Exeter Region Cooperative School Board Meeting 12/16/25

001and welcome to the uh Exit Regional Corp School Board meeting on December 16th. Will you please join me in the pledge of allegiance? >> 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. Um, thank you. And, uh, we have quite the agenda tonight, so I'm going to get right into it. Uh, I'm going to start with the school board members. If you could just introduce yourselves, that'd be great. We'll start with Tammy. >> Uh, Tammy Gun, Stratum. >> Amy Ransom, Newfields. >> Neil Blanken, exit. >> Bill Gothier, exit. >> Melissa Lions, East Kingston. Aaron Garcia Prades Stratum. >> Eric Miller, Kensington. Bobby Pace, Exit High School, student rep. >> Noah Jello, student rep

002for CMS from East Kingston. >> Lucy Blackburn, also a student rep from CMS. I'm from Newfields. >> Thank you. And then we'll start with the administration. Um, good evening everyone. Chris Andrew, superintendent of schools. >> Hello. Tony Navy, principal exit high school. >> Pam Carr, principal, Sco School of Technology. Drew Baristo, principal of CMS. >> Molly Keefe, director of finance. [clears throat] >> Chief human resource officer. >> I'm Lisa Warren. I'm the director of special education services at the high school. >> I'm Roach, the special director at the middle school. >> Jason Mills, chief technology officer. >> Jason, chief academic officer. >> Awesome. Michelle Larson, assistant finance officer. >> Great. I feel so blessed to have everyone here tonight. Wow. Thank you guys for showing up. I know it's been a long day, so appreciate

003it. Uh would could we get a student update first? Uh Bobby, you'd like to kick us off? >> Absolutely. Now, I think some of this stuff might have been covered already in Miss Neby's report, but we had an excellent winter clothing drive from Student Senate. This was all donated to Wonderland Thrift Store and will be provided for free for families that prove that they need the uh winter clothing. And it took more than eight cars to bring over all the stuff from the school. So pretty awesome. >> Just this Monday, I think these guys might talk about this, too. We had our joint EHS and CMS choir concert, which was awesome. I have very rarely seen the auditorium that full. So, it was pretty cool to see that. We got to sing with the CMS

004jazz choir and some of the eighth graders. We started up our winter sports recently. Just this Friday, basketball, boys basketball had a close win against Salem. Our NHS induction happened just a little few weeks ago. Welcomed in a bunch of awesome juniors and a couple seniors to the new NHS. And I would like to say congratulations to Shepherd Ross, Josephine Chapala, Liliana Boures, Lily Maher, and Miranda Cesler for making NHMEA's classical Allstate Choir, which will have its festival this spring. So that's all from me. >> Thank you, Bob. Appreciate it. And uh you're right. There there are notes in the the board packet and they're quite extensive. So thank you. Appreciate that, Ha. Um, so I just encourage anyone to to take a look at those also for more of an update. There's a lot

005going on. So that's very thrill. Thank you. All right, we'll see you. >> Well, good afternoon at uh at CMS this month. We have some great events happening throughout the whole month. One of these events is Martin Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is a celebration that has been going on for three years, but is the first year of CMS partaking in it. On this celebration, we invite everyone in the community to come back to the book talk to to come to the book talk that we have along with the seventh grade chorus putting on a special concert. Also, we want to call out that on the 14th of January is the CMS concert titled We Belong. And on the 21st, we're hosting author Abdi Norlton for a discussion about his book that details his

006courageous story of immigration from S from Si Ali to the to the US. >> Uh yeah. So, as I said last month, we have our musical for this year, Fiddler on the Roof, about um the Jewish families and like family, love, community, all of that good stuff. And just last week, we had our um production and cast tryyouts for Fiddler on the Roof, which was very exciting. Um the number of people that tried out was outstanding. It was great. Um the director, our chorus director who's directing the music and all, Mr. Fisher very happy. Um, congratulations to like the 40 to 30 that made it. Um, rehearsals have also begun after school. So, that's very exciting. And anyone necessarily who doesn't want to be on stage but wants to be involved can look forward to

007all the crew applications that will come out in January. Um, and yeah, show's going on March 12th, March 13th through March 14th. Come and watch it if you want to. Um, and then also going off of community, one of the clubs at CMS just finished up their meetings and raising money for charity. It was crafting for a cause, which I helped start with my um, seventh grade social studies teacher, Mrs. Judevitz. Um, the club was an art-based club. Anyone could join it. And we just came after school once a week on Wednesdays and we made a bunch of arts and crafts. And whatever we made, we decided that the charity we [clears throat] would donate to was the Dover Children's Home. and we got all the stuff we made and went to the U tide

008craft fair and we sold it all there. Um, it was a very big success. In total, we sold $432 and we donated it all and yeah, it was really fun time. >> Oh my goodness, that is >> for sports. This month we have our teams winning the majority of all of the basketball games and the coaches are very proud of them. Also, coach coach Bill Ball came out of retirement to coach our white team. We have our wrestling coaches doing great and benefiting their athletes greatly. We also have our United Basketball starting up soon with everyone excited for the games. Um, as for future upcoming events at CMS, we have our Steam night on January 23rd and at 6:00 to 8:00 PM, um, you can come and view our students steam projects all throughout the

009year so far, along with lots of fun hands-on activities. Anyone can come, so come if you want to. >> We have a schoolwide um, event celebrating New Hampshire's 250th 250th anniversary. We call it the team mural challenge. For this challenge, each team will create a mural on the windows of their pods. The mural theme is Happy Birthday, New Hampshire. New Hampshire's 250th birthday is January 5th is January 5th. Murals will be on display for parent conference day on January 16th. The murals will include a New Hampshire uh quote or logo, team identity, or team mascot. Also, the CMS core values. The winning team will receive a prize. with all this. Again, lots is happening at CMS and we are excited to see you again next month with exciting next events. >> That's great. And we're

010gonna actually see you next year. >> Yeah. [clears throat and laughter] So, um, great. You guys both do, all three of you do a great job presenting. We appreciate it. And, uh, Bobby, I hope you're looking to your left and going, "Wow, they're going to be in high school and they're going to do a great job." I know. But you Yeah, it's just so exciting. So, I'll ask uh any any questions for our student reps? >> I have a question. Yeah. >> I'm so impressed by the crafting for charity. Can you tell us some of the crafts that you did? Cuz that's a lot of money to make. >> Yeah. So, every week our teacher came up with like a different craft type. We had mini rocks that we made tic-tac-toe boards with. Um, we

011made bookmarks and then anyone could also just bring whatever they wanted. So, like me myself, I crochet and I crochet stuffed animals. So, I made some stuffed animals and I donated that to there. There was another crocheter that went there. a lot of painters, made a lot of paintings, inspirational messages, all that good stuff. >> That's awesome. Thanks. >> Great. Good job. Well, thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah. Uh so I I will I know that we have a lot of people here tonight and a lot of people that have done a lot of hard work over the last uh couple months. So, we're going to hear a lot about budgets and stuff. If that's your if that's your thing, you're welcome to stay. If not, then you

012you can go. So, >> [laughter] >> uh um I'll you can this is your chance to get out if you want. If not, you're locked in. >> Good. Uh so, I will it is uh 610. I'm going to open it up to public input. So, if there are people from the public, I know we [clears throat] have the the AC board here, but uh others if they want to chime in on anything, uh I will leave it. I will start it at 610 and then uh we'll go on to the approval of the minutes. we send this around to just ask uh are there any questions about the board minutes from November uh 16 or 18th? >> Could I look for a motion to accept the minutes? >> I'll make a motion to approve the

013public and non-public minutes on November 18th. >> Excellent. >> I'll second. >> Great. Um, so all those in favor? >> I >> Okay, we're all all good. Very good. All right. Um, with those both approved, I will hand it over to Dr. >> Yes. So, I'm going to uh ask Melissa and I'm also ask uh Heather Murray to kind of talk about the negotiations that took place uh with the pair of professionals in the extra cooperative school district. you did get a highlevel summary of of what was discussed, but I'll turn it over to Heather and Melissa to kind of talk through the negotiations and where we landed. Um, so that you have the chance to ask questions and then we will need a motion to approve and ratify that contract. >> So, Heather, I

014don't know if you want to take the lead or [laughter] um Melissa, you want to take >> I'll start. >> No, you can. >> No, I can. >> All right. >> Oh, let me just wait till everyone has a copy in front of me. >> Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat] All right. Um so for the um paraprofessionals uh extra cooperative paraprofessional association um the first p piece is the wage increases. Um so this is a three-year contract with a 4 and a.5% increase in year 1, a 4 and a.5% increase in year two and a 6% increase in year three. Um there are some additional compensation um pieces within the agreement as well. Um there's an increase in uh the personal hygiene care differential to $2. It was previously 75 cents per hour in

015the first year and second year of the contract. And then in the third year that differential will go up to $3 per hour. We increase the registered behavior technician differential to $2 from $1 per hour in the first and second year of the contract and then that will also go to $3 an hour uh in the third year of the contract. That category also includes those that are certified as a trauma support specialist. Um, and just as some background for this one, one of the the main reasons for wanting to increase these is to um get away from contract hires um and to encourage more of our paraprofessionals to obtain those certifications. Um, an increase in the pay for paraprofessionals when they serve as a substitute um from $16 to $20 per hour. um we

