School Board Meeting - 01/07/2026

001That was not good. [laughter] That thing needs stud times. >> All right, we are live. So, good evening everyone. Welcome to the Wednesday, January 7th, 2026 Lichfield School Board Meeting. Happy New Year. Hopefully, everyone had a happy Hanukkah, merry Christmas, and very happy new year. Welcome back. Uh we're going to kick things off tonight with the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Uh review and uh revision to tonight's agenda. I do have one change to tonight's agenda. I would like uh to see if the board is willing to move community comment, the first community comment to after a GMS project update from the

002superintendent tonight. >> Yeah, I'm glad that be okay. >> All right, I'll entertain a motion to do so. >> So moved. >> Motion by Mr. Dit. >> Second by Mr. Shoemaker. All those in favor? >> I I >> I Okay, that carries 40. Thank you very much for that. Uh so we'll have >> Yeah. There will be won't there be two opportunities for public comment? >> Yes, there'll be still two public opportunities for comment. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Um, great. So, we'll have the first public comment after this immediately after the first superintendent's report out for GMS project and then the separate the second community comment just as we always do at the end of tonight's meeting or 8 o'clock, whatever comes first. All right. Any other changes to tonight's agenda? Okay. Hearing

003none. Uh we have consent tonight. Uh any board members would like to move anything off consent. Just as a reminder for the board, we do have the budget committee meeting tomorrow as well. And the budget committee meeting will be voting on warrant articles. I did put that update in the uh in the budget committee report that's linked. >> Okay. We have summary of non-public action items from December 17, 2025. Uh the board did discuss a staff update that evening. Mr. Shoemaker motioned to adjourn the non-public session at 8:37 p.m. Uh Mr. Cutter seconded that motion. That motion carried 40. Tonight we have presentations and recognitions and we have school beber uh school board member appointment follow-up. Uh I'll turn it over to the superintendent to get things started. >> Um sure. So we uh had

004four candidates originally uh put in for this. We did have one of the candidates uh withdraw um between our last meeting and tonight. Um it was the candidate who was not able to attend last meeting uh to be interviewed. Um so we're down to our three candidates. Um and uh I'll turn it back over to you chairman [clears throat] to kind of walk us through that process. >> Great. Thanks. Thanks for that summary. So just as a reminder, right, we did have four candidates as the superintendent said, uh one of the candidates did drop out. So just as a reminder, uh we now have three candidates. We have Mr. Peoples um who had informed me today he is doing the people's work up in conquered tonight so he may not make it this evening uh

005which is um you know he's uh like I said he's uh doing housework on the education front in uh in conquered tonight. Uh we have Miss Brley uh who also was here in December and we have Miss Mercier who's here in the audience tonight. Um any discussion from the board on how you'd like to proceed tonight? I'm prepared to make a nomination. >> Okay. >> Uh I move to nominate Alli Mercier to fill the vacancy on the board. >> Okay. We have a motion. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Okay. Uh we have a motion and a second. Motion by Mr. Shoemaker, second by Mr. Dwit. Additional discussion. >> Uh is can I make another nomination? >> We can. >> So I would like to nominate Ray Peoples. >> Okay. Uh so we

006have an amended motion by Mr. Plansky. Uh, I will second that motion for discussion. So, we have a motion by Mr. Plansky. Uh, I will amend that. I will second that amended motion. Right. Um, >> so wait, is that amending my motion? >> Right. So, now we have a we have an amended motion. We're going to vote we're going to vote on the amended motion. If that amended motion fails, we go back to the original motion. >> We don't vote on my motion first. >> We vote on So, it was now >> How can we amend my motion? That's how it works, man. [laughter] All right. So, now we're on the amended motion of discussion, right? So, now we're on Mr. Peoples for discussion. >> Okay. Right, >> Mr. Finsky. So, um, Mr. Peoples, as

007I think most everybody on the board knows, has been very active in the community in the past. He is our state rep. He has been a school board member, a select board member, I think a planning board member. Um, was part of the FIC committee. so is um up to speed on all the work that's been done there. I think the fact that he is um a state rep uh can benefit us two way both ways from Lichfield to the state and from the state back to Lichfield where he has um really taken the bull by the horns up there and trying to do as best he can for educational funding. And I think he would be a good thing. Again, it's a short-term deal until March. um whether he decides to run or not,

008I think is up is currently up in the air. Um I think he is certainly well known to the community um and has done again very good work here for the town. >> I mean I've done I've done a lot of work with Mr. Peoples um when I was on the FIC. I think he's wonderful and he's doing a lot for education. I guess my concern is the workload at the state is pretty extensive. Um, I mean, obviously tonight he's at the state, right? We have a meeting tonight. I also, you know, don't have the benefit of asking him if he's intending to run, which is something that's of interest to me because I think that it's helpful to have a uh, you know, it would be helpful to have some I mean, whether or

009not they get elected, it'd be helpful to have some continuity on that and get a get a head start because we have a lot of stuff we're working on. So, I guess that was my, you know, my would be my concern with that. >> He indicated he would serve through March before deciding whether to continue. That was at our last meeting. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Anything else, Mr. Dit? >> Um, I think I echo Matt's concern um both with the FIC meetings, which I I know fall on like state deliberation days as well. So, I know it's I I get that it's difficult, but uh commitment running back and forth to conquer. Um though, I I feel and I guess that's my main concern. I I do agree with you, Peter. I think he's a

010great conduit for Litfield to the state and back down and understanding that and he's got a really good grasp on what's happening at the state. Um I guess I'm just worried about attendance and commitment to to the school board. >> Okay. Uh my thoughts, I am so very grateful for all three candidates, right, for running and for showing um just, you know, willingness to fill the seat, right? We have a vacancy on this board, which is a critical role in a in a fivep person volunteer position, let's be honest. And this is a critical position for our town during a critical year, right? We need this person to support this board and to be that key vote, that key voice on this board. Um, and so I think any of these individuals all bring different

011perspectives, different insights. Uh, Mr. Peoples certainly does a lot of work at the state level and having his perspective in conquered and at the state is very important. Mr. people serving as a school board representative in the past. Also, um you know, having that having that history in town is is certainly uh very beneficial to us as well. So, I think any of these individuals um would be would be well served on this uh on this board. Uh Miss Bryley, Miss Mercier being Campbell graduates obviously uh and with uh you know, having young kiddos in town, bringing kind of new fresh perspective into the board as well, I think is is certainly nice. uh nice as we think about the future. Um so I you know I I don't think we can do wrong is

012is my is where I'm going with this. But um so I I I can go either way on this one. >> My only other thought is that you know I think regardless we'll be working with Mr. Peoples, right? Like we should be working with Mr. Peoples. He's our rep. >> So my my only other thought would be >> we get more bang for our buck if we can I mean we're going to need to coordinate with him anyways. Um but then you know he can focus on the the state side of things interact with us on on the level that makes the most sense and then have the benefit of having another you know brain working with us as well was my thought process. Okay. So why don't we call the vote on Mr. Peoples

013and uh we'll proceed. All right. So all those in favor of Mr. Peoples uh please well we'll just do a roll call vote so it's clear. Mr. Plansky. >> Hi. >> Mr. Shoemaker, >> I'm going to abstain. >> You're going to abstain. Okay. Uh I am a no. Mr. Dit. >> No. >> Okay. So that carry that fails. Uh one >> zero one two one. >> One two one. Great. All right. So that then goes back to uh Miss Mercier. All right. So Miss uh Mercier for discussion because that was a motion in a second. >> Correct. >> Okay. Great. >> Yeah. So, I mean, I felt like Miss Pier had a lot of um good insight. Seems to be really doing a good job trying to get up to speed on what, you know,

014what's going to be in front of her with us uh here. Um I think she would bring a great perspective to the board and I think that we could use that. >> Okay, great. Mr. Quincy, >> uh I certainly have nothing negative to say about Miss Mercier. Um she did a very very nice presentation when she was here a few weeks ago. Um my my opinion was that I thought Ray would do be a better do a better job for us. So um I'm not gonna I think she would add add some value. She has some experience in in the public sector and we'll see how it goes. >> Okay, Mr. Det. >> Um [clears throat and cough] certainly I I echo your sentiment. I don't think we can do wrong. Um, I think Miss

015Mercier had a unique experience of working with other, call it state and federal level grants. I believe that was the correct candidate. Um, and being able to work at that level to see what else is out there to aid in any grants that come in either by um, you know, Julie and Sarah and everybody else to to help in that endeavor in seeing what else is out there just outside of the educational world. but any others that's out there um I think would be beneficial. >> Great. Okay. And I like the fact that Miss Mercier brings again a fresh perspective, young kiddos in the district, right? Willingness to run hopefully in March. Um and kind of continue the path forward. Uh and hopefully, you know, if Mr. Peoples would like to continue, uh we'll see

016his name on the ballot in March as well, right? Would like to certainly like to see that as well. So, okay, we'll call the vote on Miss Mercier. Uh Mr. Uh, Mr. um, >> I, >> Mr. Schumaker, >> hi. >> I have an I, Mr. Dit, >> I. >> All right, that carries 40 Z. Welcome to the board. >> All right, so as a next step, you will need to get sworn in. Uh, so we'll uh, you'll need to coordinate with the town hall to do so. And then you can be a sitting member on the board at our next meeting. So, we'll get you in contact with Terry and go from there. >> All right. >> Thank you. You're welcome to stay for the rest of the day. >> Awesome. >> Congratulations. >> [applause]

017>> All right. Uh, so moving forward with the board business tonight, we have the student representative report. We have, uh, Dom and Zod joining us tonight. How's everything going at the schools? >> It's good. >> Yeah. Welcome back. How are your holidays? >> Pretty decent. Good to be back, though. >> Yeah. Two weeks. A long time or not enough time? >> Not enough. It's never [laughter] >> I know. I had to break it to the elementary kids that their vacation next year is not going to be as long. >> It's not going to be two weeks, but it's not going to be two weeks. >> Yeah. You know, you gave them a, you know, a two two hour delay today. So, >> try to help, [laughter] >> right? >> Counts as a day. [clears throat]

018>> Um, so first, our winter sports programs. First, we have the girls basketball team, which is 0 and five. Um, their next game is on January 9th against Con. Yep. And the boys basketball team is one and five right now. Uh, Next game is on the 9th vers. Uh the wrestling team has competed in three meets so far. They're doing pretty well this season as well as the boys pack hockey team. Um they're currently one and two with their game tonight versus Nanog Mountain. Um so the past events which was all us here student council winter district conference, the winter course and band concert, the staff breakfast which is put on by our student council at CHS as well as Christmas tree lighting. So current events what's going on in schools now is we're coming

019back for vacation. So we have the midterm prep which is coming up. The CHS just released um or just announced their coming up as well as the unified basketball team that [clears throat] has their second game on Friday that's currently 1 and0. It's the first basketball team in CHS history. So, what's coming up for us is um on 19th [cough] we have the 27's volleyball charity tournament going on. Um the 20th and midterms are going to start for uh for CHS. And then the 30th, Judge John Brick is guest speaking at CHS as well as our winter carnival which is kind of a pep rally before February break. >> Um so down at the middle school they had a giving tree fundraiser and it was [clears throat] a huge success. Um it was like Litfield

020Middle School and the Lichfield Police Association. Um, and they were a able to donate over $3,300 for like families around Lichfield. And they were also able to shop and provide holiday gifts for over 21 kids. They also celebrated or they have a celebrate the season and that was also a great success with over 450 students and families that attended that. Their sports down there are boys and girls basketball right now. They have both like solid starts to the season. with a couple of wins for both of them. And they're also preparing for like the Winnie dip in March to help raise funds for Special Olympics. >> You're going to go in the lake in March. >> Yeah, I'm good. >> Yeah, I'm all set. >> I went to celebrate the season. You were there, right?

