CIP anything else team. >> All right cool safety and security we met today. >> Okay great so uh she did I would Jim Rziki noted this what we have done she did we we get A+es in the manner of the Christmas story A++ I think we have a motivated uh district then when we win grants then we can put that money to work and do the appropriate work. Um they also highlighted um that while hardening the buildings is a big part of the work that you have to do that humans are actually the the best thing that you can do if there's going to be an escalation towards uh violence. And so they really highlighted actually MTSS A and MTSSB in terms of being key interventions that you can do to help minimize violence in
129schools. >> What is MTSSA? >> Multi-tered system of support. Yeah. So thinking about like what are those things prior to getting special education that might be behavioral um and interventions there to help figure out where are kids what's getting where are they what do they need that might be more behavioral right >> yeah so MTSSA is the academics and MTSSB is the behavior or mental health support >> yeah um and they also highlighted things like making sure that if it seemed like there was a change with a student getting feedback from across the system including from coaches from other places to just make sure that uh everyone is tracking what's happening with the student and is able to to facilitate intervention appropriately. So I thought that was really great. Um I did do a little
130bit of reading. It it is worth noting that the state has also continued to cut programs related to school safety and security and intervention uh and the supporting work that can happen by the state at those levels. So there is a response unit and then there's also programs that are supposed to be there to help us figure out how to do work with students. uh and they have cut I think some major proportion of that funding over the course of the last few years which is dishonoring. Um so it's that but overall really good. The chair of that committee is Carrie Soni who is obviously parting ways. We're going to do a little bit of work rethinking through that. >> And I may have an administrator that's interested in yeah >> joining maybe maybe chairing
131but I I think Carrie leaving. We'll need to replace it. >> Yep. I have some other notes for that. EMC, we have another meeting on maybe next week. I'll check. It should be posted. I will work with Jody. I don't actually know what. The 28th. >> 28th. Perfect. >> Almost next week. >> Yeah. Finance, budget. You guys met. >> We met yesterday. >> Yep. >> But we went through the financials. >> Perfect. Wellness. We had a really good meeting, I think. Do you want to talk about that? That was last week. >> Yeah. Um well I mean we covered some of the question we bring up um talking about how our um collaboration with health trust really focuses on staff um staff wellness and that seems to be I guess kind of uh participation seems
132a little disperate at the different schools. Um so looking at how do how do we unify that and kind of like are are there trying to focus on that. Um and then what sort of things are happening in the building for students and again different schools have different focus. Um we talked about one last push maybe um and an encouragement to you know celebrate spring, head down to the farmers market, a little fresh food bingo um going out to students and a prize from the cafeteria. >> What what is this for? Wait, did we I don't think we specified. >> I don't think we did either. >> Could it be K through 12? >> Yeah, could be. >> Everybody I think it was like free free fruit free fruit parfait or something. What was it?
133Fruit cup. >> Does the cafeteria know? >> Yes. >> Tracy was on the call. >> Put it in the newsletter. So, I just wanted to make >> surprise. >> No, Tracy was on the call and was marvelous. >> Great. >> Yes, she was fantastic. >> K12. >> Yeah. Great. Great. And then we talked about some stuff for next year when we have some more programmatic bandwidth and more time to actually think about some wellness related stuff. It was great >> getting like a calendar, you know, like celebrating something every couple of months we could on a district-wide basis. >> Yep. >> PD anything has pass. All right, that's it, guys. All right, we are now at our second public comment portion of the evening. Uh, if you would like to come up, name, address, three
134minutes. All right, sounds good. Any other business? All right, we do have a need for non-public this evening. After we go into nonpublic, we will not be coming out and resuming any other board business. Uh, we are going in under non-public RSA 91A 32C for reputation. I didn't include parentheses. Jonathan Cohen, this is a roll call vote. Do I have a motion to go into nonpublic? Moved. >> Seconded. >> Great. Jonathan Dunlap. I >> Jonathan Cohen. >> Yes. I Dan. And >> Dulce, yes. Great. All right, guys.