016moved the formula for the longevity payment to a set amount of um per ban of time. So that it's capped at 6 to 8 years, 9 to 11 years, and 12 to 17 years instead of a percent of their last year's earnings. Um we added in ABSOS, which is a new health care option with a deductible. It's a deductible healthare plan. So, it's a lowerc cost um healthcare offering for po for the pair of professionals. Um no new hires will be able to go to the current HMO plan. They'll need to go to this low this um higher deductible plan. Um and and you know the the mean the thought behind this is to be able to offer um health care which we think is really important um for our pair of professionals but at

017a cost that the community and the district can support. Um, we also added in a twoerson and a family plan that that start further on throughout the contract. So, it starts at the one person. Next year it'll be at the two person. Um, and the percentages are are different. Um, we also added in a dental option for single and twoerson plans. Um, most of the other things that were changed in the contract um are are more for clarifications. We added in a definition section to pull all definitions to the front of the contract. Uh we revised the recognition clause to ensure transparency for which positions are included in the collective bargaining agreement. Um we changed some dates more to coincide with things that are already occurring within the HR office so that it it it

018all aligns. Um [snorts] let's see those are I think the rest of these are pretty pretty minor minor amendments. Um, and you know, one of the things that almost always comes up in in these um collective bargaining agreements is is uh arrival and departure from school time. So, we've removed the requirement for employees to come to school a certain number of minutes prior to the start of the day and at the end of the school day so that there's flexibility within scheduling so that they can either come early or come later because they work shorter days than than teachers do. Um, they're a six 6.75 day. Um, see any others that are um the bereavement has been changed within the contract to align with what's currently in the teachers contract. Um, so it allows more

019flexibility for um, family members and as well as additional days off. >> So you've been updating us about this as you've been working through it. So this is really kind of >> some of it just to make sure everybody's kind of heard it. >> Um >> yeah, I think that those are the main kind of drivers of the agreement. >> So I will I will cover the the numbers that are associated with with that. Um because the the percent increase in in salary obviously we would have liked to have given higher increases in salary but um it was really important for the pair professionals to receive some healthcare options. So, um you'll see that the the increase of what you'll see on the warrant articles is uh in year 1 386,51121. Uh in year 2274,31364

020and in year three $25,74066. Happy to take any questions that anyone has. I have I have a question first. Thank you very much for doing this. That's a lot of work. >> So our we're increasing um the cost because we want to increase the services provided, right? We want to attract pair of professionals. Um does our plan does this how does this compare to the contracts of PAR professionals in other districts? Do >> I mean usually we have a competitive advantage when it comes to compensation across the board. Does this give us an advantage in that regard? And maybe you don't know because I'm not sure that was part of the the task. >> We didn't look too much outside of the district. Um we did focus on the paraprofessional contract from exit that was

021um because that was more recently negotiated >> the exit school district. >> Could you just repeat what the question was? >> Yeah. So what Neil was asking was whether we were competitive with other districts. Um and we didn't look too much to other districts. We really kept it within our own district. Um and I think you know one of the things we struggled with was we wanted to increase salaries more. Um but it was a balancing act between that and and healthcare and >> and for this group of pair of professionals it became pretty clear that health care was was more important to them than than a larger increase. >> And my my thought is I want I [clears throat] think we want to keep the advantage we have when competing for labor in the

022marketplace. And and so you've got increases of 4.5 4.5 and six. Inflation's at three. So it's not that much over and the over is because you want to improve the quality of you know if you education and care we provide our kids. So >> yeah I think I think going with what Melissa is saying the [clears throat] um the fact that we are now going to be providing even though it's a higher deductible plan a contribution to a true person and a family plan which is really what they wanted to see um in this contract that makes us highly competitive. Um, we're still not where we want to be as far as wages go. Um, it's never enough probably in my opinion, but it's um, it's definitely keeps us in in our competitive advantage from

023what you were saying. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Good. Any other questions? All right. So, what would you like us to do? We would you'd like us to >> Yeah, we need to take take a motion to to accept the u professional contract as outlined and negotiated um so that we can ratify that so it be ratified and then get on the the warrant as proposed. >> Good. Before we do that, I'd just like to recognize that Don Bones, who's not here, has put in a lot of work for us also. So Melissa and Don, thank you for your work on this and um making sure that the pair professionals get a a good contract. So um anybody want to make a motion or >> So moved. >> All right. Very good. >> Or

024do you do you want me to So a motion to accept the pair professional contract and in in a timely fashion so they can get on the warrant article. Is that >> work? >> That's good. Yeah, that work. Anybody want to second that? I'll >> second it. >> Excellent. Uh, any other discussion before we before I bring it to the vote? >> All right. So, I'm just do a roll call because this I think this seems it >> I thank you everyone. >> Thank you. >> We Can we keep these? Do you want these back? >> Uh, we will take this back. I'll take these back because we'll get it finalized. Heather will have to go through everything. Make sure I'll take those drafts. >> Copy of the top sheet. >> Yeah, I just wrote

025some stuff on it. So, I want it back. >> We need it back. Okay. >> While I'm collecting, I'm going to turn it over to Molly talk about the budget. Uh, and then have the board have any questions and then I'll have her u bring up the chair of the budget advisory committee, uh, Mr. Paul Royal, and I'll have him introduce the members of the budget advisory committee that are here today so they can give you feedback about the budget and the number of meetings that we had with them, which was very fruitful. Okay, I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Sure. Before we dive into the budget, in prior years, we also had the budget committee um recommend the CBA. Do we want to include a vote for that or do that afterwards? >> And

026on prior war articles, it was recommended by both. >> Do that. >> We can do it later. Okay. Okay. All right. So, um we've been working on the co-op fiscal year 27 budget for quite some time. Um the budget process starts in the summer and it goes through several rounds of review. Um the budget advisory committee has spent several weeks looking at it in sections. In the pack that I provided to you about a week ago, it does have a link to the BAC schedule. So budget advisory committee is BAC. Um it has all of the committee members contact information and the link to the presentations that all our wonderful principles gave over the few weeks. Um the BAC has not yet taken a vote on the budget and we strategically did that because we

027met prior to December and our retirement deadline is December 1st and we had um we felt that we want to wait till after that knowing that we might have some um impacts related to retirees on budget changes. So they are here tonight to join us to take a vote to hopefully um recommend the budget as well. Um, since the BAC met, there was really only, well, I'll call it three changes. One retiree announced their retirement is not being replaced. Um, the other retirees, I believe it was two people. Um, we moved them from their current salary to the middle of the teacher grid, anticipating the retiree would come in the middle of the grid at a master 6, so an M6 with a twoerson health plan. Um and then we did look um at the

028middle school unhoused and athletic transportation and adjusted those numbers accordingly after the BAC met. So those are the only changes that have happened um since they reviewed the budget. Um so before we dive in, I'm just going to walk you through the file that I provided to you. It was a PDF and if you notice it's all hyperl so you can just click on the section if you want to go to it and it um links to all of the presentations. So, first is the highle summary that shows the percent change. I did include the draft warrant with the wording um the way the budget would stand today as well as article number two for the CBA with the numbers that Melissa read before. Um it does have language regarding the trust funds, but I

029just put that in there for conversation um purposes. Next up is a salary listing. So, we reviewed by section and department. So CMS one night, EHS another night, facilities another night, and so each night um we had a salary listing to correspond with the budget. And so I've included all of those salary listings in there which lists every single person in the collective bargaining agreement or and I should say in the co-op budget, not the collective bargaining agreement. There are three collective bargaining agreements in the co-op. The teachers and the administrators are in active CBA. So in the budget they've stepped in accordance with the CBA. The paras are in at the current level because the increases reflected in war article number two. Anybody not in a union was budgeted a 3% increase. Next in

030the pack we list all the major changes and I'm sure our wonderful principles can walk through that after. Um and then for reference I input this uh the middle school bond schedule. I did add some details on revenue. Um but the intention of was to show most of the revenue sources remain constant but I wanted you to see how the the electrical program and the increased revenue that we will get from the tuition impacts taxation as well as the decrease in adequacy. So the department of ed released the projected adequacy. It's not final but projected. Um and it is lower than the current year. Um or I believe it was lower look. Um and then and then I also wanted to show how the grant revenue the the grant expense equals the grant revenue. So

031no impact on taxation. Um we also included details on the default. And lastly, we input the trust fund balances. So, I'm going to invite Paul Royale, who is our fierce leader of the BAC, to introduce himself and the team. >> So, I became the chair because I got to the meeting on time. [laughter] And even though I said, "Boy, somebody's probably been here before might be a little more qualified." And then I shut my mouth and another hand went up and the dye was cast. Um, a few words about the budget committee and what we saw over a number of weeks. Um, it was never a rubber stamp, but I have to say everybody that we quizzed about every figure demonstrated to I think at least the vast majority of the committee members that the