021Did any of us go? It is an incredible event. It It had to be the busiest Celebrate the Season I think I've ever attended. This place was packed. >> Um at GMS they had an all school meeting on December 19th. It was like a whole school readaloud and it was led by Mr. Mitchell and they also had a staff le sing along and on the 7th which is today they had an 80th day so they had like a school spirit day wearing the like 80s fashion and then the Winterfest family event is held on February 5th. >> All right, excellent. Anything else at our schools? >> I think that's it, but I just want to give a quick shout out to Unified Basketball. Dom touched on it. They have the first home game um in

022the program's history this Friday at 3M at the high school. If you're not familiar with unified uh basketball >> um it's uh a combination of of more typical students with our intensive nude students coming together to play basketball against other schools um in the state and they are just wonderful games to attend. They they just bring a smile to your face. Um we did win our first game but it's not necessarily about the wins and losses, it's about the experiences. So, just a quick plug if anyone's free and can come to that. Um, our first game on on Friday afternoon at 3:00, um, you're welcome to attend and kind of see it in action. And kudos to the team at the high school. Um, you know, Tony, our AD, and then Shannon [clears throat] Sapion,

023our is the coach for the unified team for making this program happy. I'm very excited that they were able to put it together and and uh establish a team here at Campbell. So, it's great. >> That's great. And is it a travel? Where do they go? >> Yeah, they do travel. I mean, you the travel's more localized. So they'll go um to Windham and to to London and they play Salem and Hudson and stuff like that. So we stay within our region so it's not as as heavy of a travel as a varsity basketball team for example, but they do do away games and uh and uh have the whole experience of of getting on the bus and and going as a team and uh bonding as a team and everything is a part of

024it and cool. It's great. Yeah, >> if I can add to that, we just got our team sweatshirts. Yeah. >> So we have our jerseys, but we just got full blackout sweatshirts. This is unified basketball. I just picked mine up today. >> Yes, that's great. >> Awesome. >> How do you feel about about doing it, Tom? >> It's awesome. I mean, I can keep active while I'm injured and it the games are great. I mean, they're fun to go to and I know, you know, the I know the team will be uh be ecstatic to see those stands back, though. >> Yeah, >> especially on Friday home game and we get pizza after. >> Yep. [laughter] >> There's the win. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> All right. Well, thank you for the update tonight. Appreciate

025it. We're going to try and not flood the elementary school at Winterfest as well this year. >> Right. Exactly. That's a great idea. That was fun last year. >> All right. That was a joke. >> Yeah. Right. Where Yeah. The nurse's office flooded. I remember that one. >> Okay. Um switching gears. We have correspondence this evening. We'll turn it over to Vice Chair Plansky. >> Okay. On uh December 18th, there was a student accident at LMS where the board responded to Mr. Okonnell. Um on the 19th there was a leak in the in the GMS classroom. We again all responses there. On the 19th there was an email from Mr. Peoples on the national summit uh strategy session. Also on the 19th was the links cast final 2025 broadcast. That's going to keep going though,

026right? That's >> Oh, that's an ongoing thing. >> On the 21st, Mr. Blennice sent an email um regarding the CIP not being approved by the board of selectman and wanted to attend the next meeting. Um on the 22nd there was a text message to the board um as there was a police matter underway and again there were responses by all the board members. On the 23rd the year-end manifest needed signatures and um three three of us got to the school to sign the manifest for Miss Amirati. the 23rd, Mr. Oblenus had a question regarding the 20 2025 year end budget information. Mr. Cutter responded on the 26th. Mr. Oblenus made request for the contracts for Haramman and Harvey with a response was contract links to by Mr. Cutter. Again, on the 26th, there was a

027request by Mr. Oennis for the cost estimates for Herman and Harvey, including comparison to the on-site insight reports. uh Superintendent Okonnell and uh responded to Mr. Oblennis. On the 29th, there was a community forum response to Miss Linda Lasales. Um email from Miss Lalis, Prince to Principal Mitchell. Uh there was a [snorts] payroll manifest on the 30th by uh from Missatti and then on the 31st a payables manifest to the board with responses and then on the the 31st um Mr. Oennis had questions for the superintendent and Mr. Okonnell responded to those. On the 31st, there was a um response to Mr. Oblenus regarding the teacher contract and then on the 2nd, Renee shared out the agenda for today's meeting. >> That's it. >> Okay, that covers it. Thank you very much. Appreciate that. Any

028other correspondence the board would like to highlight that you received not captured? Okay, hearing none, we'll move over to the superintendent under general business and we'll get into GMS. >> Yeah. So, um just dive right into GMS. Obviously, we've been discussing about this a lot. I want to provide an update. So, since we last met, um, working with Herman and Harvey, um, trying to iron out kind of those alternative proposals, we had discussed kind of at the last meeting specifically, um, the idea of a 23 millionish proposal that would kind of introduce um, kind of a phased approach, I guess, to addressing the GMS issues in addition to work out some other proposals that um, would reduce the um, amount of the kind of options that we were presented at the community forum and seeing

029if there was adjustments being made to different aspects of those including site work and collaboration spaces and and different components of those options to see if we could get additional pricing. Um they were able to kind of give me some rough estimates and ideas of what some of those things were would consist of. But um just to be blunt and [snorts] straight about it and this is no no issues with the work they're doing. They're working extremely hard for us that they just haven't been able to iron out specific details of these type of ideas and stuff like that. Um, you know, the holiday break certainly didn't help, right? You know, having um Christmas and the new year here um which made it kind of choppy to kind of walk through different things with them

030as we've been kind of communicating back and forth with our schedules. Um, so I have a bunch of informal, well, if you wanted to do this 23 million, it could look like this or it could look like that, but we would need more time to iron out the very specifics and the details [clears throat] of everything that would come up with it. And they don't want to guarantee anything at this point beyond of what we've presented publicly as part of the reform. Those numbers they could guarantee. And while they feel confident in some of the stuff we've been going back for, they would need more time to to guarantee, you know, this would be done, be able to get done for $23 million, for example, and stuff like that. So, that's kind of kind of

031where we're at. I last spoke to Lisa last night, you know, um again, another time like, "Hey, where are we at? I got a meeting tomorrow night. Can you >> what can I get?" She's like gave me a little update this this morning. uh which I appreciate it, but it's still not with anything guaranteed in terms of pricing and stuff like that. So, >> so, so look, I mean, just where we stand um with with GMS and candidly warrant article one, which is um which is the bond article going to voters, which we're going to talk about here in a minute, uh is I don't feel confident now in going to the voters and asking for any funding this year. Right. >> Hallelujah. >> Right. because well here's the deal right we you know what

032the superintendent just reported out right is we don't have enough information right we're not there yet right we're out of time right the board needs to make a decision tonight >> the budget committee needs to make a decision tomorrow we have budget hearing next week and if we don't have now the details which we're optimistic we would have at our December 17th meeting all right coming into today where we would have at least some of the details behind this is what the 60s wing removal of the sixes wing would look like. This is what the plan with removal of the portables would look like. This is the kind of the materials we would use. Right. We would have at least an informed decision to make tonight. >> Great. We don't have that. We don't have

033any time to digest any of that. >> Right. That's my struggle about putting anything forward. >> I know you hate long-winded things, so I'll try to be like efficient with this, but I think it's it's useful to kind of just take a step back for a second here, right? We came off of the last vote and knew that a $44 million new school was an absolute no to this community, but we knew that we needed to figure out what a better solution would be. The first step in that was getting an FIC committee formed that included the community. We built an FIC committee that was pretty well-rounded. They did a lot of work which included seeking community input in the form of surveys, right? Which then guided a process and that guided the process of

034what what does the community want to see, right? If you think back to it, >> one of the things was, does the community really want us to outsource our high school to another town, >> right? Like we looked at all those options again and and bottled it down to two options. At that point that that was established, that's the point at which we went out and started to do all of this work with Herman and Harvey. And you know, all along I think we've always been transparent that we want to try to get something done for March, but we can't force something if it's not ready. And they were very clear with us right from the get-go. This is aggressive. We are more than happy to try to hit this. And you know, we think

035we can. And candidly, if that number had been starting with a one, which I think was what they were hoping until they really started to get into the building and dissect the options, I think we might have been in a place where we could have gotten something on on the ballot for this year. But I don't think when that number came out at 32, I think that that's a big step back. I think none none of us feel comfortable that that's a number that the taxpayers are going to be able to get behind, especially learning that number in November. >> So late in the game, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So I I wholeheartedly believe we've still done some very important work. We're in a great place. Uh I mean I wouldn't say great place.

