001Sorry, I only do this once a year, so I'm a little rusty. All right, I like to call this meeting of the Litchfield School Board at two order. If everyone could please stand for 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. >> Did we do anything so he could be cuz he had Andrew had said he was >> the Google Meet set up. So, for those who are watching at home, just to kind of put this together, this is the one meeting every single year that the superintendent actually starts because it's the new board year for people. We just had elections last week. So, we're
002welcoming our new board member, Mr. Ray Peoples is joining us tonight. And as part of that process, we have to reorganize the board, so we appoint a chair and a vice chair and so on and so forth. So, the superintendent runs the meeting to start. We have Google Meet up because Mr. Cutter is walking through the door right now. We are good to go. >> [laughter] >> So, we didn't know if Mr. Cutter was going to be joining us remotely or was going to be able to make it back from travel in time. And it looks like since he is coming in, he has made it back from his travel trip on time. Good evening, Mr. Cutter. >> [laughter] >> So, we just completed the pledge, so I'll ask the board, do we have any
003revisions to the agenda this evening? Hearing nothing, uh we'll go move on to reorganization. Like I said, welcome Mr. Peoples to the board. We're happy to have you here. Welcome back, Mr. Plensky, who also won re-election at voting last week. And at this time, I'll take nominations for the school board chair. >> I will nominate Andrew Cutter for school board chair. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Did you want to do that? >> Are you guys sure? >> [laughter] >> Hey, supposed to ask that. Right, I'm supposed to ask that. Mr. Cutter, if would you be willing to serve if you >> It's the will of the board, right? So, I'm honored to serve. I would just ask for the board's grace this year with full commitments and travel and things like that. So. >>
004Um any further discussion? Hearing none, I will take this to a vote. All in favor of Mr. Cutter being chair of the school board, please say aye. >> Aye. >> Nay? >> Abstain. >> Excellent. >> Mr. Cutter, welcome to be the chair. >> 4-0-1. >> Yes. And I will gladly pass this back over since I was broken. I was missing something. >> [laughter] >> And I will nominate Mr. Plansky for vice chair. >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Shoemaker, second by Mr. Plansky. Are you willing to serve as vice chair? >> I am. >> Any additional discussion? All those in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? >> Abstain. >> Aye. >> Excellent. >> Opposed? >> So, it carries 4-0-1. Welcome back. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right.
005Uh we have the review of the code of ethics and code of conduct code conduct this evening. >> Yes, so this is the same that we go over at the begin at this meeting every every year with the school board code of conduct. Um and then the uh code of ethics. So, we do ask the board to review it and um sign it. We usually have you presented to you this evening and then ask you to sign it at the next school board meeting. So, that's the last time for the board to ask any questions or or anything that may come along with it. Uh I can certainly take any questions right now related to this or or anything else. So. >> Uh it's all pretty standard from years past, but I would like to
006give Mr. Peoples an opportunity to review them if you haven't done so already. >> When I did my onboarding on Monday, they gave me copies of both and I've reviewed them already. >> Okay, excellent. Or were there any questions or >> Nope. >> concerns, thoughts? >> Very self very very clear. >> Okay, excellent. Is the board comfortable with uh approving those this evening? >> I am. >> Okay. Um, then we're we're good to sign those and um Perfect. >> Shall I make a motion for that? You want to motion for those? >> All right, I'll make a motion. It won't doesn't hurt, so. >> I'll make a motion to approve the code of ethics and code of conduct for for the next for the next year. >> Second. >> Motion by myself, second by Mr.
007Shoemaker. Additional discussion? >> [clears throat] >> All those in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? >> Abstain. >> That carries 5-0. And we'll circulate those. Do you have those for signature tonight? >> I did not bring our copies. Okay, we're going to do it next week. >> [laughter] >> All right, and we have the NHSBA training. >> Yeah, just so a reminder to the New Hampshire School Boards Association, this is particularly for Ms. Peoples who is new to the board. Um, they have a new orientation. It's optional, you know, you don't have to go obviously, but um they have new uh board member orientation. Um, a couple different opportunities to do that. That link takes you to the the site that um shows you the times. There's April 7th, April 9th, it's in
008the evening and stuff like that if you're interested. I know Mr. Peoples, you're pretty familiar with local government at this point, so um and I think we talked before you had served on the school board and >> before just a >> No, I never This is the only board I haven't served on. >> Um, so if you're interested, feel free to that. Um, and the New Hampshire School Boards Association, just a general reminder for the whole board, is a tool for us to use. Uh, what we most frequently use it is for policy, for example. A lot of our policies are using the sample policy from the New Hampshire School Board as a starting place for anything that we do. Um, and they're a reference to us that we can ask questions for um in
009regards to the governance of the board. It's for the board, it's for SAUs and districts that kind [clears throat] of utilize. So, um training opportunities uh if anyone is interested, so. >> Yeah, just on that, the School Boards Association, their trainings are very well run. Uh, I have attended a few of myself. And um the board, Mr. Peoples, just for your benefit, the board a couple of years ago at this point made the decision to I'll say overhaul our policies because there were so many different formats approved at various points in time, some of them 30 years old by the time. So, we made the decision to align our policies as best as possible, right, to NHSP as a starting point because of all their work in terms of like a basic framework of those
010policies. So, the policies that you see throughout tonight and going forward generally are aligned to NHSP as a starting point and then we're adding in as necessary local flavor to those policies as relevant to our children. >> Okay. >> I like that. >> Thank you for that. We have committee assignments, everyone's favorite topic. >> Yeah, so we have 25 26 kind of window assignments that we had just as a reference so people know what their assignments were previously. I think last year we kind of if we had someone if it was easy we decided that this meeting. And for example, I think like at FIC since three of you had been a part of it in in that different capacity we actually decided that one, finalized that one at the next meeting and just had
011some discussion. So, if you're ready to tackle that we can tackle that right now. Especially for ones that or you know, we can Mr. Peoples if you have any questions about the community or the work that they're doing one that you have interest in we can answer those questions as well. >> So, you know, Mr. Peoples new to this this this board, are there any subcommittees that you're passionate about? >> Well, I have been serving on the facility improvements committee. And um I definitely am interested in and I talked with the superintendent the other day I was in there on Monday about I'm passionate to get our our scores up and to get our grades up for our students. So, whatever we can do to do that I don't know where that fits into this
012matrix, but >> I think that's under budget. >> [laughter] >> Well, unfortunately, Matt, I'm going to have to actually disagree with you on that. >> [laughter] >> That money does not build better grades. >> I I think uh to answer your question, to committees that might be of interest to you, uh Mr. Peoples is the learning outcomes task force, which we're on a little pause at at the moment. Uh picking back up next year, but that's going to look specifically at assessment and the models that we're using for that. Um as we mentioned you've been at from our previous mentions, we mentioned some tweaks to grading systems we've done for this school year and stuff. And then the curriculum review committee, um they met today. I think Sarah's going to ducktail is going to give
013an update about it later. Um talks about the decisions around the curriculum, things that we need to approve or documents, programs, so on and so forth that comes along with it. So. Just uh if that's your interest, those are two committees that are are relevant to those topics. >> So. >> Yeah. >> I would definitely be interested in those. Anything we can do to move that ball forward. >> That's great. No, I appreciate that. So, Mr. Shoemaker, because those are >> We could have two board members on those if you want to want to stay for any of them. >> Okay, so we'll do Mr. Peoples as primary and for coverage Mr. Shoemaker as secondary. For those. [snorts] Is anyone passionate about budget committee this year? >> I really don't think anyone is as capable.
014>> I'll take it. >> I can stay as backup. >> You can stay as backup on that one. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh we have emergency management. >> I'm going to stay on that. I intend to be able to make those meetings. >> Okay. >> I'll stay backup there too, I guess. >> That's great. Thank you. Uh joint loss. >> I'm on that. There was a meeting yesterday. Um I was not able to go to the meeting, but then there was supposed to also be a um a webinar kind of a thing, but uh I was on there and nobody was there. So, I don't even know what happened, if Holly was back or not, to be quite honest. >> That was we I think it was uh the previous week we had our
015meetings. The next one's in May though. I'll make sure you get the invite. >> Okay. So, you're comfortable just staying on that for now? Okay. Uh we have wellness. >> Let's stay with that. >> Okay. >> Got to get that uh cafe going. >> I have a feeling something >> It's for my own wellness. >> It's for my wellness, [laughter] but the problem is that doesn't actually meet ever, so. >> Uh we have capital improve the town capital improvement committee. >> I'm comfortable staying in there. >> I can remain as backup. >> Okay, great. Thank you. We have energy. >> Is that even still meeting? >> I have not attended a meeting in the last year. >> Okay. We can get rid of something like >> I I don't >> make a motion to get
016rid of this committee. >> Unless the town feels very strongly about having us on energy. >> [snorts] >> I feel like we have a lot of work on our >> Yeah. >> our plate as it is. >> Yeah. >> So. >> Okay. >> I would like to >> I would make a motion to drop energy committee. >> All right, we have a motion by Mr. Shoemaker to no longer be involved in the energy committee. >> I'll second. >> You have a second. >> By Mr. Plansky. So, just question what was the original scope of the energy committee? >> scope was to um participate in the >> community energy >> community uh power. >> Oh. >> community power. Now, whether they're doing further work on that, >> [snorts] >> I don't know. Um but the school
017is sort of outside of that in general. Like our energy is separate from the community power thing. So, it really was kind of like I don't mind doing it as a goodwill if the town is is asking us to, but other than that, I didn't see much of a value from this >> Do you know when they last met? I don't even know if it's met since I've been here, to be honest. >> So, that article passed 2 years ago. Right, and then it just kind of stalled. >> It's been a disaster wherever they've tried it. >> It's because they because the rates haven't been low enough for that to for it to make sense for them to lock them. I think was where we had been discussing. >> So, going through their website and
018any notes that I could find, that's essentially what happened is they they passed it, they reviewed it, and they reviewed it over and over again, and it kept coming back with it's doesn't make sense right now. >> It's actually the coalition's falling apart. >> Yeah, it's like they haven't disbanded the coalition or anything, but it's I haven't seen it go anywhere. >> Okay. >> So, we have a motion in a second. All those in favor of removing energy committee, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Abstain? >> It's gone, 5-0. Uh economic development. >> That committee has completed its task, no longer exists. >> No longer exists, so we'll just drop that one. And policy, I'm fine on staying on as well, unless anyone else is um interested in in taking that on this year.