032homework was done properly. A lot of thought was put into it. When expertise was required and available from the outside, they invited it in. They were imaginative in how to swing numbers where they belonged, where they could be the most effective. Considering the inflation that we're dealing with in general terms, I think they did an excellent job. It felt like they were working for themselves almost in a in a selfish way for the community to make sure that they got the most that they could for the dollar. And they were so prepared. It was almost like they expected that somebody was going to come after them. And and I say that because it's important. It may sound a little humorous and a little rough, but that's what we all saw. The other thing that happened

033was there was no hesitation when we asked questions. They knew their facts. They came prepared. And I was impressed. I served on a number of boards, mostly private entities, sometimes old boys clubs, sometimes not so much. But I've never been quite so impressed by people that came to us with their presentations, how prepared they were, how they understood that we have a community that doesn't like high taxes. Not everybody enjoys paying for school. But they understood this is the future. You know these these kids that need more help too that are some of our most expensive children to educate that we are required to educate but those are going to be all the other kids' neighbors and it's important and they worked on it really well and really hard. I felt lazy sitting there because

034of that. I'm going to have the rest of the board introduce themselves and I welcome them to put in a few words about their experience on the budget committee. Why don't we start on the side of the room? [clears throat] >> I'm uh Rachel Jefferson from Stratam. I'm the vice chair. I have nothing else to add. [laughter] >> I'm Mary Belanger from Newfields. I am Aaron Steckler from Brentwood. >> Sarah Petus from Kensington. Uh Ben Adams from Exit. [clears throat] So that's what I've got to say tonight. Um, maybe a little long-winded for just the chair of the budget committee that became the chair of the committee by fault, but it's been a hell of a day, which is why I was late, and I apologize for that, too, while while I'm here. Glad I

035made it for it. So, with that, um, I know how things normally run here, but I think we're prepared to take a vote at this point, unless we want to go over some of the finer points of this. If there's anybody on the budget committee that wants to dig a little deeper. >> Sure. or if we or if we want to open. >> Oh, and Neil, please. >> Oh, >> everybody knows Neil, but [laughter] >> uh I just wanted to I was the board's rep to the budget advisor committee, non- voting, but I did go to every meeting and I thought Paul and all of you did a fabulous job and I you know, I echo everything you said about the administration and the team and it was very professional and it wasn't a rubber

036stamp. We scrubbed it, but it was extremely well done and you know, Molly put a ton of work in just and great work. So, thank you. I have nothing to add. And Paul, thank you. You you've been fabulous. >> And I just want to correct one thing that I had mentioned earlier. Um, when I said the tax impact on the adequacy change, it actually went up slightly, not down. Um, all the elementaryaries went down. So, that's why I >> And I was remiss in not thanking Molly properly. She was just terrific. So, even though I've been told I have to sit at the big kids table at the deliberative session, we're going to sit near you because that's how we're going to get into the nitty-gritty. Uh, you know, we asked a lot of questions

037and got all the answers that we liked and fine-tuned and got in there and Molly is right on top of it and just as well, just as quickly, just as succinctly as possible. Something I'm not really good at, but thank God you are. [laughter] So, thank you very much, Molly. >> Oh, no problem. Thanks. >> Good. I don't know if the board has questions at this point. >> So, I think when we let uh the board just to put some context, thank you everyone for all your work. Do and you guys are welcome to add anything you want as we're chatting, but uh I I do I got to go to a meeting and you guys were engaged asking good questions. So, I I really appreciate the work and um I know it goes unnoticed

038a lot by the public, but it's important and uh we appreciate and it gives us kind of confidence in the budget in the process, too. And it is a long process. You had what, four meetings over a number of Thursday nights. >> Um I think it was six. >> Six meetings. >> Yeah. >> Wow. Oh my goodness. Yes. [laughter] Yes, it was. Yes. Uh, so that that's a lot of time. >> They called in. I even >> was in a meeting when I was at home office. >> Yes. >> Everybody, >> you know, pulled it away. >> And you came tonight, too, which is another additional meeting. So, that's a lot of volunteer time. It's a lot of effort. We really appreciate it. Uh, Paul, I agree with what you said is that the the

039information is so much more organized as it, you know, I I joined the board a long time ago. It's just so much cleaner and easier to accessible uh access and understand. and it's still difficult to understand, but it's it's much more easy to access. Uh, so we appreciate that, Molly, in what you've done the work. Uh, I challenged the school board before we left last time to say, "Hey, take a look at the budget. It's all online. It's well organized." I got a couple questions. I thought that was really helpful. So, I know that we've had a chance to go through it and take a look, but I do want to open up. If you have particular questions about one of the budgets, you are welcome to ask now. I'll give the board an opportunity

040to take a look and see if you have any questions and as I'm giving a little bit of time to take a look at it. Administration, do do anybody want to make any comments about the budget and your experience? I mean, we met several times as administrative team to talk about our needs and coupling it with being fiscally responsible. It was a priority of ours of thinking what what do we really need to support our students and our staff while also I'm also a taxpayer in town and and being conscientious of that and realizing that there's there's uh a lot of needs in the community. We're not the only one. So, it's it's balancing all that and it's been very supportive and helpful and we appreciate the board support. >> Great. Thank you. Good. I

041see a lot of thumbs up, shaking heads like you agree. You all agree. Okay. Good. Good. Yeah. And and I I I think that it's important to show that I know that you you meet in the summer with your staffs and talk about this and start I mean it's just not it's a long process. >> So, >> and then in the public hearing we will bring um how it is divid divided up between the towns. So it is based off of enrollment the prior two years 50% weighted equally. So we will include that once we arrive at the final budget number we want to present. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> Yes. >> My questions are with the electrical program. Is that ready to roll for enrollment after this passes in the space? Are you

042is there accreditation process that needs to happen? What needs to happen to actually >> do this for the fall? So, um the space is is ready. Not it's not fully um filled with all the tools and all of that. We will wait until um until the results of the election happen. Um but but yes, um we have the space, we have a plan. Um we are actually going to enroll the program in during our enrollment season which is January. So, um we are hoping that we'll have a fully booked class and hopefully we don't have to make too many phone calls to parents in March. But, um but yeah, so we are we're going to plan on enrolling um with the caveat that if it doesn't pass that um and that you know that that

043we won't enroll. So, um, so you know, we'll have to hire a teacher and and stock the room, but all those plans are in place, just ready to push some buttons and, um, and order some things and write some grants and things like that. So, it really is just we're just in holding pattern until we know whether or not the community supports it. >> Awesome. It sounds smooth. I don't want to say easy, smooth. [laughter] Um, so I'm excited to see that. >> Thank you. >> When hopefully it passes. If I can speak to that as well, that was one of the things that came up mostly because it was a new item. >> Not particularly cheap. Comes under the heading of great thinking, great investment. I think we ended it with uh a laugh

044which I said if we don't do this, we're going to have to train more firemen because there's a shortage of electrical people and I think the demand will be high. And this is the one of the things that you know when exit waves its flag you know this one of the reasons people still come to live here is the schools are good and good stuff costs money sometimes but this is a real investment super congratulations and I hope we get through the rest of the way >> me too >> good observations that I made as I was going through the budget is the is it's not the addition and subtraction of but this the changes in resources to meet the needs uh particularly around personnel and so I appreciate that because that takes a lot

045longer to figure out but uh there's been a lot of where where there are retirements we look at how we fit back fill those positions or not or change people's roles to meet the needs of the student body. So that is I really appreciate that it's been a big deal. So and that helps us with the strategic plan and moving forward with that. So with that any other questions? I'd love to hear if the BAC does recommend this or not. Is that something? >> So, >> feeling pretty good about that, but I want to make sure it's formal. [laughter] >> I don't know. Do we need a motion? >> Yeah, typically typically we have a motion from the budget advisory committee. >> So, does someone from the budget advisory committee want to make a motion

046to recommend the budget? [snorts] >> Okay. So, then we just need a vote. We do need a vote and we should probably do a r uh roll call. Thank you very much. So, and I am >> 51. >> What was the What was the >> 51? >> Who who descended? >> I don't think that was a surprise. >> Okay. All right. This is fine. Okay. Thank you. No. >> Did someone not >> not recommend? So, >> yes. >> Okay. So, six total. >> so five to one. Six total. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> And I speak. >> Yeah. Yeah. Know that. Yeah. >> This is my first year on the budget committee and it's quite different than a town committee. I'm missing a select board meeting right now in Newfields and

047they're cutting the budget. uh had a rough year this year, but um my nay is I'm all for the SST program. My husband was in the original electric, so that's good when we need stuff done around the house. Um but I me personally um knowing what uh the situation is in towns, people have to give up things. I have to give up things in my house. I was supposed to have storm doors this year. I didn't get them because we needed we need a lawnmower. We don't have one yet. Um, but like the technology, I thought some things could be cut back there. He had two big expenses, maybe one. Um, a lot of people are going through a a rough time right now. So, that's why I voted no. >> I appreciate you standing

048up and talking. That's not easy. Uh, so thank you for sharing your thoughts. Good. All right. Next steps. We um >> they need the board to approve the budget that's been presented as well. >> Okay. So, [clears throat] um so we've heard them from the BAC. Anybody have any any other questions or anything? We ready to make a motion? >> Could I just ask a question? >> Yeah, you can. >> I mean, just because I'm kind of new and and and I don't really I wasn't here for a lot of the process, but >> you know, I just wanted to ask about the salaries. you know 1.288 million. So how is that broken down? Is is that you said backfill or the new teachers? Could anyone explain >> where the 1.288 million how that's going

