001All right. Good evening, everybody. Um, it is 4:31 p.m. on May 11th, 2026. I'd like to call to order the East Kingston School Board meeting. At this time, um, we will allow 30 minutes for, uh, public input. Um, every person that does speak, I'd like to ask that they speak for no more than 3 minutes. And, uh, if you do get up, uh, to speak, please state your name and your address in affiliation with the East Kingston Elementary School. Um, all right. So, taking a look at the agenda here. Uh, we want to jump into non-public right off the bat or >> I don't think we have a nonpublic tonight. >> So, we will skip over that. Um, approval of the meeting minutes. Uh, so we have the March 9th meeting here noted. Uh, I
002know that JT, you weren't in attendance at that meeting. Um, Kirsten and I were, but Kirsten is no longer on the board. Yep. So, I think we're looking to have those meeting minutes approved. And I believe that you >> I looked over and could do that. >> All right. Great. So, um, any questions or changes to the minutes? Like to make a motion to approve the minutes from March 9th. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Okay. Um, meeting minutes for April 13th. Tom, I believe this was your first meeting. >> Yep. >> Um, so we had a full board attendance there that evening. Um, any questions or changes or anything on the meeting minutes? >> Excuse me. >> Okay. Make a motion to approve the meeting minutes from April 13th. >> Second. >> All
003in favor? [snorts] >> All right. Both those pass. Um, central office update. Uh, Alison, do you want to start off with the superintendent's office update? >> Sure. We are busy with all kinds of end of year events, but I actually would like to turn my time over to a couple of our staff members and principal French to talk a little bit about our new report card, which I'll ask you to take a vote on during new business, but we'll do the presentation now. >> Thank you, Dr. Bryant. So, um [clears throat] I sure as parents you received um the survey probably back in the fall, I think it was, or maybe a December uh time frame. Um we've had the report card committee um meeting again uh this past year [clears throat] um to discuss
004any possible changes that we wanted to make. Uh Matt Sus Matt Susa Matt Stevens and Abby Susa were um part of the committee um as the teacher reps for Far East Kingston along with me and um we had three meetings this year um to discuss um what kind of um information we're looking at from caregivers and also from from staff. Uh CMS also surveyed their students which didn't really didn't pertain to us but um it was taking a look at creating a more common K to8 um competency based reporting um system for for SU6. Um there was all schools represented as well as members of the senior leadership team that were part of this committee uh from the SAU. Um we had just uh for for yourformational purposes we have we had 163 total staff
005members uh complete the survey and 464 caregivers that responded to the survey. Um some of the biggest areas of um uh information that that families really got um a lot of information from are more from the narratives which if you ask any teacher the narratives take an extremely long time to write because they're individualized per student and they didn't get as much information from the competency language and so that was one of the biggest things that we noticed from the survey. Um, anything else you wanted to add about parent responses that we talked about other than the [snorts] length of the narratives and what they got out of them? >> Anything you wanted to add? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, and you know, again, students surveyed. I'm not going to get into the student responses.
006So caregivers the the first finding that um we talked about were were uh they indicated that the proficiency levels specifically the term developing was a really broad term and parents couldn't fully grasp where their child stood under the term developing. I think proficient pretty much spoke for itself. Um and also extended learning that kind of you know the third one on there um didn't really have an understanding of what extended learning really meant but the biggest thing we talked about as a group was the term developing and you could be on the really low end of the developing stage or you could be you know right there between developing and proficient and because it was such a broad a broad term caregivers really didn't understand where their um students were in that area. Um, and
007the other, um, I'll talk about the other finding in a second. Um, so we talked about how to provide clarity to to our families in in in regards to where their students were academically. Um, we made we did make some decisions over the last uh, six months. Um, we [clears throat] based on teacher and caregiver responses and a lot of conversation with our team, we made the decision to uh make it a four-point scale that is more in line with what CMS was doing. So, we're now aligned K to8. Um, and we changed some of the language. So, instead of developing proficient and extended learning, we are moving to beginning. And the descriptor for beginning is the student uh has not yet demonstrated an understanding of the content and skills being assessed. [clears throat] We
008kept developing um and uh the descriptor for developing is the student demonstrates an emerging understanding of the content and skills being assessed. Uh we kept proficient. The student demonstrates a clear and consistent understanding of the essential content and skills being assessed. And we changed the language um for exceeding proficiency. Um and we we are now more in line with how SAS reports out uh with [clears throat] the term proficient with distinction uh which is the student exceeds expectations and independently demonstrates deeper understanding and the ability to apply the content and skills being assessed. The important part we really wanted to to get on there also as we sat with the team was having this language on there in parenthesis that um you may not be able to achieve proficient with distinction in all competencies in
009the elementary school. Um so that'll be it'll look on the report cards uh as a B for beginning, D for developing, P for proficient and the PD for proficient with distinction. anything you wanted to add on that? Okay. Um so the other finding um based on the survey results were families in particular were looking for more specific descriptions of of student learning and the identification of that. Typically on on our current report card, we had the competency and teachers were reporting out on the specific competency which can be really confusing for many people. Um, so we wanted um to communicate specific skills and and um we call those performance indicators. So on the new report card, we're hoping to add uh to keep the competency on there, but underneath the competency to review the to
