Stratham School Board Meeting 05/13/26

001Um, thanks everyone for coming tonight. I'm going to call us to order at 603. And we can start with the pledge of allegiance. >> Sorry. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, it looks like we have some visitors. So, I would love to hear a student council report to get us started tonight. >> Laya and Eva, do you guys want to come up? You can come right up, Eva. Laya is from 50p and Eva is from 4W. Thanks. You guys can share that, too. You can get right over there, Eva, so she can everybody can hear you. >> Hello, I'm Llaya Magna. This evening, I will be talking

002to you all about the Stratum 5K. The Stratum 5K is a fun experience for all ages. There is a fun run for the little kids and a 5K for anybody who wants to run it. The 5K takes place on May 17th at SMS. The fun run is at 8:30 and the 5K will be at 9:00. My dad's mom, my Mimi, love to help out the schools in her community. In honor of her, my family has started the foundation, Miracles for Mimi. Miracles for Mimi helps to make the 5K and other school activities happen. The 5K is a fun activity because it is an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, help the community, and enjoy time with friends and family. This month, there was also the SMS variety show. The variety show is a way for kids

003to show off their talents to the community. Some kids chose to sing, dance, tell jokes, and even beatbox. This year, we had so many acts that the variety show was spread out between two nights. We had 60 acts in total. The dates were Thursday, May 7th at 5:30 and Friday, May 8th. Also at 5:30 on Wednesday, May 6th, we held a variety show teaser for the students to watch. I enjoyed watching the variety show teaser because all the acts were amazing. You could tell how much work everybody put into it to be their best. >> Right up there. >> Hi. Yeah, >> there we go. There. Hi, I'm Eva from Sorry. Hi, I'm Eva Wilham from from student council. I'm the representative of representative from 4W. As we approach the end of the school year,

004third, fourth, and fifth grade students are in the middle of their SAS test. Everyone has been working really hard and I hope for everyone to get a high score. Before April vacation, a lot of fun things have happened. There has been there were earth day stations like each treat surf school the scouts subaru and cassella and more. There was also jump for a cause which was really fun and at the end of the day there sorry there was a at the end there was an epic dance party with popsicles. My favorite part of the day was at the end with the Lorax play. It was a lot of fun to sp we spent a lot of time working on it. I was in the Lorax play myself. It was my first time and it was

005really fun. The whole school got to watch. >> Thanks so much you guys. Does anybody have any questions for student council reps? >> I'm curious. How many runners do we have in the 5K? Do you know for this year? >> I'm not sure, but it grows every year. >> Excellent. >> I'll be there. I'm excited. What what are some of the things um Miracles for Mimi has done at SMS? >> Um we brought Gordon Corman. We brought other offers >> perspectives with Sam Drezen. >> Mhm. Sam >> the boat that we're launching. >> There's been a lot. >> Oh, I love the boat. >> I do too. >> They've been incredible partners with us. We've been actually talking about expanding through SA16. We talked about it at our last principal meeting. it'll be on our

006agenda to come up about like just seeing like the magnitude of the work and how we can extend it and then also how we can also give back and better collaborate with them as well in the future. So, we're excited. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thanks guys so much. Appreciate you guys are amazing. >> All right. We're going to adjust our agenda a little bit tonight. Um and we're going to start with um under the superintendent report um for Gordon Graham. Um hi, how are you? Did you want to say something to get us started or >> I can if you want me to. I mean, I know the questions that were asked. >> Yeah. >> The answer. Um, is that what you'd like me to do? >> Sure. I'm going to bring you mic.

007>> Um, >> if you wouldn't mind just standing at the mic, introducing yourself just for the minute. Do you want to sit here? >> What I was going to suggest that I sit back in the corner. >> Perfect. How about that? >> Great. If that's not taking >> absolutely not got your name right on it. >> There it is. >> Good evening. My name's Gordon Graham. I'm an attorney at Soullessly KD Seward and Lman where I've been practicing school law now for oh long time 38 years um going on 40 seems like it happens quickly. Um so I I understand that you you folks had a successful bond vote. Congratulations. and that you're embarked on a project and that um um the project looks like it's coming in under budget for some of the things

008that you had originally planned on um uh doing as part of the project. And the project was proposed in a bond article that said that the purpose of it was for the renovation of the school. and Stratam, there's no question about what that is because you've got one school. So, um it was for renovations and um that purpose is the purpose for which the funds in that bond can be spent. Uh, I know that there have been questions about uh presentations about uh that had been presented to the board and to the public prior to the bond article occurring. um that had certain check marks and boxes checked off about the things that you chose to actually do and the prices that came with that to come up with the total projected cost that you

009asked voters to support. And that was a document that was used to arrive, as I understand it, at the price that you asked voters to support for the renovations. And there were certain things that were excluded from that. Well, it turned out that the work evidently has cost less for the work that you had begun to think that you were going to be able to accomplish and that there's money left over. There's basically three things you can do with um leftover money at the end of a bond project. You can either spend it for the purposes of the project that were left undone. You can uh if you are going to change or try and use the leftover bond proceeds for something else, uh it would require a vote of the the uh voters uh

010to approve a change in purpose for the bond. But that's only if it's changing the purpose outside of the scope of the purpose that was um outlined in the warrant article, not the pre-bond um statements, and you're not limited to that. Um so the bottom line is this happens frequently. There are changes that occur in projects um uh all the time. Um, I have been involved in many building projects over the years in which there have been substantial changes. Um, I've outlined some of those in emails to you folks. I can go through those if it would be useful as examples. Um but many districts nearby and distant have had um um projects that are approved for a particular purpose and in the process of constructing the building have realized that either there's a road

011issue, a historic um um item that's discovered during the course of the construction project that necessitates an expensive preservation. of that and a redesign of the project. Um um to a the to the state requiring deceleration lanes that hadn't been planned on as part of a project to um districts encountering ledge during a project that necessitates um um a large a much larger expense for the construction of the access roadway to the building etc. there and and that happens all the time. um uh projects are approved for the purposes of the that are outlined in the warrant article. In this instance, um the Stratam School District's Warren article was about as broad as you can do can say it was for renovations and um I think anything that was uh identified as a possible renovation

012is a is included in the work that could be completed for with the bond article. um and that the items that were originally excluded from the cost um are not limitations but um obvious options for the district to be able to spend money on. >> Uh that pre-bond material is not again it's not a limitation. it's a um it it it it's included but not limited to those things. So, for example, and I just want to just stress this and I think because I think it's important. For example, if during renovations um some defective work that had not been anticipated had been discovered, um you would as a district be able to correct that defective work in order to complete the renovations that you needed to re to to that you you wanted to complete.

013Um, so you're not in any way limited by the language renovations in this bond article and you're not in any way limited by the pre bond material that was produced to help the district define what its priorities were and the cost it was willing to spend for the project that it encountered. You've you're lucky folks to have been able to complete or it looks like you're going to be able to complete this work for less than was anticipated. >> The money that's left over can be used for other parts of the renovation effort that you chose to. It's doesn't have to be, but that's an option for the board. >> Thank you. Okay. So, what I want to do is I want to give board members a chance to ask questions. Um and um and

014then we will open public comment. Um so do any board members have questions? >> No. >> Okay. I guess um I guess I just want to say for the public that you know it is clear to me there has been significant conversation um with um Gordon in the last month talking about this issue and um it's clear to me that that SMS can use that money for renovations that were considered and rejected um in the pre-ren renovation process. So, um, you know, I feel comfortable that, um, there's legality. I think where the board needs to sit is whether, um, all of that goes towards renovations, whether half of it goes. Um, but to me, it seems the legality of it seems, um, clear. Jennifer, would it also be helpful to hear from Mark Join, our

015owners rep, and from Todd Harrington, who is here from Corino Construction as well to talk about the project and where they're at and timelines we talked about last night. >> Mark, you want to come up here? >> So, I just want to make sure so the board no more questions. >> No. Okay. >> No additional I feel like it was >> Yeah. Mark ahead. >> Yeah. >> Welcome. >> Good evening. Good to see you again. Mark Joben, Join Construction Consultants. I am your owner's project manager. I've been involved with the project from the beginning. Um I just sort of wanted to second what Gordon said, not that it needs to be seconded, but I've done dozens of projects throughout the state, municipal projects, public school projects, and we always recommend to the client to reinvest

016any savings into the project that you have the money. It's your one chance usually in decades to have this kind of money at your disposal. So reinvesting it into the project into some of the things that you thought you weren't able to do is certainly the first thing that that I always recommend. Um we created a priority list listening to the people who live and operate in this building and some of the things that we put in front of you last month like the windows replacement skylights and then flooring in the school. We're just the beginning of sort of a a laundry list of what I would say are priorities for the next level of renovations at SMS. Um, unfortunately, and I know I didn't give you a lot of time last month, but the

017ship has sort of sailed on getting any of that work done this summer because we're only four or five weeks away from summer. Um, windows would have need to be ordered and things like that. So, we've missed the boat for this summer, but certainly getting people on board, getting locked in for next summer would be the next big step, right? I can't guarantee that they're going to hold their prices for a year. what we see in construction escalation every year um average is 5% but even these days certain things like aluminum and copper and structural steel it it escalates much higher than 5%. uh the windows being aluminum, we might see an upcharge to buy them next summer, but I just say that as a caution that I don't think we want to kick the

018can too far down the road because your dollar is not going to stretch as far. And and phasing any type of project through multiple years again will cost more because every day the contractor's on site, there's a cost associated with that, right? Management and the trailer and operationally. So I I think my recommendation would be if you want to spend some of this savings is to do it as quickly and as efficiently as possible so as much of those dollars goes into the actual project and less into management and less into the escalation of prices. Um you'll never save you you'll never invest the money and outpace escalation. You just you know you won't between the in um interest that comes with the bond and then the escalation of building materials. you'll never save enough

019money through any kind of investment to to offset that. So, I think it's important to, you know, come up with a plan if you do want to spend the savings and we can implement that plan next summer hopefully and and uh get a lot more renovations done at SMS. So, um any questions? I'll be here to answer them. >> So, I just have a quick question. So, originally when was the project going to end? Did you foresee it ending? Well, the hope was that it would end at the end of this summer, but Corino cautioned us at the very beginning is that listen, the summer is only eight or nine weeks long, right? And and we're doing a major renovation to the inside of this building in some areas. We might get to the end

020of August and you know what we're certainly going to do is make sure that the student areas are done and as much of the project is done as possible. And if there's anything that needs to be done after school starts, we're going to work with Kate to isolate those areas and get them done as quickly as possible. We might be talking about another couple of weeks in September. Not, you know, we're not going to be here till Christmas, >> but but um at some point the contractors will go away and then we'll remobilize next summer and and do any other work that that you know you want to do. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Sure. >> Can I ask I'm sorry, just one question. with the physical materials that are required,

021say the windows is one aspect. Is there any ability for us to uh purchase those materials now and stage them somewhere or or have them be in storage so that we can secure the pricing of those materials with the uncertainty that's sort of going on today? >> Yeah, absolutely. We could order the materials, we could store them. Storage trailers are really cheap. $100, $200 a month, we can get 20 and 30 foot storage trailers and we could find a place to put them. um that'll be much less expensive than say order the windows in 2027, right? >> Um so that would be something we would want to consider. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I have one question. Sorry, Mark. Um would Corino be doing those? Would they be involved or would it just be subs