036We'd be in a great place if this was, you know, a $15 million project that could solve it, but it's not. But we're in a great place in the sense that we have a lot of information right now. we can take this time between now and next March to really fine-tune this and interact with the community because right now I think we need to hear from the community again as to this is what this is looking like. Let's let's fine-tune this a bit more. So I I'm with you on that. I don't feel good about putting something on the ballot just to put something on the >> Before I speak again, I'd like to hear from the other board members. >> Yeah, I I would agree. I think that we've done a lot of good

037very good work has been done there. I just think we um we ran out of time. Yeah, >> it was sort of that simple. We just couldn't get to a number where we could we could speak to it and def and explain why we needed this. We can't just have a number that is this is x number of dollars per square foot. >> Yeah. >> Because people are going to ask the questions. I'm going to ask the questions and that's what we talked about at the last meeting is what does it include? >> And we should have the answers to those questions, right? We should be able to speak to these are the materials we're going to use. This is the type of uh windows and flooring and you know whatever we're going to HVAC

038equipment, right? What we don't want to do is say, "Hey, we're going to put electrical heat in in uh in a 70,000 foot building," right? We need to be able to to defend the decisions we're making. We don't know the answers to those questions. Well, I I think the community also, if we were talking about a phased approach, the community needs to understand that >> you're it's really not a phased approach unless you're financing the whole thing up front because ultimately we're talking about two projects at that point. And they need to understand this is what you're getting for project one. >> Fair point. >> And this is what you'd be getting if you vote for project two. And guess what? At the time you're voting for project two, you're paying a bond in your

039>> in your taxes. And that's I'm not comfortable putting that in front of them, asking them to vote on it, having people maybe look at a $23 million number and saying, "Yeah, 23 is palatable." And then we deliver a project that's not completely finished, and they're like, "I thought we were getting this fixed." >> Well, we're going to do it for 23 million, but now we have to knock this off and this off and this to stay in that $23 million number. >> Well, and and I think so, I agree. I think we just ran out of time, right? It it's we were optimistic going into this and I know I said it up front as soon as we got them under contract. This is hard. This is going to be fast. Like corporate doesn't

040move at that rate to to get projects like this solidified and done. So um when it didn't come in within expectations or hopes, I agree it it was time to pause and step back. We presented some alternatives and we don't have enough information on that alternatives to make a decision. Um, Matt, I agree with you. I think time is now to reach back out to the community, right? We can solidify up with those alternatives what that would look like. And then we can reach back out to the community to say, are you are you comfortable with a $33 million project for next year, right? If you include inflation and all that stuff. Um or would you rather see a phased approach that's going to be this knowing it's two bonds and you're going to pay

041for both bonds at the same time >> and and you have to understand that if it's not being financed at once >> that >> fellow taxpayers may not vote for phase two. So you may only get to phase one but if people understand that that's fine. I'm I'm comfortable if the voters understand that and vote for it. >> That's fine by me. >> I'm all for it. Right. It it's our work isn't done. I have a lot of questions with the Haramman team almost. So, I don't know if we can get another like working group project like we had leading up to uh through December with the team that met with them. So, you know, the FIC and those members can ask questions of them. Um concern is I would love to keep the website

042going, right? Because I know that was only done for a certain amount of time for that information >> and that type of stuff. >> So, that that's so let me jump back in. Right. So that that is part of um some of the follow-up questions I've already sent to the superintendent um the business administrator. I also copy vice chair plansky on this right a number of questions I had about all right so what's next right um I want to know costs I want to know what's the what's the impact of this decision I want to know what do we do with bond right because we've already in contracts with all like I want to know all the impacts of all this right so at our next meeting I I would be hopeful for report out

043uh I'd like to understand what Haramman and Harvey uh intend to support and what that looks like for us over the next several months >> yeah so just quick to talk on that and continue discussion you know, we already had call scheduled with bond council for tomorrow, you know, post this meeting. So, it's just a continuation of that call like, okay, this is where we're at now. Believe it or not, we haven't done we do work with the bond bank to get numbers and all that stuff, but our council, we haven't that work doesn't really start until till after a successful vote. So, we're in good shape when it comes to to working with that and the contract we have laid out um in regards to bond council. So, um, so we'll talk about what

044it looks like because we're not abandoned. It sounds like we're not abandoning the project. So, like how do we >> push that um forward to next year and stuff like that. And then with Lisa and Haramman and the Herman team, again, same thing. Uh, we're scheduled to talk tomorrow um or Friday depending on on her schedule um to follow up with this meeting regardless of what the decision was made and to kind of continue. I mean, even Dayton back at the beginning, they showed us two outlines, a 26 vote outline and a 27 outline. So, I think they understood >> that no matter what happens, this may carry over into 27. So, I've enjoyed working with uh both Haramman and Harvey. I think they've done great work for us. Um, and it be a relationship

045I would like to continue, especially with the time we've invested with them. And I have a feeling they feel the same. So, um, I think there's an opportunity just to continue the work that we're doing. >> So, the message here is this work doesn't stop, right? We're pumping the brakes a bit, right? To make sure that we get the me we get the details right for the taxpayers. We get the right um the right options. We get the right details. We understand the right scope of the project, the right financing behind it. We allow the business administrator the right in the ample time to be able to make sure that we have um all the deci all the all the information we need to make an effective decision about 20 25 whatever that looks like

046for the right rates. Hopefully rates drop a bit as the course of the year, right? So that might play into our to our advantage. Um so this doesn't stop. We're pumping the brakes a little bit to allow a little bit more time for this to play out and so we can make an effective decision. You know, the the other thing too is if we're going to if we have more time, we have way more information to have more substantive community engagement. And one thing that really would be interesting is with Doug Cotton, like he did come up with a pretty creative bond structure. >> Uh, and you know, I know people were uncomfortable with that, but it was largely because we didn't have enough time to like really educate people on that. I would be

047really interested to know how the community feels like if we're able to present something well in advance and like get information out there just to say would this make a difference. >> Yeah. I mean to me Mr. T and I worked together on that one and that made a tremendous amount of sense to me. The community just didn't understand it. Right. >> But we also didn't have enough time to really >> help them understand. >> Well, and and I think that's what this buys us, right? It buys us call it 8 months of time to educate to say you know and and you know at that point in 8 months I would be much more comfortable in 8 months to say hey let let's go for the full boore right is we we have eight

048months to educate we have eight months to feel questions we have eight months to build up the support and the dynamics behind it and here's what happens what doesn't right and going from there so I'm I'm good with it. Okay. So, any other discussion on this one? >> We need to have a motion to remove it. >> So, that's the next step. Motion to remove warrant article one. >> So, moved. >> Motion by Mr. Shoemaker. Second. >> Second by Mr. Plansky. Additional discussion. >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Opposed. Abstained. Motion to remove carries 4. >> All right. Uh, with that, uh, and as mentioned, we did have a change to our agenda tonight. We will open it up to community comment. >> [clears throat] >> As always, please state your

049name and address. >> You voted on all the other all the other articles, right? >> Uh, we did, but there were some updates to language, so we need to revote. >> Okay. >> Happy New Year. >> You excuse me, just to get organized here. >> And I got some handouts for you. Just as a reminder, we're limited to three minutes tonight under policy beh two two handouts. >> Got it. Thank you. Uh first of all, I appreciate the action you just took. In fact, that was my recommendation uh coming in here was for you to not move anything forward. And the reason being is I think the committee has done a poor job, in fact, a very poor job this year analyzing the options in front of it. This is the book that I uh

050learned all there is to know about engineering economics from my college days. Ironically, it says that you need to look at every option thoroughly or else you may not get the right one. And you've heard this before, but interestingly enough, the Hampshire DOT recommendation from the New Hampshire Department of Manual for Planning and Construction of school buildings uh was issued in 2006 has the following statement. Funding the planning process. In a world of shrinking resources and growing demands for public accountability, getting the necessary funding for a facility's planning process can be extremely difficult. While much can be done by volunteers, at some point there will be a need to pay for the necessary professional technical services to analyze existing buildings to prepare preliminary programming and design studies to conduct environmental geotechnical investigations of possible building

051sites and to develop accurate cost estimates for alternatives under consideration. Many districts are understandably reluctant to commit funds prior to a bond vote, but presenting a proposal to the voters without adequate study and accurate cost estimates can be a formula. And this is their word for disaster. Conceptual drawings and a rough cost estimate are not sufficient. It is unwise and very risky to promise public that a building can be constructed on a particular site for a given cost without having conducted geotechnical site geotechnical site in investigations and using only gross estimating uh techniques for a construction cost estimate. When projects proposed without adequate planning, the result can be a significant cost overrun or major reductions in the scope of the project to fit within the budget. Worse, without adequately researching and analyzing all feasible alternatives,

052the district cannot be sure that the proposed project is the best solution. And I'll try to be brief. I'll just highlight for you. There's the new layout for the school was turned down in your handout. This is the schematic for the one that was just not moved forward, option 1B. This one here, the schematic is one I prepared and presented to the principle of housing t. They're all at the same level of detail. They're just plans but with specific evaluations. And one of the things that disturbs me about the whole process is in those plans, the new class uh the new building that was proposed of 44 million that was turned down had 27 classrooms. The proposal I had had 24 classrooms to match what Mr. Mitchell has. The proposal that Haram presented had 22

053classrooms. How was it possible? There's no planning. There's no understanding of what need to be done here. There's no documentation and and it just demonstrates that this committee doesn't know how to plant and doesn't know how to value anything. And specifically what has not been looked at and you can talk about it all you want is actually looking at what I proposed in there is to do a repairsbased option and it meets all the criteria and you keep saying it doesn't it replaces things in kind. That's true. What's so bad about inkind? If you have a water pump fail on your car replacement in kind is what you do. >> All right, Mr. Blennice. Thank you. That has been four minutes. We'll have an opportunity for schoolboard comments and more community comment at the >>

054just so you know. >> Nope. We're all done. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> I have people move on with tonight's agenda. Thank you. >> We're all done. Mr. Oblenus, your time is up. Thank you. >> We're all done. >> Be careful. >> Oh, I'm very careful. We'll cut the mic. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate it. >> All right, moving on. We have warrant articles tonight. >> Yes. All right. So, the article numbers have changed, right? So, we'll start with article cut the current article two, right? >> Yeah, we'll have to adjust the numbers. >> You mean they haven't changed yet? >> Yeah, we haven't adjusted the numbers quite >> um so the first one you just made a motion to remove. So, we will remove that second one. So, article two, I'll

055let Julie speak to this. Uh Dr. has some uh suggested language. Um so yes, as I mentioned at a previous um meeting, there was a new law that was um put into place that has a requirement that and any um warrant article that is for an operating budget for a school district that also needs to include some um information with regard to cost per pupil for that district as well as um proficiency scores um as far as ELA, math, and science. So, we were all waiting um all business administrators were waiting for the DRA to provide language um with that because DRA is the one who has to approve our warrant articles. Uh so, we did receive that language after this was voted on prior. So, I just wanted to add that language in there

056and um have you take a look and revote on that article. That's the only thing has changed is the highlighted um first sentence. >> Okay. I don't have any issues with this and this is consistent with what's um going to be presented to the budget committee and in the in the report as well. >> Those numbers are accurate, I assume. >> Yes. >> Yeah, they're accurate and aligned. >> I'll make a motion to recommend the revised article 2 language. >> Great. We have a motion by Mr. Shoemaker, second by Mr. Plansky. Additional discussion on the changes. >> Nope. >> All right. All those in favor of recommending article two, please say I. >> I. Opposed? abstain. That carries 40. Thank you for that. Were there any other changes tonight to the other articles? >> Well,