010reduce a lot of the narrative language um and put the performance indicators on there. So I I can give you some um uh [clears throat] sorry just pulling it up here. So it would look more like this where you would have the competency on top and then under each competency you would have the performance indicators that are the specific skills that our teachers want our students to become proficient in and then with the P or D or B underneath that. So, we're going to be reporting out on the specific skills or the performance indicators and not so much on the whole competency because that was a really broad um a really broad language. Anything else? >> Um and this summer we're going to be on a team that turns it into like caregiver friendly language
011because it might be like what does this mean? What is funological awareness or whatever? So, it'll help the people reading it understand what those things mean. and we won't be reporting out on the competency. It will be just all of the skills and performance indicators that fall under that competency. >> So, what that's going to do is it's going to reduce the length of the narratives for teachers to write. Um, it's going to reduce the time. It takes an immense amount of time for them to do that. And a lot of the language that they put in their narratives, they create specifically from the performance indicators anyways. So they're going to be doing that work um along with the team from other schools in the SAU over the summer um with Joe Lazier to create
012the language like Abby talked about. Um so the next the next steps are um for the summer creating uh the indicators and uh report card friendly language for caregivers. Uh we're going to nar we're going to do the narrative um calibration. Um, we're still going to have narratives on there, but it's going to be calibrated amongst the schools, so we're all doing a similar kind of narrative. Uh, but it's going to be a lot less than what you're used to. Um, and yeah, so our our hope is to bring it to the boards in May and June for all the SU 16 schools. And if all the boards are in agreement and approve it moving forward, then this new report card would start in January of 27. I know that was a lot. Any questions
013from any of you? >> One quick one. So, how do you I know this is a question we've had as parents. You know, that idea of beginning and developing I think is a helpful uh helpful adjustment there >> and maybe this is a way to just help communicate what I think we're trying to accomplish. But I think how we've understood it is in theory you don't want your student to be proficient in the first report card, right? You want them still developing the skills they're supposed to be learning and ultimately the goal is you're proficient by the end of the grade level. Is that the intention or is it that you want to be proficient for the first half of the grade level and then you're continuing to grow into continued proficiency? I know that
014was always the hiccup we had when we were looking at them. It's like, yeah, I get it. You're not supposed to have figured out all of second grade by your first report card. >> I think some of it may depend on the competency. There are some competencies where we really are teaching and assessing all of those skills within that first semester where there's some competencies where we're adding more to that competency as we go throughout the entire year. Okay. >> So, some of it is dependent on the >> so you might see adjustments in those sort of submpetencies between the first one and the second report card. >> Great. >> Any other questions? Not that I can think of at the moment. Um, you said so it's this is going to vote across the entire
015district. Major. Okay. >> So, we're voting today. Okay. >> Are we voting on it now? >> You can. Or it's under new business. We can wait and do it under We have a couple people in new business. So, >> whichever you prefer. >> If we did it now, could we give them the rest of their evening back? >> Yeah, we can. Yeah. Um like to make a motion to approve the new report card format or the report card format. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> thanks [laughter] all the work on it. >> All right. Um anything else the report card front? >> No. Good. Great. Thank you. >> Um Alison, anything else superintendent wise or >> turn it over to Michelle? Okay. Michelle for an update from the financial office. >> Um,
016so your financial is in your board pack. So at the end of our last meeting, we had $98,216 remaining in budget. We have spent an additional $11,159 as of the time you received this financial, which brought us down to $87,57 remaining in budget. And with a small amount of additional revenue that we have received, we project to end the year with a fund balance of $95,501. But then with the trusts going through, we project to give back to the taxpayers $20,51. However, since we produced this financial, there have been other items that have come to light over the last week or so. So, um, Brandon will speak to that in his principles report. Um, and [clears throat] we will be working to get those in the system and encumbered and taken care of. Um, so
017are there any questions on the what was spent this year? The all other um covered items such as forms for special ed um some antennas and batteries for radios and a name plate for the school board. >> No, I don't think so. um specialed contracted services. Is that something that we see periodically throughout the year or is that >> so the services we ask from the central office that we ask that to assess every child and every service that you need and to encumber them at the beginning of every year for the full year. However, we all know that needs change. >> Um so when needs change, yes, you will see them periodically increase or decrease during the year. Okay. >> I think that was I think that was an increase. Yeah. With our >>
018uh school psychologist. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Professional development. Just I'm curious what the two things are there. Just the SRSD. It looks like an NHS SCA. >> So SRSD do you know that? That was a um for professional development. >> Yeah. That's what the agenda was. SRSD. >> The second one is special education. >> Second one special education. Okay. >> I'll have to check. >> All right. No worries. Yeah. I was just curious. >> I can look that up too while you >> and and ner is a special ed. >> Yeah. Is this some type of writing strategy? >> SRSD, >> evidence-based writing strategies. Maybe >> that's what it's Yeah. Coming up on >> self-regulated strategy development. [laughter] >> So, I can get back to you. I'm >> sure there's a bunch of them.