019>> Okay. Great. >> And then did we decide on FIC, sorry? I'm sorry, I thought you'd said next week for for FIC. >> yeah. That was my suggestion since a number of you are on it. >> regardless, I do think Mr. DeWitt needs to stay on that given the amount of time history he's had with it. So, whoever is [snorts] second on that >> It's the will of the board, but >> Just on facilities, and while we're on that, um when [snorts] is that committee going to make recommendations on like public participation and and community member participation? Wasn't that the idea that >> going to be recommendations for the school board. >> we are meeting next >> the 24th. [snorts] >> 24th. And that would be I got to go and look at the bylaws
020we passed a while ago. Go recheck them because >> We may have to reappoint people >> to reappoint. We do have to reappoint people. >> were one year. >> Think right. I got to I want to make sure I do the timing right, but I think we put in resource uh put out an interest form or so got to read how we wrote it, exactly how it got passed, and then >> They They have to submit in writing that they would like to be on the committee. >> Yeah. >> To the school board. >> Cuz by a date in April, if I remember, I think by like the first April meeting or something. I'm doing this off the top of my head, so I got to >> So, we should just send out a reminder,
021right? Make sure everyone's familiar on that committee with the bylaws and what the process is going to be. >> Has anyone expressed the desire to stop doing it now that things stalled out a little bit, or are they still Or have you not heard anything? >> members? >> Yeah. >> I don't think so. I mean, we've had some people who have not Their attendance has not been as high as as previously, you know, but I think that we dropped some of those people um because they stopped attending. There was rules about attendance to that those meetings. [clears throat] We've scaled down the meetings just in general for the last couple months because of it. Um and we'll get to this later, but the GMS update. >> Yeah, so we're meeting with them tomorrow, you know,
022Herriman and Herriman's going to go over a whole mess of things preparation for that meeting >> next week, and then kind of get that going back that train going again, so. >> Great. >> Okay. >> [clears throat] >> Just flying through that. >> Yeah. So, we have anything else on committee assignments? >> Did we get all the committees? Did we miss anybody? >> Well, who Who do we want to have as a second >> Dwight as as facilities. Um Do we want to nominate a second at the as a secondary at this point, or do you want to wait a week or 2 weeks during during our next meeting? >> Doesn't bother me. I could do either. >> I don't know, Mr. Pranski, if you want to talk to Mr. Peoples about that one or
023work that one out. >> [laughter] >> Well, cuz now there's three of us. >> Right. >> Correct. Right. I know I just wrote that down. I'm like, "This is a problem." >> Yeah, there can only be two, right? So, somebody Somebody's giving it up. >> Yeah. We We Yeah, we had the same thing last year. Matt had to leave. >> Yeah. >> [snorts] >> So, >> Still attending. >> I I figured we can just wait until next week. >> Just make sure there's not three of you there at this meeting next week. Yeah. Yeah. So, if you can coordinate that amongst yourselves, we're good to go. >> Okay. So, let's talk about facilities at our at our next meeting as well. In terms of committee reports, just for the school board awareness, the budget committee
024is picking up their monthly cycle again starting next week. So, I did receive Chairman Sun's agenda and so I will plan to participate next week for that for that session. Okay, we have summary of non-public actions from February 4th, 2026. Mr. Shoemaker moved to approve the non-public minutes from January 21st as well as January 31st meetings. Mr. Plansky seconded that that motion and that motion passed 3-0. The board did discuss some staff updates and Mr. Shoemaker moved to adjourn the non-public session at 8:00. Mr. Plansky seconded that motion and that motion also carried 3-0. We have summary of non-public actions from February 18th, 2026. The board tabled voting on the meeting minutes because there was lack of a quorum to vote for approvals at that at that session. Mr. Cutter moved to approve the nomination
025of Glenn Costello as a CHS special education case manager. Mr. Plansky seconded that motion. That motion passed 3-0. Mr. Cutter moved to adjourn the non-public session at 7:27 p.m. Mr. Plansky seconded that motion. That motion also passed 3-0. We have summary of non-public actions from March 4th, 2026. The board tabled voting on those meeting minutes as well because of a lack of a quorum to to vote in support of given various member absences. The board did discuss a staff update at that meeting and Mr. Shoemaker moved to adjourn the non-public session at 8:07 p.m. Mr. Plansky seconded that motion and that motion passed 3-0. We have presentations and recognitions this evening and we have a senior spring social event that I believe was hosted this past weekend. >> Yeah, so Brooke is kind of our
026backup student rep today as our student reps are on a field trip. Yeah, on an overnight field trip. >> Welcome again. >> Thank you. >> I'm going to have her do both things together just because she's also going to do the student rep report. So, I think we're going to actually flip the order. She's going to do the student rep report first and then the social cuz that's how the slides are. >> All right. >> Okay. >> And then give me 1 sec. Brooke will be on right behind you. You are good. [snorts] >> Okay. So, what we currently have happening in the district. So, to start with Campbell, so spring sports are currently rolling out. Girls lacrosse tryouts and preseason will be held on March 23rd from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Boys lacrosse preseason
027starts at 4:00 p.m. on March 23rd, and softball and baseball preseason starts after school on March 23rd. For Campbell past events, so we just had we just got back from February break, and then following February break, we had a Spanish International Food Night. This is the second year this has happened, and it was a really great turnout. There was bingo, great like cultural foods to try. It was really great turnout and a really great event. And then on March 10th, we didn't have school cuz it was voting day. And then on March 11th, there was a district band concert. That went very well. I'm a part of the band, so it was just like fun to like have all the district be involved and like it's just a great like musical concert. And then on
028March 12th, following that was the district chorus concert, and I've heard nothing but great things about that, too. There was so many little GMS kids there. Just like and they have like an in-school rehearsal, so that was great, too. And then March 14th was the senior spring social, which I'll get into after the report. And then following that is Campbell current events. So, currently right now and tomorrow is the FBLA State Leadership Conference. That's an overnight conference that the FBLA goes on every year and it's very exciting. And then starting up now that February break is over is prom ticket sales. March 18th, so today we had our CHS trades and career fair day. That was huge and that was like really amazing that they decided to bring that back because it gave kids like
029a lot of like exposure to careers and like trades that like they may be never even thought of to like pursue. And then on March 30th is the react movie night in the CHS auditorium. And then April 9th is the Campbell's musical performance Anastasia. >> [snorts] >> For Campbell future events, April 16th is the dance troop hold. April 24th is the blood drive. April 27th we have spring break. May 6th is the National Honor Society bingo night. And then May 9th is prom. And then May 11th is the National English Honor Society book drive. Then for the Litchfield Middle School, the Winnie Dip was a huge success with over $11,000 raised for New Hampshire Special Olympics. LMS celebrated music in our schools this month by presenting a district-wide chorus and band concert. On March 24th,
030there will be a fifth grade beginner band concert at 6:30 p.m. And three of the LMS students auditioned for and were accepted into the 2026 middle level honors band festival and they played at Pinkerton Academy on March 9th. Following that, LMS cheerleading had their competition on March 7th at Hood Middle School where they won the spirit award. Good job LMS cheerleading. Eighth graders made their school proud by participating in the NAEP testing on March 12th. Softball and baseball tryouts are coming up soon. And the drama department is hard at work on their upcoming production of the real-life story of Alice in Wonderland. Griffin Memorial, so the LEGO teams will take part in a LEGO League Expo this Saturday at First Robotics in Manchester. Next week is Read Across America Week with themed days that include
031Monday wear a hat, Tuesday dress up as an animal, Wednesday wacky Wednesday, Thursday wear red, white, and black like a cat in the hat, and Friday is pajama day. So, that is what I have on the report, and then following that is just a little presentation about the senior spring social that we had on March 14th that was hosted by the Campbell Student Council. Like this was probably like one of the best events that we've run so far this year. Um so, just kind of like to dive into it. So, the senior spring social started with a meal from the Puritan Backroom served by council members in the cafeteria. Members helped seniors carry food and drinks to their tables and then had friendly conversation with them. And then to follow that, we kind of break
032out [snorts] into like a schedule that was kind of like the seniors could go wherever they felt like it. There was like different activities per different rooms in the school. So, we utilized the gym, the library, the auditorium. So, in the library, we had a game room, and there was seniors playing games, puzzles, and bingo. Bingo was huge. I think every single person besides like a few were playing bingo. We ran out of chips. We were using candy pieces. We were using paper clips as chips. It was huge. Um our guests loved playing together and winning prizes. We ended up giving centerpieces away as prizes because everybody loved them so much, and we we didn't have anything to do with them afterwards. So, we were like, "Hey, like let's just prize them off." So, that
033was great. And then movies. Seniors got to watch classic movies in the Campbell auditorium, and then council members welcomed them and served popcorn while they watched. Which was very enjoyable. And then in the gym, we had dancing through the decades. Seniors got to dance their favorite songs from different decades in the Campbell gym. Council members danced along with them and encouraged them on the dance floor. This was definitely the energy room. And it was super fun to just see council members like engage with everybody, and like they would have dancing circles and like slow dances together. It was great. And then a huge thanks to you to everybody who attended this event. The turnout was amazing. We had over 100 people attend and it truly just brought cheer to our council and our community as
034well. So, yeah. That's all I have. >> Awesome. So, Diane and I went to that because at the time we were the only ones who qualified to >> [laughter] >> Now that Mr. Peoples has joined the board, I expect to see him next year. >> [laughter] >> Well, unfortunately, I was at the church for the the corned beef and cabbage dinner that they had exactly opposite of that cooking all day. >> So, it was but it was a great event. >> Yeah. >> Um I will say that and I talked to Jen and Shawn afterwards, every kid that was there working event was super happy to be there. There wasn't anybody who was looking like that God, I really don't want to be here on a Saturday. It was a It was a fantastic time.