022after that for the skylight, flooring, and windows? would they still be involved or would that just be >> Yeah, we would want to keep Corino involved to manage the project and and the subs would work under them like they are currently. Okay. But there's a lot of other parts and pieces that go into, you know, when you replace the windows, you have to fix the trim and you've got to paint and do different things. So, we would want to keep Corino on board because they'll likely be multiple trades involved. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Okay. I'm going to open public comment if anybody wants to um speak three minutes and just come to the microphone with your name and address. >> Better bra 92 Pines Drive. I think I understand what you had to

023say. Um we uh I've got a question. Uh how much did we gain in interest from investing that money so far? the bond money stands around 300,000 now. Is that correct? >> Well, for the lawyer, um, so it's it's in the range of 250 to 300,000 that we've gained from the investment of the bond money. >> Mhm. >> Um, so would that be included in your discussion or is that something else? No, that's that's something else because the the the proceeds of the bond are the actual dollar amount of the bond that was issued and that's what we're talking about. That's where the restriction comes. Interest that's earned on the investment of the bond proceeds um is um income to the district and eventually when the project is finished it typically this is the way

024it's handled. There are many ways to handle that interest. Some some districts return it on an annual basis. Some districts don't. Typically, it's not. I mean, the practice in New Hampshire, in my experience, is that districts hold on to the interest until the project is buttoned up and done. Then it gets returned to the general fund >> and the voters have the option of either appropriating that money because it's being turned back to a to anything that the district any anything that the um district wants. its new income or allowing it to lapse to surplus and just become part of the district's year-end fund balance. >> Right. >> So that those are the two options. >> Right. >> So my understanding is that we're about 1.8 million is the surplus that which my understanding it

025includes I'm looking at Jimali. Does that include the interest >> that we or that's something you can get an answer to? >> Not the interest. No. >> Okay. So, that's the that's pretty good. I mean, congratulations that you know, we came in under that way. >> That's great. >> But in the budget, 1.5 million was the contingency and it was quite a big contingency. Obviously, we didn't have to use the contingency in this case. So I guess the way you described it is that well it's what the words in the in the Warren article were and didn't matter what the detail was underneath that. Is that correct? >> Um no it matters because I think all of those things that were the detail that was provided are items that could be included in the renovation

026project. everything that was listed as a possibility could be included in the renovation project and that's important but that's a wish list and it but it's in no way a limitation on what they can spend that money for as long as it fits within the terms of renovation. So it's everything that's in those documents >> plus anything that happens that falls within the definition of a renovation. So so so that's a little different than I think what you were asking. So, we have the board and then we have the legislative body people out here at the legislative body in the town meeting. So, speaking for the legislative body, I I I think hopefully the board will they don't have to spend all $1.8 million. You know, I think it'd be a good gesture to spend

027half of it perhaps and and return the rest to pay because part of the RSA 33 colon 3- says that uh you can pay down the principal with a surplus as well. Correct. >> Correct. That's >> right. >> So, I think it'd be a good gesture if we perhaps I'm just suggesting this. It's up to the board. Uh, I think it'd be a good gesture if we could pay down, let's say, half, pay the principal down, the other half, spend it on whatever other projects the board decides to do. I my I prefer that it go back to the to the people, but it sounds like from a legal standpoint that that that can't that that that's not the appropriate thing. So, >> thank you very appreciate it though. Thank you. >> Any other public

028comments? Paul Pirano. I'm I'm from 10 Hwick Drive in Stratum and I'm a member of the uh building uh systems committee. Okay. And I'm bringing up the um removal and replacement of the windows. And that there are two estimates that we did. It didn't end up on the final list, but there was a list preliminary to that and that that estimate which was done by Corino came out to uh like 13.8 million. So that's why we shaved that one down. But some of the numbers didn't get carried forward on the last list. There was there was no estimate for things like the window window replacements and there were two alternatives. There was remove and replace windows fiberglass. I don't know what the fiberglass is, the framing for 385,000 or remove and replace the windows um

029using aluminum and that was like 593,000. So I'm saying that was initially in there. Okay. But we pulled it out. What I'm saying is we're looking for if that were the case and you I've heard interest in in in replacing the windows. Windows are 37 38 years old, whatever it is. Now, um we need to make an an a smart and economical best price analysis. um mark on that. You know, if we're going to do that, we spent 400, we spent 600. I mean, that's a big difference right there. Okay. Um the other thing I wanted to bring up is this job is, you know, it's really not deeply down the down the pike yet. And uh there are things that I don't see on any detail like like commissioning. Commissioning can be quite a

030big deal, you know, especially with 40-year-old pipes. If you start to clean them, we could end up with leaks. Is this stuff that we haven't determined that's going to bite us where we don't want it to bite us in the back? You got to be careful because these contingencies in the end could really be a problem. I've I've seen it happen. >> Okay. So, let's not be so optimistic that we think we're going to get 1.8 million by the end of this project. We got to really look at this closely and be and judge with some wisdom. >> Thank you. And you know something, that committee has a lot of experience and you know those guys need to be brought into it. That's why I'm bringing it up because I don't want to see us

031find out that gee we really didn't have 1.8. We're going to have maybe 1 million and we're going to end up overspending this thing. I'm just bringing up another thing you got to think about. >> Thank you. Hey everybody, Tim Sinclair 18 Homegrren. Um, thank you again for having this open forum tonight and discussion. I think it's great that we have a school community where as we heard from our attorney that here the necessarily need to bring this to everyone. You could make that decision on your own as a collective voted in. But I appreciate the fact that we have this amazing town where we can dialogue, we can talk. There's been some good concerns brought up. Um the thing that I would say is I think we talked about priority list. When we think

032about things like windows, skylights, flooring, my kids are walking on those floors. My kids are sitting under these skylights. Those windows need to shut not only for a safety concern, but for a security concern. So I just bring up those pieces. I think those are priority items that I don't know that we want to go back and forth on. Um I think that gentleman here made a good point. We want to make sure that there is contingencies until we see it through. Um let's make sure we have that appropriate money with consult from our project manager. But um I would encourage the board to really consider that as something um that is priority. Um you know we we certainly don't want to go and we know we may have to remobilize next year but it

033sounds like storage is something that's not not costly. Um so I would say from a perspective of do we really want to wait another five six years? I mean, preventative maintenance is the number one >> lesson I learned as a homeowner. 38 years for windows. I Let's Let's just get it done. So, but thank you all. I appreciate it. Just wanted to offer that comment. >> Mark, can I ask you to respond to that issue about the contingency and the size of it and how you're accounting for it? >> Right. So, if you remember last month, I think it was last month, right? So, I record I reported that we have about 1.8 million in contingency. It does not include the 300,000 in in potential interest. So that's I don't even have access to that.

034Those dollars aren't in my mind at all. Um but my recommendation was that the three items I recommended were a total of about $854,000. So I am in no way saying spend $1.8 million. I'm not going to let you do that. Corino is not going to let you do that. We have a ways to go. But we all felt that a million dollar, you know, if you were to to approve those three items that a million dollars in the contingency, we all feel comfortable. We're going to make it to the end of the project and there's going to be contingency left over. Um, so that is that your question? >> Yeah, that was great. So, I know um you're saying the sooner the better, I understand, but can you give the board a timeline about

035when you need a decision from us on that and and how that works? Yeah, I mean again, we've we've missed getting things done this summer, adding them to the current summer schedule. We might be able to do a little bit of more flooring because we're doing a bunch already and we could have those crews continue again till we till August, you know, whatever. 24th comes and then >> yeah, >> Kicks us out of the building. um the windows, you know, again, if we could lock that vendor in, we could start measuring the windows, we could start ordering the windows, we could do some things, um but not replace them, you know, till next year. >> Okay. >> Um yeah, so I I don't want to rush you to a decision if you think you need

036more time. Um so maybe some some feedback from the board. Um at this point, it's less of a rush than it was last month. Okay. >> But sooner is better. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Can I can I ask a question too is about um and I this is probably like speculation but you know we did the upgrade on the boilers and that was an efficiency thing and the roof and I know like the sophets and all that to me I think a lot of the stuff like I was really interested in the year-over-year analysis of how much that's going to save versus the you know fuel oil or whatever. So, I'm wondering if the windows is that something that's projected that would add to the cost savings year-over-year from the investments that we've already put

037in for the heating system and that sort of thing. >> Yeah, they definitely will. So, when they do a what's called the heat loss analysis of the building, right? Air leakage and things like that. Windows are the first place engineers go and and 30-year-old windows aren't as efficient as the windows we were going to put in. So, you will save money on on heating costs. It's hard to quantify, but you will definitely save money with a tighter building with new windows. >> Well, and it sounds like we may have the analysis for the first year because it sounds like the windows if that was done wasn't going to be something that would happen for another year or so anyway. Right. Right. So, we may already have like a good baseline to look at and see

038what the cost is for the after the other improvements. >> Yeah. >> Thanks. I appreciate it. >> Okay. Mark. No, >> I saw another. >> I was just going to ask one question just would be helpful for the board. You talked about that 5% increase in materials for the board to make a decision. If we do order the windows, when would be the last like date you'd want them to order it be so before we see that 5% increase because they're only going to hold the price for a certain time, I would imagine. Right. >> And then now we're going to be spending an extra $20,000 if we don't meet that deadline. So, I think that's really important for the board to hear of when you would need that to order the whole pricing that

039you have that you put together for last month. Yeah, I'd have to have Karina go back to the vendor. I mean, typically 30 60 days from the the date of the proposal. Um, and you know, we're probably coming to the end of that window right now. Um, so I can't guarantee that there wouldn't be a price increase if you told me July 1st, let's say, order the windows. Um, but again, we'll we can negotiate with the vendor. We can try to have a back and forth and try to get them to hold the number. um things have been, you know, with with the price of fuel and everything that we're all seeing, we we're just starting to see that affect uh us and I don't know where that's going to go in the aluminum business

040um or things like that either. So, it's hard to predict the way the market's going to react, but um you know, we'll certainly do our best to try to get the vendors to hold their price as long as possible. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Can I add something? One of the things that I've learned through this process too is the scheduling of the different trades. I think that's an important part when we're talking about timelines. It's playing into the summer of like part of it's not just the supply of the materials, it's also aligning different various trades. And so that's been part of this project and like tightly scheduling like they can only come in this 7-day period or they can't come for 17 more days so we have to schedule this other piece

041in here. And I think that's an important part when we're trying to scope out this larger project. And one of the things that Bob the Builder and I have been talking about is like while the vast majority of things will be ready for us to start August 24th. He talked about like November break like maybe we're coming in because we needed to finish this set of lighting or we need to talk about this because there is some internal detailing work if anybody has built a home. They know that kind of like was the longest part. Um and so I just want us to be really cognizant of whatever decision you make. It's it's simply there is that other piece for Kino to have to then manage all of their trades and like make that work.