019>> I'm good on questions on the budget. It's nice to see that we have a end balance, but obviously Bernie's got some updates for us. So, >> do we expect any more legal expenses or uh like is this current or do we have >> I have not heard of any more legal expenses? I believe we still do have some incumbrance on that line if we do that legal. We still have an incumbrance of $3,648 if we do receive another bill. And if we don't, then we can release that and it will go back to your fund balance. >> Okay. >> Am I next? >> Mhm. [clears throat] I believe so. >> Um, so just an update on kindergarten. We are at 18 that have registered or inquired about registration. Uh, we had our parent orientation
020for our kindergarten families uh last month before break. We had a great turnout and um a lot of uh a lot of familiar faces with with families who have currently have children here and was also get get um an opportunity to meet some new faces which was really nice. Our enrollment numbers as of uh last week are 25 kindergarten, 17 first grade, 18 second grade, 26 third grade, 22 4th, 12 fifth for a total of 120. Uh last week we had our teacher appreciation week um to recognize the the the efforts of our amazing staff that we have here. All staff here, not just teachers, but all staff pair professionals um maintenance support staff. Everyone is recognized by us and our PTO during teacher appreciation week. Our PTO did a phenomenal job of um providing
021something special for the teachers each day which they truly appreciate. So, want to thank our our our staff for just continuing to do amazing work here and to thank our PTO for recognizing all of their efforts. [clears throat] Uh, we also had our spring festival on Thursday last week uh where we focus on the arts, specifically music and um uh art uh and Mrs. Sheffield, our art teacher, um spent a lot of time um organizing and um displaying all the wonderful artwork throughout the building. And Mr. K, our music teacher, working with trying to trying to put a performance together that has K through two, which is a pretty big span, um and trying to figure out times to get them rehearsing together and all the things that they did. So, we want to thank
022Mr. K and Mrs. Sheffield for their efforts in creating another wonderful springfest. And then lastly, like um Michelle said, we I came back from break um on Monday to um uh some plumbing issues um which we were we were having before break. We just thought there was some clogs in in in some of the um some of the toilets and we thought we took care of those. and came back from break and this whole upper end wing, every toilet, um, none of them would flush. Um, so we ended up bringing in a plumber who had one of those long cameras that goes down into the pipes. And in one of our areas over here that goes out into the septic courtyard here, we have roots growing through the pipes, um, which he didn't want to
023touch because if his camera got caught up, it it could be a much bigger issue. >> Uh, he thinks that, um, you know, we we can get through the the next month with um, the toilet paper eventually going through the roots. Um, we didn't have to pump anything out that day. it eventually just worked its way out. Um but it's gonna it's it's something that has to be uh done pretty quickly um you know before the next school year starts. Uh we had um uh Bwell septic that we used to do all of our septic work uh came in and um uh quoted us to do the work over the summer or right after school gets out basically. Um, and depending on um where they have to dig, they're going to be digging in the
024courtyard. If they don't have to dig up any of the path that goes through the courtyard, it's just over $4,000 to get in there and do the work that they need to do. Um, if if they have to dig up more than they initially anticipated, then it would be about $1,000 more. So, it's it's going to be under $6,000 depending on where they're going to actually be digging. >> [clears throat] >> Um, so we're we're hoping that's something that we can do, you know, right after school is done. Um, get that taken care of. >> Um, I just have some quick thoughts on this or some questions, I guess. So, I think optically, you know, we're in a great spot to give 20 grand back to the taxpayers. I'd like to be able to find
025a way where we can still give that number back, but also take care of what we need to. So, is there a way that we could pull six grand from the maintenance trust or do we have that money somewhere? Is that where we would get it from? >> So, what you can what you can do is so as we have incumbrances um which we try to be conservative with those conferences because we don't always know exactly what the bills will come in at. Um, but what you can do as a board is you could make a motion to allow us to um use the trust fund for up to a certain amount if needed. So, what we could do is is we could, you know, we could run another month and come to you in
026the June meeting and say, "Yeah, you know what? Now we're down to like $12,000 going back to the to the town or whatever um with what we know up to this point. So would you like us to proceed and take that money out of the trust at that point? >> I think that's >> I just have a question. Are they planning to inspect the rest of the pipe? They obviously got to some roots, but um it'd be an >> a good time to >> I think this is Yeah. So I I think this is a much bigger discussion that are you going to oversee the building again like like you did this year. I think I think because it's a from what Mr. Mizzy says it's a it's an extremely old septic. I think from