049to be broken? >> Sure. And I'm you're looking at the major changes. >> What's that? Yes. Look at the major changes. >> So um anybody that's in a salary account is in what we call a 501 account. So if you're looking at the account code structure, the third section of the numbers, it's always a 50. And if it's a 501, it means it's salary. That could be anybody from the principal to a teacher to a paraprofessional to a custodian to food service, anybody that's getting paid salary. Um, so we have three collective bargaining agreements in the in the co-op. So we have the teacher, the administrator, and the paraprofessional. So the teachers and the administrators are an active CBA. So they would step per the CBA or receive whatever increase was agreed upon in the

050CBA. Um, and then the pairs are going to be in article number two. Anybody that's not in a union was budgeted at a 3% increase. So that salary line that you're seeing is every single salary in the cooperative and their associated um raise. >> Okay, that's fine. >> Does that answer? >> Yeah, it does. I I mean, you know, going back a little bit to your point, you know, people in town, you know, I was just at at the schoolboard meeting in my town of Kensington, and you know, you got a group of people that are sitting there screaming about how high their property taxes are and and um you know, they want to combine uh schools, they want to combine East Kingston and Kensington, and they they they talk about how, you know, the

051teachers the costs keep going up and up and up. um and they use somewhat false arguments conflating you what the cost per pupil is and not understand the fixed cost. But nonetheless, you know, if I have to go back and explain, you know, when people look at this and they say, well, 1.288 million and look at what the budget's going, I just want to kind of >> understand that a little bit better so that I can have a better response. >> Sure. And if you have questions on how many staff members we have, we all the salary listings are included in your pack. >> Okay, great. Mhm. >> And we did have one retiree that we did not back fill. I don't know if we want to talk about that at all. >> It's it

052was um it's a PE position. She's retiring. And when we looked at our numbers and met with our PE department, they feel like they can still safely hold um all of their sections at low numbers without replacing that position. So, >> and then one of the discussions we had was discussing how much the if you will the the the correct budget number increase was like if you look at what apples to apples are is it 3.9%. Is that right? The total budget increase. >> Um so it used to be until the retirees happened. So what's so if you look on page two? >> Yep. >> On your summary page. >> Yep. >> For the operating budget fund 10, >> right? >> It went down to 3.67. So, so the way we one of my observations

053was if you look at just inflation generally, it's 3%. AC and you can't escape it. It's everywhere. So, three 3.67 is a pretty remarkable result, especially if you want to keep a competitive school district. I mean, that's it really was impressive to me how how they were able to pull that off. And I think your instructions were 3.9 or four. >> We we tried to come in below four. Between three and four was what we were trying overall budget. So they actually beat your expectation. >> Correct. They did >> that is exceptionally tough to do. So for the very reason people are you know correctly concerned about cost that's all you know I agree with you life is expensive but if [snorts] you want to you know this is a discussion of value versus cost

054and we have great value here if you got to keep competitive. Right. >> So anyway that's the way I mean it's a big number. We have a $76 million number. So a million and change on 76. >> Right. Right. But then you add in the health and dental so that you know nothing I mean you can't can't get away without paying for that. So right [snorts] >> and so Neil is correct. It was 3.9 when we met and that's why we strategically held off the vote to tonight. >> Okay. And [snorts] one last question. If it goes to let's say it doesn't pass and it goes to default >> then what happens to you have to make cuts or or programs what happens then? >> Yes. So we will have to look at at um

055the whole school again. So I do have details on the default. So your default is always the current year budget plus or minus mandatory expenses or required by law. So we do have the default calculation in year. Um things even if we have a contract like for student we have a contract with but it was not a standalone item on the ballot. So that increase cannot be included but yet we we still need to get the the students to school. So we will have to take a step back and really look at everything again to make sure that we can meet the needs of all students. >> You look at those fixed costs too. >> Uh big part of that argument u going to default when you have all these mandatory expenses. You can't run

056away from bonds, you can't run away from contracts, etc., etc. When you look at the changes to the rest of the budget, which was flexible to some extent, the changes are almost tiny, which really speaks to the great job that they did. And one of the things having to do with, you know, purchasing new servers and bringing our our own internal technology rather than teaching technology, that's one of those things that you invest in so you don't get sued. Um, so it's almost mandatory in this day and age that you do that. And a lot of the questions we asked, um, I'm going to say we'd all like to spend as much money as possible in education and pretend money was really not important. That's that's just not the case. So, as chair, I try

057to think all the time of being in the defensive position. How would I defend this cost increase? because I know people are struggling in a lot of cases. You know, exer has a lot of economically disadvantaged folks. We have a big middle class. We have upper class. Every town has its different demographics. So, you know, we did try to think of the economically disadvantaged people as well as the people that can, you know, write checks all day long. And I think they made some great, you know, investments. I hope this electrical um thing at SST is part of a flagship start because that's the way things are going. We want to talk about value in the community. It's it's hopefully going to go and there'll be more of it. So, um, I I just wanted

058to give you some reassurance that the budget committee was always keeping that in mind and you're welcome to contact me about any specifics as well. >> I appreciate that. Um, what part of the budget is discretionary and what part is fixed? I mean, what what in the pie what part of the expenses can you not change? she'd probably be be better at percentages, but those things that we're mostly contracted to or signed agreements to, such as, you know, bonds and teacher salaries and things like that. And and I'm going to tell you just a from a personal perspective, >> when we begin to cut some things for kids as part of their school experience, and I'm not talking about just the touchyfey stuff. I think teachers become even more important. Yeah. >> And uh unfortunately

059in some communities teachers because they're easy to pick out and they have, you know, salaries that are round numbers that are easy to add up together and make cuts. That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen >> to me. U but I welcome your uh >> I appreciate that. I just want to become educated myself. I don't want to be a rubber stamp. I want to really uh >> Exactly. Right. >> Right. Exactly. >> Yeah. Yeah. And >> yeah, and I've always supported the schools and so >> Exactly. >> I actually had an extra incentive not to be a rubber stamp, >> right? >> Because I didn't want people in the community where I'm like the bartender, you know, everybody knows the bartender, but I don't know everybody else, >> right? >> But I probably

060have a reputation for standing up for the school budgets. So it was incumbent upon me personally as I did my job for the community to make sure that I I wasn't a rubber stamp. So and I think the the board will attest to the fact meetings sometimes run a little longer than they had to probably because of me. >> Great. Thank you. >> Can I just can I just add something and I don't want to it's Ben Adams here. Um I don't want to speak out of turn. Others are master of the numbers in a way that I never have been. Um but my perception from going through the meetings was that by far the driver of the cost increases was the cost of increasing health benefits which are obligated. And so um in the

061event that we are in a position of having to go with the default budget the the cost increases cannot be offset and so they're going to have to come from pretty drastic cuts that are not it's not going to be pretty. So that was my perception. I will leave the budget makers to correct me as necessary, but I just to give you a feel for far and away it was the healthcare benefits. >> Molly, what was that number for the healthcare? You showed us at a prior meeting was mid- teens to lower teens, right? >> So, it was a different per plan and it ranged anywhere between almost 12% and 20%. >> Right. So, you you take this enormous increase in one of your biggest budget items and you still come in at 3.67%. Right.

062>> That's great. Anyway, [snorts] >> Molly, do you know that the the percentage of con, you know, obligation versus, >> you know, I didn't put that graph in here. So, um, in other districts, I've done a graph and it I didn't call it contractual because, um, even the number of staff members we have could fluctuate. So, um, I did it and said like this is salary, this is health um, and dental, uh, bonds or maintenance and facilities. Um, I can definitely prepare something like that for the public hearing. >> Okay. Yeah, I think that might be helpful. >> Yes, Amy. >> Molly, can you explain um on the default budget page, the amount for the title, IDA, and other grants is less in the default budget versus the proposed. Can you explain why that? >>

063So, um, [snorts] this is the first year that we are appropriating the grants, which we've talked about, u many times. And so the guidance that we had from Gordon Graham, our attorney, was that we could use the FY25, so last year's actual grant spend as the basis for our default. And so in the SAU, we always budgeted $4 million for grants because you have to have the appropriation to spend the appropriation, but or to spend the money, I should say. And then revenue equals expense. So money, no money raised in taxation. So, I didn't quite think we were going to get the $4 million because grant money has been going down. So, I said, "Okay, let's take the let's scale it back to 3.5 and distribute accordingly to the percentage that people spent last year."

064And so, the the intention is to leave money in or leave room in case we are to receive more grant money. So, in order to spend the money, we have to have the appropriation. So, if we set the default equal to the proposed, we would set it exactly to what we had spent last year. So then where did you come up with the number for the proposed of 1.6 million? >> So that was $3.5 million divided by to all the districts based off the percentage that they spent. So all the districts really spent almost $2.8 million, but we appropriated through we proposed appropriating 3.5 across all the districts to leave room in case we receive additional grant money. >> Okay. Well, I'm I'm just a little concerned that if the default budget pass, like if

065the proposed budget fails and we end up with the default budget and we end up with additional grant money, you won't be able to spend it because you didn't raise an appropriate the higher number. >> That is correct. And so, and so we have had conversations and this is something I'm still looking into. I did check with our auditors and if we do, their recommendation is that if we do receive additional grant money that we could hold a public hearing to accept and expend the money as long as we had on the ballot the RSA to authorize us to do so. I have searched every warrant since the the start of the cooperate the start of the cooperative district and I cannot find where we approved that and I'm still searching for it. >> Okay.