035We brought my granddaughter dressed up as an old lady. >> [laughter] >> She's featured in that last slide. There we go. >> Yeah, she's great. But, it was a it was a super time. Really very much appreciated. >> you. >> Yeah. Yeah, I heard it was awesome. Miss Hutchinson was texting me updates the whole time. Um and just so pleased with how how the turnout was. You guys' organization. Tell us a little bit how you got the funding for this little bit. I don't know if we ever touched base on that. >> Yeah, so the way we got the funding was um there's a national association of student councils and they kind of send like updates to the student councils like within our country and you have to like sign up within their like website.
036So, our council signed up through them and like verified and we got an update that back in November that said like deadline is about to close, apply for a national grant and we saw this opportunity and we came here and we met with um Kim Kleiner to kind of discuss like where in our town like like what needs like community like where we could put a grant towards and we like kind of targeted towards the senior citizens. Like obviously like we don't have a senior center in the town, so we >> Not super seniors, just >> [laughter] >> lower level seniors. >> Yeah. >> The 55 and older, and we kind of just came up with the idea like sitting right here in this room. Like hey, like what if we just had a day
037where we kind of simulated like activities that a senior center would hold. And so we ended up applying for the grant. We applied for $1,000, and the deadline was like December 8th. And then we heard back in early January that we were awarded the $1,000. So we were able to put this money towards this huge event, and I couldn't be happier with the turnout and how well it went. >> packed. >> It's awesome. >> It was great. >> That was a great event. The question is is how do you keep it up? >> [laughter] >> I was just going to I was just going to ask that. I mean ultimately like that's one of the biggest things that we've talked about on like dealing with facilities is you know, it's hard for people to want
038to put their tax dollars behind something if they don't >> Yeah. >> necessarily get use out of it. And this the turnout here is encouraging to think that maybe we could support our senior population a little bit more by doing more stuff like this. >> I mean I would imagine we're going to apply for the grant. I know you're graduating, but I we'll apply for the grant next year, be able to speak of the success of this program, which I think knowing how these things work will help us, you know, hopefully get it again. And then expand the program kind of year after year. And if, you know, with such a positive turnout, if we have student activity funds money, um which you're supposed to which you spend on students, but this is students this
039is students giving back to the community, so it fits that kind of description. So if we have to help out and supplement it a little bit if this continues to grow, um I think we would have been happy with I don't know, 20 people, but over 100 people. >> even if three people turned up, like >> [laughter] >> we would have been happy as can be. >> Deanie was very nervous that there was like nobody's going to show up. >> Yeah. >> But I over 100, like I we cannot be more grateful. So it's really really great. And as people were leaving, they're like, "Is this going to be here next year? We're so excited." >> [laughter] >> And we're like, "A thousand dollars." >> And it was good. The parents and helped us out
040like they used to give a good deal on on the food and stuff like that. >> good about like non-profits and stuff like that. I think they gave us like a whole chicken thing for free which those are very expensive. >> [laughter] >> And tasty. It was very well done >> I just want to give a shout-out to I know you had mentioned Brooke the band and chorus concerts etc. I believe the superintendent I think Mr. Pransky attended the band >> Yeah. I was at the band concert too. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Excellent. I've heard nothing to your point about amazing positive remarks about that so kudos to you participating in that. I joined the chorus concert and that was that was amazing. I sent [laughter] I actually sent the video to the board.
041Right? I sent a couple of minute video to the board so they could hear it as well and there's just you know super plugged there's so such amazing talent in this district and to see all those kids there had to have been at least a quarter of our of our population of kids participating in that. There were a lot of kids. >> Yeah. >> And then does band go to large group this weekend too? >> Yeah. So band and chorus are going to large group this weekend. I think we're Chorus performs at 10:00. This is at Bow High School. We go and get like judged by like professional judges and stuff like that both the band and the chorus. Chorus goes at 10:00 and then band goes at 2:00. So we're all kind of preparing
042for that now. We're just going to perform to them like our concert um like what we played at the concert. We kind of just switch into gear and play for them as well. So Very >> Well, good luck with that. >> Yeah. Best wishes. >> Any questions on events happening in our schools? I'd say the only other thing I want to mention is congratulations once again to LMS and the Winnie Dip. I mean such an amazing >> Yeah. >> amazing feat in raising that kind of money for for that cause. So >> I'm glad we were able to do it. That was the morning that we had the call a delay. So I'm glad the weather cleared up enough for us to get the bus you know in we could get the kids in early
043even ahead of the delay, and we got them all up there Uh cuz that goes on no matter what. >> [laughter] >> No matter what the weather is. I think we made the front page of a >> Of the of the Laconia paper, yeah. >> paper. Litchfield kids running out of the water. >> it was cool. Yeah, so it was a great great event. >> All right, excellent. Well, thank you for that update and thank you for joining us again tonight. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Uh we have our community comment on agenda items. This is our first of two community comments. Please welcome. And just your name and address for the record. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> Uh Mike Parker, 12 Nesmith Court. And I'm here to pile on about the senior spring Um you
044know, when I first heard about it, I thought it was for seniors in high school. >> [laughter] >> I really did. And so I said, "No, no, no, no, no, it's for senior seniors." Uh I just appreciate it. It was very very well done and the people that I talked to there enjoyed it as well. And so uh and so thank you for that and thank you for recognizing the seniors. Um a couple things that stand out. Uh first of all, there was some you had some sort of an art show in the school and we really enjoyed looking at those pictures from the grade schoolers that were up on there. So, that was kind of an added benefit wandering the hallways there. I was impressed with the number of people that were there because
045I know there are a number of people that were there who don't have access to Facebook and the internet. Now, I know that there were students handing out uh these flyers at the town meeting but I but I applaud you for that and uh getting a word out because I think that's a big challenge here in Litchfield is getting a word out to people who aren't connected on Facebook uh or some other social media. So uh so I appreciate that. Um but in talking to folks it also it also shows a uh a need in town for a senior center. So, I'm just going to put that plug in here. >> [laughter] >> You're at the wrong board for that. >> I know you all you all don't deal with senior center but we got
046to we ought to plant the bug in somebody's ear about that because I think that's important. Uh and again, it builds a sense of community, especially for people who aren't connected uh through the social media and and whatever. So, anyway, but uh thanks for a job well done. We enjoyed ourselves. We're looking forward to it uh whenever we can whenever we can do it again, we'll be uh it'll be good. It It was great, Chuck. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Yeah, appreciate the comments. >> All right. Uh seeing since there's nobody else in the audience tonight, we'll close community comment. If uh anyone else shows up, there's a second opportunity for community comment as we proceed with tonight's agenda. All right, we have correspondence this evening, and I'll turn it over to Vice Chair
047Plansky for a summary. >> Okay, on March 4th, we got the meeting minutes from the uh March 3rd meeting from Jan Sullivan. >> [clears throat] >> On the 9th, um Jen sent out the picture of the Laconia Sun with the kids running through the cold water. Crazy kids. Um and then mostly a lot of bills being paid on 310 and had a payroll manifest on the 12th, two accounts payable manifests. On the 13th, credit card manifests. Also on the 13th, we got the budget for tonight's meeting, and then on St. Patrick's Day, Renee was kind enough to send out two more accounts payable manifests. >> Speaking of manifests, we have them for signature? >> So, they're all signed. Perfect. I love that. >> [laughter] >> All right, thank you, sir. Appreciate that update. Uh we'll
048move into general business this evening, and we're going to turn it over to Mr. Peoples. >> Yeah, we left this here. >> [laughter] >> There we go. >> I like it. Yeah, that's smart. >> [laughter] >> So, I'm feeling rather special. >> Right? Me, too. >> Doesn't mean you get two votes though, right? >> What's that? >> You don't get two votes. >> I knew there was a problem with this. Um Mr. Peoples, I hope you don't mind we left this on the agenda. >> Well, no. Actually, I think it's still good that, you know, of course, hopefully we'll be communicating that more real time, but >> Yeah. >> Um We did Congress kind of quiet this week. Um we're not up there uh for session. Um we were up there on Wednesday and Thursday
049last week. Wednesday was 13 hours. And uh or I'm sorry. Yeah, Wednesday was 13 hours and uh Thursday was about 9 hours. And ultimately we started the started on a pretty rough patch because uh because we had 200 bills to process and we couldn't get an extension to move into this week Thursday and Friday or Wednesday and Thursday like we wanted. They limited to PIs only. So, there was no floor debates on most of the bills and we got through what we could. And approximately 75 of the bills went in the dumpster. It's all the work. All the public hearings out the window. >> Out the window. >> Yeah. Um So, I'm going to prepare a narrative of what was approved and it's all one it's all going to go over to the Senate at
050the end of the month. And at crossover day, all the stuff they've approved comes over to us and then we start the whole process again on their stuff and our stuff goes to them and they do the same. So. >> Any of the um items that we've been kind of talking about and asking about, did any of those end up passing? I know we've been talking about like as an example the consolidation of SAUs. >> Um yeah, that that didn't go anywhere. I didn't I don't believe that's >> the open enrollment piece? >> Open enrollment still open. They're still working on that. I think it's over in the Senate. So, we'll Once they get done with that stuff, um So, they're hearing a lot of the same bills over there. So, they all get heard
051twice. So, there's a lot there's a lot of eyes on it. Again, I'll prepare a quick report of what happened last week for you guys cuz there was a lot. We uh approximately 125 bills we got through. Um some got tabled um but for the most part they all got dealt with um other than the 75 that were left. The one in the dumpster, which is really a shame because there was uh a a terribly embarrassing act of partis- partisanship up there between the two parties. And just goes to show you again that without working together we're never going to get anything done and um I did put a post up on Facebook to that effect. The uh >> Sorry. >> It was it was terrible. I mean all all all they had to do
052was grant us an extension so we could do it and the the word came back, you know, bad bill management isn't our problem. >> [snorts] >> So at that point we had to reduce it to um the PI only. So basically that's the you know, the parliamentary inquiry. It's very short. It and move on and vote and move on. So it was um not the way I seen it come playing out but it's how it happened. >> Okay. We had just we had our legislative day yesterday as well up in Concord so the second that we do two a year. Um Sarah and Julie went to the first one and then I went to the one yesterday. Gave us some updates on some of the different bills. Just want to say that this is super