057we did want to talk about two more. So, there haven't been changes yet. Um, one is article nine, which I want to you did vote on last time, >> but now that we've removed article one, um, do you want to either a change the amount or change the the sequencing of of the articles with involving that one specifically? >> Right. So, this is an important discussion. Right. So, now that we don't have GMS um on the ballot this year for renovations, right, the original discussion was, hey, because of GMS, we're going to lower the amount in the capital improvement and expendables trust fund uh to $100,000 this year uh or going into into the next fiscal year. Um uh so $100,000 is what's the current amount in article 9. Do we want to increase that

058and change the sequencing given that we need additional reserves to cover us theoretically for the next two years right before any work gets done at GMS? >> Yeah. >> And what does that look like? >> What did we have it as last year? >> 250. >> Yeah. I I think we should probably [clears throat] go back to 250. I mean the and this is one of those articles that is currently um worded as no additional amount to be raised from taxation assuming that there is that money at the end of the year and because of where it is sequenced it's the lowest priority >> it would be less >> as well right >> so where expecting a balance of >> fun toal Authorized withdrawal amount will be approximately 99,580. >> Correct. >> Is there anyone

059at the police window? >> It's right off Albuquerque. >> Everything's offer. [laughter] >> All right. So, back to article nine. >> Yeah. I mean, well, look, if we're going to get down to $100,000, like we we absolutely potentially where >> potentially if we spend all that that's been approved at this point. Yeah. >> Yeah. We need to we need to replenish that so we can continue the work we're doing. I the worst thing that could happen to us is that we >> get to a place where we can >> finally get, you know, get somewhere and then we can't pay for it. So, >> I [snorts] think that we need to move that up and I think that we need to increase the amount back to 250. That seems to be with the work that

060we're doing that seems to be a keeping a a reasonable running balance that we're drawing down appropriately and replenishing. >> Okay. I don't disagree. But then I'm just trying to think where does that fit in terms of sequencing. Does that move up to where current article six is? >> So article three has to stay where it is, right? The teacher contract. >> Yes. >> Three's got to stay where it is. Four's got to stay where it is. Five's got to stay where it is. >> Correct. >> Six. you're raising, you're using that, you're getting using taxation to gain that money. So that's if you change article 9 to utilize taxation, which it doesn't sound like you're discussing, but if you were, you could stick it there. >> But if you're not and you're just going

061to use it go and it's got to go after six, I would say you want seven first because you have benefits tied to it. But this particular year is so small in what we need. We talked about this last meeting. We put 50,000 there. But the the stuff we actually need that we're committed to is only about $2,400 of that 50,000. So if you wanted to ensure that the current article 9 gets addressed first, you would put it ahead of that. If you want to take >> Yeah, I think that makes sense. [snorts] >> I would agree. >> We couldn't make it the new article five because the current article six is taxation. >> Taxation. Yeah. I mean I I don't think >> at some point we need to start paying for this. >> Yeah.

062>> I mean like at some point we need to pay for this, right? >> So I don't think it's nec pay for GMS like >> Oh yeah. >> Like at some point taxes need to be raised for GMS. >> Oh yeah. >> When does that happen? >> A year from March. >> I would advise. >> So do you want to change it to tax? I mean I would I'm just I'm opening the discussion right >> so question if if we if we change the the that trust fund to taxation it can go anywhere correct >> it could be new article 5 or whatever it is >> um but if it fails we can't can we then not take any um >> unspent money and put it in there >> correct I wouldn't have two taxation

063just my opinion I wouldn't have two taxation articles related to the trust funds right you've [snorts] determined that the the reserve fund for building maintenance you're going to raise by taxation. That's because we did that last year and it was successful. I think that's a good strategy. Right. If [snorts] you wanted to move the current article 9 into a taxation type of of warrant, my advice to you, but it's your decision would be to now make that maintenance one. >> I don't think we can do that because the the premise of the maintenance one is we just like GMS like we have to start paying with GMS but we need to be paying to maintain our buildings >> and we the understand that they just proof. Yeah. >> So I think >> so either way

064you're putting you're taxing money. You're going to pay you're going to spend on >> but it's the it's the principle though. I think that was our it was a principal stand of we need to you going to yell at us for not maintaining buildings. You have to vote to pay to maintain buildings. Like that's just the reality. >> So with that logic I would say put the current article 9 as article 7 and make it the first one. That's not effective >> and increase it to 250 would be my >> because we could absorb the salaries. worst case scenario that one doesn't pass or we don't have the money to fund it >> because the short money that we're have to have to cover >> and some of the information that we're learning about health

065insurance >> could change the equation it's not we're not >> you know we've I I think when you guys presented I don't know if I saw the last budget committee meeting but I think you've presented it as we we do want to build reserves and there is a strategic reason to build reserves for that um but I think that there was some communication around um potential uh whatchamacallit it's from school care uh why is the word escaping >> assessment >> thank you uh and I don't think that we are in a position right now where we're as concerned about the possibility of that for next year >> so just to clarify that point because I don't want >> so yeah I I think that that would be my >> article 7 250 got it Mr.

066it. >> Agreed. >> Spots. >> Yes. All good. >> Okay. >> There you go. Article 7250. >> So, we need a vote on that then, right? >> Because we increase the amount. >> We do. Let's do it. >> Make a motion. >> Yeah. We need to revote on it. >> I'll make a motion to recommend that new article 7 to be increased to for building. What is it? >> Capital improvement expenditure trust fund to increase to $250,000. I'll make a motion to recommend that. >> All right. We have a motion by Mr. Shoemaker. >> Second by Mr. Dit. This is additional discussion here. >> Okay. And so this is a change to the current article 9 moving it to article 7 increasing it from 100,000 to $250,000. Um and changing the sequencing of it. >>

067Still estimated tax pack impact $0 because it's a company. >> Correct. >> Okay. All those in favor please signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Opposed. Abstain. There we go. 4 Z. The last one I want to talk about is article 10 which is not a financial one. It's about the open enrollment. Um we held off and voting on it last time [clears throat] because I had an upcoming meeting with the regional superintendents where we were going to discuss this. We have had said meeting. The consensus in that group is to not put warn articles related to open enrollment on our ballots in this particular region. um this kind of ch our our advice we're getting from from attorneys from each [laughter] other from everybody is um kind of changing day by day with

068open enrollment. So like you know if you remember when we started this I suggested not having a warn article then we had a warn article now I'm resuggesting I >> guess the question is >> yeah and part of the reason is there is some legal questioning on whether you can actually um have a 0% of sending out that that might be a violation of the law. So don't put yourself into a corner by doing that. And there seems to be just like wait until there's more information. So we're all not just we have mechanisms within our re with any schools but particularly in schools that we work with to have conversations if kids need different placement for for reasons whether that's special ed, best interest, manifest hardship, different things like that. And rather than complicate

069it with the open enrollment stuff, the consensus from that meeting was um to not put it on. We are our own agency. When I was in that meeting, I voiced that we had written a draft one that we had discussed at a board meeting. I was in the vast minority of districts that had taken that step. But but I wasn't the only, right? >> You're a pioneer. >> I don't know if I always want to be a pioneer, but um and uh and so but as the discussion happened, there seemed to be kind of like we're just uncertain about this. We did, you know, like where this is going to be. You know, Mr. Peoples was here last meeting and did um you know mention some of the they're trying to fix this up at

070conquered to make this a little bit more clear and also mentioned that the 0% might not be be legal or binding, right? So do we want to take the risk of of putting that um out there and stuff like that? Um, so, >> so is there is there still a concern though about the because the whole reason that we were looking at this was because of the if you say nothing then you can be liable for paying, >> right? So that discussion had but there has to be a willing partner on the other side of it, right? Like so if there's another district like if a kid was to apply here, right? Like if we just say no, the kid's not going to come here, right? You know what I Unless there's like a real

071reason. >> Can we just say no? >> We can if it's not a Lichfield student, we can just say no. Like say we had a student from Londereerry request to come here. And this happens time to time in districts, right? Like family reaches out to a school district, say like, "Hey, I want my kid to attend your school for whatever the reason may be." And you know, a district if it's not like where you're representing can just be like, "Sorry, no thanks." Right now, if there's a reason and you're going to have a conversation, you would like under ignoring open enrollment, you have a conversation conversation with the district of where that kid lives and find out more details and what the reason is. And you might come to some sort of agreement that there's

072not to go too off the road, but like best interests, right? And if a kid qualifies under best interest, an arrangement may be made between two districts to allow that student to not attend their homebound district, right? and then the sending district would pay the tuition or would the family pay the tuition? >> It all depends on the arrangement and the the reasons why you're granting that request and stuff like that, right? Something could raise the level manifest hardship which means you're not going to necessarily um charge a family for that because of some different things in place. It do you charge for part of it because there's special ed considerations? There's all the variables that part of it. Um, not to like use any specific examples, but I've seen every combination of stuff flat

073out like, "Yeah, we're just going to pay you the tuition or we're going to pay for this part of the tuition and the family's going to pay for this part and everything in between." >> So, our big risk is that school district on like the border of Canada that's like decided to become an online school district. >> So, that that's the vulnerable thing. But when you really get down to the program that they're offering, there is an in-person component that you could challenge, right? like if we had a student who enrolled in their online piece, as the program is laid out, there are in-person components that are required as part of that program. So, while it's not a 0% chance, it would be hardressed that a student from Lichfield um on a frequent basis would

074drive up, you know, two plus hours to attend these inerson sessions, right? Um where like if you're a northern school, you're It's not a drive as far of a drive. >> So I guess I guess the risk of like someone perfecting an online model within the next year when we would be able to vote on this again is pretty low. >> Yeah. And I think it gives more time for the legislation to work out what this really means. Right. Like this is all based upon a law that's 30 years old that no one's looked at. Right. >> Right. Like and so we're trying to apply modern educational pieces to a law that's old that needs a revamp. whether you're pro or against open enrollment and there are pros and cons to it. That's not what

075I'm here to argue one way or the other. But like if we are going to go down that road, we need to update legislation that accurately reflects responsibilities like just things like special ed like who's responsible for the special ed. >> So I have one more question for you. Are your your esteemed colleagues who have all been the brainchild of this strategy here, are they going to do the same thing to you that they did with the cell phone cabinets? >> It's a great question. you know, it's like a trust thing. Like we ended up being right about the cell phone stuff, right? Which I'm happy about. But >> um and you know, schools that were not as aggressive have struggled more than we have in terms of cell phones and stuff like that. >>