066So, are we going to put that on so we can approve it? So, it is something I've been researching and um I'm still looking to see it. Not all of the annual reports have all of the cooperative warrants on it. So, it's something I'm still looking into. >> We can talk offline. I'm just concerned that that number is not high enough. I would rather have it be the same because we did the same for the uh um like food service like if food service were to go up >> like um if she were to tell you that she because of the cost of um supplies and labor the food service needs to go up. the proposed and the default would be the same because that's what it's going to cost. It's offsetting revenue. So, I

067think if you put 1.6 million in the default for grants, you would be okay because you're saying I think I'm going to get that >> and you have an offsetting revenue. So, I'm just concerned that we will we'll be short $300,000 >> and and we can certainly >> the only risk would be is if we do receive more grant money right now, [cough and clears throat] we would need hopefully I can find the warrant article that authorizes us to have the public hearing. We just haven't found that yet. >> Yeah. So that's why I think if you have the it higher when you vote on it, you might not have to worry about that. >> So what's the recommendation for it? Because because approving this would would not allow us to change that number. >>

068Well, you could change it at the public hearing because tonight you're voting on a number, but you still have the public hearing. So you have one more bite at the apple. >> Okay. Yeah. Fair. So we'd want to know what that is. Yeah. It would just be my recommendation to increase it up to be the same and then the offsetting revenue. So, it would be no impact on the on the taxation. It would just be a higher number. >> It's good to have Amy on the team. >> Yeah. >> So, thank you for that. All right. Uh any any other questions? Eric, you feeling more positive about >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, thank you for everyone's patience. Yeah. No, that's >> longer than me, but I just want to kind of understand you where things

069are coming from so I can >> tell my town, you know, what the story is and why the budget's going up. >> Yeah, it >> things going up are difficult. We want to have the confidence that we can address that and we will work on that over the next couple months as we get closer to the public. But for tonight, we want to have the confidence with ourselves to make a good vote. So, appreciate those. All right. With that, I think we had a lot of discussion, but I' I'd like to uh would anybody like to make a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the budget presented. >> Excellent. >> I'll second. >> Great. Thank you. Uh any other discussion before we go in a vote? All right. Given the symptoms, I'd like

070to do a roll call. So, would you >> I >> All right. Thank you. Thank you for the discussion. Uh thank you BAC committee. Appreciate all of your input. >> I think the BAC we would just want to have if they recommend the collective bargaining agreement as well. >> Okay. So Oh, so they they do that also. >> And yeah, I looked back on prior warn articles and they did do that in prior warn articles. >> Do they? Okay. I don't remember. >> And it does say it on the >> Does it say it? >> Oh, it does. >> Yeah. And I copied it right from the last time they did. >> Okay. All right. So, why don't why don't we do those earlier? >> Yep. Yep. And that's what was um in the pack

071>> right here. So if anyone from the BAC wants to make a motion like question >> here, I I see the numbers. >> So, we don't ever see what the agreement is. >> They they didn't they didn't see it because you the first time you guys saw it was tonight as well. So Melissa had presented it earlier. >> Yeah. And typically as a just just for like general process, at least the way I've seen it done on all boards, um Don and I negotiated the agreement. The rest of the board really doesn't have any say in the agreement at all. Um they put us in charge of like any changes that we've made. For example, a definition we made or a percent change, we can't change it. Um it's an agreed negotiation process. So by

072the time we've decided it and bring it to this board, it's, you know, it's either for them to approve or not approve, but we can't make changes. >> Yeah. I >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So I I feel confident I can say I I feel comfortable not having them vote on that. >> We can Yeah, we can we can remove it. >> It's just Yeah. It's just putting you guys in a bad position because they haven't seen anything. They haven't been pre the meetings. I don't >> Yeah, we can we can definitely remove it. >> Okay. I I I Yeah, I think that's >> I think as a committee they should do it, but I don't know that it needs to happen in front of this board. >> I just don't think we did last year

073on the teachers one. That's why I was confused. >> Yeah, I don't remember. >> I think if the warrant article reads that it's approved by this board and the budget advisory committee, then it should be I think it should be a motion of that committee. >> Well, this was just a draft. >> Yeah. Oh, so if you could change the wording, >> I can I can change the wording >> and just say it's approved by the school board. >> Correct. >> Yeah. I think it would put him in a bad decision without having >> like they did with the six meetings. >> Yeah. I can easily just have it approved by the school board on that. >> Yeah. To me, I feel more so so what the with what we're talking about is saying well

074the BAC um with the collective bargaining agreement I I feel like you you guys haven't seen that and you haven't been to the meeting. So to ask you to vote >> for that I think is is probably a >> not yeah >> put them in a difficult position. >> So I'd like to bypass that if possible and if you guys disagree let me know. But >> I don't have I don't have a problem with this. I just I don't know logistically we're going to be asked this later. >> No no. >> So I'll just strike the wording on article two and it will just appear in article one. Okay, >> sounds good. >> Good. >> I'm just I'm just looking at uh so that would be fine with these two, right? We don't need that

075on these. >> Correct. No. >> Yeah. Okay. We'll remove all that language. >> Okay. All right. Perfect. We are good. All right. Good to go. >> So, that is everything I have on the budget. >> Excellent. All right. Thank you guys again. Appreciate your your time. Uh it is uh so before we move on, it's six it's beyond the 30 minutes. So I'm going to close public input and then the administrator stay. >> Um I would like Drew and T they probably want to stay in for non-public. >> I know it's a long meeting but I think it's really important information you should have. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> But not me. No, all of you. >> Yeah, [laughter] sorry. >> Stay for moral support. >> Of course. >> Sorry, I'm upset. >> Looks like

076somebody has detention. >> So, the only other thing that I would ask with the board is I we did put to the two word articles you had last year, both on the turf and the capital improvement. >> Yeah, I think we should both >> on that last page we gave you. I met with um uh Dr. Bennett for special education and I also met with um our director of uh facilities um Brian Sans to get a goal. >> So, that was what we put on that last sheet. So the capital reserve the the the function of that is is really for any reconstruction architectural but we've been setting it aside for the roof replacement. >> So we put a goal of $1.3 million. So if we got to that then that would not come out

077of our budget. It would come out of this trust fund when we have to replace that roof. Uh special education we've had to increase it because right now if a a student is outplaced at about the highest we pay about $275,000 with transportation for out of district placement. So right now that where we're at with 579,000 that's that's uh cover about two students, you know, so we want to have a threshold if we had to go beyond that. Your maintenance fund can be any type of system that could have a failure that we didn't budget for. So boilers, your your electrical, anything like that. Uh again the we would project 750,000 if there was a major catastrophe because of the size of here or also our middle school or our um uh edo school of

078technology and then our synthetic turf replacement as that goes up the u projection 750,000. So we're in pretty good shape with both our special ed trust fund and maintenance fund. So, we just put those two on here and wanted to open up to the board whether you wanted to allocate any money to those other funds. And if so, what would be the dollar figure that you'd want to allocate into either your maintenance fund and into your special education trust fund? >> Would that be a separate warrant article? >> Yep. So, they would be listed that way. The other thing that this board has to decide is how we want to list those because if you remember your operating budget always goes first and then your teacher contracts have to be second and then whatever warrant

079articles are listed in a numerical order that is what goes in based on the the what you have left over in your unreserved trust balance. So if you've only got $100,000 and you've earmarked that for your capital reserve fund only that one gets funded. You know even if the other one's approved but we only have $100,000 at the end of the year and we don't project that but that's how it would go. So, we'd hope we'd have enough to be able to fund all of the different um you know, reserves that we have, but I also just want to remind the board if of how we'd want to strategically place them. >> Mhm. >> And I would say your capital reserve because that's the farthest we're away and it is for the roof and that's

080a big cost. And then your tariff is the second furthest one away. So, I would recommend that those stay in the order. But, if you want to add special education or if you want to add maintenance to that, um those should come in at, you know, article five and article six. Um, and then we would work if we do need to do a warrant article for the public hearing if if funds come in. So, that would be something that we'll we'll research to be able to bring to you uh for the public hearing. >> Turn over to you, Bill. And Erin's >> All right. Good. Yeah. >> I like it as is. I like not asking to fund too many accounts. Even though it's not coming out of taxation, I still think the longer the

081list of ask, the more it looks visually when people are going to vote. >> And I like the order that they're in. also the priorities. >> So what is the effect if we don't put them on? What what does that do? >> We just don't fund them. So it stays there >> and and there's enough time. >> Yeah. I mean I I would agree with Aaron at this point that we're pretty healthy in that way unless a major catastrophe comes. U but again I think you're in a good spot with how you've been doing it and as you get your capital reserve or your your synthetic turf then you may look to add to a different uh fund. So >> but we we have enough time enough enough enough enough squish in the but enough