042And they've been incredible up to this point. But it's also a tricky balance. And I think that's a piece of this puzzle that we should also give credit to. >> Um, I saw a hand I think. >> Yeah. >> Hi. Uh, Todd Harrington. I'm a resident as well as as Chris mentioned Corino Construction. Um, I've been involved with this project from the beginning. Um, I I'd like to thank building committee. I mean, let's take a step back at where we were. We started out with a $50 million project, worked it down to a $25 million project, worked it down to a 15, and then ended up on a $12 million project. And with all of that, we're we carried contingencies because of setting up the bond vote and getting the scope of work and kind

043of a compressed time frame. That being said, these items, a lot of these items were discussed as let's add them in if if we have the contingency money left over. So, I'm here as as both a resident as well as somebody that's working on the project to support you folks in being able to reallocate the funds. And I think I think if we're going to do it, let's do it right. And there's there's things such as repaving this the front loops because we're redoing the entry there and I don't want to see saw cut pavement patched in. And so th those were some things that we had discussed that potentially adding in. The other thing that we've talked about adding in that I feel is important are uh three new street lights in the teachers

044parking lot. So, we've looked at those items as well as the skylight here, the windows, the flooring, all of which I feel are important as well. So, I want to empower you folks as a resident to make the decisions to quickly, we have momentum right now, quickly and and uh we'll get the numbers in front of you and be able to make those decisions and and vote to to reallocate the funds. Thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, Katie Young, 150 Bunker Hill. Um, I just also want to commend the work of the building committee. Um, I live with the construction superintendent at home. Um, so I see the work that goes on every day here and just commend all the hard work that's been put in because it's very noticeable um, just dayto-day um, operationally.

045Um, also I work in the building. I spend a lot of time here. So, just wanting to note those things that I do feel are high on the priority list. Windows, the carpets are almost as old as I am. Um, I do think there's probably a list of things in addition that are really important um that I think we should really take a look at. Um, when I voted yes for the building project and I heard many others echo the same. You know, people were questioning the windows. there were people on the FAC and on the board and on the committee that had said if there were additional monies those were things that we could look at. Um so I just think we really strongly should as many have mentioned. Um I think that's the

046gist of just what I wanted to share. Um but just my hopes that you know I think we allocated that money and I feel like people feel like it's money well spent um to continue to make improvements that are really long overdue. So thank you for your consideration. >> Thank you. All right. Anybody else? >> Just add a couple things. Dennis Moffet, three Charles Drive. Um, I spoke at the last one too is very supportive of this process. You know, I'm a general contractor as well. I run hundreds of millions of dollars. Right now, I'm building a $365 million project for the city of Manchester. So, to echo what this guy here just said, you're not done yet. So, the contingency is a factor, right? You guys have to take that into account. But you're

047you have a company that's an expert doing this for you. And to what his point was, they're not going to say, "Hey, spend it all and see if we get there." You you have a balanced idea. If you're going to have a million dollar contingency after, if you have 800k to do it, this is the time to do it. What you don't want to do is try to have you guys figure out the best way to do it when you have a GC that can do it. You have an owner's advisor that can do it. We don't need to worry about getting sheds and trying to buy window panes and shove them in here. It's a contract. We can execute that. You can have down payments. You can lock in your delivery terms. All that

048kind of stuff can go. But what you don't want to do is have them leave, go out and get a new GC, reprices in three years, new fees, new mobilizations, all the things that go with it. And then of course the escalation. I mean, we do this every day. And he's he's right. The the prices are going up crazy. I have resin goes up every other day now for some of our jobs. It's you have an opportunity to do it now. You have the funding to do it now. You had the plan. It's been a longgoing project. I was reading through the 2019 analysis and all the things are on the hit list. They're still here, just older, right? So nothing has that was on that list didn't need to be fixed. It's just you

049had your allocations of what you wanted. Now you have room to get more. So nothing that you're talking about doesn't have to happen. It all needs to. It's just when now is going to be cheaper than next year. And if you think differently, go back and look at anything. Stock market prices, whatever you want to go back to, go back 5 years ago. Bet you wish you bought it then. Right? This is what we're living in right now. So everything you're waiting on and trying to figure out, you've got a company that can support you. You've got people that are here building. Let them do it the right way. which they will. You decide what you want to do, but I would say, you know, keep the contingency they're recommending, make the improvements for the

050kids, the schools, and otherwise you're going to be twice as expensive later. >> Thank you. >> Hi, Laura McMillan, onewick drive. Um, you said you have a $ 1.8 million balance. We're looking to spend about $800,000 with a million dollar contingency left. Assuming that we still have that $1 million contingency, what happens to that? >> Who wants to take that, Chris? >> So, >> go ahead, >> Jane, if you're ready. >> Yeah. So, really there's if there is still additional monies from everything that we've read, there are really three things that we can do. You could continue to do additional work that's within the scope that was voted in the Warren article, which would be building renovations. you could use the rest of that money to pay down the principal balance of the bond. Or

051if we wanted to do something outside the scope of building renovations, we would propose a new warrant article to the town. Let's say if you know build a baseball field in the back or something, right? That's outside the scope of the >> That would have to go to town meeting. >> Correct. And that would require twothirds vote. >> Okay. >> Well done. >> I didn't need to come. >> You provided great information. Shane >> taught you well. Good job, Padawan. Good job, Padawan. >> Hi, I'm Shannon Dello. I live at 8 Mason. Um, I second what Katie says. I worked in this school. My kids have gone through this school. Um, have had one of your children. Um, and I just think that I remember having conversations last year about this and I remember having

052hearing a lot of people say, should we be adding in windows and other things that are going to eventually going to be added in and at the time when we were cutting it back and back and back, I got it. But now I'm thinking, well, we do have a surplus and why wouldn't we choose to do it now? Um, and in saying that, it's the windows. It they're eventually going to be need to be replaced. And if we do it now, we're going to actually be in better shape than if five years from now. 5 years from now, it could go up 4% each year. And that's going to be so much more money. The flooring, it just being in the classroom. The flooring is nothing like this carpet. Just being in the flooring up

053there, it's, for lack of a better word, it's kind of gross. It's dark carpet. You don't know really what's in it. It's pretty old. Um, I know it gets clean during the summer, but it's still one of those things where it's just, it would be great if we had that fresh carpet and um, windows that open and you know, this skylight. I'm not even sure what's going on here, but it would be great if we could have that done with the surplus that we actually have in front of us. So, thank you very much. >> The sky dark. >> I probably spilled some apple juice when I was a student and it's still there. >> It's that old. Yeah, literally. >> All right. Thank you very much and I really appreciate everybody's comments. I appreciate

054you guys coming out tonight. Um, and I think, you know, we're all listening and we hear what you're saying. So, I guess at this point, is it a motion or >> Yeah. So, you'd make a motion of how much you want to allocate uh to be able to get back to Mark and Karino so that they can continue to plan and get those numbers to you. >> Yeah. Does anybody want to make a motion at this point? I don't want to make a motion yet because I have discussion. I have a discussion question. But if you if somebody else wants to make the motion first. >> Are we gonna if we discuss the motion? So, we'll make a motion and then have >> That's why motion. That's why I'm not making the motion. >> Oh,

055okay. Does anybody want to make a motion? >> Well, my concern is that when what Mark just said was I don't think we're in a position right now to know how much of the contingency we're going to need. So I don't know how we can allocate that right now by saying hey we're going to like I mean I Mark I was one of my questions to you was part of your role is to keep us in the guard rails of that contingency right because I heard some comments that made it sound like oh we're going to spend this money and then we're going to like be screwed on the rest of the project because but I think your role is what's being done now needs to be accounted for before we're looking at anything extra

056right I'm just concerned about us saying well we want to spend half of that we're going to spend three like how do we how do we even know that. >> Yeah. And and Todd can make sure I'm not saying anything out of line, but we've had that discussion and and we feel that that $850,000 is on the table to reallocate. So, I mean, a million dollars. So, let me just take a quick stat. So, everything that was in the scope that we intended to do has already been bought, right? So, all the contracts, all the contractors have been hired, all the materials have been procured. So that's why the mystery is is dwindling every day. Yes, when we start opening up ceilings and walls, we might find something that is going to cost us more

057money, but we all feel that having a million dollars uh out of a $12 million project when we're already 45%, you know, through and 95% is purchased, we feel comfortable that a million dollars is more than enough contingency. >> Yeah. I I just want I I I don't know if you are under this impression but there doesn't only need to be one vote tonight. I mean this can this can be done again with you know if that contingency >> remains you can say to yourself again in six months from now 8 months from now let's go back and look at that again how much contingency do we need we'll allocate X to the to these other things that we need to do whether it's car whatever it is right I'm not going to throw out

058names because or or projects because you know what they need to be be but so it it this is a process throughout the process And it's a great problem to have. I don't think you're happy enough, >> right? In August, I'm going to come back and, you know, before you because then we'll have done the summer project and it's okay. Here's how much we we feel are now still left. So, even if you if you wanted to reduce the amount and do the windows with 350 or something like that, if you're not quite comfortable with the 850, you say, you know what, let's do the windows. It's somewhere in the the mid3s. Um, that's 1 point, you know what, $3 million or or $5 million in contingencies still left. And once we're through the summer,

059all the mystery of this building is going to be known. So, I'm going to come back to you in August and give you another sort of state of where we are financially. >> I guess um I would feel more comfortable doing two out of three of these projects. um until we wait until the end of the summer and see if there's anything else that we find. I think um kind of chipping away at the projects makes me feel a little bit more comfortable than just a mass um approval. I think replacing the windows because as I found when I went back and read schoolboard notes from 10 years ago, they had been talking about this project for before principal Lucas was here. Um, and then the carpet >> before I started >> and before you

060started and then um the flooring concerns me as well considering that it's 30-year-old carpet that >> So, I think I would love to entertain a motion and then we could talk about it. >> So, I question. >> Oh, sure. Yes, >> we have two minutes. Public comment. >> Mhm. >> Mike Welty, Six Walters Way Building Subcommittee and the Stratum Energy Commission. Uh there was $69,000 just given through New Hampshire Saves back into the project. How is that being handled? And secondly, is there additional money if we go for the windows? Have you talked to Unatel on that, Mark? >> Okay. And how does that play into it? >> Are you are you sorry I just want to ask a question. Are you saying that UNAIL will give us a rebate of some sort? >> They

061already have 69,000. They're offering it. >> Okay. >> And then when the project is complete, they'll come in, look at everything that we put on the list >> and say yes, you did it and here's the check. and windows are very iffy depending on what you're doing for building envelope that the whatever the bid is there could be money against it and how does that go does that go into like the interest or will that uh buy down the cost >> well >> or what the rebate >> yeah well I guess it depends how we receive it if it's a if it's a reduction in cost that a rebate that reduces the cost. >> No, it doesn't reduce the cost. They're going to give you cash. >> Then it would be a revenue. >> Pardon?

062>> Then it would be a revenue source to the district. >> Okay. Yeah. And you can accept it as unanticipated revenue and you can expend that money for more of the project if if you want to. >> Yeah. You just have to have a public hearing to be able to accept and expend that unanticipated revenue. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Thanks. Thanks. >> All right. Do I have a motion on the floor? >> Um, I will make a motion that we spend. So, we don't we have an estimate of the cost. Um, I guess we would have to do a quick calculation for um using the contingency funds to replace the existing windows and replacing the flooring, but not the skylight at this time. That would be my motion. >> Just leave it at that.