027the 70s or 80s. So I think we're at that time where we really needed to take a much closer look now that we know this stuff is happening. Um so yeah I I want I don't know the best way. I mean you probably know all >> I mean personally I would explore all the options. You don't know. He obviously couldn't get past the roots [clears throat] there, but >> um >> having the work done, I would also probably >> plan or have a rough idea on what it would be to replace, >> right? I guess it's Yeah, my question is is the is the potential six grand just a >> a quick fix? Yeah, exactly. So, is it Yeah, >> but it's tough to until they cut that part out or remove those roots, they
028can't really inspect. >> Yeah. farther down the line. >> So if say they do uncover, say they fix that, they put the band-aid on, but they uncover a bigger issue, but it happens to be when we're out of session, how would we then sort of manage that financially to get that fixed over the summer if we're not meeting again until >> August, say? >> So if if something happened in July or August and they found out it was a bigger deal, we could go ahead. we could get the work done if we needed to. Obviously, we would have to do it to operate and then when you returned, you would authorize to go back to a trust if we felt we did not have that within the budget. >> Okay. >> But even so, you
029know, if it's not something that if if they can foresee, you know, the next year or two, this might not want to be something that you want to replace. That's something that I would want to start >> budgeting for. Yeah. from a cost standpoint, what it would be to two-piece the project instead of just biting the bullet and >> Yeah. >> and checking it off the list, >> right? Like is that six going to be are we going to respend that six again when we redo the whole thing? >> Yeah. I mean, just to get equipment out here, there's a fixed cost. Um, so definitely something probably want to explore. So it sounds like the next step would be to [clears throat and cough] if we want if everybody's in agreement I think allow them
030to allocate pull up to a certain amount to cover the initial cost of the project and then we can determine sort of what they assess once they get in there and do that. Do we uh appreciate using local with bodwells? Is there a threshold that we bid >> 10,000? 10,000 10,000. >> Yeah. >> Um Okay. Any other discussion around this? Cuz I >> And so is the motion to spend it out of existing incumbrance right now? >> No, I'd rather do it out of the trust, pull it from the trust just knowing that we are going to potentially be refunding the trust as well. And my stance is that optically I'd like it to look like we're giving back as much as we can possible back to the town for tax. >> I think that
031numbers >> I mean at the end of the day it's 6F does the same thing but optics wise >> because ultimately anything that we don't spend that's encumbered falls to that bottom line right is that yeah okay >> so we would we would we would complete the project using operating budget and then if >> then what we do is >> and then reimburse the money from the trust fund and then reimburse that expense line. Okay. Okay. So, I could make a motion. I'm not making a motion right now, but I could make a motion to have you use, what's the wording? I would >> So, you would authorize uh the expenditure of >> up to of up to so an amount from the maintenance trust fund for this purpose. >> Okay. >> I'd probably go
032make sense to go more than six. Yeah. 1600 >> because I don't know if it goes over six, do we need to >> then the remainder would come from the general. >> Okay. So, let's see if I can word this correctly. [laughter] I'd like to make a motion to um allow the finance office to sorry, >> you got it to expend >> to expend um up to $6,500 from the maintenance trust fund to cover the cost of the septic uh repairs. >> Y second. >> All in favor? >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. Anything else on the principles appropriate? >> Nope. That's it. >> Um, jumping [clears throat] down to board reports. Uh, I know we have several things here on the policy front. Want to cover up on those first. I was
033unable to make the last policy meeting. Um, but I reviewed all the changes. Um, and kind of like the last meeting, they look it didn't look appear to have any um any big content changes. Um more so just wording um >> yeah review policy revision revision >> everything seemed relatively minor minor adjustments to the existing policies >> what's the difference between a review and a revision because I noticed the first one's a review is that because >> the review is if there are no recommended revisions the revisions that came out of this one I actually probably should have bumped it over actually came from the policy committee so I brought it to the committee with no revisions and then from that there was some conversation. Um, so you're right. I probably should have gone. >>