053helpful cuz like I understood everything going on >> [laughter] >> cuz we had talked about almost everything here at some point. So it was this is a great little process that we're doing. You know, when we're up there we're talking about how people are struggling to to talk to their representatives and they just have I know you're on the board now but prior to that just coming to the meetings and have these conversations. We can talk about these things and and kind of ask questions and you can bring that feedback back, tell us things and we can think about it and stuff and kind of work together. So, um it just it was nice to sit there yesterday as everything was going over and and not be caught off guard by anything because we're having
054these conversations and stuff. >> the way government should work, right? >> it's great. [laughter] It's great. How do we accomplish that? And for myself, being here on the board, I I my my my reason for being on this board is to get from down in the bug dust to the governor's butt view of what's going on with education, education funding, policy and administration so that I can make intelligent and thoughtful decisions rather than, you know, um something that may cause us harm in the end. >> I think that's super helpful because, I mean, honestly, like sometimes like when you're bringing stuff back, it was really um good to be able to see like when like when we're talking about the stuff with the um reporting, it'll be really helpful to like know like in the
055weeds like what we're dealing with with the reporting side because then it's like, okay, like there's no intention to make things harder, obviously, at the state level, but you don't unless you have those conversations you >> And we took that feedback and we amended we amended that. So, now it's one sheet of paper with three graphs on it. It's spelled out very clearly on 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper instead of 18 by 24 at $25 and staples. >> [laughter] >> So, you know, that that was good for us because it saves us money and it's good for the the the consumer of that information out there that they can see it and understand it. Yeah, I'm excited. >> Hopefully other towns will, you know, follow suit because I think that that collectively, if
056that was happening across the state, there could be some really drastic improvements. >> It's all about the middle. We got to move everybody to the middle. So, if you can shepherd them there, have at it. >> [clears throat] >> All right, well, we'll look forward to your summary, Mr. Peoples. Uh we have end-of-year teacher staff recognition ceremony. >> I just want to go back to voting the results. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I skipped over voting the results. Okay. Um I look, we passed everything. I want to go back to voting the results. >> [laughter] >> Um so, you know, we're very fortunate for the support we received from the community that all eight of the school districts um warrant articles passed um this past Tuesday. Um first, I just want to say thank you to
057everyone um in the Litchfield community who came out and voted. Even if you didn't necessarily vote yes for our things, just coming out to vote, that's like at the core of what we do in education is getting people educated and so they can voice their opinions and democracy and all that stuff. So, just coming out to vote is an indicator that good things are happening in education. Um thank you for those who supported um our our warrant articles. We appreciate it greatly. Um a lot of work from um you know, our teachers and support staffs who start the the the developing the process, bringing it to the building letter leaders to us at the SAU, bringing it to the board and to the budget committees. A lot a lot of work goes into those budgets.
058And it's nice when that work um can kind of pay off and and we get approval on the things that we're bringing. Um for us uh having the operating budget pass is I can't stress enough how helpful it is cuz we've been really trying to um put things in the right places in our budget lines and making things straightforward and um not having to transfer as much and like shift things around, but just like get it where we all need it to be so it's easier to track. It's easier to stay on top of everything. So, that reset and allowing us to do that is extremely helpful from an operations standpoint. Plus of the services that are in the operating budget, obviously um very very supportive and and thank you to everyone who supported it
059and came out and voted. Um it was a wonderful day. I I had the opportunity um talked to a number of people, held some dogs outside while people came in and voted, uh a bunch of different things. I think we got great word out again about the the senior social and stuff like that. So, uh very nice day in the district and once again, thank you to everybody and thank you to the board for for all your work to get get everything done and stuff. So. >> Yeah, and just on that, if I may as well, I'd like to share my gratitude to the Litchfield voters for supporting the schools, as well as many of the town articles too. So, but certainly the schools, you know, as as the superintendent mentioned, having that operating budget
060um really enables us to not have to make some very difficult decisions, which were going to be a topic of tonight's meeting, right? >> So, um thank you. >> additionally approving our our funding of our reserve accounts is huge, because that helps >> Yes, teacher contracts. >> to deliver efficient budgets, because we have the reserves to hedge against things, whereas in prior years we had to because we didn't have the reserves, had to put money in the budget, because we couldn't avoid certain risks, so. >> And I I I get the feeling that people are more appreciative of the fact that we're much more up front with what we're going to do with that money, and we're parking it someplace, so it's not everything isn't a fire. We're doing what we say. >> Yeah. >>
061Right? We're doing what we say. >> Yeah. >> So. So, that's good. So, right now, different than last year, when we were trying to get everything back to the fault with the operating passing, a lot of Julie's work, um you know, we're helping her with this is um getting everything up to speed and loaded up into the system. The contract passed as well, so making sure everything is in the right lines attached to that. Um different salaries, um social security, retirement, all the different components of that, getting everything squared away um with the new new budget, so it's all good, and sending that off. I don't want to take too much of Julie's stuff that's coming up, but sending that off to the DRA and everything associated with that. So, thank you again for everyone
062everyone's support for that. >> Any other comments on voting day results? >> I would just like to thank the voters for sending me back here. Very much appreciate it. >> We're glad to have you back. >> Damn. >> [laughter] >> I too am grateful. >> Now, you guys did face stiff competition. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, it was tough. >> Andrew, do you want to do you want to tell them like you did for me how many people didn't vote for them? Do you remember that you did that on [laughter] my first day? >> I do see there were 22 write-in votes, though. >> There were how many? >> 22? All right. Uh we have now end-of-year teacher and staff recognition. >> Yes, so um I think he caught a number of our ears. But as
063we were uh at voting day on Tuesday, um you know, Chief uh Bobby Jakes was was out with the veterans supporting uh the warrant article directly tied to them. And uh he he got my ear about something that that happened in the Lowell School District, that's where he and his wife taught um professionally, about how they would recognize um teachers and staff at the end of the year and asked if we we do anything like that here. Um and I was like, "Well, we didn't last year." You know, we do a retirement thing when people retire. And I'm sure buildings do their own thing internally at end-of-year staff meetings, but like a district thing? No, like how he was describing how Lowell does it. So, we got to talking a little bit. I think he
064got again some other people's ears about it as well. Um and he he said that that the Veterans Committee would uh support us if if we wanted to pursue that endeavor. And and I I want to. So, I I'm bringing that to the board this evening to see um if I have your approval to to do that with the support of the Veterans Committee. Uh what we're kind of envisioning we're in the early stages of of putting it together, but um recognizing some excellence of our teachers at each of the buildings, our support staff, and and um other staff at the buildings as well. Having a nice night, just nothing too fancy in the cafeteria, maybe. Uh we talked about maybe they don't [snorts] know this yet, but dragging Stu Coe in and helping [laughter]
065the evening and stuff like that. >> You know, they can throw a pretty good >> run a party. >> Right, exactly. >> Especially for seniors. >> Yeah, exactly. [laughter] Um and kind of doing that as a nice cap to the year where we we recognize some of our hard-working staff. So, >> idea. >> Um we would do that. Uh funding would come from um the Veterans Association. I mean, if there's a couple minimal things that that we would do as a district, we would do as part of our normal recognitions, but um want the board's blessing if you're okay with us kind of moving forward with that idea. >> Absolutely. I'll make a motion to absolutely celebrate our hardworking district staff, both teachers and and support staff, for recognition that's well deserved at the end
066of the year. >> Second. >> Motion by myself, second by Mr. Shoemaker. Additional discussion? All those in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >> Opposed? Abstained? And special thank you to Chief Shocks, who I know has been a huge voice and advocate for us as a school district starting this program up and very much appreciative of the veterans for supporting us. >> Yeah, so I'm going to I don't have a we're good with that one. I have a couple other things on my agenda I actually didn't add that I just want to highlight cuz they're quick hitters. And one, we're just thanking the Veterans Association. So, they're running I want to kind of highlight another event. I've highlighted it in our Sunday newsletter a couple times, but it's the first board meeting I've had a
067chance to talk about it a little bit. Um, the Veterans uh committee is hosting their second annual Litchfield night, uh little town big attitude with the Fisher Cats. They did this last July as well. Um, where it's hosted by the Litchfield Veterans [clears throat] group. Um, some of the proceeds go towards scholarships for for the schools and stuff like that. Their scholarship program offsetting some different costs and donations that they give to us here in the school among other things that the veteran group does in the community, but a lot of it does support the schools. It's going to be Saturday, July 11th. We've been sending out the link to the tickets on our as part of that Sunday newsletter, but again just want to highlight it tonight. Um, ticket sales are ongoing. You don't
068have to necessarily buy them at the game in a couple couple months and stuff like that. People can see where their schedules land. But if we can continue to support that that they do so much for the school district and if people have the opportunity to go to the game, they are playing the Sea Dogs, which is always nice. You get to see the future Red Sox, too. Um, play as well. So, should be another another great night. >> And just on that, right? I mean, the chief has spoken to me about this as well, right? We're really looking to get more participation this year than there was last year. Last year was the first year for this, right? But definitely looking for more people to to join, have a fun night at the Fisher
069Cats. Game starts at just past 6:00, right? >> 6:03. Yep, 6:03. Thank you. Uh there's going to be a big fireworks show. Kids can go on this on the field. Uh the seats are right behind home plate, so really premium seating for this for this game. And really looking forward to the Litchfield school community coming out and supporting this program. >> Um and then just two other small things. I'm I'm pretty I I don't know why, but I'm kind of high school centric today. Um just got a couple things going on at that building. Uh one, we had the Brooke talked touched on it in the report, but we had the first career expo today um at the high school. School counseling department organized that with some support from some other teachers. It wasn't I