082flexibility in the budget that given that this the time we have to worry about those expenditures we'll be able to accumulate in a thoughtful way the reserves we need. Yeah, I think that's where we project every, you know, every meeting you're seeing where our unreserved fund balance would would project towards June. >> Yep. The only way to get money in it is to do it this March. So, if you wanted to put more money in the special ed trust fund, now is the time to make the decision. You can't put it in later. >> But it sounds like we're still in a good spot. >> Yeah. I think from what we have, if we have a student that moves in and we end up using $250,000 this year, next year when we come to this

083war, we're going to want to replenish it. Yeah. I think we have a pretty good strategy on how to ensure that students are staying in district. Correct. So that that makes me feel a little bit better about that fund. >> What was the current maintenance fund balance? >> It's on the very back page. >> Oh, 575. >> So you'll have the current balance and then the goal. That was something we discussed to get you a goal of where we should we project at. Okay. [snorts] >> Okay. So, how do people feel? Anything else that we should >> I think Erin's right. I mean, we >> Yeah, >> thing things are tight, >> right? I think that's true. And you feel comfortable with that, right? >> Yeah. I mean the work we we do that work

084all the time if we've got how we can pay for it within our our budget you even if it's unanticipated and then we will ask to use the trust fund if if we feel necessary >> and and the roof and the track those are far enough out right >> the roof yes it's far enough out that we'll keep doing that >> and the track the >> we just did the track >> yeah track track's not even our periphery what would be the next >> we said turf I'm sorry >> turf and then after the turf will be the tennis courts [laughter] so be coming at some point with the tennis courts to to uh to improve those >> yeah I I think Aaron's right. >> Yeah. >> My only hesitation is the longer we wait,

085the more expensive they're going to be. So, at some point, we might look at increasing the goals for the savings. >> That's Yeah, true. That makes >> because that um the roof estimate is going to be pretty old. >> Yeah, that that was current. So, Brian did a really good job. >> Oh, we did. I thought that was still Rusty's from two years ago. Oh, good. So, Brian dug in and uh gave me, you know, different numbers. So, you know, restoration of the roof was right now would be about 723,000. Full re roof is 1.3. So, that's why we put 1.3 knowing inflation. >> I remember Rusty coming to a meeting, I think two years ago, saying it's 4 acres of roof. [laughter] >> So, that is okay. Brian's training and his efficiencies will look

086a little bit differently than previous directors of how we could do things in a more costefficient manner. >> Okay. Thanks. And also, if we're short, say say $100,000, you could put that in the operating budget to get you to that extra money if you don't have all of it in the trust fund. Correct. [clears throat] >> All right. So, uh, I look for a motion to, uh, accept the warrant articles as written. >> So, be moved. Excellent. Uh, I can second that. Uh, all those in favor, we'll do a roll call again. Uh if any other discussion >> I >> thank you very much. >> Thank you Molly. Um, so we have on here, as you remember from last meeting, you know, principal Navy and our director of curriculum instruction here at Exit High School,

087uh, Lyall Hamill and our chief academic officer, Jill Lizier, talked about the ED 306s and the need to change our graduation requirements because be very important for the board to make a decision tonight. And we also have it in policy so we can approve it there. Um but just wanted to give you a chance for further discussion because we will need to put the graduation requirements into our program of studies which we're currently looking at. So students know uh especially students coming in nth grade, what will be required for them and how they can choose their classes here. So, didn't know if there was any other discussion from what you heard from the last meeting to hear and whether you want to u make a motion to accept those policies as written here um or

088if you want to wait during the policy time um to accept them because we did write them as as it being accepted in those policies. >> Why don't we do it? Why don't we do it during the policy? Great. >> Yeah. But that was that was very helpful to get additional information and and the presentation last time was well done. >> Great. Um, so I just want to highlight um, so we've been working with u, we're very fortunate with Dean Kle who's had experience working in you know theaters, music, auditoriums all all around New England. Um, so he's a brings a vast wealth of knowledge. The audio uh, at CMS has not been upgraded since it was built. So it is very uh, behind the times. Uh, we were able to he was able to

089work with a company to get us an audio upgrade Nexio system which is a high quality. Uh so we were able to purchase that in this year's budget with a little bit extending out into next year's budget. Uh because of the partnership that that uh Mr. Kle has with uh MFI um they they have other equipment as um Mr. Kle owned his own company for about 25 years of audio equipment and he had sold it to to um MFI instead of selling it to him. MFI with with Mr. Kle is willing to donate close to $45,000 worth of equipment to the cooperative middle school, uh, Exit High School, and then there'll be some small pieces for East Kingston and Kensington based on the needs that they have. As you know, they go to all of

090our our schoolboard meetings and, uh, our audio upgrades, you know, mics, uh, recording, things of that nature, but also as we're starting to do school plays and performances to be able to project and so that people can hear it better. So, I just wanted to highlight that to you. We'll have to do it during our public hearing because of our policy and I included that policy with you because it's over $20,000. We have to do a public hearing to accept that donation. Um, and I'll pull out the pieces for East Kingston and Kensington, but that will only be under 2,000. So, we don't need to have a public hearing on that per our policy. But I just want to make you aware that, you know, we're we're fortunate and we're working on that. But I

091do have an itemized list of everything that we'll be getting that I'll be able to to share with the board. But I just didn't want I wanted to open up for any questions um that that anybody would have about you know the donation where it's coming from and the purpose. So that is why it's on the agenda for today. >> I don't know if this you guys ask question but it's great. It's great news. That's really >> that's awesome. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um want to give you strategic planning update. You'll get a full presentation on the 26th uh at joint board. Um but we are finally got it to a really good place. So, I want to just commend the committee uh that's been working on it. It's been both staff throughout our buildings

092and then uh school board members um you know from all of our different school boards. So, we're able to to write the 13 different metrics that look at traditional uh scoring and also look at some non-traditional scoring. Um so, traditional scoring would be our our state uh performance on our state testing, our SAT at the high school. Non-traditional would be number of students that are taking dual enrollment classes, ELOs's, uh internships. Uh so we've actually built some really nice metrics in those numbers. Um I won't be the only one presenting on the 26th. Each committee member is going to present something and why they feel it was important and how we got to that. And I'll be able to show you the forward- facing platform. Um and I'll also be able to show you the

093metrics that we use. So you'll see a document in the 26 called KPIs. Those are key performance indicators and that what we're looking to measure ourself. There's a lot of conversation and on Thursday we have our um administrators. they'll give their last time to give us feedback because as you know I asked you to pause a little bit and thank you for allowing us to pause because I think we got really good work by pausing and taking more time to get their their um their last feedback on what we're presenting. Um and and with that um you'll get to see the whole thing and then every June is when it will be updated and people like well why are you doing it in June? Well, we don't get our state testing scores for our SAS.

094And then part of our uh metrics is a staff wellness survey and also a staff um uh professional learning survey. So, are we providing the the professional learning that our staff wants throughout? And we built three questions on that. We also built five questions on staff wellness. Do they feel valued? Do they feel important and empowered in in our district? So, we're working with IBIS and Qualrex to make those questions and so that they're not biased and and that they are um efficient and have validity so that year-over-year we can rank ourselves. So, I'll go into greater depth, but I just wanted to provide this board because we didn't have a board rep so that you were in the in the in the know as the other boards and we've been updating each board in

095our in our December board meetings. I'll open it up if anybody has any question to to the work that that's there or give you the full surprise on January 26th. >> Yeah. forward to seeing on January 26. It'll be great. [laughter] >> Um, also wanted to update, we met with the report card committee. Um, so it was a great meeting. Uh, we met back on December 5th. Um, chief academic officer uh, Jill Lizier or myself to help facilitate that conversation. We had about 40 staff members. So we had administrators and this was the great thing is that Dr. Carr was there, Miss Nevie was there even though we were looking at 8 K8 reporting. So they were giving their feedback. they were part of the facilitation and then we had uh teachers from all of

096our schools that were there and so we invited teachers that were uh part of the union so that we had union say we had specialists we had special educators and we had classroom teachers to really dig in. So the first thing we did is really what's the purpose of a report card? What are we trying to get to? What's the message? You know is our language good? Uh so we broke that down and we were able to answer questions. So we kind of grounded our work and looked back at what we were trying to do with with a a competency based report card. Um, and then we talked about how does that impact students, how does that impact parents, and how does it impact teachers? You know, the time associated with it. Is it is

097it measuring what we're trying to measure and is the wording able to get there? So, we know there's some professional learning we have to provide to parents. We know that there's professional learning that we have to provide to our teachers as well as we continue to advance on this. Um, so we went through about a three and a half hour process of getting to there. And the last thing we did is we wrote survey questions that will go out in February. So, we're going to get parent feedback and we'll get teacher feedback on a report card. Those questions were generated by that group um given to chief academic officer Lizzier. And again, Qualex is going to take those questions. We're going to narrow it down to about five to seven that are common. A lot