034So I guess what are we reviewing? Are we reviewing >> uh >> is it just the policy itself? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. It's annual annual review. Sorry. Okay. That's what >> right. So yes. So this this first one, the unauthorized communication devices which was new this year. We're required to to review it every year but the the committee had some really good recommendations for revision. So, we did go ahead and include those for boards to consider. >> Okay. >> Otherwise, JT, you're right. They're pretty minor. >> Yeah. >> Um just reflecting some language in law and things like that. >> Can I use it as an opportunity to ask questions about the policy even though I have no concerns with the adjustments on the communications uh device one? So on E,
035superintendent shall review the policy in collaboration with parents and teachers and report recommendation for policy changes to be delivered to the board prior to the last schoolboard meeting of each school year. So on on those right where it reads the superintendent for our case then is that essentially you Allison as the superintendent rep and then obviously it's talking about a report and all these other pieces like so I know this is new and new law and everything else. So is that something that you all are working on in the central office on how you're going to try to >> Yeah, that's a really good point. Typically, we put in the superintendent or designate. Um, >> and I didn't on this one because sometimes there are things that specifically the the law says the superintendent needs
036to review it. So, um, we did um we did collaborate with administrators um before going to that policy meeting, [clears throat] but that's why it reads that way policy. >> So, is it essentially you all are going to report to each of the boards in the district next month to say this is how the first year of this went? Oh, good question. Um, [snorts] >> I can only imagine the amount of different reports that the [laughter] state requires uh you all to give us on each of these. I guess >> it technically it it flows through the committee to I think we satisfy this by flowing it through the committee and the committee rep comes to the board. Yes. >> Okay. Cool. Great. All right. Thanks. And then only other one again no changes or
037no concerns with the adjustments. Just a note on like the wellness, nutrition, physical activity one. >> So is that mandated by state law? [cough and clears throat] >> Excuse me. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Trying to see what the >> Yeah, it says right here, physical activity. You see there's wording there. It says it will be consistent with national and state standards. District policy will Yeah. >> And the legal references are listed on >> Yeah, I did see that. I wasn't sure if it was, you know, I didn't go and cross check all of them to say like the boards shall adopt a policy as opposed to >> it's more of just a comment that there's obviously a lot in this one. >> Yes. >> And a couple of the ones I just found interesting
038like recommended but not required uh around like celebrations and rewards. I mean, I know our kids certainly enjoy the reward pizza parties that we get throughout the year. And then, you know, food sale fundraising. Huge fan of the PTO bake sales. can't imagine all those things are USDA smart snacks and nutrition standards and just you know our ability to sort of balance reality with what some of these policies seem to suggest we should be doing >> right and this policy in particular is um the the wellness committee is charged with working on this this policy that committee has not met this year so it was active >> um we're reactivating it but so it's very likely that in the coming year in the next 12 months that there will be more conversation about [snorts] this
039policy and some to your point some of those because I think the polic uh the wellness committee did work on this draft and may have um included some of their own language >> and I see it's been in for a while like I said no objections at all to the edits just trying to like I said balance what we're really doing in the schools trying to figure out where the the battles we want to fight Great. Uh, want to make a motion JT to uh >> Yeah. >> Do we need to just make a motion to approve? >> Yes. >> All of them individually or just all? >> You can do them all together. >> Actually, real quick. Um, it's 503. I'd like to close public comment. Second, you want to make [laughter] I'd like
040to make a motion to approve uh the policies listed. Um sorry, I lost them number. >> Yeah, I just lost them real quick. Uh excuse me. I'd like to make a motion to approve the policies listed under JICJ, JLD, JLCJ AA, and JLCF. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All right. Um, some other updates on couple of committees. uh safety and security uh committee is going to be meeting this week on Thursday. I believe this will be the first meeting with the new safety and security director. Um so we're all looking forward to that. Um nothing else to report at that time regarding that committee. I think that will be our last meeting uh for this school year if I believe correctly. >> Um superintendent evaluation committee. Um I was unable to attend the
041meeting uh that happened before the weekend, but I am connecting with Tim just on um just any next steps there. uh but I know that they've gathered all the feedback from the respective boards and uh I do believe there's going to be a presentation coming up at one of the next joint board meetings u based on uh all the information that was gathered. So, um, strategic planning committee, I know that we're going to be meeting again, I believe in June, um, meet before the school year ends and then at that meeting, I think we're going to be going over a lot of what has been gathered based on the, um, plan being put in place and some of those benchmarks and metrics that we were tracking. And, uh, at that time, we're going to be