070don't know if it was the first ever, but it's been the first in a long time. Um and I was an excellent excellent event. We had uh number of uh different professions there, uh the branches of the military, uh some of the colleges also were there, local colleges to help with that. And allowed opportunities, you know, I was down there for um uh for the actually great bulk of it. Um junior sorry, freshman and sophomores came down first, and then they shifted them out, and then the juniors and seniors came down. The kids were so interactive with the people who attended. It was great, like asking good questions, learning about the the the various uh careers that were being presented. Um you know, we had like HVAC and hospital and uh cosmetology and a bunch
071of other different things. Uh number of people in the community um came and spoke. You know, or had tables set up and stuff like that, so thank you um to our community members who gave up some time during their professional day to take part in this today. And I hope this is the start of uh this event being an annual thing kind of moving forward and expanding year after year uh cuz it was really really successful today. So, kudos to everyone who who helped make that a success. So. >> Was there any there anyone there from the CTE program? >> Yep. Yep. >> Both uh Pinkerton and uh Hudson. Yeah, perfect. So. >> Um and then the last thing I just want to highlight uh right It's actually literally happening right now, but we're here
072at the board meeting, unfortunately. Um we're doing an art show tonight at the high school, but the art is up all month um in the high school and and it's artwork ranging from uh you know, elementary through high school. I'm sure if you've been in the building, you've seen some of it. We Some people came inside during voting, and we've been kind of expanding it and expanding it as kind of the month goes on. Um I'm not just saying this cuz, you know, the superintendent here, but um this is like the best art I've ever seen like in a school. Like it is incredible right now. I know Campbell kind of has a reputation as being like a athletic school, a sports school. Uh and warranted, we have a lot of success in athletics, but
073we might be an art school now. Like >> [laughter] >> we're an art district. Like what is Some of the work that's being produced is is just incredible K-12. Like and seeing the progression through the different ages and how um kids are exploring different mediums and how their skills are improving as they get older and stuff like that. If you have the opportunity just to swing by the school and kind of check it out this month, um I really encourage you to do so. Like we have more art than room at this point. Like we're going up stairwells and going down random halls. It is really, really impressive what our art department in all three schools um are doing and the work that our kids are doing. So, I just want to highlight that. They're
074doing a formal um show right now for our honor society at the at the high school, small like opening of it right now. Um but if you get a chance to kind of come check it out at some point, please do cuz it's it's really impressive. And that's it. Thank you. >> Appreciate that update. Any questions for the superintendent? All right. This is Mr. Darling. You're up. >> Thank you. Um also, I want to, you know, >> [clears throat] >> echo everyone else's sentiments in saying thank you to the residents for um voting on our operating budget and supporting our the rest of our warrant articles. It's very helpful for us to be functioning in a healthy way. Um right [clears throat] now is the time of the year that we're starting to hone in
075on having a better idea of where we're going to land at the end of the year. So >> [snorts] >> at the end of the month we are going to you know start only [clears throat] just doing essential spending which is what we typically do. Um but also for each department to start adjusting their encumbrances so we just have a much clearer picture of where we're at. Um so that's what we're doing currently. Um one thing [clears throat] I wanted to discuss with regard to the FY 27 budget is similar to what the superintendent was indicating as far as having things be in the right the correct lines. At deliberative session this year there was a vote on the floor to add $9,600 to the budget with the intent [clears throat] of that being to
076increase the supply line for the high school robotics team. Because it's a bottom line budget we basically just have to put that 9600 in as a placeholder in the budget but then it is up to it's the will of the board as far as where you would like that money to be put into the budget. So transfer that into the the line that it was intended. So if that is what you would like to do um >> That is absolutely what I would like to >> [laughter] >> the will of the board. I mean it was made for that purpose. The voters at deliberative supporting it for that purpose it needs to be for that purpose. >> Agreed. >> Okay. >> There we go. >> We need a >> Motion. Need a motion? >> [laughter]
077>> At least check the formalities. >> I'll make a motion to transfer $9,600 from the bottom line to CHS robotics. >> Second. >> Motion by myself second by everybody else. >> [laughter] >> You pick. >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Abstained? >> 5-0. >> May I since we're bringing up robotics, they had their competition this past weekend over at Bedford High. Excellent showing from them. They qualified as I don't know how much you know about the robotics world, but they qualified as a captain like after the qualifying rounds. First time that our program has done that. That's a means you finish in like the top six in the initial qualifying rounds and then you get to pick other teams to join your alliance and and so on and so
078forth. So that's a huge kind of milestone for the program to be qualifying in that top group and being a an alliance captain moving forward in the program. They didn't end up winning the event which is unfortunately but still awesome that they got that chance and they're just kind of improving their stance every single year that program grows and stuff like that. So this is this is very very supportive to that program that it's having more and more success every year. So. >> Congratulations to the team. >> Yeah, it's great. >> One thing I've added that came in kind of last minute that is very nice. So our food service director Lauren Crowley had entered a an equipment giveaway from Cooks Direct which is a national vendor and basically as a result of just entering
079this contest which just required like the name of the district things like that. There was no purchase or anything necessary to qualify for this this contest but Lauren was notified this week that she won a mixer. It's a planetary mixer so it's like the big industrial ones that she already has. It's retail value is over $8,000. >> Wow. >> And so that is going to be shipped in a couple of weeks but prior to you know confirming that we just needed to have school board approval. >> I will make a motion to accept that. I can't believe she we're not she's not here so we see her smiling face. >> I know. That's very exciting. >> It is. It's >> It's a huge deal. >> Yeah. >> I will second. >> So motion by Mr.
080Shoemaker, second by Mr. Dewitt on acceptance of the mixer. Thank you to uh Ms. Crowley for uh for putting that application in and um thank you for all your hard work as you do every day. All right, all those in favor of supporting the mixer, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> And can Can I take Lauren to buy my Powerball tickets? >> I think [laughter] I think she's got the luck. Um and she actually just let me know that she um entered another um promotion today um with one of another one of our national vendors um that essentially would clear all of the district meal debt. Um so >> You know. >> Yeah, that's >> Now we're talking. >> Meal debt is unpaid meals, not under spending. >> [laughter] >> Thank you for
081clarifying. >> Still, it's still >> see. Yes. Um with regard to solar, um I did um touch base with um Katie from Dynamic Grid um and she said that they are looking at a mid-April date um to do the site work over at LMS. So of course um you know, we need to know that ahead of time um what the you know, what the exact dates are. She said she's looking for like a Friday and Saturday. >> School vacation week is great at this point. >> great week. >> Correct. Correct. Um so I will firm that up with her. Um she's We're also working with KW Management, which is the commissioning company, to to coordinate that. Um with regard to I did ask about the um battery shipment. Um she said that Toshiba currently is
082anticipating a um May um ship date from Japan and then it's about a 6-week um period before it actually arrives um to Maine um where her facility is. Um so she said that she anticipates all of the preliminary work that um her team needs to do to be completed um um when the batteries arrive. So, the only thing they'll need to do is the final assembly um and then some testing exercises. Um I did inquire and haven't heard back quite yet as far as what is the timeline on that um all of those pieces. Um so, as soon as I hear back, I will certainly report that out. Um I also asked about the energy production. We saw that big wall from um I think it was January 17th until like um March 9th. Um
083and I assumed it was because of the snow cover on the panels, and she did confirm that that every all the uh equipment is properly working um and at this point um you know, things are back up and running and resuming, and the building load is now being covered by um the the array, and it is exporting to the grid. >> Okay. That's what you want. >> Yes. >> Right. >> But we're still not seeing I guess with that, we're still not seeing the benefits of it, right? Cuz we're still in the contract price. >> Well, so that's that was going to be my question as well, right? So, when does year one of the contract kick in? Wasn't it in July, if I recall? >> It depends on when that battery is done. So,
084it kicks in at the beginning of the next fiscal year after the battery is built. >> Right. So, if the battery >> June and it's all done in June. >> Built or installed? >> Installed. Like all that done done done. Everything is done. >> But the probability of that is low, right? Because it's a shipment of May, 6 weeks, they've got to get it here, install it. So, this is going to be in July or >> August. >> So, that allows us the opportunity in the budget process to do anything if we need to do or whatever we've talked about in the past or as a reserve or you know, reserve uh um set up a reserve fund for for around solar and stuff like that. So, that's the agreement that we need a full
085fiscal year to make those decisions. It can't just be a snap of the finger and go forward. So. >> Okay. As you're saying, just to clarify, that's when the batteries get to the facility in Maine to be installed into the container and then tested and then that's going to get here. >> Correct. >> So. >> That's only going to I mean I will [snorts] just speaking for myself, I guess. I would not install that battery until after the school year is ended. >> Oh, yeah. >> Regardless, I don't want kids in the building when that thing's getting installed. Like just site work okay, you're putting some concrete down. You know, bridge that around school vacation, whatever the case may be. I don't know how this stuff works. I don't want kids in the building [laughter]
086when that thing is getting installed. >> It's not explosive. >> I That's what I'm told. It's just uh >> Until it is. >> [laughter] >> Tim, could you Do you have a specification on the batteries? Do you have the spec sheets on those? >> I have their design from K. I don't know if she actually called out the specific module. >> We have the information I can take a look, yeah. >> Yeah, I'm just curious about like the cycle life and stuff, you know. >> Yeah. >> How many cycles that they're good for and that's going to be the real determining factor, I think, in the end. >> I'm sure we have some light reading for you here. >> That's good. I actually like the technical light reading. >> Yeah, and just on solar, I
087know the board has talked about this prior, but you know, as the system now depreciates and ages, right? It's been up there now for a couple of years, right? There will be items that start to fail, right? And we as a district need to keep that system operational and as we've learned, some of these replacement costs can be quite expensive for all the connectivity parts and things that make that system operational. So, just something to keep in mind as time progresses, right? This system is now depreciating, continuing to depreciate and there is going to be maintenance involved behind it. >> You own the power plant, so yeah. >> That's it. That's it. And some of those components of that power plant, so to speak, are 10 grand plus. Yeah, right? And we know that. So.