063Don't put the dollar number in it. >> Don't We don't need the dollar amount. Okay. >> Okay. All right. Any discussion on that motion? >> Yeah. >> So, >> Oh, go ahead. >> I was just going to say I think we've had a lot of great comment here tonight. I do think that we are in a great position, right, where these things aren't voted on very often. It takes a long time to raise these funds and I think the taxpayers um felt comfortable with the allocation that's there. I also appreciate Pat's comments, right, where if we can do something and then have half that's there. So, I think the fact that, you know, we're not looking to spend the entire surplus or contingency or possibility that that's there. Um, I also work in an industry

064where right now we're seeing 200x to 300x increases in materials. Um, which that's a lot to have to to deal with, right? And I mean, we saw aluminum prices go up significantly with the initial tariffs that happened with Canada. Um, so I I think it would be important to look at the renovations that were suggested to us, which are the three pieces. If there's additional money that's there, we can look at returning that million dollars potentially back to the town. Um, but I think those three items that were raised because obviously there are additional, right? Whether it's the pavement, the lights, but I think those three things secures our investment where we're protecting what we've just put into the building. We're, you know, doing new windows, possibly getting better efficiencies with heat, potentially not having

065to deal with a leak that's coming from the ceiling and ruining all of these great books that are here and the floor that's here. Uh, so I think the three items that were raised, there was a lot of time and attention that went into that in those suggestions. So I I would feel comfortable moving forward with those three, that's still less than half of what's remaining and then we can have another vote if need be if if it does hold true to a million dollars or look at returning that back to the excuse me, back to the town. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Um, so as the chair of the building committee, I've been going to the building construction meetings and went yesterday. Um, and it seems like we're on track. Like there haven't been

066a ton of huge surprises and there aren't anticipated like huge surprises. So I think as Mark said like leaving that 1 million does feel safe to me given where we are and from what I've seen being in the meetings. Um my only question and is more about um do we invest those funds in PEIP like does that make sense um or does it make more sense to spend them now and that's my only remaining question so I don't know maybe Bob can you speak C can I ask Bob to speak to that or should does anybody else want to speak to that >> yeah on the board >> yeah I actually wanted to com I know Bob probably has the expertise but I think central to this discussion is exactly that that there's been a

067lot going on. I appreciate all of Bob's time on how to invest those funds to return things like that to the town. So, I just wanted that like I don't know if that's general knowledge, but that was one of the topics like when we were talking about hey windows cost a year from now. Well, we now know that would be a 12-month thing and we can go invest that appropriately. So, I think there's things we've been trying to do. Kathleen and I have been meeting with with Bob and you know discussing some ways to generate revenue with that money to try to return some of it to the town as a way you know to offer that same goodwill thing while approaching some of these other projects. So >> if you as I understand it

068and I would love to hear your comment on that if we use any of that money outside of building renovations it has to go back before the town for a two-thirds vote. So I believe when it goes this was a discussion we had was when it goes so if that money ends up staying in the general fund that ends up going back into the reduce in the tax base right if we don't do anything with it >> the interest only >> yeah so any money left over whether it's principal or interest if you if you don't spend it would go to offset offset taxation >> no not the principal the principal can only be is restricted >> oh right right yeah well I mean like any any unused bond process proceeds like if you're >>

069the bond proceeds have to be used to either pay off the the um the payments of the bond as they come due. >> Correct. >> Or they have to be or they have to be spent for >> the project or there needs to be a special war that authorizes you to spend it on something else. >> Correct. >> But revenue generated off of that would just end up in the general fund would get returned to the tax base at the end. Right. the interest >> unless the interest >> unless you had a public hearing to accept the unanticipated revenue. >> You also have to be aware because this project and and this is just new to me right now, but as I'm thinking about this because I'm somewhat familiar with it. This project, when was

070the bond actually issued? When did we receive >> August of last year? >> August of 2025. >> Yes. So, we you're going to have to work with bond council to make certain that we're staying on the right side of arbitrage provisions because interest that's available on the investment of bond proceeds right now is pretty high. And the federal government does not like it. In other words, they tax you when you're making interest off the investment of taxexempt >> um instruments if you because a bond is a tax exempt instrument. So, so you need to be we need to make certain that we're on the right side of the angels with respect to arbitrage and they're twoyear windows and they're three-year windows that you need to look at you where you need to spend x percentage

071of your so we just need to make sure that that's that's done properly and and it's not a problem. you just shut it off and then after a certain period of time you put it in a non-interest bearing account whatever the bond proceeds are and you don't earn interest on it and then you avoid arbitrage because you can earn it up through a certain period of time. We just need to keep an eye on that. I'm just going to throw that out. >> Thank you. Um one second Bob. Um so Sophie I would like to also say um what we've kind of learned from our factf finding missions with Mr. Monaco and Mr. pick it. Um, New Hampshire PEUP right now is around a little over 3 and a half% 36%. But here is my

072concern. If we don't tackle some of these projects and we just say we're going to invest the funds and wait for um the revenue from the investments to then pay for projects. If project material materials are going up about 5% every single year, that's not going to be offset by a 3.6 >> interest. >> Yeah. >> Earned on investments. And so I'm I think that we can do something with um you know looking towards investing money and everything but I I don't want I hesitate to say we should sit on this money for an additional year with materials going up so drastically and think that investment interest is going to cover our projects. That's that's what I'm concerned about >> and we don't know what the rates PEIP will be at. That's the rate today.

073>> Gotcha. Yeah. Very helpful. That was that answered my question. >> So I can talk about um some of the things that we have been talking about in the cash flow meeting at a different um later on in this meeting so that we can get everybody on the same page. Um, but that would just be my hesitation at this time. As thinking as fiscally responsible as I am about materials and cost and contingency funds, I would be hesitant to to wait. >> Cool. That works for me. In that case, um, I humbly reject your um, proposal >> and uh, well, I guess we can just >> Is there any other discussion on the motion for windows and flooring? So, I will tell you what I'm going to also reject it. Um, and what I would

074say is why don't we reject it and then um if we're going to and then we can make a different motion. Um, is everybody ready to vote? >> Yes. >> Any other Okay. So, um, all in favor of the motion to move forward with windows and flooring without a price included. Um, please say I. >> Anybody? >> So, without the price included >> because you said just windows and floors. >> Just windows and flooring. >> Did you want to indicate that? >> Well, I I'm just concerned about pricing. Like if it comes back that the prices have gone off up astronomically, I'm not going to want to do both projects. >> I guess I'm just talking about your original motion did not have price. >> Yes. Because we we won't know the price, >> right?

075>> Well, the prices are locked in. I believe right now we have >> the prices. So with the locked in prices, then yes, I will I want to do those two. So one eye. >> Okay. So you're going to amend the motion? Well, I was told I didn't need to have the prices. >> Yeah. >> Why don't we just reject it and we can start over at this point. >> All right. All opposed. >> I >> Okay. So, you're going to oppose, too. Okay. So, that's five. So, 050. >> All right. Um, is there another motion on the table? I would like to make a motion to move forward with the three projects that are recommended by our project manager. >> Okay. >> I'll second. >> All right. Any discussion on that? >> Um just

076yeah, I think we, you know, having sat in those meetings, we have a really good handle. I trust Mark. I trust the team. That's their recommendation. Having like done a lot of due diligence to make that recommendation. Um, so for me, I I would like to show them that we trust the work that they're doing with that. >> I I guess my only concern is um just if prices have increased since we got the the initial um pricing from last month. That would just be my concern. Um I would not want to spend more. Can you speak to that if the courts? >> Yeah, my concern is installation is next summer. >> Okay. >> The material will get locked in, but the labor could change. >> Okay. >> Not drastically in my experience. >> But

077I So I think it's going to be, you know, in the same neighborhood, but I can't tell you it's the exact same price that I told you a month ago, >> right? >> Yeah. But it's not going to double, for example. >> You don't think it's going to go up? >> If it changes significantly, we could come back to >> Okay. Okay. So, that that makes me feel more comfortable. I just don't want to um cut into that million dollar contingency fund that you that you have um placed for us. >> Is that something that you'd be able to tell us whether the materials chosen would be qualified for like the New Hampshire saves and that sort of thing or do you know what the >> requirements application and they review the application and make

078a determination? So, >> it's not up to us. >> Okay. >> We Okay. But it's not like here's the guidelines you have to follow to Okay. >> Thank you. >> I guess for me what I would feel most comfortable with is voting a certain amount um so that we can go ahead and buy the windows and perhaps the flooring and then coming back in August and seeing like if the if we also move ahead with the skylight. So I think that's where I would feel most comfortable. Mhm. >> Um, so maybe we approve spending up to 700 or I don't know what the amount is, but 850,000. But if we only did approve those two projects. >> Um, >> we just reject that. >> What's that? >> So, didn't we just reject? >> But I

079want to I want to I want to >> You want a number? >> Oh, you want fine. >> Yeah. >> I I feel more comfortable with that plan. Yeah. and then re coming back afterwards after we find out the changes in cost um to see if it's even a possibility >> if we chip away slowly. >> Yeah. No, I just feel like I'm kind of more to the point that Sophie made like I I'm not a general contractor. I don't know that number doesn't mean anything to me as far as like hey this is what we think it's going to cost. I think Mark and uh Kino are the experts on whether that amount of money I'm I'm dependent upon Mark to keep us out of trouble from the contingency. So I think putting a

080dollar amount is going to complicate it more because we don't know what it's going to cost until he comes back with that. I mean we have the estimate but to your point it's going to change over time, right? >> Yeah. No, I mean I was I I think you know hey going forward with the three projects and then you know we'll hear from Mark >> Excuse me especially with what the what's going on in the world right now. I mean I would feel a lot more comfortable to land the materials here have a inexpensive storage option so that we know everything is here. I'm less concerned about the cost of labor increasing. I'm I'm a lot more concerned about the impacts of global supply chain that could impact the material costs. So I I think

081moving forward to have the materials on site, lock in those prices now and then if there's a slight labor increase that would not be the significantly impacted number with the the budget or the quotes that are provided. It would be the materials. >> Okay, >> you guys got the money. >> Can I uh speak one more thing to add? I think we need you on the microphone, please. >> Does project very well. >> One one more thing about combining the skylight with the windows is it's uh we got the most competitive pricing from the same subcontractor, so there's efficiencies there as well. So, I would recommend on top of that, we've we've looked at this thing and it's it's about ready to, you know, it'll it'll probably last another year or two. Um or maybe

082even more, but it's in rough shape. We looked at cleaning it originally >> and everybody said we couldn't, you know, they didn't want to touch it. So, I would I would recommend my thoughts and is combining it all. And as Mark said, you know, things look like we're running into some more contingency or something, we can adjust and we will. >> So, so we will save on labor cost by combining. >> Well, there's there's an efficiency, yes, with labor cost and comboing the two up, the windows and the catwall with the same. So contractor and he gave us the most competitive price. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Well, I think Kathleen, we could also again I mean now it sounds like there's an additional legal complication on the investment we got to figure

083out, but we could also mitigate some of that by saying you said it's not going to happen this year, right? So if we have a projected timeline, we can say what investment can we put that in over the course of the next 12 months so that we can try to mitigate the labor in cost increase over the next year. >> Well, the contingency fund will be in in the investment account. So we will be earning interest on that. So we can put that interest >> right. We we're talking about the increase in labor. It's going to be somewhat mitigated by the investment. The money is just going to be sitting there doing nothing. So right and you know to Molly's point we don't know if it's going to be 3% for the next year but

084we can at least possible over the next >> correct >> because would we have like a date that would be like we would schedule the installation for >> like a certain date next summer or something like that. to when you have a pretty firm date. >> Okay. So, we can work towards that. Okay. Well, that makes I feel more comfortable that this is the more fiscally responsible way to handle it if we're going to be able to combine subcontractors, get the materials before prices increase even further. That makes me feel like we are being more fiscally responsible with these three priority projects. >> Okay. Okay. So, the motion on the table is to move forward with the three projects at the pre at the um rates that we saw last month. >> Mhm. >> Well,

085that's not necessarily possible, >> right? Because they're not locked in yet >> or at at the prices that we saw, are those like if we give approval tonight, can those be or >> they're pretty solid? >> Yeah. I just don't want to base our vote on the pricing is what is my point just in case. So can >> Yeah, just keep it the language vague. >> Yeah, >> I think they'll likely be what they >> talking Cheerios. >> Yeah. Or or within a few >> percentage points million dollar project. >> All right. And you feel comfortable with that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. Um so that's the motion on the table. Any more discussion on that? >> Okay. Who made that motion? >> I did. >> Okay. Shane, will you just restate it for the