098of the questions we were able to look at, but we're going to take that right out so that we don't have any bias in those questions and Qual will write them and then they will get all the information, synthesize that information and give it back to us of what the survey results came. So, it is really a non-biased uh approach and that we're going to see those results. So, we'll put those those um questions will go out by beginning the first of the year. They'll get that back to us. Our schools will put them out to their parents and communities uh in February. Results will come back in. We'll meet together as a committee uh on the on March. In March, we'll look at those survey questions and then what's the next steps we have

099to do with that and then what's the next steps with our report card because we had some uh open-ended things that we need to work on. Our goal is that in May we'd come with you that this is what our report card is going to look like and here's the other steps that we need to do with that. And I know Principal Baristo has been doing some uh meetings with parents to keep them as informed as possible. Um and he'll give us a little update on alma start it and then he'll he'll be able to give a little bit more of that. But I didn't I just wanted to continue that conversation because it's been something that we started in September of where we're at and you know this is where we're at you know

100today. So again, I asked for committees to get together, conversations to happen, and that's been that's been ongoing. >> This is great. I I and if anybody else wants to comment, but I think keeping us updated because I think this is where we get a lot of feedback, parental feedback that will say, "Hey, this is happening, that's happening. We hear a lot about that." So having us updated is really helpful. >> Thank you. Um, >> is Qualrix the firm that we contracted with to look over our communications >> originally? Yes. Yep. >> Yep. So they did that work with us to to get questions and worked with that committee. Correct. >> And when we're looking at the new report cards, are we taking into consideration the new reporting system so that we can be working

101>> Yes. >> within their limitations on reporting. >> Yeah. So I wish you know uh Jason Hills was still here to comment on that because he's really running that committee. But that is a huge thing that we heard from the committee and a lot of questions that we don't want to be where we're at today with with our current uh school information system. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. So the last part in you know this affects uh CMS in the report card. As you know, we worked we've been working since November 2024 on uh you know, a compy based report card that shifted, you know, this year to um to cooperative middle school and we have had many meetings of what it wanted to look like. We again the big part

102is that the 8020 so 80 for summitive assessments and 20 for formative assessments that wasn't calculating. Uh and they said we built you this report card and we also wanted to carry over to the overall compy grade on the report card. They totally misfired on that. um and we've called them to the carpet multiple times. Uh we were able to get the 8020 for the um in the competency, but it's not pulling over to your final grade. So, we've had to do some maneuvering for uh you know, trimester 1 to be able to do that internally. And I know Drew will come back here in February with um Karen Berg to talk about the the solution. We've had many calls with Almond. They're not going to change it. They said at this point that there

103is not a need nationwide to change the report card and how we're asking. Um I had a meeting today said I want a refund because you're not you're not meeting the demands of our contract. They said we are meeting the demands of your contract. We'd like to if you want to you can take it further in litigation. Um, I said instead of litigating, what I'd ask is because we're sh switching over from one uh school information system to the next that I'd ask that you give us a sixmonth uh free of cost that we have access to our files. Typically, in most turnovers, you get about two months. Um, and they said yes. So, we will have the data for six months, which is really important for us to do end of year reporting and

104beginning of the year reporting without having to pay for it. So although we're not getting a refund and we know that the report card is not going to be fixed for this year, this highlights why we changed school information systems um but I did get it in writing. So we'll have it till uh December 31st, January 2026, which will uh allow our technology department to make sure that all of our reporting is accurate because that is how we get funded by the state in October. So, just wanted to give you that update and then Drew will be prepared to work u in our February meeting to say here's what trimester 2 report card will look like as we'll have a little bit of nuances that hopefully will be read a little bit better for parents.

105Um, and he'll be prepared to to to take questions at that meeting. >> Well, what if I have questions now? [laughter] >> You can definitely ask. I don't know if there's a bunch that I will I can answer. >> Um, when are the trimester 2 report cards due out? uh March 19th, somewhere in that realm. Because what I am hoping for is that if they're not going to be accurately printed automatically that we're doing a manual override so that we're getting accurate report cards because I have a middle schooler who had a fantastic report card but I don't actually know >> what his actual like I feel like I have no idea what my kids's grades are because we got the email from you and then two weeks later we got the report cards and

106it's like a great job buddy like we we really need to either withhold until they can be accurate or override them manually. And I know it's a ton of work, but we can't just say for the rest of the year the next two report cards, these are wrong. Here you go. Like it it's it's not acceptable. >> We're going to be running through all the options. I don't have anything to tell you right this minute because this is pretty new news. >> Um we were hoping that they would be able to fix it. Um >> but if we're not their customers anymore, I think we know that they're not going to do anything for us that they don't have to do. Yeah, they they they flat out told me they're not going to fix it

107this year, so we're going to have to do some manual overrides. Um I'll ask, you know, if it's okay if the board allowed Jill to come on up and just talk because she's doing some work around. I know she's been up at night and we got the email from her the other night at like I don't know, really early in the morning about what she's been thinking. So Jill, if you want to just kind of share what you've been working on. I don't want to talk too much about just like the future plans for the overall grade because I know you guys are thinking about that piece, but I just really want to make it clear to the public and to caregivers right now. But the grades that are in like the assignment grades and

108the competency grades and in the report card all down all those grades except for the grade in the black, they're all right. They are all correct. So all of those grades are representing 80% summitative, 20% formative. And so um I just want to so we need we'll make sure that that's really clear. Um those are really accurate feedback. Um those are really accurate right now and they've been accurate since October. But that's I'm really glad you're sharing that. If there's still confusion over that, we want to make sure that there is some really accurate information out there. Um, and we'll make sure that that is that's clear to to families. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? >> So many things, but I I will try to wait till February. >> Thank you. >> And Aaron,

109I'm happy to sit down and talk with you oneon one if you want to talk. >> I mean, it's not specifically about my kiddo. It's about the community needing to have >> accurate grading on our report cards. >> I get that. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Sorry, I wish it was better news. >> It will be next year when we're sitting here. >> Yes. >> Yeah. And I think the work that report card committee will represent the community of what we're looking for. So I think it's going hand inand to build us exactly what what we hear from all of our stakeholders. >> Interesting. I think that when there's a change to the report cards, the board has to approve it. >> Correct. So that's why it's so important that we we know what's going

110on correct and are in agreement so we don't have what's happening. >> We'll keep updating you after every meeting and then we'll bring you our our full philosophy in May to this board but also our elementary schools if there are any changes there because that was we're trying to be more consistent K8 with our language our metrics our scoring that was really imparent that that was the number one thing that our language should be consistent K8. So yeah >> good thank you. All right, we'll move on to financial report. >> Sure. Included in your board pack is a current year financial. Um I just want to remind everyone the uh section in the blue is changes from the prior month. Um and then the section in the green, it's not that we don't have revenue.

111The revenue is different than that's a revenue different than planned. So as the tax rates were just set at this point in time when this financial was prepared, we didn't have any revenue different than planned. Um, did anyone have any questions on any of the items in your board pack? We did list in detail what the additional expenses were or um if it was a reduction specifically for an unfilled position in one of um the areas. >> Excellent. Amy >> Molly, is it possible for for next month's meeting? I know that you don't have revenue higher than planned, but is there a way to see the estimated revenue used to set the tax rate? what we've received year to date and whether or not we're going to be short or over because at the end

112when we're looking at what the fund balance is, it would be nice to know where we're short in revenue to offset any extra we have um in expenditures like it's a it's a complete picture. >> Sure. Yes. So um the revenues are reported on what's called the MS24 report. Um and so I can definitely download that report to show the different sources of revenue um and then where we're at and yeah in relation to that. Yeah, I I know what the 24th I would just like to be able to see it on the financial statement every month where we're at. Even though I know we were waiting for the tax rates to be set, we still get money in. We still anticipate revenue from SST. What did we what do we expect for SST's revenue?

113What are we getting in tuition? Are we short because someone's not sending the kids or, you know, that's the kind of thing I'd like to see every month. And then also food service. If we could get a food service financial statement every month, that would be great as well. >> Okay. Yeah, we can definitely work on that. Yeah. >> Thank you. That's a good addition. Any other questions from Molly? >> Perfect. We'll we'll uh we will continue to move on to committee reports, superintendent evaluation. So, we're going to hear more about that in January. Correct. >> Uh so, I will leave it to to [clears throat] that time. Uh we have met a couple times. >> Uh and everything seems to be on track. We're good there. >> Uh policy committee. Brian is not here

114unfortunately. So, he did send us an email. >> He did. Yeah, I think I can get that. >> Heather, thank you for the summaries of the policies. Are you doing that? >> Oh, okay. >> All right. So, first Bri So, Brian sent an email uh tonight. He said he was not able to make it. uh that came in before we entered the meeting. So, he did want to point out a couple things. First was on the uhou of the um of the for the van. He just wanted to make the the change for uh to district activities rather than school activities. So, I was looking here before to see if that was >> Is that noted? >> That's going to be under new business. >> So, we'll discuss that or old business, I think. >>

115Okay. Okay. So we'll we'll discuss that after. So just a heads up on that. >> Uh >> guess policy things were number three only. >> Yeah. >> All right. So uh just he so he's reporting out on his committee work um and he states the policy changes from rule 306 updates were uh preceded by Jill Lazir's presentation last month. I remember we saw we got we were able to see that. So they had to do with the curriculum proposed changes uh change to be eh uh pritori priatorizing residents of the district allow the caregivers of students and school employees and public comments generated the most discussion during the policy committees. Uh overall the committee was supportive of the change and uh there were some questions on enforcement but they were positive about the change to