088>> 20,000 plus life cycle charging cycles. >> Yeah. >> It's interesting. >> Yeah. >> It's pretty good. >> All right. Next thing I have, so after [clears throat] >> Thank you. >> Mhm. >> After the election each year, there are certain forms that need to be uploaded to the DRA portal. One of those is the MS-22, which is the voted appropriations. So, I do have a copy of that for signatures. It actually requires your signature as well. >> Oh, does it? >> Um, yeah. >> Mhm. Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay, so we'll circulate that as we progress. >> Thank you. Um, and I also attached the certified counts and ballot minutes, which is something that also gets uploaded in case anyone wanted to see a breakdown of the votes. Um. And then, um, the last
089thing I had was the end of year expenditures. Um, we have started compiling a list of items that we might be looking to seek approval for for any end of the year funds to be encumbered. So, we have started that list and certainly if there's anything that you would like us to add to that list, we can look into that. >> over Mr. Kwincicky's shoulder here. >> [laughter] >> I I think what we'll want something we want to do is prioritize what are our priorities, right? Like my personal priority, again, this is a discussion with the board, is the LMS parking lot, right? Like once we have that quote completely sound because we went back to get additional information on the original quote that we got. But having Now, we may not have enough money
090because that could be a $400,000 project, right? And we may not have that money when you factor in the warrants that we have to take from end of year funding and stuff like that. But we should start the board is should be the board prioritizing what they they they think we we to spend our focus on. Um, next meeting um, just give you a preview. One of the things that that the high school team's going to be here to talk a little bit about is a a district van. Cuz there can be some it might be something we want to look at because there's potential savings for us actually if we pursue the something like that. Uh, cuts down on transportation costs for smaller athletic teams, smaller academic programming that we do. Instead of getting
091a bus, you take the district van and stuff like that. Um, so that might be something that's good for an end of the year encumbrances stuff. So, if the board can start thinking about these are ideas. This is a spreadsheet. Nothing here is concrete as in like 100 This is not in no particular order. It's as we think of it. But if there are things that that pop into your heads, um, please add it. We have to put in the stuff from um capital improvement plan as well that we designated as possible end of the year stuff as well. Um and so this is going to be an ongoing discussion for us coming move forward. >> Do we still have items from the um auditorium that are needing to be addressed? >> Yes, I put
092those underneath in the bottom cuz I um I don't think that um Ms. Hutchinson has had a chance to go through those yet. >> I just remembered that. >> Well, one of the items that we talked about years ago that is still kind of in the back of my head is this is the um speaker system in the auditorium. >> Yeah, that is one thing >> Um, yeah. So, and also uh painting. Like I know last year the board approved encumbrance of $8,000 for district painting. I'd like to continue that. Right? I don't know what that project is, uh but something that we should continue uh in terms of maintenance of the schools. Right. Some of that painting's original. If we think about Campbell as an example. And also um I know the superintendent and
093I have talked about like the gym floors and repairs and things like that. >> It's part of that. >> Preview on next week. Tony's got an idea he's going to bounce off of. Okay. >> Uh for you guys. Not Not next week, next meeting. That's something he's been working on, looking at gym floors and stuff. Possible opportunity there. >> But even at LMS as well, right? So, definitely things that are items that the board have talked about in the past, but want to make sure we're staying on top of this. >> We're still waiting for >> And Campbell High School mirrors. >> Yeah, bathroom mirrors. You mentioned that the other day. >> We're still waiting for quotes or information on the paving stuff. >> Yeah. >> The other is with regard to the paving is
094if we reactivate the old soccer field at LMS, that may come into play there, too, right? >> Right. Yeah. So, we cuz that was a task from the FIC, as well. So, I talked to Dave and Tony about it a little bit. Dave has real concerns cuz it is the leach field for the district. Um what work we can do on it, right? Like you can be on it, but you're limited on some of the the I won't go as far as to say construction, but you want to be careful on like >> heavy equipment. >> Yeah, exactly what you're doing around stuff like that. Um >> But I mean, you can put a bigger lawn tractor on there, right? Like you could put a Kabota on that. >> Yeah. >> That that's I you
095can generally drive a car across it. Just it shouldn't sit on it. So, I mean, if we're talking about grading, you know, and resodding, I don't see that equipment exceeding that for a leach >> Landscaping equipment, not construction. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But >> Well, as long as we let whoever is doing it know that. >> Right. >> Yeah, I mean, it's like that this is the stuff that needs to be figured out, but >> Yeah. Cuz the other thing I was going to say is that in the operating budget, right? You guys had line items in there for uh maintenance and kind of tweaks and stuff into the schools anyway that normally wasn't. So, I just want to make sure that wherever whatever we have in the end of the year encumbrances wasn't listed
096under what we already have in the operating budget. >> So, that goes back to that capital improvement plan. Maybe we can bring that up next week. Um where we designated funding sources for some of those different things. So, the things designated as budget are in the FY27 budget. And then things such as painting, because that's is very important cuz it's amazing what a coat of paint can do, but like we kind of put the funding to that as like that's something we can look at within the year funds. So, like we'll >> Yeah. I I just want to bounce it off. That's all. >> Yeah. I think it's good to double-check those things. Make sure we're doing that cuz that's the point of the plan. >> Right. We follow it. >> That will do everything
097on it, so. All right. What else from business operations? >> That's all I had. >> That's it. Is the board okay if we let Brooke enjoy the rest of her evening? >> Thank you, guys. >> Absolutely. >> Excellent. Thank you for sticking out with us. Appreciate the update. >> Thank you. >> All right. We'll turn it over to Dr. Taylor for curriculum. >> All right. Um it's always busy. Um vertical alignment is um next Thursday for social studies. So, gearing up for that. Excited to um work through more things with them. Um we continue to work through making sure that the Ed 306 um updates are incorporated cuz those go into effect next year. So, making sure that we are in alignment with those and that was heavily hit with social studies. So, we're really
098going to um dig more into that and make sure we're good there. Um we are in the process of certifying teachers and support staff for their renewal cycles. So, the professional learning coordinators at each building have been working with me each month and we've been tracking hours and making sure that everybody that's due up for this year's cycle is good to go. Um each building admin is certifying those with them um this month and then I'll work with Brian [clears throat] to get them certified and sent over the state early in April, which is great. Um as we talked about earlier, the curriculum review committee met today. Today's focus we looked at um we're updating um a lot of policies. So, our we looked at um policy IJK, the supplemental materials policy, which really focuses
099on film and movie proposal. So, we're looking at the updated um policy and we're um we updated the forms that go with that. Um and have some suggestions for superintendent as it goes before it goes to policy committee. So, um we did that and then we looked at some um novel and film proposals and talked through some of those as well as a potential um course proposals that might be coming. We're still looking to see if that is going to come or not. So, stay tuned. >> Suspense. >> Find out, right? Um and then the Department of Ed came out with this new um consolidated needs assessment for the grants process. They have a consolidated application. So, now they came out with this consolidated needs assessment tool that I've been working through um cuz each
100ESEA grant requires some level of needs assessment, but um some of our allocations aren't big enough, but it's still a good exercise to go through. Um so, I'm working on getting that done and then I am going to have a stakeholder group. I know I've been talking about it, but um we're actually going to start having meeting and Mr. Peoples, I would love for you to join that because you fit two of our needed things as a board member and as a state rep. So, um that would be wonderful. [laughter] >> Go on and be paid double for that. I'm in. >> All right, fantastic. That would be great. >> Can you email me the meeting dates? >> I absolutely will. Um and then if anybody else I know, Dan, you had said that you
101might be um interested in joining that. I know it was a while ago, so >> [laughter] >> I'll include you on the emails >> Sure. >> I don't forget, you know. So, um I'll include you on the emails just to see if we do need a um government representative and a community member. So, you guys kind of fill a couple of those buckets as well as parents. So, um I'll let you guys know when that's coming. And um assessment season is upon us. Um I sent out some information in my newsletter this weekend to families about some of the dates upcoming. Um SAT day is on April the 14th, and then we have the SAS window is also open. Um I am optimistic in seeing how these are going to go because we've been having
102really good conversations around the modulars, the SAS modulars, and I was on a meeting and looking at some um data with some teachers earlier, and like if they're I won't call out the grade level, but just looking at the writing, the students are getting threes when none of them were getting threes before on on modulars, and they emulate the writing, the SAS writing. So, I was really, really excited cuz we always get twos, which you get it's a two out of it's up to two points for conventions, but then for evidence and elaboration and organization, you get up to four points. Four is like perfect score, which is really hard to do for anybody, but we were always hitting the ones and the twos and never the threes or the fours. And to see that
103we're getting threes and on above in like and there was only a couple students in the class that didn't hit that mark was I was really excited. >> Encouraging. >> It's great news. >> Are the teachers Are the teachers excited about that? >> Yeah, it seems so. Some of that it's it's hard cuz sometimes you look at the rubric and then of course you have to you have to understand that it's AI scoring writing. So sometimes it's very like, you know, it you as a human scorer look at things like, well, why didn't they get that? And why, you know, and I actually went through range finding and I think I've mentioned it here at the board before where we when they first introduced narrative, I was part of a group that kind of calibrated