076Um but I I think this is a different issue, right? And I want to be careful that it's not like we've all agreed yes or no. We just legitimately talked about as regional districts like how are you approaching this and why are you approaching it? what are your reservations for approaching it the way that you're doing it? So on and so forth. I am still new to this side of everything. There's a lot of veteran superintendents who sit in these meetings. Um I trust guidance I get from them on different issues when I ask you know um ironically the lakes region whereas where I was previously capital region the lakes region they are all putting more articles on you know it's a different philosophy in that particular region. We're down here. We're South Central. Um,

077>> what's Have you asked legal what our exposure is if because I'm I'm sure they don't have the answer as to whether or not someone's gonna challenge us, but like if they challenged it, >> is it just going to be something where it's like, hey, listen, that's invalidated is and it's a slap on the wrist or is it >> No, I mean there they move this along. Does any board member have any strong opinions about whether this stays or goes? >> Well, I I I guess my the answer to that question informs. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think everyone's relying on the Pittsfield decision, right? The Pittsfield Prospect Mountain decision where everyone was surprised Pittsfield was um on the hook for the tuition, right? That that was a parental choice to send the kids

078to Prospect M. This is all public information, so we talk about schools openly. >> It was um the parent decision to send the Pittsburgh parents to send their kids to Prospect Mountain who had determined that they were an open enrollment school where Pittsfield had made no stance in either direction one way or the other. Right. >> Right. Pittsfield's understanding because they had made no stance that a parent was making a parent choice which they can most commonly when a parent makes that choice they're sending their kid to private school rarely is it to another public school but they made a choice to send their kid to public school and therefore they can't can make that choice but they're responsible for the financials attached to it so it surprised many educational um legal people that the

079Supreme Court ultimately decided to to side with Prospect Mountain and the Pittsfield parents to say that the Pittsfield School District was responsible for that tuition. >> Right. Right. But so what my concern though is is like has legal weighed in on if we because everyone's saying take it off just in case you can't set this to zero. Right. That's what you're saying is the problem. And so my thought process is if we set it to zero and it's fine, we don't run the risk that Pittsfield ran. If we set it to zero and it's not fine, what does that mean? Is it just a hey, that's not valid. So you >> and we don't know because there could be updated legislation in the session. There is legislation coming through related to open enrollment that could

080undo any districts that made warn articles with this specific language in it. >> Right. But that's fine. Like that's not a there's no liability to us in that case. It's just that they they invalidate it and it's gone. >> Yeah. And I get >> that's that's why I >> there be an expense if anyone wanted to challenge us from a legal standpoint. You know, there could be an expense related to that, right? You know, >> well, the Supreme Court's ruled on this, right? Well, they ruled on they didn't rule on whether you can say zero. They ruled on >> having to pay the tuition. >> And I think that's why people are struggling with what's the next step because of that because everyone wants to protect their district from that situation, right? Like if you're

081going to have to pay tuition, you want to understand why you're paying tuition. For example, we pay tuition for CTE, [laughter] right? Our kids go to Alver for CTE classes. We negotiate a rate. We negotiate a contract for them. that goes through an entire process that we agree to. We can budget for it accurately every single year, right? Where if you don't have any this what scares people about open enrollment is you have no idea from a budgeting standpoint what to dedicate to it, right? You could have zero kids go, so you're not going to dedicate any money. Well, you got to do a dollar because you got to have a line now. Or like if you have five kids go, that's $100,000 that if you haven't budgeted for, it's a lot of money, right?

082Like, so where are you going to find that, you know? I think that's where people are struggling with how do you protect protect yourself as a district from not getting a financial hit because someone wants to take advantage of of this law. >> I mean can can we be uh I'll say dubious with this and say like change it to 0.1%. >> I mean some districts have talked about doing that. have I have the same thought we have because we have five we will allow five students in >> right >> like if you were to >> allow 1% >> 1% in >> well I mean the legisle they're going to have to fix this right like there's >> well that so that that's why I did like the 0.1% right that limits it to one

083student rightly we're at 1100 students five 1% is 11 students right so that could be 200,000 but if we limit this to one student then I feel like that's something that could be absorbed, you know, reasonably okay. But five students, that's where I like that that's 100,000, right? So that that's a little bit harder to come up with. >> If they're if they're I would venture to guess if they're going to find that you can't set it to zero, they're going to find that you probably can't limit it and they're just going to have to solve the the budgeting aspect of this. I don't I think it's like neither here nor there. I think the the million-dollar question is like the next time we can address this from a from a warrant perspective is in

084a year. How many kids are we going to see have this this happen with? >> Who knows? >> I don't think it will be. I don't think [snorts] it's a lot. >> It's not a lot. I you know, we live in an interesting part of the state where, you know, this could be a real problem for us. >> I think, you know, Pinkerton is not open enrollment. >> They're kind of like the giant elephant in the room, >> right? because they're this quasi private, quasi public, you know, like academy type of approach. Co brown is on the sea coast is similar in this this model and ironically we have these superintendent meetings at Pinkerton. So, you know, like they're they're prominently involved in these discussions. Um it they're a different model, but the town of

085Derry is not putting a warrant article like this on their on their ballot, you know, so or they hadn't when I last spoke to that superintendent. So, I don't want if they've changed their mind, I don't want them to speak. But like, >> no pressure on this one. >> I think it's, you know, I've gone back and forth on it. I'm here suggesting taking it off right now because I as of >> the final decision, >> it's got to be now, right? Um, but I felt better after that regional meeting that we had um before the holiday break. So >> if something were to change between now and deliberative >> can always >> put something >> we can always >> do like a petition warn article or citizens warn >> we can always call a

086meeting and have a meeting after deliberative. Right. So we can schedule a board meeting and have it be planned after deliberative if necessary. >> We can just plan that now. >> Yeah. >> Right. And if we don't have it we don't have it. >> Okay. I mean >> it's 365. Well, a little more than that, but it's it's a year. >> It's one year's risk. >> You have to have someone on the other side willing to accept. That's the >> I don't after the cell phone thing. I don't know. They all say one thing and then like they >> have a bad dream and they change their mind and everyone's in >> I don't want to make light of the cell phone thing. This is like [snorts] >> real stakes. >> Sorry. In reality, we

087should have a scheduled board meeting anyways for deliberative because the board is going to be meeting, right? >> Like right afterwards, >> right? Because the budget committee has done that a couple times. >> The board, right? The board is collectively going to be together for deliberative, right? So, we should have that >> posted as a meeting >> right to the public. Anyways, >> so you want to remove it for now? >> We can remove it and if if necessary, we can add it if if you like. Who wants to be the sacrificial lamb to make that motion? >> I'll make that motion. >> You can blame me. >> Motion by plans. [laughter] >> Mr. Okonnell will accept responsibility. Anything bad happen? >> I will even second. How about that? >> Beautiful. >> All right. Motion

088in my motion by Peter. Second by myself. Additional discussion. All those in favor? >> I 4. All right. Look at this. Cutting two articles out tonight. >> Moving from 10 to eight. Just like that. >> It's going to be the lines at the ballot box will be shorter. >> Okay. All right. Anything else on warrants tonight? >> The only thing just a brief thing to add more informative after our budget. This is just for the board. You see there's a lot of red in here now from this is to match what the town like we try to get on the same page as the town. So when we're presenting to the budget committee, they're looking at the same style documents. So if you see that additional information, that's why it's there to help tomorrow night

089with with that information. >> Yep. Thank you. And I did add the fund balances per Miss Douglas's request as well. So, as they're going through it tomorrow night, she wanted to understand what the fund balances were under those accounts. Great. All right. Moving forward in our agenda tonight. What else? Um, back to the superintendent. >> Yeah, we I less a budget update just in case something came up between um, you know, our last meeting and tonight. anything has really. So I don't need to add anything more besides the stuff we discussed um related to the different water articles. Um so we're good with that. >> You have a grant. >> Yep. So this is a grant you got don't remember the presentation from earlier this year but we had a couple teachers from the middle

090school uh come in uh they were applying for this grant um the schoolyard action grant and [cough] fortunate to have their application accepted. So, uh, we need the board to, uh, formally accept, uh, this grant on their behalf. >> Second motion to accept the schoolyard [clears throat] action grant for $750. >> I will second. So, we have a motion by Mr. Schoeger, second by myself for the schoolyard action grant program for $750. Uh, discussion. We appreciate all the work. Thanks for the work that was done. >> Yeah, we appreciate all the work done at the middle school to make this happen and all those grants that certainly support uh the district programs. every every dollar counts and these programs certainly support the kids and uh and uh and the programs that the school sets sets

091forth to to achieve. >> All right, additional discussion. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Opposed 4 Z. Thank you. Uh last thing, um so we're a little ahead of schedule on something, so I just want to make the board a word of it. Um so Mr. Collins, our new director of technology has been working on a cyber incident response plan. He [laughter] actually finished the draft. uh first draft today um which is great. >> Um so we have that completed. We're going to go through um a training with using that that plan with the Atom group in February um on site here. They're a group that we you that um we get through Primex that specializes in cyber incidents and security and those type of things. And then we're going to [clears

092throat] need board approval of the plan once they've kind of vetted it for us and say that it's good to go and stuff like that. >> Can I review a draft of that plan? >> Yeah, you will. once we get it. I need um I didn't add it tonight because you literally finished it today so I haven't put it up yet. Um and then but I do need one thing. I need a board contact. So which one of you wants to be the contact? That's what I figured. Um and so we need to add you Mr. Cutter to the plan and then I can share it with you uh with the board to review and stuff like that. So, and then they are going to present it uh you know Brendan's going to come in

093and present it formally to the board probably a couple meetings from now once we after we've met with the Adam group and they've given us their suggestions and stuff like that. So, be a future presentation for the board um once it's done done the final draft. So, >> he's doing a great job. I mean, he really is busting his tail to get us in order. I just want to, >> you know, publicly thank him because >> I I mean, he came in hit the ground running right at budget season. So, >> yeah, very pleased. He's doing a great job. Great great job. >> Is this cyber incident? Is this like cyber hacking or is this going to include things like social media bullying and incident? >> So this is attack on our systems, right? Like

094>> [clears throat] >> um using the Hudson one, Hudson school district one from a couple years ago would be like how do you react in the situ? How do you prevent it? How do you react to it if it happens? So on and so forth. >> Um that type of response. >> Understood. Thank you. >> Yep. Good question. Excellent. [snorts] Um before we move into probably a lengthy update from the business administrator tonight. Uh anything else for our student representatives? Any questions? >> Okay. If we let them enjoy the rest of the evening. >> Of course. >> Absolutely. >> All right. You're welcome to stay. You're welcome to enjoy the rest of your evening. Up to you. >> All right. [laughter] Appreciate the offer. >> Thanks, guys. >> All right, Mr. Erling, over to you.