086purpose of the >> Sure. So, my motion is to move forward with the three projects recommended to the board, which are the windows, floors, and skylight. >> All right. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All right. So, 500. >> All right. Thank you so much. And thanks to Gordon. You know, I think you made us feel a lot more comfortable. I'm glad we took that month to think about the legal issues. So, appreciate you being here. >> Thanks. Thank you. >> Thank you, Gordon. >> Yeah. >> All right. Moving back to the agenda. >> Good meeting. Good >> looking at our approval of >> Congratulations on the problem. >> What is What is that? Stop admiring the problem. >> I'm going to make a motion to approve the minutes. Um do I

087have a second? >> I'll second the motion. >> Thanks. Copy. Any changes to the minutes? >> No. Look good. >> I actually just had two changes. Is there any way after that you might move them up the >> Oh, just so that Okay. They've been >> Oh, >> staff growth. Okay. Um Okay. So, Glenn um was his last name is WS and then Paul Tusini. There's just an extra I in there. >> Um otherwise, I felt good about the public minutes. All right. All in favor with the edits, please say I. >> I. So 500. Just to take a look at the non-public. >> Oh, sorry. 50401. Thank you. Okay. Non-public. Any changes to those? >> No changes. All right. I'm going to start doing this thing called assumed motions and Robert's rules of order

088where we can just assume and then if you guys have objections, please let me know. But I'm going to assume the non-public minutes pass. Any objections? All right. So, we'll move forward with those. >> Oh, that's a cool I didn't know about that trick. That's a cool. >> Are you taking notes? There's going to be a role eventually. >> All right. Looking at staff growth, please. I would love to hear about this admin report. >> Um, so do you want to see if you can get the computer and the screen going because it's Okay, >> I'd love to. >> Great. Great. Um, so every year during this time of year, we have the opportunity for staff to come and talk about like their own learning, right? And they for two reasons, I think. First, because

089um their learning um it changes the experience our kids have, right? That's our ultimate goal, but also because we believe in the value of um our own learning. Like we model for kids every day the importance of learning and as we learn and grow, we're better able to serve you. But it also just places like the idea of value in lifelong learning. And so it's twofold for why they're here. And obviously it's really important for you guys to hear directly from the staff on the things that they're doing and how it's impacting them and their jobs and and working with your kids. Um and this year we really took the angle of trying to bring um people um that you haven't seen before or haven't come and asked for like workshops so you haven't really

090had them an opportunity to speak more directly with them. Um the first two people that are going to be speaking are Susan Capeki and Gretchen Beerrell who are two of our literacy interventionists and sort of like how they started at SMS and how they ended up in that role. Um and then the third person you're going to speak uh hear from tonight um is Maggie Rose who is um started here as a special education teacher. She's dual certified. She was started as a special education teacher. She her first year in the classroom here at SMS was in fifth grade and now she's in first grade. Um and she's going to talk about um some learning that she did and then she's going to actually share with you some of the implications for through kids work.

091So we're going to do a little bit of that tonight. Sort of in the literacy lens and they are terribly nervous and they hate me for making them come. >> We have a script. >> You're already crushing it. >> I'm Susan Capeki and I'm Gretchen Harrell. Um, continuous growth is a pillar at SMS. We both came to the literacy team literacy team with different experiences and a yearning to expand our roles and education here. Um, and as I said, I'm Gretchen Berrell. I'm the newest member of the literacy team. I just started in March. Um, and before that, for the past four years, I was a ESP in the kindergarten classroom. and I'm Susan and I've been at SMS since 2011. I started in special education and um literacy support and then in this as

092a secretary in the office with Kate for about six years and decided I went wanted to get back in with the kids and broaden my path into literacy intervention. When we stepped into our new roles as literacy interventionists, we were fortunate enough to be enrolled in the Orton Gillingham course, a week-long training program. The Orton Gillingham or OG approach is a direct, explicit, and multi-ensory way to teach literacy. This intensive professional learning transformed our instructional lens. By engaging visual, auditory, and kesthetic pathways simultaneously, we unlock the reading potential for students who struggle with traditional methods of learning. The OG training in combination with the SMS professional development and the support of the literacy specialists we work with helped us to transition into these new roles with success and confidence. Every single role at SMS is

093essential to the success of all of our students. We believe that when educators stop learning, the school stops growing. So, thank you so much for your support. >> Not taking questions apparently. >> Mic drop. >> No inter >> I will. She was very disappointed because she does love an opportunity to be in front of the mic. >> Um I'm just going to talk a little bit about them because they didn't brag about themselves and they should. Um the Orton Gillingham course is intensive. It require it stretches the brain in ways that we you don't really anticipate. I think we as a board talked a lot about the science of reading. Um and all the stuff that we're learning as we understand the brain better than we did 10 years ago, 15 years ago, and 20

094years ago. Um, and Susan sort of hit on like she started in special education and was doing literacy at the time and just the changes in how we teach literacy now and the intensive efforts um to ensure that we're reaching the neurodiversity that we experience every day. Um, and they work so hard at it and as a team like they're constantly planning, prepping, brainstorming, dissecting students work, listening in on each other's services with kids because they're so focused on like how do we help every single kid find their fullest potential? Um, and it's just a beautiful thing to see in action when you walk in that room and they've got an array of students doing an array of things and they're all still hearing what's going on everywhere so that they can continue to collaborate

095around that. Um, and it just takes an takes a special person to do it, but it also takes a special person to be willing to dive in and be super vulnerable with that learning because it is so different than what we're accustomed to. So, I deeply appreciate their work. I know our kids do as well. And I was going to brag on you. Come on up, M. Rose. >> Hi, Maggie Roseben. Um, first grade, I wanted to um first take the time to thank you um for the support you give our teachers. Um, this is my third district in the state of New Hampshire and having the professional development funds. Um, it just makes me speechless. I love to say I'm a nerd for like educational learning. Um, and so I've just been really grateful

096that I've been able to take some of the trainings that interest me. um specifically those about that tie um neuroscience in with um learning really at the younger levels like K3. Um so I took a development called releasing writers formerly known as think SRSD. Um and it ties kind of language with written output. And the way it does that is through reading and talking about the text that you're reading. Um, so here we read a book called Wild is the Wind. Um, which is actually written in pros for first grade. Um, the language was really heavy. So we spent three days reading the book, teasing out the vocabulary and talking about how the illustrations support um, those vocabulary terms like ceaseless shaper. Um, so through our ability to infer through rich verbal conversations, we were

097able to pull out moments. The kids pulled out the moments individually where the text showed that the wind was a ceaseless shaper and like what that meant. So we really talked about um you know our base word cease that's going to mean stop. Less is kind of like it never stops. Um so you'll see it never stops moving. Um and then you'll see it shapes the rocks. It can shape the water. It really shapes our earth. Um, so this releasing writers course really helped me tie in um the language and inferring we can do when we read text to strengthen our written output. Um, which is where I bring this one. Um, whenever we write, we use what's called a power cycle. We have like a little chant like I'm a powerful writer. And one

098of the things I love about this, um, is it's really flexible and I can fit it in with any scripted curriculum, right? Um because any strong curriculum, you're first going to plan your piece and then we do break it out. Like if you're reading a book, first you're going to give the gist. Um the second one I find is the most crucial to my student success. We call it the do what? Like if you get a u if you get a prompt like you're going to pull out what are you doing? Are you writing a paragraph? Are you writing a sentence? And then what? Like give me one or two words like what are we going to focus on? And then um if you are reading a book, you're going to just really closely read

099that prompt, the paragraph, the book um to think about what you're focusing on. Um or if it's like a self-generated task, you're going to pick your ideas. Um so then we can go into organizing. Um and then finally, you're going to write and then edit, revise. Um so really this training has um you'll see some of the paragraphs my first graders wrote. Um that was actually an assessment that's um 100% independent. Um, and I have students in that packet um, who are kind of my stronger learners and some are in my intervention and some is actually identified student. Um, so I've really liked this training because it allows me to scaffold the student experience to really work where they are while maintaining um, high curriculum expectations. Um, so thank you. I really enjoyed it. I

100actually did the next training after it. >> Thank you. we've been um interviewing for next year for positions that we're filling. Um, and often the applicants or candidates will ask like to the committee like, "What is it that you love about Stratum or why would I, you know, what makes Stratum so special?" And there's like an array of things that people say, but continuously and often, and Maggie Rose has actually been part of this this past couple of weeks, is there is such a culture of learning here. And it's not just for students. And it comes from the board support like we're and it it's talked about all the time about having because many of us have worked other places. And when you have a board that believes in the importance of our learning as

101much as it does for the kids, it transforms everybody's experience. Um, and it's another way to like speak to how the educators here are valued by the community because I think that's often not how everybody feels in other communities and here it feels that way straight from the board down. Um, and Maggie Rose has been a lot of a part of a lot of those conversations lately. Um, and I will say like ceaseless shaper, I was walking down the first grade hallway and I saw it and I kind of had to stop and go, what exactly does that mean? Right? Because you're just not used to that language in the first grade hallway. But through the work that Maggie Rose and others are doing, we're really taking complex um content content knowledge um and text

102and because there's so many strategies that they're working with and the opportunity to do as a whole class, they're really able to spend a ton of time with complex information even though the language or the vocabulary may be out of what we would consider typical first grade reach. Um and so we're just eternally grateful for that support. It really makes a world of difference for us as educators. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. Yeah. Well, the continuing ed is only as good as the um motivation of the faculty and staff. So, thank you. >> Yeah. >> All right. Moving on. >> Okay. Let's take a look at manifest food service. >> Okay. Great. There are um the the stack right there in front of you. If you have three signatures, you can pass it

103back or if you >> I'll sign it. >> Signing. Thank you. It's it's only four four just lottery receipts attached to it. Um so included in your board pack is a current year financial. Um we had done such a large scrub the previous month that um there's just a small change this month of $11,000. Um we did have all purchase orders shut off right before April vacation. Um, so at this time most everything should be encumbered with the exception of surprises. We do know surprises will happen, but um, uh, we feel we're in a good spot about it. Um, did anyone have any questions on any of the items? >> Uh, can I ask the So the year end fund balance that's up significantly from last month is I believe >> from two months ago.