042publishing some of those, um, data points on the, um, back end of the system that's going to be available to, uh, town residents or not town residents, but district residents. school board goals. Um, just jumping up to the five-year capital improvement plan. I know the biggest thing we talked about today was the septic tank. So, um, I think outside of that, nothing on my end, JT, your >> um, not a whole lot on my end. I reached out to the Eagle Scout that was tasked with uh uh constructing the benches for the outdoor learning area. Um I haven't heard back yet, but I offered assistance in assembly or material purchase. Um so I'll wait to hear back from him and hopefully he's still interested in doing that. All right. Um new business. We have one
043item that we already checked off on this short little agenda, but here, but uh general asurances. >> Yes. Thank you. I just have a little statement to read. This is around our federal grants, and we're just required every year to come to the board and um share this this statement with you um and have the board chair sign off on our general asurances, which has already happened. Um but each year, the New Hampshire Department of Education requires school districts receiving federal funds to sign a set of general asurances. These asurances confirm that the district will comply [snorts] with all applicable federal laws, regulations, and reporting requirements. The general asurances address important areas such as financial oversight, student privacy, civil rights protections, required audits, and board oversight. In short, this is a standard but important step
044that affirms our district's commitment to using federal funds in compliance with federal expectations. And right now we receive title two >> and reap >> and um Michelle and I work really closely with the grants and so [clears throat] you have that to your benefit here in East Kingston that we can we can assure you that we're following [clears throat] those great >> regulations. You all in the general asurances you hear [snorts] were there any new language from the administration? We've certainly seen it in higher ed on grants coming through. >> I I don't think so. I' I've held on to this for I've had this for a little bit and I I don't think there's new language. If there is, there was nothing um really substantial. Yeah. Any other questions on that? >> I think
045last item under new business, we had the amicus brief. >> Okay. >> And I believe you did share something with us. >> Yes. So, I did share that document with you. I know it was mentioned at the joint board as well. This is really just the opportunity for this board to decide if uh you want to uh sign on. Um that would be a decision that you would need need to make this evening. Um the cost what we've been quoted for being, you know, joining on would be, and correct me if I'm wrong on this, but uh would be between 8 and $10,000, but split among the number of districts in the SAU that decided to to sign on. We don't have that number right now. Not all boards have met. So, it's a little
046bit of a question mark there. >> Can I ask if what other boards or how many of the boards that have met yet have drawn on? >> I didn't hear from Renee. >> I I'm not sure that this might be the first uh No, New Fields has met, but I don't know that they've made I don't know that they made a I'm not sure. >> A lot of boards are still meeting. So without knowing how many people are in there really has an impact on the >> it does >> total cost. >> And again you could you know make a motion to sign on and assuming that you know for up to a certain amount kind of like you did with the trust if that was something you were interested in. I don't know if
047it changed, but I mean, I was under the impression from the joint board meeting that they were going to be individualized for each board or district, I guess. Um, but it sounds like if it's one collective pool that it's just going to be one brief. Is that correct? >> Like they made it sound like they would kind of get our input. At least that's what I kind of took took from it. Um, and in that case, some towns may request to run the clock a little bit more, which I would assume. So, I don't know if it's one big pool. Are we just submitting one as SAU? >> That's a good question. I'm not I'm not sure. >> Okay. [snorts] >> Texting. >> She's had her two meetings so far. Alison, do you know like
048how this has sort of grown in support andor not kind of across the state? I know obviously the initiating districts are are mentioned, but is this is this something that's being presented to other schools across the across the state or districts I should say? >> I'm not sure. I think um part of the motivation was last spring I believe um there was some conversation this was prior to to when I started but I believe at a joint board meeting last spring there was some interest in in the future if there's a way to show support that that the joint board members expressed interest. So I think that was sort of where >> where this came from. But I I'm not I'm not aware of other districts that are doing this. I think I'll just say