095So, we did um the financials um and just so you know, as Mr. Cutter said on the Warren articles, we did update um to have the current balances. Um I did want to note that um with regard to the buildings and grounds um um expendable trust, sorry. Um that the the amount is not reflected right now. Um we we did just make the transfer for the 250 that was approved in March because of the default budget and just wanting to make sure that we're really cautious about how we're spending our money. I checked with our auditors to make sure that we could delay u making that transfer a bit just to make sure that the cash flow was there. So I felt comfortable making that transfer in December. So that will be reflected in the

096January um amounts, but I did reflect that in the warrant article um so that the budget committee can see what the actual um balance will be at that time. Um [clears throat] with regard to uh the LMS parking lot um after the last meeting um I did speak with um um I'm sorry I'm drawing a blank from the highway department. Thank you. Um, and with regard to the continental paving paving quote, um, and I did let him know, you know, about the concerns that Mr. Ross had about the underlying, um, drainage issues that we might have in the parking lot, um, as well as the possibility of having to redesign the parking lot, which we would likely want to do at that time anyway, um, to make sure that we're in current compliance. So, um,

097he is going to go back to Continental to have them adjust that quote. Um I think that they are able to do perhaps some of that study work that we were looking into. So um he will get that to us as soon as possible. It will be a little bit but um I would definitely think before the end of year and we're considering any kind of expenditures at that time. >> Perfect. Okay, that's great. Thank you. >> Sure. >> Um with regard to the school expenditure report to voters, um I touched upon this a little bit at last meeting. Um this is House Bill 1265 that was um actually approved in 2024. Um but the portion of that um bill that was regard to a a mandated report that needs to go out to voters

098and it needs to be posted 7 days prior to any uh formal adoption of the school board to a budget. Um I did get clarification from our legal that that would be seven days prior to deliberative session. Um and it's seven days not including holidays or Sundays. Um so that would put us at January 23rd. Um we will definitely have this posted far far before that. Um there are a lot of you know requirements with regard to that. I did share um with the board um the um what we had so far for the report. Um now that has been finalized with all of the details that's needed. Um so I will have that um we'll be sharing that with the um budget committee tomorrow evening. Um I don't know if anyone had any specific

099questions. the graphs um there's basically three line graphs in a um table and each of them have like very specific requirements of what needs to be included in that. Um the first one is average [snorts] cost per pupil. Um the second is um teacher average teacher salaries. Um the third graph is for the administrator salaries and then there's a table with the current administrative salaries. Um all of the line graphs u are basically like the last 10 years of information um and they would have to be um adjusted for inflation. So all of that information is on the current report. >> Great. Thank you for your hard work working with the other administrators to put that together and for the work going into tomorrow on the budget committee. >> Solar. Um we did receive um

100>> Why does everybody laugh when she says solar? [laughter] It's been years. >> It's like one of those things. It's like GMS like one day, maybe one day won't be on the agenda. >> So, we did receive an update from Dynamic Grid that the permit um has been received. So, they are ready to move forward with um the site work to um get things prepared for um the storage component. Um I did speak with Kay about having a virtual meeting with you at some point um so we can discuss some dates um after this if you'd like. >> [clears throat] >> um so that we can do that and get the all of those questions answered. Um I also um received because I had asked her quite a bit ago to get some usage information.

101So I have linked that as well. >> Yep. >> Yeah. I mean I got some questions the fact that there are days that just have zero generation and that like were not storms or and were sunny [cough] >> and stuff like that. So like that there's >> it's spotty information coming in and I just I don't know if that's an app system. I don't know if it's what that is but >> it it's still appreciative. I mean I've seen questions on the Facebook what's up page about it and going in and I was you know I was able to take a quick snapshot. To date it's generated 36,000 kilowatts and just put it out there. >> Thank you for staying up on that by the way because that's very helpful because like I I did

102see some of those that you commented on and people are like it's not even active yet. What's cool on this though? If you scroll up a little bit, right? And sorry, I'm just showing the board members some some items. And if you go to like the equivalents tab, right, look at this, >> right? It shows you enough to offset, right? So what it's offset is CO2 emissions 48,461, right? You know, days of electricity usage in average in an average American house, right? So 1,231. Now, this has been live since September, right? So >> fairly recent, right? So yeah, I think that's pretty impressive metrics that we can continue to monitor over over the course of its life. >> Yeah, >> I mean I I like my company will take those where they have those grids

103and they'll just post them on the homepage for that site, right? So where it's just here's how many you know unit or kilowatt hours of electricity, here's how here's the green energy offsets, right? That goes into green energy tax credits if they still exist. Um and that type of stuff, right? So there's there's benefits to having that stuff up front in public. >> Okay, great. What else? >> That's all I had for now. >> That's it. Okay, that wasn't too bad. Excellent. Any questions for Miss Darling tonight? >> All right. And will you be joining tomorrow night at the budget committee? >> Yeah. Okay. >> I don't know what type of voice I'll have. Seems to be getting stronger though when I'm sitting here. So, [laughter] >> all right. uh curriculum. We don't have Dr.

104Taylor tonight. We wish her a speedy recovery. We we understand she's under the weather, but is there a curriculum up that you wanted to share? >> She's going to provide an update on the PD days. So, I'll just do a very very quick update on it. Thought they went really well. Um our first one, you know, we focused on uh different strands of of PD that um related to um a survey that Dr. Taylor had done of the staff. It went very well. We heard back from some presenters who were very impressed with um the work that our people were doing. the questions they were asked and and just the quality people that were participating in in the workshops and stuff. So, kudos to our staff for that. Um, and then the second day, the

10523rd was more of a teacher wellness day like we did last year. Um, you know, you may have heard the postcard activity, especially kids in school. Hopefully, your kids have received your postcard, their postcards by now. It's a big component of that day. Um and just working with the teachers kind of um you know that that piece of getting ready the break between you know first half of the year second half of the year and adjusting and and doing some positive things um for our community including those postcards. So overall PD days went well. Uh we'll have to see what we do next year. We're talking about calendar later. We're not going to have the luxury of backto-back days around a break next year because of PD because of the way Christmas falls. So, um,

106but this has worked well the past two years having this type of style around the break. So, that's it. >> I [snorts] know a lot of planning and work goes into that. So, appreciate Dr. >> I had joined the second day of that PD for for a few for a couple of hours anyways and just the the positivity in the building that day and the camaraderie and bring the teachers together uh before the holidays. It was just a a great experience to be part of. >> Y so >> we didn't make anyone sick from the food we cooked. I cooked well. [laughter] >> Principal Grant did more of the cooking. >> Usually takes a couple days to settle in. So, >> right. [laughter] >> I hear the coffee is amazing. >> Yeah, >> the coffee.

107I mean, was there coffee? >> That that iced coffee, man. >> Do we have coffee? >> I don't really. Was the cafe open? You could have made a killing that day. >> Listen, I'm still lobbying for this cafe. [laughter] >> Okay. Uh, annual meeting. So, just kind of run through the timeline even though one of these things we're going to take off this timeline right now, but we had it up here. Um, so the first link is just the legal timeline just so you see all the dates as uh provided for the district as we go through the next three months of the process towards voting. Um, we did schedule a bond hearing for next Thursday which we will obviously cancel now since we're not moving forward with the GM that from the U front

108of Campbell as well. >> Yeah. Yep. Yeah. So we'll take that off and so we'll just advertise um, you know, the budget hearing as as part of it because that's still scheduled [clears throat] for for next Thursday obviously. Um and then uh we went over the draft warn articles again. That's big part of this process. So we just left it there as a bullet. Um refresher on the different um budget action items by both the school board and kind of the budget committee there. Then a summary of of dates where um just awareness for the board so you know when when the hearing is and deliberative and everything that comes along with the voting date stuff which I'm sure you're all aware of but just to go over publicly here at the meeting. Okay, great.

109And I did have a conversation with Mr. Brunell um a bit earlier today and he was going to uh make sure that those dates were posted on the town website as well just for transparency. [clears throat] >> Okay. U moving forward with public minutes from December 17th, 2025. Has everyone had an opportunity to review? >> Yep. >> Yes. >> I'll make a motion to approve them. >> Thank you, sir. We have a motion by Mr. Shoemaker, second by Mr. Plansky. Any motions or any additional discussion on these? Okay. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Those carry 40. >> All right. School calendar. We have a couple of options going into next year. >> Not asking you to do any approvals tonight. This is informative only here tonight. We t by policy

110don't have to approve this by March, but we'll approve it obviously before March. But I just want we've kind of discussed through negotiations through stuff last year about the idea of what some early release days that are combined with teacher PD would look like. So I'm actually going to talk about option two here first. Um so that second option here is a calendar that builds in those options. This has been shared with um you know our two unions to get feedback from them who get feedback from all our stakeholders and everything kind of connected to it. I wanted to share that with the board [clears throat] um so you you could look at it so you have an idea what that looks like. There's pros and cons to doing these early release PD days. [clears

111throat] Um that second option has four one a quarter in which we would do that. students would come um and leave at their early release time which is two hours ahead of when they normally would depart school and then uh the teachers would transition into professional development opportunities um to do that one interesting wrinkle to make sure that we follow the LEA contract it actually adds school days the second option um because we have to count by hours and to make the equivalent student hours we would actually have to get 280 school days >> and also to make sure that the teachers the LEA teachers work 186 days as their contract outline. So, um that's why if you notice the last day of school is uh different between the two calendars. It's not a mistake.