104>> Two months ago. >> Oh, two months ago. >> Yeah. So, we um last month we had a great surprise for everybody. Um some some things that were covered by grants. >> Okay. >> And so really this month we only added $11,000 $1,563 since last month. I don't think there's any change in the revenue side. Um so yes, >> I do think we have been um so as you know, we have contracted services. Um, and we have Molly has been having great conversations with me or Mandy or Britney um, about watching those as well because you encumber those at the beginning of the year, right? So, it gives you an idea of what you've spent. Um, and then things change. Sometimes you're you encumber more because you do more contracted services or sometimes you do

105less because a student doesn't require them. So, we are watching those really closely. Um, but we feel really like in a positive way about that. Not like we'll have unexpected additional, but we may actually have additional savings as we get closer to the end of the year depending on those those final contracted services. >> Yeah. And at this time of year, everyone gets open purchase orders from me or open purchase order lists about weekly. >> Yep. >> They like to hear me call and um start chasing down those vendors for the last invoices cuz sometimes we have things that we planned $500 for, but it came for $480. So that's a $20 savings right there. So soon as we can close out these purchase orders, that's when we recognize that $20 savings. So um weekly

106about, um I called all the schools to refresh my list. I have a question about special ed aid being revenue. Is that another school or district using our services or how is that? >> No. So, every year we get um a special ed also called CAT aid. Um and it's I don't know if you want to >> It's just adequacy aid that you're >> Yeah. So, every year they give us a projection >> and they say you may or may not get this money. So we typically go on the conservative side cuz they give us a range and a lot of times it's not on the upper end of the range that we get. So we're typically estimate on the lower side and then get a little bit more. So this would be the delta

107between what we estimated and what we got. >> Gotcha. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions? >> Oh. Um Molly, this line that says earnings on investment, what investment is that? So that's just the interest on the bank account that we have, our operating account. >> So again, we never know. We have to make the projection September 1 on what we think the earnings on the investment will be for the entire year all the way through June 30th. And I always tell people if I knew the way interest rates would go, I would not be sitting in this seat. So we have to make that projection. Um and if we ever project too high, then we have to make it up someplace else. So we never want to do that. And as you can

108see, as you've all seen in the market, the interest rates are relatively high and they've remained high. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Uh general asurances. >> Yes. So before chair scrapford, I dropped off the federal general asurances that uh I have to sign off on but also the chair of the board which will uh signature will say that we will use all grant money for the intended purposes and we'll do the proper accounting uh proper activity list and go through any federal regul regulations uh when we get and obtain that money and spend it appropriately. So that is in that document but you do you are required to have it uh discussed at a public meeting. >> Okay. Anything questionable? >> No, no, nothing different than last year, especially because everything

109had been halted um where there was concern last year, but at this year it has been business as normal. >> Okay, sounds good. >> I was going to ask was this was the big deal thing last year about sign not sign? >> It was based on Yeah. Yep. the the dear colleague letter and how that would impact federal funding. So that is that had been um stopped at the federal level. So that that does not attach to these general assurances this year. >> Okay. >> Yep. Thanks. Sounds great. All right, I I'll sign. >> Yep. So, um, school lunch prices. Kate, would you like to take this one? I know that all of the, um, directors of all the different schools met yesterday to set prices. Um, and again, they do use formulas when you're

110part of the federal food lunch program. Uh, that should be your baseline. And I know Kate worked with uh, Miss Walsh to to propose some prices for next year. So, Kate, do you want to take it away and what you are proposing for breakfast, lunch, and milk prices for next year? >> Yep. Um, so we looked at our current milk price and it's been pretty consistent. Hasn't gone up substantially. So our we're proposing we stay at 75 cents for milk. We don't change that for next year. Um, our current breakfast is 225. We are proposing 235. So one of the parts of this equation is that you really want to close the gap between what we get back from the federal government and what we charge. It's like an expectation of the federal guard government.

111And until you get to the same, it's at least a 10 cents increase. So, our proposal is that breakfast go from 225 to 235. Um, and then our current lunch is 360. We're proposing it be 385, at 25 cents increase per lunch. Um, in full transparency, this has been hard for me for a couple of reasons, right? There's like the I want to be really respectful of our families and honor that um times can be really hard and paying for lunch can be really complicated. Um and the formula that the f federal government um uses to qualify for free free and reduced lunch. Um the cuto off for me feels really low and so there are people that I wish we could qualify that don't. Um and there used to be the ability as a

112principal to sort of override the formula if you really knew the family situation and you wanted to do that as long as was done responsibly that no longer exists. So for me that creates some friction for me. It's the principal knowing that because then ultimately what happens is we're taking general fund money to offset it because it has to be it has to be even or zero at the end. Um so ultimately it's coming from the taxpayers no matter how we slice it, right? Um and the flip side of that for me is I go to the grocery store every week and I know what I'm paying right now versus what I was paying a year a year ago or even six months ago. And when I think about 25 cents a meal, I'm like

113is that even like that's still a small amount of money? And I know that sounds like I'm but I feel this like dichomous position around it. Um because I am looking at like how negative we're going to be at the end of the year. We've reduced um Ann's contract. She's working less time to try to make up that money, right? And find other ways to do it. And ultimately it's the cost of food that really is driving a huge part of this. So I'm thinking like I don't want to put the burden on our families. And yet I don't know where I could ever go and get a 385 for the lunches that we provide, right? So it's like that. And I don't I'm not trying to make it harder or more confusing for you.

114I just want to be like these are the factors that we're considering and talking about and I wanted to give you sort of the full picture of the things we're talking about. In my mind I was like $4 to lunch sounds great and it's because I'm an adult and I go and I'm like oh I just spent $27 on my burrito. Right? So um and I understand how hard even 385 is for some families. So I guess I'm just trying to present to you the full picture. This is where we ended up after some pretty lengthy conversation and Annne also met with the other food directors across the SAU to talk about this as well because I think every school is facing these same conversations except for >> Can I ask about so the loss

115you're talking about here that's the difference in what it's actually costing versus what you're charging or is that based on like delinquent accounts and things like that? >> There are so many factors that go into that. It is not just Molly's going to talk about it. >> Okay. I love being off the hook. >> So, the food service management line. So, even if you're under budget on your food service, you have to bring in the revenue to offset it. So, any um when you when your expenses are higher than the revenues that you bring in, even if you're under budget, that loss has to be covered by the general fund. >> In addition, any um student bad debt. So, any um because every student receives a meal, nobody is denied a meal. So um if

116there is bad debt at the end of the year that has to be covered by the general fund and then in addition if the food service fund is in a loss position overall meaning expenses are higher than revenue that has to also be covered by the general fund. And so if you'll see it's on page four um the second to last page there's a line um just above the debt service which is your bond. It's called food service management. So this year we planned for a $30,000 loss and we're projecting a $39,000 loss. And um as Kate mentioned, a big part of that is the increased cost of food that that has happened over the past year. >> So but I guess my question was like so the the loss that you're projecting >> is

117you know going in Yes. >> that like we're not charging what's going to make up the cost. >> Correct. Right. Okay. >> So any increase in if if the cost of food remained the same, >> any increase in price would go to decrease this loss. It wouldn't make the loss go away. It would just decrease the amount of the loss. >> Okay. But you're expecting a loss, right? Basically, >> correct. So all of the the um all of the schools typically see a loss. The only two schools that did not see a loss are Exit Elementary and the cooperative. And the reason why is they share a food service director. So they split the the um the salary cost but then also just the the amount that they serve as well as um catering at

118the cooperative. >> Okay. >> Thanks. >> But when you say exit, you mean the high school? >> No. Um exit elementary and um the exit cooperative share staffing. >> It would be the middle school and high school because they also offer alart. >> Yes. that we just can't do elementary schooling and >> age of the students to be able to go through the timing. So, >> okay, >> because we have we did talk about could we do al at elementary schools and the um food service directors like we can't add any more time without increasing their time to prepare it be there so it would not be a cost savings. It would not be a revenue generator. Um but middle school and high school when students are coming they they know what they want to

119get and if they want to get that extra bag of chips they're going to go do that. >> Yeah. >> They also get about seven middle school people eat about seven times what little kids eat. It's unbelievable. I mean you know you all said you're like oh what are you doing a leg over here? >> Yeah. So just a reminder uh the loss isn't that you're over budget. It's that the >> the revenue you're bringing in is that much less than the expenses go. >> I have a question. K you said that um Ann's contract was reduced. What do you mean by that? >> So, we had a number of years where we did summer programming that was longer hours, longer days, and so she was helping work through the summer because we were providing

120food during that time and things like that. But we're not doing that anymore as that time as families have gotten back into like summer camps and things like that. The numbers that attenders longer. So, we don't need her the same uh number of days per year. And so, her hours during the day are the same, but the number of days per year has been reduced. >> Okay. But not because we're in pinch just because we no longer need we don't need it. service was no longer no. >> But that was another but again that was like that's an area of like we budget for it. It's a savings but it doesn't really offset the way we would you would I mean I've had to have this explained to me 746 times because I'm always like

121that's not right and it's because there are so many other factors other than just the salary of your employees. >> Thank you. Do you need a motion to accept them? >> Yes ma'am. >> Um I'll move to accept the prices um as set by SMS administrators. I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> All right. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All right. 5 0. Thanks for doing all that. >> Okay. Paraprofessional negotiation. >> Yeah. I'd love a couple board members to join us. Uh we got a letter from Miss Quinn this uh about a week, beginning this week, I believe, uh to start negotiation over the summer, which is fantastic. So, if we could start, you know, mid August uh like we did with the teachers, that'd be great. Um, and if there

122are two members that would like to sit on that with myself and Heather, that would be fantastic. >> I have recent experience on >> like the non thumbs on the table. No. >> Yeah, I'd be interested because I haven't done that before and I think that would be a good experience and the farm season will be less crazy. So, in August. >> Yeah, I'd be interested. >> Shave. >> Okay. Um >> yeah, >> it can you just uh glaze over the the time commitment that would be required? >> Well, it can only be two, right? >> Yeah, it can only be two of you. Yeah. Uh because it can't be a quorum because then you got to bring it back to the board. If you did have a quorum, then whatever you decide there, it

123is it is set in stone. So, you can't have a full full that's why we'd always say never a quorum, but uh typically it is it's um you know, every couple of weeks we'd meet. Um we get proposals back and forth. We walk through those proposals. Um, you know, we've been very fortunate. Neither side has used a lawyer um to walk through things, which then tends to speed things up um and be a lot less costly when we're doing that that piece. Um, but about every two weeks for about two months uh until we get to a final place where it can be accepted and ratified by the um the body for the pair professionals or uh ESPs and then it comes to the board and ratified here as we did last year. So I'd

124say we I think with the teachers it was about five to six meetings with some initial internal meetings uh either before or after those meetings. So you're looking at probably a 14 to 20 hour commitment spread over uh about a two-month time frame uh with those those meetings. But they they're very productive and and I know that they'll come prepared with proposals and we'll set the ground rules day one. Second meeting we really dive into those proposals and go back and forth. So one nice thing that the teachers did is they had a nice priority list. So, it sped up the process drastically, and I would anticipate the same. >> Got it. All right, >> I'm in. >> You're off the hook this time. Thank you. >> Um, do you feel like you have time

125with your job? >> What's that? >> Oh, well, you're not >> Oh, you're not going to do it because >> I thought you were throwing your hat in the ring. >> Well, I was, but I thought, but if we were going to have two, I think it's terrible. >> Well, I'm just keeping track of who's interested. Oh, okay. No, I Well, I definitely want to offer the opportunity if you >> I think it makes sense to have someone that was in the teacher negotiation. >> Don't fight over it. >> Put the gloves down. Put the gloves down. >> Yeah. >> Well, yeah. I I would >> I think there was such a strong learning car over, but I don't want to like take it if somebody else is more interested in trying to >> I

126will relinquish my seat. >> Yeah. if you feel there's value in from the uh teachers negotiations. >> The other thing I would recommend too is there on the New Hampshire board um site there's information about negotiations should definitely take a look at that just so as you walk into those >> Can you send that to me please? >> I believe it's in our joint board pack that I sent for you for a webinar coming up. >> Yeah. >> Perfect. >> Um >> okay so uh that sounds good. So Sophie and >> Sophie and Cameron, >> thank you very much. >> Okay. >> All right. Amicus brief. >> Yep. So you received um you know some some feedback. We we provided you why the amicus brief and why you would have an interest to be attached