049that certainly supportive of the the case here. You know, I had a chance to work with Doy for a little while, one of the plaintiffs. I'm I'd be pretty hesitant to vote for something we have not had a chance to read that's being written, you know, for all of us at this stage. And then I think the cost piece >> not knowing what that is. Uh when I think obviously just that conversation about what's going on there, >> it's getting pretty tough to >> Right. Cuz if nobody else from the district signed on and it was just us, it's does that legal >> fall on us? The legal fees all fall on us? >> They would. >> Yeah. Is there any opportunity when we meet next week that is that something that happens at all
050that the groups would sort of break out after a fuller conversation if it's being considered sort of as one document that's representing everybody around that big table? >> We would have to post them as board meetings. So if this if this board wanted to post a board meeting for >> after the meeting, we could do that. But that's how that would Okay. >> work. And >> so just to be clear that we have to make a decision on this tonight. Correct. There's no potential extension >> there. I think the deadline >> I think the case was coming up, wasn't it? >> Right. Yeah. The only reason why I'm asking that is just because if there is a chance for us to get more information between now and whatever. So if this is ruled in our
051favor, what major changes are going to be made or if any to any of the SAU policies or curriculum? >> I think right now basically this got stayed pretty not quickly but somewhat quickly like again so this impacted us at at the university too. So we made some changes then it got stayed and we basically like all right we're just holding the line right here. Um, so I think it's more if it doesn't get stayed and it goes into effect that we'd have to start thinking about policy changes. >> So no major changes as of >> I'm certainly not the expert. >> That's correct, but as well, >> right? >> It's trying to make sure that the status quo basically stays where it was before this piece passed as part of the last statement. [clears
052throat] >> So I have some responses. So I asked Molly about New Fields because she would have gone to Newfields. So she said Newfields voted that they supported it, but they wanted to read it first before they signed it. So the board made a motion for Jane, who's the chair, to review it and sign it if she was comfortable with it. So you could move to that option. Renee [snorts] says, um, for Kensington and Brentwood, they're waiting to see the brief before making the vote. So they will meet next week to discuss it. So they're going to have a special meeting to on that. So we >> so you could right so that would be another op I mean either of those options the brief before we we have >> does it have to be
053the chair >> usually it's the chair >> that is the chair sign it >> I mean I'd be open to that if because we'd be able to get our hands on it but it wouldn't just be me reading it would it be a would I be would I be able to share that with the other board members? >> Yeah but for us to talk about it we'd have to be >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Fair enough. >> Okay. So either way, you're having a meeting. >> Yeah. >> When do they think the draft's done? Any idea? [sighs] >> I don't know. >> It kind of feels like we're asking the lawyers to do some work at this point if we're not even totally sure where. >> And if nobody signed on, are they even [snorts] started
054to draft it? >> Yeah, >> I think they're working on it. I think it's just not >> I thought I thought I'd heard that he was already working on it before the other people who would have been on the initial. >> Yeah. So if we need So if we motioned to take one of those two options, you know, wait and see it before we signed it, but then meet next week to discuss it, who would need to be in attendance for that meeting? Would it need to be would Brandon need to be here, too? >> Nope. >> So it would just need to be the three of us >> over at the high school after the other meeting like permissible to meet somewhere else. >> It's wherever you when you post it at the meeting,
055you can set the place and time. >> Yeah. >> And we need to record it, >> I think. So, >> but if we're over at the high school, we'd have that availability. >> Yep. Or we could just grab >> if we were in a different location, if we were in the library or something. Yeah. And we just have to post within >> I think we would want to post Friday at the latest. Um and I would think by then we would know, you would probably want to know before that anyway. Mhm. >> Um >> so I guess um we could also express our support of it but not necessarily, >> you know, commit to signing it, >> right? >> Yeah, I think so. I mean, obviously it's to how I'm open to taking, you know,
05620 minutes next week to look at it and and understand the full >> feel the play a little bit more. >> I think we do we should consider one way or another. spending money on something that's, you know, not entirely performative, but I mean, this case is going to be decided on the merits of the case and, you know, the amicus briefs are going to get filed and they're going to, you know, one way or another, but >> Right. And if we're voicing that we support it, but we don't necessarily join the brief, >> right? >> And it does pass and go through, we're still going to be supportive of policy changes that need to be implemented anyways. Right. >> Yeah. >> Does our legal counsel, do they represent other districts in the state? >>