116be DH. So any questions about that? That is fresh off his email. But uh given what the context that we had last week last meeting with Jill and uh all the summaries and stuff I I feel confident that that is a good motion. We appreciate Brian taking the time to write that in. So, a lot of lot of um policies. Um there's this is 134 137 page. >> Yeah. So, thank you. >> Sharon Gage putting this together. So, she keeps keeps it all organized. So, >> yeah. So, I uh I assume that everyone had a chance to read. I spent some time good time reading it and >> changes. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, does anybody have any changes? Okay. Policy committee does a great job of going through this. So I feel really confident that

117we're moving forward. So I would look for a motion to accept all the >> I'll make a motion to accept the 14 policies with changes and to withdraw the three policies. >> Ready? >> I will second. >> Great. Um G just again given the amount I'm going to ask for just a roll call. So Amy, do you mind starting us off? >> I I >> I >> All right. Thank you. team. Appreciate that. >> Moving up to the uh SST. Were there any Did you guys meet? >> We didn't. >> Okay. >> You have your in the in the packet. You've got a report and [snorts] as well as the day after our last meeting, you had to send sent us an email about the assessment from the New Hampshire Department of Education and that's

118in your packet as well. >> Yeah. Well, that was great. Thank you. Um I ju I mean I think that um when the state the state comes in every year and does um a review of um our programs and ensures that we are offering high quality CTE for all of our students in our region and um they do a thorough job and it is wonderful to have conversations with them to see um how well we're doing And um you know I'm just really proud of the work that we do. I'm really proud of the work that my teachers do and um I think you can see it reflected in that report from the state. They're always very impressed with what's happening at SST. So I appreciate the time they give and the time that my

119teachers take to prepare for their visit. But it is a it's a really good process to go through and that we see them every year that this that's fairly new practice and I really appreciate that work from the DOE because that doesn't it that's not always the kind of relationship schools have the department of ed and it's super collaborative and um so I'm really I'm really happy about that. So um and if you ever have any questions about what's in the report uh feel free to give me a give me a jingle. >> Great. Well, thank you for including it. Appreciate that. And uh yeah, at least from where I sit, I continue to hear such great things about SST. So appreciate the work over there. I know we all get that feedback. So appreciate

120it. Safety and security task force. >> We don't have another meeting scheduled. I don't >> go February. >> Yeah. I think so. I like that this is named task force. >> It just sounds so much more safety and security like focus. >> You should see the lineup of first responder cars outside. >> Really? I guess. Oh wow. [laughter] It's a very safe meeting. It is a >> It's a very safe meeting. Yes. >> Um negotiations we heard from earlier, but I would assume that you're >> I don't The only other thing I have to say, um is just because I know it's another piece of kind of the things that we do as board members and everybody else in this room is just, you know, please talk to everybody and and let them know how

121important that this this is. And you know, I think it's a it's fairly well supported in our communities. Um so I just yeah, really hoping that it passes for the Paris. So talk to your friends, neighbors, and uh get everybody in support. >> Can I can I highlight one thing from negotiations? So it's not often, but um you know, Melissa and Don did amazing work. When we got done, their their lead negotiator came to tears and gave them hugs for the work that was done. You don't see that often when you're negotiating. Sometime it can be very contentious, >> but open arms, hugs. Thank you for listening. Thank you for hearing them. So I think that's credit to Melissa and and Don, the work they did, but you know, working to get to a a

122solution of what they were really asking for. So just want to highlight that from both of you. >> Yep. >> Yeah. I appreciate that. And that's been, you know, that we've been talking about that for years. They came to us to ask to make change and stuff, but you really made that right for them and >> for the community. So appreciate that. >> Um, budget advisory committee. Anything else to add? >> I think we're good. >> Okay. >> Great. Um, thank you for bringing everyone tonight. Appreciate that. >> Um, so any any new business? I guess we have Yeah, theou. Yeah. >> Yep. Just two quick things. So, before we do the uhou, I just want to let you know that um uh director Sans is just making a recommendation that we change fire vendors.

123So, we've had we've been working with Rapid Fire, and again, this is not going to be a budget change. It's just that he's looking to increase the efficiencies in what we get out of our vendor. um rather than just looking at fire protection, he's also looking at emergency lighting, you know, fire extinguishers, uh maintenance on the different things, uh door locks, door access, by changing to vendors, we're going to get all of that in the contract that we're not getting now. So, again, that's his training that he has in efficiency. So, I think you'll see more of that when we don't feel like we're getting the efficiency or paying for the vendor that we want to. Um, so again, I just bring it to your attention, not looking for a motion, but there is a

124rationale if you want. I would share his rationale of some of the reasons why I'd be glad to include that. But just wanted to make you aware that that will switch um after this meeting um unless there was any any major questions. >> So we won't be a halt in service. We'll actually [clears throat] be an increase in what we're getting of our services and our in our schools in the cooperative. >> Sounds good. >> Yeah, we appreciate Brian joining us from Nashville and I think that helps. It's a change of change of personnel sometimes is helpful. And then last time I talked to you that we do have a lot because of our vans which have been you extraordinary. We have a lot of like uh elementary schools wanting to rent them at times

125when they have one classes that they're trying to do on field trips. You know uh bus transportation especially for smaller groups is is really uh non-existent right now. Um so we looked and we didn't want the cooperative to be on the hook in case we did rent it out. So we haven't rented them or and I say lease them out. Um so we talked about is there a cost that we want to put it with it. But I did work with uh legal counsel to put together a standardou that we would use and we could give this to each district before they they use our vans that they would have to sign off on it knowing that if something should happen that it would be that district that would be responsible and not the co-op

126if uh an accident happened or or things of that nature. Right now the only thing we'd ask for them is that they would pay for the gas uh in the school but and uh from from event to field trips. Uh but I didn't know if we wanted to also include you know a small you know feed if they were doing that just for upkeep or or you know when we do have to do change to the oil or you know the tires because there will be added wear and tear. So I brought you the standard kind of plate. Um Brian did make one recommendation on number one changing it just from um where it says the vans for school activities to district activities. That would be his only recommendation but other than that he did

127not really give any feedback. Great. Appreciate you bringing this to us. I know we discussed this last time, but we don't have to make any motion or anything. It's all >> just suggestions. I know Erin has a question. Yeah. >> And we're going to be prioritizing the co-op use over elementary use. >> Correct. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. It it's we have a very good schedule. So, you can before they can even look at it, they'll have to look at the schedule and see if they it's available. And then if it is available, then that means that the co-op's not using it if it's not scheduled out. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Yep. >> I I make a plug for gas money only. >> Okay. That just >> Yeah, I would too. I think that that's a

128tough one because they're not may not want to get gas every time if it's, you know, short drives or something. >> Yeah. >> But you'd want them I don't know. And who knows, you could do a mileage charge. >> Yeah. >> Like an IRS. >> That might be the best. Yeah. >> Mileage rate. Great. Yeah, just something because I think depending upon how much they use it, you know, granted we we would use it first, but if you see that it's really starting to be used by some of the other other districts, it would be, you know, just to offset like [clears throat] a small mileage fee like that. >> Yeah, like a 50 cents a mile is I think around IRS rates. >> Okay, I can make those suggestions and then we'll start using

129the food sport is okay with this. >> The only other question I have is around insurance. I imagine when we started having employees drive the vans that the co-op had to do something different for our insurance policies. >> Uh that's all through Primex. I don't know Molly you checked with Primex that as as long as each district has their own insurance it would cover it based on thisou. >> Yeah. So we had checked with Primex. I'd have to um dig into my email to get the details of their response. But um each of the each of the vans has um like a piece of paper. It said what to do if anyone was in an accident. But then they also had sent us details on drivers and how they had to be employees of the

130school district um and recommendations on um insuranceances that they should have. >> Okay. I think we just want to make sure that all of the other districts have the same applicable coverage for driving vehicle. I don't know the other ele you know the elementaryaries would be driving other vehicles. What are the rules around having elementary age kids in vehicles that aren't labeled school bus with the stop sign? I think there are >> did not come up when we talked to Primex because it's a 16 passenger van and your license is different. So that's all we're talking about is the 16 passengers >> because it's school bus >> because if it was a school bus, an employee couldn't drive it. >> So it's not considered a school bus. The only thing that came up is the

131vans cannot be home to school or school to home routes because they're not well. >> You just said >> they can be the field trips. >> Yeah. Hey, thank you for your feedback. >> Really helpful. >> Um, any old business? I'm assuming not. >> I have no old business. >> All right, then. Uh, I'm going to ask that we go into a non-public session. uh called on our RSA 91A colon 32E. Um so I'd like to make a motion to go in. You'll second that. Good. Uh roll call. Eric >> I. >> Excellent. We'll be uh we're going to non non-public uh for tonight. Appreciate everyone's input. Thank you guys. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> One thing. >> Thank you. Sorry to keep you late, but you guys needed Yeah.