104the scoring and pointed out a lot of inconsistencies as far as how things were being scored and then against the rubric. Like some things were getting higher scores than they should have and then vice versa. So the state still looks for that kind of feedback too. So my question was to the state is actually a question that came from this teacher is if I manually override a score cuz you can do that for the modulars, is that information getting sent back to the to Cambium to let them know, hey, these scores are being overridden and there's notes as to why. Like can they see that information? Cuz I think that would be really helpful for them to see on in the field why teachers are adjusting scores so they could use that for their like
105updating their scoring process. But optimistic about it and I think it's going to help that it's like they're used to the platform. They're not getting dumped into this platform like I've never seen this before. What is this? On testing day. They're getting used to the question types and it's I think it's going to be a good thing in the long run. So and it's also again like I keep stressing it's it's apples to apples in terms of where teaching to standards and this is assessing to standards. >> So when will we see the data on that? >> On the modulars? >> Yeah. Well, no on how they actually because the when is the testing? >> Testing is and they're going to be doing the testing window opens late March, but the schools are doing it
106um let me pull up that >> Usually get the results in the summer. >> dates >> Is it summer? I can't remember if it was or >> Yeah, oh we don't get our So the results come out almost instantaneously. For teachers can see it, we can see it, but >> summer. >> Um well, they've changed it and you can see it almost instantaneously, but you don't get like your aggregated data like you can get your class data, but you have to get you have to wait a little bit to get the district data, but then the state data comes out way late because we have to certify we have to go through and certify our data and make sure they're look for any anomalies and all that kind [clears throat] of stuff and then which
107they've started doing earlier. That's something that I did do in the summer time, which was a lot easier. We asked for that because last fall was when we first had to do it and doing something like that in the fall when school's just starting up is very difficult with timelines, so they pushed it back. >> So, that's the second part of my question, is so what's the plan in terms of like processing that information with the teachers? >> So, that would be something we would do in the fall because it does we don't get it in enough time to really digest it and do things. So, now that we have the October PD day, that could be something that we could do during that day cuz then it's fresh data. >> out of curiosity though,
108like is there some is there anything lost by the fact that like like right now you've been going through they've been doing the modulars like it's fresh for them. The kids are going into this like they they're, you know, fresh on prepping the kids for this stuff. Are we losing something by then not really being able to go back and look at it until October when they're now kind of you know, ushering in a new group of kids and they're getting to know these new group of kids like does that make sense? >> Yeah, no. Because like I say when I talk about when we look at the data and we look at the vertical year for instructional purposes and we look at the diagonal for cohort and MTSS tracking. So, really when you're thinking
109about teachers and teaching in May and June, you're wrapping up, you're trying to get everybody through the year, you're in almost survival mode. So, having deep data discussions during that time of year, you don't get everybody at their freshest. Does that make sense? So, then everybody has had a chance to kind of digest and percolate and all the teachers look at their data, right? Like they're looking and they're look at reflecting like, oh, okay, how did my class do, etc. Then in I'm excited for the to hopefully use I haven't really had conversations with admin team about using October. Kind of floated it, but not official, but that's a really good time to look at that data and then it's early enough in the year to then make plans, right? Like when we're looking at
110that vertical instructional piece for like, okay, look at how students are doing year-over-year in this. What are those instructional implications? What does that look like? What are some shifts that I might be able to make this year to make improvements. Does that make sense? >> So you have enough time to make some mid-course corrections. >> Mhm. >> So when are they going to actually take the test? >> So they'll take the test in May. SATs. >> SATs are in April. >> SAT is in April for is on April 14th, but each school that I don't have them I don't remember exactly cuz the elementary spreads it out a little bit and the different grade levels make their schedule. So they do it over the course of a couple of weeks so that students aren't like
111in complete test testing fatigue. Um and then um the middle school does um one a day. >> What's the deadline for SAT registration? Do we know? >> Um >> For this for this SAT they all have to take it. So we register for them. >> Yeah. >> Because it's the state required testing, so >> Oh, okay. >> like we just mass enroll them. We have to chase them down if they don't take it, right? Or we have to get the waiver if they're not going to take it, stuff like that. So there's no registration for the SAT on this. If they want to take it on their own separately, there's a different process for that. >> That's AP. >> Yeah. >> They would have to. >> AP Yeah, AP is what you have to register
112those tests. >> Are we trying I know, you know, one of our goals is to try to improve performance on that? >> Yeah. >> Is this one like our I know Jen had stuff that she would >> Yeah, she met with the juniors. >> you were buying >> I'll buy them all pizza if they do better. >> Yeah. >> [laughter] >> She met with them I think it was either the last Friday >> Yeah. >> or the one before. One of these past weeks. >> Friday. >> Yeah, I think it was last Friday she met with them. Uh during advisory and went over a It was a nice little PowerPoint. I can share it with the board. Um on the value of standardized testing she drew the connection between the variety of certificates and programs
113that you need to do post like even if you're not college bound, this is why it's important to um invest in standardized testing and learn how to do it and stuff like that. It's really nice presentation. She was pretty transparent with them, this is what, you know, no offense to the current seniors, but this is what the current seniors got. Let's beat them, you know, and like start that pattern of like competition and and doing better and stuff like that. So, hopefully that sunk in. It was a seemed to be a positive meeting. She had a good um feelings about it afterwards and stuff, so. >> So, hopefully we can get a report out on that after they, you know, I I think it's good for us to start tracking here what the efforts have
114been um and >> Well, we have been tracking, right? Through various means. >> just saying, you know, there's we're making new efforts now to try to like really boost that. I just think it's I don't want to be cited on that. >> Right, just changing assessment culture and mindset. Right, like they're giving the purpose cuz humans by nature need to know why for things and that includes kids. Sometimes we forget that. And so by giving them that why and setting that purpose and the tone of this is important and it it is valuable to you. Um and help them with goal setting themselves. >> Mhm. >> So that they're aware and then they set goals like, oh, here I am now, here's where [snorts] I want to be, here's where I could be, and so
115that they strive to that. Like, that is all really a great way to just improve that mindset. >> Well, thank you for all you're doing in getting curriculum. We're really looking forward to continuing to move the needle and and >> [clears throat] >> improve across the district. That's obviously one of the district goals that we've talked about now for a couple years. I'd like to start continuing to build upon all the hard work that you're that you're establishing for us as a district. >> Oh, great. It's great momentum. >> All right. Any other questions? >> No. >> Okay. Uh we have the public minutes from February 4th, 18th, and March 4th. We will do these individually. >> All right. Okay. >> So, there's two that you, me, and Peter >> So, I I mean, check
116check me on this. I believe February 4th is the one that I was absent on. >> Correct. >> Uh I believe February 18th was the one that >> I was absent on. >> Mr. Shoemaker was absent on. And March 4th, I believe was the one that Mr. DeWitt was absent on. >> Correct. >> I will make a motion to approve the public minutes for February 4th. >> Okay. So, um we have a motion by Mr. Shoemaker by uh for the approval of February 4th. Is there a second? >> Seconded by Mr. Plantsky. Additional discussion on those minutes? >> Okay. All those in favor of approving February 4th, uh please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Abstained? >> I. >> So, that carries 3-0-2. >> Yeah, that's right. >> We're really doing our math here. >>
117[laughter] >> Helping you out over here. >> Thank you. >> So, now it's you three filling in. >> Right. So, for February 18th, Mr. Plantsky, can you make a motion on this one? >> I'll make a motion to accept the minutes of the February 18th meeting. >> Okay. >> I will second. >> Thank you. Uh additional discussion on February 18th? Okay. All those in favor of approving February 18th, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Abstained? >> I. >> That carries 3-0-2. >> And I'll make a motion to approve the public minutes for February I'm sorry, March 4th, 2026. >> And I will second that. So, we have a motion by uh Mr. Shoemaker, second by myself for March 4th. Additional discussion on those minutes? All those in favor, please say aye. >> Aye. >>
118Opposed? Abstained? >> Aye. >> Okay, it's 3-0-2. Look at us. Look at us. Great. >> [laughter] >> Little victories, Brian. Little bit. >> Yeah, that's a little victories. All right. And I'm sure uh Jan Sullivan's very happy that we got those minutes approved. >> [laughter] >> All right. We have uh policies now. Nothing for first read, but the board did review um several policies more in alignment with NHSBA uh that are on for second read and final approval tonight. Were there any questions on the policies? Uh I'll just list them out. Policy IGE, parental objections to specific course materials. Policy JICD, student conduct, discipline, and due process. Policy JJJ, access to public school programs by non-public charter school and home educated pupils. Policy JLCB, which is the immunization of students, which had I believe the
119most edits, correct? >> Yeah, we remember. First one did. >> policy JRA uh student records and access. >> Yeah, that has the most. Right, we had to revamp that one. >> I'm just looking at the immunization one real quick. >> There's more information in there compared to what we had. And I think Mr. Peoples, correct me if I'm wrong, there's there was at one point a bill connected to different things related to to immunization coming through at some point. >> Yes, I think that one failed. >> Okay, so never mind. I know I I to get it in line with school board, so if there were changes we were prepared to >> Yeah, so I think that will pass. Yeah. >> [snorts] >> Doesn't list the immunizations that are required in the policy. >> not.