127to that. I sent you today the draft that we had and then how we would respond to put some information in based on uh the the uh recommendations from uh from legal. Um, so really it's it's up to this board whether they want to join that and have their board their their board attached to that amicus brief. It would be the same for all of the schools in SA16. Um, other boards are waiting because we didn't have the brief and and full. And so we finally got that and then Arlland and I were able to walk through that, you know, late yesterday to get some of the things that we'll put in. And so once I have the full brief with the comments that I made um, in my email to you this afternoon, you'll

128you'll have the full brief. But you did get a a general outline. Yeah. >> And it's really um you know the position of of you know uh amendment rights, the ambiguous language, the uh the implications of special education, the implications on our teachers uh and anything that goes with equity and belonging was was really the reason of that attachment and being part of that amicus brief. So leave it up for you if there's any questions that I could uh attempt to answer. Um but really a discussion whether you want to be part of that uh and and be associated. Again, the cost was anywhere it was estimation between an eight and $10,000 split between all seven districts. >> Yeah. >> And there's no potential cost of not getting funding the way there was last time

129attached to this, right? >> No, because that dear colleague letter is done and that is done at the federal level. So, this is really just the um the the values and beliefs that we have in regards to equity and belonging and having the only um chief equity officer at a public education in the state of New Hampshire that what we do with um anti-discrimination. I mean, it part of that that lawsuit is about anti-discrimination and you're required to have an anti-discrimination task force and a policy and law in New Hampshire that looks at discrimination in your schools. So, that's really hard. And as I told you, uh, the multi-tered system of support that is on our our state website, it talks about equity and it talks about universal, uh, learning and support for all children,

130which it goes directly against what was being fought about. So MTSS, as you know, we have an MTSS coordinator here, and it is a major, uh, push of what we're doing and and it's, I believe, what is making differences with with our tier one instruction, tier 2 supports, and tier three supports. >> Yeah. No brainer for me. Like obvious obvious. Yes. >> Yeah. Same. All right. Is that a motion? >> Yes. I will make a motion >> or is it a motion, Chris? >> I'm hearing a motion from >> Okay. It just doesn't require a motion. >> It does require because you're going to need to um support it through through budget >> financially. >> Yeah. But not >> huge impact. >> Okay. >> So, it's to accept it. >> To accept it and then

131your name the stratum school board will be uh attached to that amicus brief. So, exit approved it. yesterday. Um and then >> because of timing because we have to have that done by the 22nd. Uh the other boards um I have the co-op next week which we'll we'll make a decision. But the other boards that have already met they are meeting before or after the joy board to make a decision now that they have a draft. Some of them wanted to see that and >> I was really trying to get it to you sooner. Um but I got it as quickly as I could. >> Yeah. Did everybody have time to read it? Yes. Feel comfortable? Yeah. >> Okay. Um All right. I'll second that. >> Any discussion? All right. All in favor, please say

132I. I. >> I. >> All right. So 5 Z. >> I just want to say yay to our board for like just unanimous no discussion. Just like yep, that's the right thing to do. So >> go us. >> Well, and thank you for facilitating that, Chris. All right. Personal updates. >> Yep. So two I'd like to talk to you about in non-public. Um, but one, I did attach a resume of our BCBA that I'd like to recommend. >> I would hire her tomorrow if I could. She was amazing. Um, you talking about I can't wait to start it at Stratam was the way she introduced herself. Um, beaming, jumping at the walls about the work that is being done here and how she can be a partner. I think she's an amazing fit and I

133would ask the board to accept the recommendation of of Aaron um Conlin as a BCBA here at >> Can you just um for the public just reiterate what a BCBA is? >> Yeah, it's a board certified behavior analyst. So works with students and they also can oversee and supervise need to by a lot you any of our registrated behavior technicians which are are ESPs that have act training. Uh so they really work on behavior plans work with uh the special education team with students that might be having significant uh behavior issues, academic issues. It's a it's a really important part. If we're we're if we were to be contracting this service out you paying about the double the salary we're here. So to get the qualifications that this individual has is is immense. >> It's

134unbelievable. >> Yeah. >> We have interviewed for BCAS for years and years and years. And we we have Carly Green right now who I cannot say enough about. She's amazing. But it is so hard to find because when they work in a clinic, they make twice what they make in schools, right? And so they'll interview and they'll get so excited and then they'll hear the salary and they're like, I just can't. Which I get, right? So to have this opportunity with Aaron is and she's done both clinical setting and school setting. She's I'm beside myself. Amazing. >> Can I ask y this NHMTSSB is that is that like a MT MTSS thing specific for New Hampshire? >> So, um many schools have like MTSSA academics, MTSSB behavior. At SMS, we just have MTSS. We look

135at the whole of the child. So, we're discussing behavior, social, emotional, academics, OTS, like we're doing all of those things in one. So in other schools for funding purposes for um system purposes like typically they start with A because that's right academic piece and then as they build their system then they add in the B. Um it is an expectation now in most schools that you have that we have just always done it as one. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Two thumbs up. >> All right. Do we make a motion? >> You make a motion to accept the recommendation of Aaron Colin for our BCBA. >> All right. I'll make that motion. Do I have a second? I'll second. >> Thank you, Kathleen. Any discussion? >> All right. All in favor? >>

136I >> All right. 5 Z. >> Sure. That's >> all right. >> Um, so good. >> Okay. Anything else for SMS admin report? >> Um, anything if you had any questions based on what was submitted? Um, >> I think I'm just going to we'll add a couple of things. Um, we I think that and it's not in here, but SMS is like we've done an incredible amount of growth in the time that I've been here in terms of like our focus and how we teach who we are as like an identity as a as a learning establishment. Um, and it's been rocky, right? Because change is really hard. Um, and there's been significant change. And I think like universally across the school this year when you're looking at the teams of people that work together,

137the cohesion of our teams right now and the beauty and the strength of that is really cool to see as we end this year. Like we put a lot on our educators plate this year with piloting literacy programs, with adopting a new phonics program, um with continued roll out of MTSS, there's just we put an enormous amount on the educators in this building. Um, and we're coming into May where we're all pretty kinetic and exhausted and yet the positivity and the energy and the rema the focus that continues to remain is just like >> excellent. And I feel like it's not a sentiment that I have. I mean, it is a sentiment I have, but not just me. I think the educators feel that way. I think Britney can speak to it having come here

138for her first year, but I think our families are feeling the same thing. And I think that's really nice to have kind of come to this place and to be recognizing there's still a ton of work to do, but that like we're in our stride. Like we're evaluating the literacy programs right now and people are really able to step out of like I want to stick with the one we did because it's easier and I don't have to unpack another one next year, but like what's best? Like can we compare the two? What is going to really serve our students? And I think that can't be reflected in a in an admin update. But as I'm writing those things, when I share it with you, like the testing environment, all the things, I'm thinking >>

139that is such a like culmination of all the work that the educators do every day and continue to do. Um, and I just think it needs to be like mentioned like that what I put out every month. I know seems really simple, but the work behind that is >> extensive. Um, and then I think about the renovation project that's happening in the middle of all that and it's still just a really positive Kristen today told me I was too positive and she's like, can you just get to the nitty-gritty and be more realistic? Um, I think Jennifer, you've actually said that to me once before. Um, but I actually don't think I'm overselling it. I think what's happening right now is really special and I think it feels really good to be at an end

140of a year and feel just as positive as I felt in September. >> I I say I'm going to only as not as board member but parent, I'm going to agree. I had like meetings with transition staff cuz one of my children is going from fifth grade into CMS and like the level of cohesion between all the staff as far as like the teacher and like the coordinate and not only that but the folks at CMS as well. It was like very obvious that everybody was on the same page about everything we were talking about. So, I was like super impressed with that meeting and it was like, okay, this is a little bit of a stressor having the kid go into CMS, but I feel like 100% better that everybody's in agreement and was

141like all on the same page. So, I really appreciate that. >> I'm so glad. >> Yeah, you guys make our jobs easy on the board. Like, it's a joy to serve on this board truly. Like, I do it because it's like a good time and it wouldn't be a good time if you guys weren't good at your job. So, thank you for being so good at everything you do and really bringing the joy to the work. >> We're just blessed. Yeah. And the I mean like I said earlier like you guys are what makes it possible. So super grateful. >> People are wondering though is was there any standouts on the career day? Like >> were you there? >> I just want to I just want to let you know Cam that >> not day.

142>> One of the surgeons I work with came to work the next day and he was like I was next to the robotic dog again. >> My coworker was trying to get like free advice from him about his joints or something. guy next door. >> He was He was like, "Nobody wanted to hang out because they all wanted to be next to the robot dog." You were the robot dog. >> We brought the robot dog. >> Wait for Sebrook. I'm so confused. >> Yeah, we have a robot dog that does inspections and we have drones. We have all kinds. >> Wow. That's a dirty trick. >> The highlight of every >> All right, let's keep let's keep through, guys. Let's keep going. All right. >> Upcoming events. Wowza. It's Mayber. >> That's nuts. >> Yeah.

143Uh, building committee, any updates that you haven't discussed already, so >> no, I did a walkthrough yesterday, which was very exciting. And Kate chose a very nice blue accent wall. That was lovely. And everything's looking spectacular. And it's really exciting. >> Yeah. Anybody you want to add anything? >> I do. I was I wanted to since the first convers first discussion tonight. I just want I think one of the things I've heard the board board say so much is about like transparency about thinking ideas what's happening and really wanting to make sure things are on the record and I think one of the things that didn't get talked about tonight because I think there were things are more important but what I don't want to do is like this is surprise why didn't you say

144this in in May Kate like and I think that's and I think Todd tried to talk about that I think Mark a little bit too like talking about like there is a list of things beyond what has been presented to you right like that is part of their responsibility is to keep a running list right of like what falls in what order and why does it fall and why would we maybe change something along the way? And I just want to stress because I think there was lots of conversation and I don't want to be like, well, you should have said that in May. There are other items on that list that have not been presented to the board at this time because it is only May of 2026. And so I do think you'll

145see them coming back over time saying like actually like the lights. I think Todd brought up the safety lights that he really thinks is a priority in the in the parking lot. So, I just I just felt like that we missed that tonight and not intentionally because it wasn't re is super relevant, but I would feel like or miss if I didn't say like that is something that is talked about every Tuesday. >> I heard it. I also heard the paving and things like that. >> Yeah. I just It's talked about every Tuesday and I was like, "Oh, if I'm sitting on it, you're going to be like, "What the heck?" And I just wanted to make sure like that I didn't you didn't feel like I was leaving something out. >> Yeah. >> Um

146I also saw a list of the fifth grade proposed projects. Yeah. And one of them was like a mural. >> So on the new wall. Oh yeah. >> Is that a great idea? >> It'll be facing like when people So awesome. I probably I I mean I don't know what they'll decide, but I was excited about it. >> Yeah. So there's some cool ideas. >> Uh superintendent evaluation committee, >> of course. Um so we received all the data and the um evaluations from all the school boards for the district. And we went through and edited and compiled data at our meeting and then wrote up um summaries. And so those will be presented at the joint board meeting. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Very exciting. >> Sounds good. >> Thank you. >> Security task force Shane

147Cath. >> So I am thrilled to say the first meeting I'll have the opportunity to attend is tomorrow morning. >> Okay. That's always have it that way. Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. Great. >> You're going to be thrown right into it, my friend. >> I can tell. >> We've got some scenarios you're going to dive right into. >> Great. I'm looking forward to it. >> Yeah. Phil Listister, our one of our third grade teachers, will be attend. So, um, Kate and Britney are both out for the rest of the week and we just have a lot going on. So, I'm like, I'm not going to be out of the building tomorrow. Um, >> so Phil, the student who's a member of the SMS safety committee team will be there and he I'm like, get ready.