112Y >> um it's to make it work. But through all >> Why is that a better option than option one? >> I'm not saying it is. I'm just explaining what the LEA felt very strongly that this was beneficial for them for professional development purposes. >> I mean, Dr. Taylor spoke about it too like one of the things that um she has her own thoughts on how I've laid it out here but [laughter] maybe and then some suggestions that we'll talk in our admin uh team meeting about tomorrow but um one of the ideas is you can do timely kind of data review when you're doing it on more quarterly basis right so if you kind of align this when after an I ready testing session right you have those results back a team can meet

113and kind of talk about them in in like that smaller burst of window rather than waiting like if you think about it This year, for example, we had our PD days in August and we haven't had another PD day in until December, right? So that's a whole gap of time where we haven't done any professional development with staff because they've all been school days or conference days or whatever the case may be. So this allows a more frequent check-in for the professional development. >> I just want to know that the amount of time is sufficient to actually get something done. >> Well, and you know, 12 to two and >> I met with some LEA reps who, you know, you're part of negotiations. I don't want to get too far in the negotiation side of

114things because this has been a conversation separate from negotiations as well, but you know there's other districts who do early release days and our teachers have been curious about it. So, you know, talking with a couple reps with them, this is what it would look like and they were like, "Huh, we got to think about this, right?" Like, is this right what we're thinking about? So, um, does this actually make sense? So, I want again no approvals on calendars. What I'm doing right now is getting this out for everyone to see because it's one thing when we talk about it in the abstract, these are released PD days. It's another when we see it laid out in account, right? So, >> and I'd really like to understand the benefits from the teacher perspective because as

115a working parent perspective, this is not good. >> That that was that was >> my initial reaction is like, wow, this stinks. >> So, that was a that [laughter] was a major point of conversation. Yeah. With the with the negotiation to be clear, >> I will speak as a parent. My district Wendum um does six a year, right? Every other month they do an early release day and it is a it is a a challenge on those days and we have after school care for our kid. You know, we're fortunate through the Y programming window to to have it. But, you know, if she knows she has to be there on five hours for for Y [cough] versus one to two on a traditional day, it's a it's a little different conversation in our house

116the night before. So, um, like again, I don't want to pro or con, but like last time we made a family decision, it was just easier for my wife to take the day off from work, right? So, like, [laughter] um, >> so she won, >> right? So, she won. My daughter won that one. Um, >> so that's a factor and component of this. I just want people to understand like what this would and start having those discussions. >> Yeah. >> Um, and and for the board to have that and obviously get your feedback and questions, too. So, >> yeah. I guess my concern is like cuz my daughter goes to the after school care GMS, right? But that's run not through the schools, that's through a state adult learning. >> Adult learning. >> Yeah. >>

117So my question is that if we have these early release days and my wife and I are both working full-time, are they going to be there in time to start this early? >> So that's one of the things we would have to talk to them about. I would assume we can figure something out like like in Windom like it's a different group that runs it but >> most districts that have this type of setup the afterchool group accommodates right like there's value in that for them as well. Um they don't want you to figure out a different daycare off you know after school care option >> but to Andrew's point like it needs to be a discernable benefit to the to the district and to the educators to really >> yeah raise that level of

118inconvenience. Interestingly, like you know, just I'm gonna make this personal, right? My daughter goes to after school on Tuesday and Thursday, but not on Wednesdays. All these days are on Wednesday. So, this really stinks. [laughter] >> You got those scenarios. >> I see. You're starting to make motions on this calendar. It's going to be interesting. [laughter] >> This doesn't impact me because she's not in GMS this year. >> Oh, right. >> Yeah. So, I just want people to see what it looks like. You know, we shared it with LSSA. Uh I believe LEA was talking with their exec board this week about it. you know, there might be a consensus where, you know, oh, now that we've seen it, like >> it's not for us or maybe it's a okay, there's possibilities here. >> I

119mean, candidly, when we were talking about this in negotiation, we weren't like staring at a calendar saying this is what it would look like. It was more of a a conceptual >> Yeah. And um kind of working through it. And then there's maybe different opportunities to try different things. was one of the things that came up last year when we had the the senior project day at Campbell High School. So, it's an early release day for Campbell High School, but only Campbell High School. And do you make that an early release day for the entire district or do you do something where the younger students come up and see the senior projects or do you think of some creative way to address that day where there's very strong purpose behind why you've adjusted the schedule

120on that day? you know, um we're not ready to commit to any of that stuff yet, but this is good discussion that this generates when we look at these type of different options and stuff like that. Um I am going to flip back to the the option one now um to talk about a couple things just to get your initial initial thoughts um as board members on on different things. Christmas falls next year on a Friday, which means we can push into that week uh for school. Um, option one here has two days of school on the 21st and the 22nd and then a PD day um on the 23rd. We could have moved that PD day and actually go three days of school in there. Um, I like having a softer 23rd because I

121think it it makes sense for families, you know, who are are figuring out holiday situations and we got to put PD days in somewhere so that date for me works. But I'll see what type of feedback I get from from all parties involved on on that particular day. The other place again we have to insert essentially two PD days into the calendar. In the past two years they've been literally on either side of this break that we just concluded. >> The second PD day I have proposed in here. Option one would be in January essentially between the two semesters. Right? It's uh it would be purposeful PD day but from a schedule standpoint it allows a break between the two semesters. I'm not going to lie. This is my high school ex- high school principal

122hat. You need that break semester in the high school. Um not as critical at say the elementary lads. Um but even just that day to catch your breath is critical. Um so we've kind of put that that day there. I'm curious what feedback I'll get from um all parties involved, all stakeholders about the positions of those. You can think about it. I don't need an answer today. But other options would be you could extend Columbus Day weekend. Some districts will do it PD day on the Friday going into Columbus Day to make that a four- day weekend. Um, a lot of districts do that that >> when is Columbus Day? >> It's uh would be the 12th next year. So, [snorts] it' be the 9th would be a professional development day and then it goes

123three days uh vacation, but for families it's a 4-day break. Um, some districts do that, a lot of districts do that. >> You're saying instead of doing the 25th and January? >> Yeah. instead of doing the December 23rd one, just saying different options. >> I think the December 23rd one is nice. Like I think that the the kids really like the the break. I think that people are pretty checked out that week regardless. So I like that. >> I like that too. The 25th does not make sense to me. Yeah. >> Right. Because >> because it's the same it's one day. >> Well, they already have the 18th off, right? That's >> and then the 25th off, right? And they're already they already have Right. It's a really That's a >> Yeah, there's a lot

124in that month. >> It's a lot of There's a lot in that month. and then they're then they have a week off in February, right? You know what I mean? It's it's just a lot back to back to back, right? So, I do like the idea of moving it to Columbus Day. I also am not opposed to saying, "Hey, you know, what's the interest in moving to the 22nd >> of December?" >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. The tricky thing there is if we bring kids back for one day, >> yeah, you'll have a everybody Nobody will come. >> Could you make it a half day? Good. >> On the on the 22nd or the 21st? >> On the 22nd. >> You could test your half PD day. >> Yeah. The only the only other thing

125The only other thing I would say too is like, >> you know, March is usually a miserable month. I I find March to be one of those months where it's like it just drags on and on. >> It's a lot. >> So, I mean, if you had to tuck another day somewhere, you could always look >> 23 school days that month. >> It's the longest month of the year. And you >> God, you feel it. Yeah. Yep. >> But I do like the I agree with I I do I >> every year my daughter is thrilled come the the December break and I tell her that she can thank me for voting on that. So I do like the 22nd as well. >> Just out of curiosity, why is the PD day in March on

126a Tuesday and not a Monday or Friday? >> That's when Andrew wanted it to be on a Tuesday. >> It's a voting day. So we do all the voting for all this voting um in the high school. So we do most every district does a PD day on on that day. I don't actually know of any that don't. So >> yeah, I would agree with Andrew. I think shift that 25th. >> Well, let's not again no decisions, right? Let's digest feedback, >> right? Once Alli's sworn in, we'd certainly like your opinions on this one as well and we'll go from there. >> Great. >> Any other comments on this? >> No. If any public has comments, this is uh a good opportunity over the next couple of weeks to please share your comments with the

127board as well. We'd like to hear from you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Recording consent form. >> Oh boy. I think I talked about this at the last meeting. I know I talked about it last meeting. Um so we got up summarize. We got updated uh technical advisory from the the DOE uh related to how recordings relate to the parental bill of rights. Um, long story short, um, we got to update, every district has got to update their consent forms to comply with the adjustments to the law. So, we are doing the same. Um, so this is our updated form. I just wanted to make the board aware. We're going to send it out. I'm going to send a school messenger out tomorrow and then we'll send it home with every kid Friday. So like in

128the elementary school backpacks and everybody like that, we need people to fill out this form. Like to summarize any type of recording of any kind, we need written consent. So if your kid plays basketball and we're going to record that basketball game to scout or to put on some sort of thing for recruiting or this or that, we can only do that if you we've had written consent. If we're going to live stream a concert moving forward, right, like the spring con music concerts that we do, we need written consent from every single one of those parents to do that to to do this. This is where this is. I do anticipate this was not the intention of the adjustment to have the parental bill of rights to to make the recording this restrictive. So

129I do anticipate that l there will be legal adjustments to that that law through this legislative session out of conquered which may change the discussion for the start of next year but to comply with the current law we do have to go through all this >> administratively are we basically getting these back in paper and then scanning them >> well we have a system to input it into a Google spreadsheet and then eventually into power school so we are all up to date with everything that's in it. My question similar is why not just push this through power school up the rest of the forms >> because we have a feeling we're going to need people like at a basketball game to track down the parents and sign something for us. So we want a

130physical copy of it moving forward. Sorry to cut you off but moving forward like next year in the roll out to the start of the year. This will just be one of those digital forms that you fill out in P school. But we are going a little over the top right now with this to ensure that people understand the why and that we get those hard copies and all of these situations to sign off on it. Um so we're doing the paper route for this. It's going to be we have a system. We don't think it's going to be too timeconuming but we need people to return it. Thank God for my wife because you'd be chasing me for this form. >> Well, so the the next question is what type of procedural burden does

131this put on the staff to be able to manage this? >> Right. So, we're we got to talk to our staff. So, we've made this to cover a lot like this particular form. You'll notice there essentially >> this student has it, this student doesn't. How do I know who does what, right? >> Like how how do we figure that out? >> Yep. So, we're going to have a reference sheet for everyone to go to. It's got every kid like Google sheet for now. that's protected. That's not going to be out there for the world, but like where you can see what your kid is allowed to what a particular student has approval for to be recorded. Um, and then teachers are going to just have to comply, right? There are some districts I did not

132want to take this extreme step that have literally shut down any recording of any kind. Period. Right? I think that's an overreaction. That's not the intent of this law and not fair to community members. Like there are districts that before the holiday break decided they were no longer going to record their concerts and I thought that would be unfair families, right? Um so we're trying to take a middle of the road approach of addressing this in a systematic way that takes care of this but understands what the intent behind this was was not to make this so challenging for schools, right? But we do need to comply. So, we need to kind of get something going on this. So, um it's a it's it's tedious for now, but we think that's approachable. Rene is going

133to be a big help. She helped set bunch of stuff up for me to make this hopefully as seamless as possible. And for example, Tony's ready to approach parents after a couple days at a basketball game and be like, "Can you please sign here? Here here's the sheet. Sign it like so we can record this game and stuff like that." So, >> you feel like you got it covered then? >> Yeah. >> I mean, I it sounds like funky. I mean I I guess like because one of the digital forms on P school is that I know that we sign off is not only photograph but it's also name. >> Yep. >> Does this include naming the students or is this purely just recording? >> This is just recording. >> Okay. >> Because we're trying