120No, because it can change at the laws, so we just follow whatever the RSA connected to it [snorts] is. >> I'll make a motion to approve for second reading final approval policy IGE, policy JICD, policy JJJ, policy JLCB, as well as policy JRA. >> Second. >> Motion by myself, second by Mr. Shoemaker. Additional discussion on those on those policies. Okay, all those in favor please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Abstain? >> I. >> That carries 4-0-1. >> [clears throat] >> All right, I'll turn it back over to the superintendent tonight for some old business including enrollment in GMS. >> Yep, not too much difference in enrollment. I'm going to do a pitch. I'm going to be honest, I'm a little worried about kindergarten enrollment. We're only at 55 right now. Cuz we started really
121fast, right? What's that? We started really fast. And we've kind of slowed down. So we're going to re-kind of send everything out, you know, through social media and our websites. I know I've I've mentioned it in my newsletter each week, but maybe move that back near the top of the list again. Based upon the equivalent like births in town, like when we go backwards look at the school year, we were projecting around 80, a little over 80 kids in kindergarten. Because this was a higher birth rate year than in previous years, so we're not seeing the kindergarten numbers get there yet. Still only March, but looking at historically there have been some years where you've had higher enrollment in kindergarten by this [snorts] point, so monitoring it. Do my pitch here at the board. If
122if you have a going to have a kindergarten age student next year, please reach out to us. We will help you through the registration process. It is online on our website, but we're happy to go through it if there's any issues um with it that you have um any especially if you're new to to having kids in the district and setting up the accounts that you need for it and everything associated with it. So, we are here to help, but um monitoring that and hopefully um that goes up. So. >> I mean the Shoemaker family feeder program will start in >> [laughter] >> and then a fairy through like 2030 >> appreciated. >> How do we compare to last year at this time? >> We're only slightly above, which is not surprising. I mean you
123can see our numbers right there. We're in the low 60s right now, right? So. >> What's our the student staff ratio to student for kindergarten? >> Right now we have four kindergarten teachers, so it's 14 to 16 kids in a classroom. And which is solid for kindergarten, right? You wouldn't want to make that three and have over 20 kids, you know, in the in the kindergarten classes. So, that's the right number. Um previous years when you look at the historical, you've had as many as five kindergarten teachers when it's gone to, you know, 80, high 80s in the number of kids that you have there and stuff. So, this is why it's kind of crucial to know what we're dealing with in kindergarten if we have to make shifts around who's teaching what, right? Um
124like I said, we have four kindergarten teachers right now. So, if we get into that low 60s again, all right, everyone stays where they are. If that number got to that 80 number, like we have to shift things around, right? Potentially and add fifth sections of kindergarten and so on and so forth. So, that's why that we asked for this so far in advance because of the programming we have to do around it. Um and uh yeah, go from there. So. >> All right. Well, we'll continue to monitor and certainly looking forward to an update of at the next board meeting. >> Yeah. Um GMS, I I asked Sasha at the the at way back beginning of the meeting, but so I might just be repeating myself. We're meeting with Harriman and Harvey tomorrow afternoon
125at 2:00 2:00 um to go over a whole list of things related [laughter] to the building project. Uh we'll do a presentation out on that at FIC next week on it. I'll have a much more greater detail at the next board meeting uh from the results of that. They just wrapped up all their stuff they've been doing with projects that need to get approved not approved right now. Um so they're putting their focus back on us now that they've kind of got stuff wrapped up in voting at town meetings and other places. Uh schedule what we're going to do this spring, uh prioritizing what our requests are in terms of specifics around the what we're getting, right? Like we're focusing on that option 1B. What is it really like drilling down to the detail of
126the costs associated with it, right? Like what is the cost of the windows if you know, for example, if this is what we're going for. >> defendable to the taxpayers and what >> and like have all those details and then comparisons of different different models and different things to associate with that. So that's the work we're going to get started with them restarted back up tomorrow. >> As well as the swing space, right? And what is it what is the timeline and the phasing look like and and um and and and yeah, how are they going to approach that? >> Yeah. I think what we saw we I know um it was different board member each one. When we went to to the 55 plus communities, we touched on the project at each of those
127and you can tell people are interested and I think would appreciate coming back and having additional conversations. >> The one I mean I thought it was effective though. I only did the one, but I thought it was very effective with the public. >> Yeah. I think doing that with the building is is going to be very helpful. >> So what what uh Mr. Cutter found that he circulated to all of us in terms of the outreach that they did in Hollis was phenomenal. >> Yeah. Yeah, for that long the video they made that different. >> The details, explanations, everything they were doing it's good. >> So I don't know, you know, how I would get that. >> I was just chatting with the Hollis principal today. Unfortunately, they did not have a successful vote in
128Hollis, but um >> But nonetheless, right? Like no matter where no matter where you're at, I think that that hit everything that we've needed to try to communicate, but in a very effective way. I think, you know, whether your community's at the point that it's ready to recognize that there's a need or not is >> Right. >> can't change that, but So, if we could engage whoever did that, I think >> it'd be >> money well spent, and I think the sooner we do that the better because, you know, ultimately this is our time when we're supposed to be really trying to get that. >> out and see what see what's involved with something like that. >> Mhm. Right. >> Uh the the thing when you connect with Herrick, Miller, and Harvey that I I
129certainly want to drive is timeline. And I I know that's yeah, certainly on your agenda, but I would really like to push towards having everything buttoned up by that October timeframe. >> Yeah. >> So, we can get in front of the voters in time, we can get in front of the budget committee in time, everyone has time to review and and really think about structure. >> what a bond payment looks like, and we can collectively as a unit, school and town with representation the budget committee say, "Yes, this is the right plan for the town." >> Yeah. >> We need to get it out early. >> Yeah. >> October. >> That's it. I mean, that's when we start talking about budgets [clears throat] and >> 5 or 6 months before election day. >> Yeah. Yeah.
130>> Yeah. >> Um one last thing we got I I know we we obviously didn't have the project on this past vote, but we still get informed of the bond rates and and everything kind of for this upcoming year to keep cuz we're exploring and everything. Uh the bond rate this year was much lower than the previous year, so that's a positive trend for us. Hopefully, that trend continues when we bring this next year. Two years ago, I think it was 4.3 It was over four something for 20-year bonds. And uh the numbers that they're doing in this cycle for bonds 3.43 for 20-year bonds, so that's a good improvement. Um hopefully, that trend continues, so when we're going hopefully for this next March, um you know, the numbers will be more favorable to us
131for the long >> only other question I think is um and I know that the at the state they haven't figured out funding for stuff like this yet, but so have they paused like the the list? >> There's no There's no school funding. Don't think about the state. >> There's no budget. >> We didn't fund it. We We It's not in the So in this biennium right now, there's no money in it. Only to pay for the tail, which is the the the committed the committed money. >> they paused taking people applying even though they didn't fund it? >> No, I don't believe they have. >> So we can renew our letter. >> Well, so here's my question, right? Like at some point if we're moving away from a [snorts] new building, which we have.
132>> Yeah. >> Does it make sense to be putting in for a renovation project? To get on the list. >> I We can check. >> I'm going to put the It doesn't hurt to be on the list. >> It doesn't hurt. >> But but right now we're on a list for a new construction project. >> Right. >> And we're in a good position for that, but we're not proposing that and it doesn't seem that that will be what we propose. So does it make sense to you know work Are we burning time that we could be on a list moving up a list for a renovation? >> We're even looking at the way that's structured and how they approve how they approve projects because right now the it's the process for approval for a project
133is about as stupid as it gets. It really That's the only way to describe it. It really is. I mean, we're sitting behind a $48 million project. We're never the the most they fund that is 50 million. We're not going to see that money. It's It's just not going to get to us. It and it's founded by all those things, well, we have a building and we're on the list and we've been sitting there. Has nothing to do with need. So whether you need it or not, if you're on the list, you're going to get your funding when it comes if they ever fund it if they keep funding that area of the budget. Everybody's pushing to get it back to we have projects that need to be done, right? There's a need. There's a
134demonstrated need for life safety, education, you know, there's a need to get this project done. And whether they make you park on a list like that forever by allocating the grant money by needs. And I think we stand a much better chance in that if that all makes it to the >> Yeah, I just want to make sure that we're we're if we're going to have to be in a line to lead, we might as well get in line. >> Yeah, we can reach out >> it so you so it could be for renovations, too, not just new builds. >> Not just new builds. Yeah, and >> it already is able to be done. >> You can do that, but you can only have one project at a time. So like we can't because the
135building on the list is a new build right now, if we were to propose a renovation, which is obviously the direction we're headed in, you take that off the list and you come back on at the bottom, right? Because it's completely new. It's in their eyes a new application. So um I know that much, but I'll reach out to um the the the the facilities person at the at the DOE. >> Yeah, I should know his name and I don't. I've only met him one time. >> Um he's new in the past like 6 months or so. >> we should be aware of. >> Yeah. It's it is one thing that we've been we've had discussions in education funding about because it's silly the way they're doing it. And it's not helping. They as well
136as there are projects that did not get funded that the districts went and did them [snorts] out of ban. So when there was a moratorium on building, they went and did the projects anyway. Now they keep coming back trying to get that project funded in arrears. That's been complicating the issue a little bit, too. >> So Brian, when you're meeting with Harriman and Harvey tomorrow, um I would like to see if we can't figure out meeting schedule with the community project team that has met with them before. >> Yep. >> Agreed. >> And do we know how many how many of their projects got approved through this cycle? >> No, I can ask them about tomorrow. Just see how they did. >> That may impact our schedule. >> Yeah, I don't know what they bid
137on either, so. >> Right. >> I think they had a national project as the one that was at least most local to us. Um I don't know what they had like out of state and stuff, but I thought it was the big New Hampshire one they were working on. >> Did that pass? >> I don't know. >> Oh. >> I don't So far I was so happy about us. Like I just like kind of, you know. >> I don't think national votes yet cuz they're sitting there. >> Oh, they have to go through the process for everybody. >> Yeah, okay. Okay. >> All right, anything else on old business this evening? >> All right, we have the manifest. Uh we have accounts payable for $54,873.90. Another accounts payable of $133,753.90. Uh another accounts payable of
138$53,683.58. And a fourth accounts payable of $39,703.74. We have the payroll manifest of $373,794.43. Uh a 403b of $8,626.53. As well as a credit card manifest of $4,814.58. Thank you to Ann, uh who does a tremendous job putting all those manifests together for us and sends it to the board in advance for us to review. Much appreciated. >> Any other questions, manifest or other? All right, we have our second community input this evening. Seeing since there's nobody running up to the mic, we're going to close our second round of community input and I'll turn it over to school board for comments. What do we have? >> I just want to say thank you to the voters in the community for continuing to fund and help improve our school district. >> I would agree and I
139sort of say again that the the band concert and the senior day on Saturday was fantastic. Um good time was had by all. >> Excellent. And I'll add the chorus concert cuz I attended that one. That was truly amazing again and uh I did give LMS a shout-out too for the windy day once once more. So, congratulations there. Big success. Um what else? Anything else, Matt? Right from your side? >> Me? Uh just like to thank the staff for a great onboarding experience on Monday and uh the time uh superintendent took to chat with me. And it was really easy. >> Did they get a picture of you? >> Uh no. >> [laughter] >> We're going to need to work on that. >> Do you know anybody who takes photos? >> No. >> [laughter] >>
140Maybe teaching. >> All right, we'll close school board comments. Thank you again for to the voters as everyone said, right? We really do appreciate and are super grateful for the support of the schools uh during town voting this year. Uh we do have some non-public business this evening under RSA 91-A 3A through C. Uh this does conclude the public portion of our meeting. With With that, I'll entertain a motion to move into non-public. >> Absolute. >> Motion by Mr. Shoemaker. >> Seconded by Mr. Plantsky. This is a roll call vote.