148He's like, I'm He's so excited. >> Excellent. >> Um, communications. >> Um, no. I'm gonna meet with Luke Picket and Chris about the idea of just like the broader big picture feedback that we talked about in the last meeting. and Cam, you weren't here, but um Luke Picket had the idea of like, can we think big picture and are there questions that we would like to ask alumni or maybe you know um parents or yeah, community members that would give us information about what they're learning here and what kind of people they're becoming. Um just kind of really big picture, are there things that we're missing? Um or we are are we on the right track? So, I thought it was an interesting question and Chris and Luke and I are going to meet in

149August. August. July. >> July 6th. >> July. Thank you. >> A lot of dates. Um July to talk about it further. So, maybe that'll be a project for next year. >> Sounds great. Uh cash management. >> Okay. Um so, we had a very um productive meeting on last Thursday. Um, and so I sent out a summary to our committee members, but we talked about um different cash flow ideas. So, right now we're doing a factf finding mission to kind of find out um Mr. Monaco and Mr. picket have been going to different local banks as well as uh New Hampshire PDP and kind of finding out um interest rates as well as fees and um different um trying to think of a good word offerings that each different financial um business offers for us. And

150so trying to figure out if we are have if we have our money in the correct places for um our operating budget as well as our trust funds. And so that's kind of what we're doing right now. Um we also talked about um maybe creating a savings fund type situation trust fund for these priority projects that are coming down the pipeline. So maybe we retain um a certain amount of money at the end of the year, invest it in the best account, and then slowly save for a project such as new science textbooks so that we don't have to take that money out of an operating budget and we can save the tax payers some money. Um so that was another option. Um the big thing is is that New Hampshire PDP, which is kind

151of like a money marketing money market account, um is having really good rates right now. And so there are some school districts such as Keen that are using that as kind of a savings account, like a money market account to then pay their bills. They're transferring the funds then into checking to pay their bills. So Molly is actually going to meet with the business manager of the Keen School District and kind of get the lowdown on what's entailed with that because we don't want to create excessive work for the business office that would then require us to have additional personnel that would completely, you know, negate any um savings that we have. And so she's going to meet with him, find out kind of talk shop, find out what exactly is entailed, and um find

152out if it's a viable option for our school district. >> Fly on that wall. >> Was that going to be up on this Friday? >> Yes. Okay. >> Yeah. Um Mr. Monaco and Mr. Picket have been great. Um Mr. Monaco is going to um help us by creating a standardized um sort of I think it Excel spreadsheet or questionnaire questionnaire so that we can um make sure that our assessment of the different financial um businesses is completely objective and we're making sure that we're comparing apples to apples when we're looking at the different offerings. >> Nice. Yeah, >> that was all of the financial language that I have, Mr. Monaco. I have used all of it. >> I have no more. >> That's a lot of work. Thank you. >> Yeah, of course. It's our

153pleasure. All right. Good. >> C can I ask a quick question? I just wanted to something Molly said at the meeting about the the kind of the last thing we talked about, which was, hey, it's all it's all going back to the same tax base, right? when I was so I was kind of viewing it from the perspective of the town is you know giving us the money on a month-by-month basis but when you see your bill you're seeing it you know twice a year right so I think one of the sticking points I had was can we invest that money so that we have more control on earning interest on it and that sort of thing and and to your point was it you know well it's managed by the town because it goes

154back in and I do understand that but my concern I guess I want engage the board on this is I see a lot of comparison because the school is the largest part of the budget when somebody's looking at the town and we have the dollar bill thing that we always talk about whatever. >> So to me it's like sometimes we want to separate those things and then sometimes we don't. So like when this money goes back in or the money is being doled out to us from the town, people aren't thinking like well that money is under the control of the town, it's under the control of the school board, right? So when I see well we have an opportunity to get that revenue and invest it. I feel like that's something that we can

155do to say we're doing a good faith effort to make money for the taxpayers. >> But the question came up was who's getting that interest money? Because really when you're paying your bill, you're seeing Strata Memorial School or the local elementary school and this is what I'm paying. >> But then the town is able to leverage some of our tax money or the town's tax money that is allocated to the school to earn interest. And I feel like it's my role at the school board to say I'm trying to maximize the money that the school has because I really appreciated that his approach was to for Mr. Monaco was to figure out some like revenue stream so that we could figure out like money we have how can we make more money with that versus

156like let's just cut all these things. So to me I think that's worth pursuing and to your to you know Molly's point is no matter what it ends up going back to the taxpays but if we can separate it out and say hey we were able to get this money and based on all this work that you know Bob and Luke were doing invest it more intelligently at PIP or whatever. I think it's it's worth separating out even though it's kind of a wash at the end so that we can say, you know, well, we did our part to make sure we try to maximize based on the money that's the town has allocated. >> I think once we um finish doing the questionnaire, we can then kind I I know that you want to

157meet um Cameron also mentioned I failed to mention this. Cameron also wants to meet with the town financial um personnel to kind of understand the cash flow better. Um, so he's going to do that and then, um, we're kind of investigating to see whether or not, um, this is all set in stone or is there a little bit of flexibility so that we can make those overall decisions about investing in CDs and what have you to make the most of um, the money that we receive from the taxpayers. >> Thank you guys for looking into it, all of you. It's really really good work and very grateful. >> Thank you. >> I would like to be able to say those things in March. >> What's that? >> I would like to be able to say

158some of those things in March. Right. Right. That's what that's what we're trying. We're trying to be like this is, you know, we are doing our best. We're trying to be financially as smart as we can >> with the money that we are afforded by the town. >> Yep. Oh yeah, and to the PR perspective of that, it would be nice to say, hey, we worked with these folks who were experts in this and we were able to generate X amount of dollars, you know, and I think again, I look at my tax bill and I say, well, the school is the biggest part, >> but people don't understand the nuance of like, well, the town's holding that, they're making interest and you know, and now we kind of are looking at the interest rates

159saying it's like a significant amount of money. So, >> yeah, >> I think it's I think it's worth exploring. I'm going to try to talk to the town finance folks about that. Yeah, >> if you want me to join you, I'm happy to join you. >> I appreciate it. I say also it's all more more work for Molly. >> Thank you. >> We appreciate your sacrifice. >> Just to ask a question on that. What would the tax responsibility be for the earnings of that interest? Are we taxfree against that? >> Yeah. Great. >> Even better. Well, and that's I guess there something we have to explore too is there seems like the our lawyer fellow here had some concerns about um >> I think I mean we can talk about it in our next meeting

160or whatever but it was just concerned about if we're violating anything but >> okay >> it comes into play when you're making your rate higher than what you borrow at. >> Okay. right now. Well, that that's my understanding of arbitrage, but >> yeah, when we got the bond, there was like four, I'm sorry, four documents that you guys had to sign. One of them was a no arbitrage certificate. So, if we go back and pull that, it has all the language in it. >> Okay. >> And then I'm going to see our lawyer friend Gordon next conference that I would um get his advice up there. >> Perfect. Thank you, Molly, for double checking on that. Yep. >> All right. Awesome. uh chair update. So, um just a couple things for me. Um I wanted

161us to think about our goals and thank you Sophie for mentioning uh potentially a goal and I think it would be great for us to do a retreat in August and kind of lay out our goals and I was just looking at some of our policies and as a reminder so goals can be um on many different things. So it can be about board meetings, policy development, fiscal management, uh the board role and educational program, the board member orientation, board member development. That's an interesting one, right? Like how we educate ourselves. Um board officer performance, board superintendent relationship, board staff relationship, board community relationship, legislative relationship, and risk management. So there's a lot of different things that we can think about as board goals. Um, so I'd like to have some work on that in

162August. I sent you guys the schedule um for 2526. Did anybody have any comments or conflicts I guess um work-wise or whatever? >> No. >> Okay. >> No. And I think um your comment about making sure that we start the budgeting >> Yeah. >> co- meetings as early as possible. I appreciate that. >> Um Yeah. And just think about the fact I know. >> Yeah, it it worked out much betterly getting it early. >> It worked out, but it still was hard to get it all going. Yeah, >> I Yeah, I will try to work to get because we were at the um timeline of getting the names. >> Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. >> I was waiting very long. I was hoping to start earlier. We did start earlier than two years ago.

163>> Yeah. Right. >> I'd like to start even earlier. So, I I can try to work work with me on that. I know you were helping me, assisting me with that with that push. >> Yes. Right. Yeah. and I will again. Um, so could you do a draft schedule for >> Yep. I'll put that on our agenda for now. Maybe I'll be able to Yep. >> Okay, sounds great. Um, all right. Policy committee. >> Uh, so I had sent out this very detaile very detailed email about the policies that we needed to get through that were holdovers from the last couple of months. I was notified by Jennifer that that happened last month when I was not here. So, um, good job getting those all done. Um, and well done. I I think the April

164ones was I put a note. I said I don't want to get into these yet because we have all these other ones to do. So, we have a policy meeting tomorrow evening um to discuss this month. So, I would I would say if you have any comments on the April policies that you want me to bring to that meeting, um I'm happy to do that. But >> I thought everything >> well done. >> I thought everything um in the board packet was pretty straightforward. It was just simple revisions mostly. Um, so I didn't have any questions. >> Same. >> So when you say April ones, you mean these? >> So the the >> these are you're just a backlog. >> No. So we're discussing So we basically have our meeting and then the next month's

165policy meeting is the day after our meetings. >> Okay. >> So tomorrow's meeting will be discussing the ones that will come up at the next meeting. >> Okay. Okay. So these can be approved tonight. >> Correct. Unless anybody unless there's objections to those. Anybody have any discussion? >> Those Sorry. Those were the ones that were in our board pack or the ones that >> the board pack on. >> Okay. Y >> um no, my only note was they had a lot of um like the the medical the sports medical things that you have to come up with a plan for were extremely detailed. I was like, "Oh my god, you have to have all of that. Do you have that?" >> So, we are fortunate that our athletic director is on top of that. So,

166she puts together that plan and just works and gives it back to us. >> Cool. Yeah, cuz I was like, whoa, >> that's a lot. >> Yep. >> Cool. No. Otherwise, thumbs up. >> All right. Do I have a motion? >> I will make a motion to ac accept the April policies. >> Oh, yeah. I will second. Sorry. >> Okay. So uh J I J C J L D JLC J A JLCF and then withdrawing cannot read that. J ICB and KCM. >> All right. All in favor please say I. >> I. >> Okay. So 5 Z. >> Any old business or new business? >> No. >> Wow. >> Okay. Okay. Uh, I'm going to do an assumed motion that we're going into non-public. >> Wait, has everybody done their shadows? Their school shadows. You

167got to >> shadows. >> I'm going to Boston on Friday with the fifth grade class. >> I know. I Oh, you're going to the science museum. I'm so Thank you, Katie. >> That'll be my shout out. >> Thank you, Katie. >> Awesome. >> We did um I loved Well, I'm huge history nerd, so I loved the last year's when we did the Freedom Trail. It's great. have to do that with my son. So, it >> was so good. >> All right. Going into non-public under what, Chris? >> Uh, letter C. >> Letter C. >> Thanks, Molly. >> Thank you, Molly. >> At 806. >> Feel better. >> Uh, thank you. >> Hear it. >> Just do need to do roll call to go into it. >> It's the only one. You can't assume you can't

168assume that one. >> All right. Um, roll. >> I >> Thank you. The plate.