134to match the the parental bill of rights law that has suggested language with it. >> So there um so this is focused solely on the recording of it. And there was a lot of exemptions previously that that were included in law >> that allowed us to do things such as record a Christmas concert >> or live stream graduation. Those >> does in simplest terms those are public events like anyone from the public can attend it. >> Channel 9 can be there recording. >> Well that's kind of the irony here. We don't have to have parents sign off. >> Parents can record >> on recording, right? But like if you want to record your own kid in the basketball game, like yeah, we we need you to sign off on it, right? Like um so there

135is some irony to that. And again, that's not the per that was not the purpose of the bill. This is just an unfortunate um thing that came out of it that I'm sure will be rectified through this legislative session. So if you're watching, please sign this form. Now, you don't have to check everything off. Check off whatever you feel comfortable. >> Right. I mean, where I'll leave it is I'm concerned about the administrative team being being the staff being able to manage this. >> Yeah. And it will be tough. We've talked to I've talked to some teachers who had questions about their specific activity and their events and those type of things >> and we've talked through it. Honestly, that's going to help us get this done is because sometimes people are more passionate about,

136you know, their co-curriculars than they are necessarily about filming that project in class and stuff. Like, um, pick on robotics, for example. I guarantee you I have all those robotics forms in the first time they start to head to a competition, right? Because they they want to be recorded and stuff like that. So, we're going to lean into that a little bit to help get this get this taken care of and and everything. But we stress to the teachers, if you have a question, just ask. Before you report, just ask. We will walk you through to make sure you're not doing anything you're not supposed to do. So, >> all right. Appreciate that update. >> Policies. I know you had shot me a note today. >> Yeah, I did. Um, so we can get back

137now that we got everything's resettled, alley's coming on and stuff like that. >> Um, we can get back going on policies. So, get a chance to look at it. I got a long list there for you to pick and choose what you want to start with. So, [snorts] old business enrollment. Uh, yeah, just update. Uh, nothing too big. Um, they're actually up a little bit out of break at this exact moment, but I know of at least one that's that's on its way out, but we're pretty steady. So, all right. Any questions on enrollment policies for the superintendent? >> No. No. >> Nope. >> All right, we'll move it into manifests. So, the board is currently reviewing the manifests. All the manifests are sent to the board electronically from an inorati as read during correspondence.

138But let me summarize. We have accounts payable $298,623.75. We have another accounts payable of $19,13124. We have a payroll manifest $391,533.35. We have a 403b of $366,71147 and we have a vendor's payment of $15,7365. We'll give just a moment for those to finalize signatures. right here. >> Yep. >> Awesome. Uh and that brings us to our second community input of the evening >> mentioned uh policy behinds to three minutes name and address please. >> Hi Ronz 15 circle and I'll just continue what I was saying before. Uh I mentioned uh before uh my appointment to the uh FIC was uh uh ended that uh the scope of what was sent out for Haramman was flawed and would result in exactly what happened was not enough time. It wasn't scoped out properly and it was poorly

139planned. We spentund according to the estimate $140,000 which I think a waste of money. My recommendation is that you terminate the the contract with Herman and you do what I suggested 20 months ago. Go out and hire an engineering firm, pay them on an hourly basis to look at specific questions, specifically look at the details in these two reports, the HL Turner, the on-sign report about how to repair that. I will uh acknowledge and confirm that in this is their statements that these are estimates for some particular items particularly HVAC and that they actually recommend going out and doing what I just suggested and I suggested this to the board 20 months ago. This was the way to handle it and you refused to do that. you you continued with getting free information from the

140previous consultant that delayed us by 15 months. So my recommendation is to terminate Harris Haramman, hire another consultant to do what I suggested to you, start out paying them. The reason be being is if you continue with this contract, their basis is looking for a big payday as a percent of construction. They have no incentive to come in cheaply. none whatsoever. And in fact, to prove that, I referred to what the superintendent said. The Haramman or or excuse me, the the Harvey construction estimate looked at the on-site insight report and said, "No, it's not $8 million. It's $23 million." So, they have no incentive to come in with a legitimate evaluation. And until you do that and you look at the plan I developed here, which actually the principal when I reviewed it with him

141said while he didn't endorse it said it has merit to be looked at, until you do that, you will never come up with the right answer and the voters won't approve it. And I'll continue to come in here and make that point for the next however many years this continues. Thank you, Mr. Abenus. >> That turns us over to schoolboard comments. You have another comment. Yes, please. Um, Alli Mercier, 19 Lockmail Drive. Um, first of all, thank you for inviting me on to the board. I really look forward to the journey ahead. Um, one thought, I might be too late to the game on this, but with the recording consent, is there an option to do an opt out as opposed to an opt in? That was something that saved us in New York like

142over and over again. So, I just wanted to explore that. >> That's a great question. So, this law is written where it has to be an optin, not an opt out. And it can't be a passive optin either where if you don't return it, >> right? >> You have essentially opted in, we need explicit written consent. >> And that's like one of the issues with the like way that this bill is approaching recording is it's like that explicit that the intent was to do that for very limited um types of recordings where you need that kind of written extent like if you're doing a testing around um like language learning and those type of things, right? or a recording that could be sent out to like a private entity for review and [clears throat] unfortunately

143it caught everything. So like yeah like that's how we wanted to approach it but unfortunately we can't. So it's a great question. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Um and then second I just wanted to express my confidence in the board's decision to move the decision for the elementary school to next year. Um I've thought of between last session and this session different funding streams that we can look at. I actually have a grant writer that lives in Marramac that has proven to bring millions of dollars that would be interested in helping us with that. Um, there's at least seven different revenue streams outside of taxation that I think we can explore and I'm interested in exploring all of those with you in the time ahead because I think we have a lot of potential here

144that doesn't necessarily have to fall all on the 10,000 people that live in town. >> Cool. Awesome. Thank you. Look forward to hearing your ideas. >> Absolutely. Thanks. >> Thank you. All right. Schoolboard comments. What do we got? >> I got nothing. >> Mr. Shimmer. >> Well, I am my patience is starting to wear thin with some of these comments. Okay. I don't know how many times we have to discuss the fact that these plans that you present, you don't care about educational impact. >> Trust me. I I'm I say sorry. Mr. Oblenus does not care about educational impact. I also would like the we are getting inundated [clears throat] as is required under the law for us to provide information. Uh and I would like to start tracking the amount of time and cost

145that we are expending just to respond to the same inquiries over and over and over again. Much of this information is public information. We have vetted multiple professionals, all of which Mr. Oblenus disagrees with. The only option is his option that he's written here that he's drawn out, which as an aside still includes the undersized classrooms. I watched the capital uh ex the capital improvement >> committee, >> right, where we're being told that we're playing junior engineer and we don't understand that, you know, the walls that don't have insulation in them are actually not that big of a deal because there's walls of other classrooms on the other side. So, it's perfectly fine. It's just the roof. The reality is we have had multiple people come through who are paid to do this who have

146told us these are problems. So, at the end of the day, like I I don't know how many times we have to keep answering these questions, but I do think that we owe it to the taxpayer to at least let them know how much money is being spent on fielding these requests. At this point, sir, any other comments? I guess my my hesitation, right, and Matt, I I echo your concerns, right? Harvey was hired for the interest of the school district to verify that the numbers are accurate, right? That that they are hired to us, not to Haramman, to us. So that was their point. That's their purpose. So if if they do it in bad faith, there there's other issues with that, but that's they're hired to ensure the numbers are accurate. um the

147the the comments of replacement in kind. What what's wrong with replacing an oil burner with an oil burner? Right? Oil is widely known as the most least inefficient heating source that there is to date. It is the dirtiest. It is the least inefficient. Um replacing it doesn't replace the infrastructure that's also 40 to 60 to 80 years old depending on which section you look at. Right? Copper pipes are good for 50 years, right? It's the ones in my house are already pitting and I'm already planning on how do I replplum my house without tearing down walls. So there's a lifetime to all of it. So just doing a repairs only works if everything else was maintained. It wasn't. We're now in a worse situation. It it's just where it's at. Um so I I I

148appreciate the candidness. I do appreciate the push back to make sure that we go through enough vetting. Um, part of what Mr. Oblinus did with the FIC pushed me to say, "Yes, we need a construction manager who's hired to the district." Um, I will say that the numbers that have been presented by two architect firms and a construction manager are within 5% of what I suggested when I first started with the FIC, what over two over a year and a half ago now or a year ago. So, I I mean, we we're in ballparks and multiple people are agreeing with it. Um, yeah, I I don't know what else. And the junior engineers is we're we're not engineers of buildings. That's why we hire that out. It's why we contract it out. Hiring someone on

149a retainer for services to do exactly like as it was suggested is not feasible for the town or the district because that cost balloons drastically. And this is why doing it on a per contract basis, on a per project basis makes more sense. You want to go talk to billion-doll companies that have that kind of funds to go do that and contract that out? Sure. My company does it all the time. I got firms. I've got managers in construction groups on retainer, but we don't have free funds. We don't have millions of dollars to go do that with. So, I I I appreciate the push back, but it's it's a different reality. It's a it's a different way to approach this project. Okay. Thank you, sir. I mean, I think Mr. Shoemaker and Mr. Dwick

150covered it, right? I mean we hired now multiple firms right who have all come in at very significant costs. It continues to just highlight the fact that there are significant issues at GMS which we knew but we now have a very confident appreciation of is the cost numbers behind it. It's not $10 million fix. It's not even a $19 million fix which we hoped for. Right? It is a 25 $30 million fix. That is the reality. Right? How we approach that fix is to be determined and we've now delayed that uh over the course of the next year. We'll we'll try and iron out that best next path and what makes sense for the community to absorb. But there are significant issues at GMS that do need to be addressed. That is now uh very

151clear by multiple firms, multiple wellrespected firms that do a lot of this type of project work in this part of the state, right? That work with these materials that do this exact type of work. So, uh, we have to trust the people that we hire. Uh, and certainly, uh, these are the some of the best firms in the industry that do this type of work. So, I'll leave it at that. All right. Anything else for comments? All right. The board does have a couple of things in non-public session tonight under RSA 91. Uh, we appreciate everyone's attendance tonight. Uh, we will move into nonpublic through roll call vote. I'll make a motion to move into nonpublic. >> Thank you, sir. We have a motion by Mr. Shoemaker. >> Second by Mr. Dit. Mr. Clansky. >>

152I. >> Mr. Shoemaker. >> I am an I. Mr. Dit. >> I. >> That carries 4 Z. Thank you.