057Yes. >> Yep. So, are these are these going to be tailored and specific to us or is it a boiler plate that he's using for multiple districts? And >> yeah, I'm not I'm not sure I'm not sure what he's doing with other districts. >> And so for us to wait and see the brief and read it and discuss it, that there's no cost associated with that, is there? >> No. >> Okay. So, you know, you could post a 5:30 meeting at the high school on Monday or >> just meet before. >> Yeah. Before, after, whatever works. >> Well, yeah. It's hard to It's hard to determine after because we don't know when the meeting would end, but if we true picked a time before. >> Only thing with after is we'd probably know more than
058we would before. >> Sure. >> Because it doesn't sound like we're the only ones that are have asking exactly these questions. >> How would we post a potential tentative time for a meeting? Like if we don't, you know, if we don't know how long the joint meeting is going to go, >> right? You would, you couldn't, you know, you would have to post when the start time was. So, >> I mean, so I know in conquered, right, they'll say 10:30 or immediately following session, right? So, we could say an early time, but we could push it by saying or as soon as the joint board meeting ends. >> Yep. >> So, say, what time's we? >> 6. I mean, we could say 6:30 or as soon as the joint board meeting ends. >> Mhm. >>
059That's a great idea. [snorts] Okay. So then I'd make a motion to would it be to add a uh >> special board meeting? >> Add a special board meeting next week. I think our question for just tonight should be, you know, do we do we envision a world that there's something presented that we are we think we would go for at some cost that we'd be comfortable with before we post it and suggest to people they should come and >> Yeah, I guess that's what I'm unclear. [laughter] >> Exactly. I I don't want to make work for us or anybody else if if we're more of just generally supportive of this concept. But >> yeah, I think I think we're all generally supportive of the concept, right? Yeah. I think from my biggest stamp my
060biggest stance is I think we owe it to the people here in town and people that represent, you know, transparency and having all the information before we make any sort of decisions. You know, we want to make very smart, calculated, educated choices. So, um, the more information that we can obtain before we make those decisions, whatever they might be, I think is the best approach. So, >> Okay. So, we'll post that for 6:30 at the high school or immediately following the joint board meeting. >> I'm good with that. >> Okay. I need to make a motion for that >> because it's a special meeting. >> I think you have to you can, but yeah, it doesn't hurt. >> Okay. Um, what date is that? Sorry. Is it 20th or 21st? >> The 18th. >> 18th.
061I'm so off on my calendar right now. It's not even funny. Okay. So, uh I'd like to make a motion to hold a special meeting uh for the East Kingston uh school board on Monday, May 18th um at 6:30 p.m. or immediately following the joint board meeting scheduled for Monday, May 18th at 6 p.m. Second. >> All in favor? I >> Okay. Um any old business? >> So the question you've been asked on that SRSD Yeah. expense, it took some digging, but it was actually two teachers who went to a two-day CPS online training. >> Yeah. >> So we reimbured the teachers. That's why I was struggling to find >> the a vendor attached to that. So that's what that was for. >> Right. [clears throat] So uh no old business. >> No. Is it
062appropriate to ask in public session for any follow-up for something we talked about in non-public session >> that we would go into non-public for that? >> That's a general question. Um there's obviously I'm sure everybody knows there's a town in the SAU that's dealing with an issue with faculty and an issue with a student. Um and it just it just I was just curious about it um about I think it's CPI training. Um what do we have? How many teachers do we have that are >> um we have me all of our pair of professionals minus one. Um so that would be I think eight pair professionals. Um our school counselor, our two case managers, uh my speech and language pathologist I also think is I I I have them all. Okay. >> All the
063certificates but we have Yeah. Just curious. I really never knew much about it, but I >> I've learned a little bit more throughout this incident that they're dealing with over there. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Yep. And that's um uh I think it's every two years. Every two years we have to get reertified. Yeah. [clears throat] >> No. >> Tom, did you want to go into nonpublic? >> Uh yeah, it'll be for two like literally two minutes. >> Sure. I'd like to make a motion to go into nonpublic under RSA. Do we know what? >> Um I'm not sure. >> Might be in the last minute. >> We went under E and we E is for litigation. C is for >> C. >> Okay. >> Under RSA, was it 91- C? >> A32- A32-
064C. >> Second. All in favor? All right. Uh it is 5:25 and we are back. Uh we are at a nonpublic. Um I'd like to call the meeting adjourned at this time. Thank you. Lesson.