001the other officers and alternates for hanging out too. We hope to get a chance to torment you at some point over the course of the rest of the academic year. We'll do introductions in a minute. Are we good? >> All right. So, it's 501. We'll call this meeting of the local school board to order. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance. The flag is that way. 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. Well, we've already met Ashton. You want to do two truths and a lie or are you good? Okay, good. Ashton's good. Thank you for being here with us. Could we have the other three young ladies
002present introduce themselves, please? >> A senior and the treasure. >> I'm a sophomore and I'm the secretary. >> And I'm Kendall. I'm a senior and I'm the vice president. >> Very well. Thank you. Congratulations on your roles. Is it technical student councils at the proper term? >> Yes. >> Very well. And uh welcome. If you have any questions at any point, feel free to holler and we'll do our best to explain what we understand, but don't be surprised if there's too many things that we don't understand. With that, we will begin. I'll call for a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes minutes from the September 8th meeting of the school board. >> Make a motion. >> Second. >> And any discussion? All those in favor? >> I oppose. >> Motion carries 401. I'm
003going to guess the superintendent would like us to now pursue a different order to the agenda than what's published as it looks like we have a presentation. So, is the intention for us to hop to new business item C or just to go as is? >> Um, go as is fine. >> All right. So, then we'll move on to section three, the business report, and we'll hand it over to the business administrator. >> I do have a few actions for you guys tonight. Um, I guess we can talk about transportation. Steve and I have gone kind of back and forth on this a few times. We currently have a teacher that within the coursework needs to transport students within town. Um, specifically building trades. Um, this instructor has um not been able to do the
004driver training um that our board policy EEBA requires asking for an exception on this particular um instructor. But I need to know if the board is willing to change their policy or if they would just want to do a temporary exception to policy. >> How many children are they students are they transported? How frequently? >> So it's our AB and CD blocks say not more than 12. And it's to go to the elementary school to build the shed. um that we've been on last year for them to do. So, in order to get at least the structure out of the roof on it, he needs to start going to the elementary school during AB CD blocks with his um building trades one and two classes to get that structure up. >> And the intention is
005he will get his license or certificate in the spring. Yeah, the intention is for him to get New Hampshire certified. He has a CBL for in Vermont, but not in New Hampshire. So, that is the crux is that he needs to go through the course over this year to get that. >> And forgive me for not knowing, but he has to have his CDL to be compliant with our policy. >> He has to have a New Hampshire bus certificate. It's not an endorsement. It's not a CDL. what's called a bus certificate, >> but in Vermont a CDL would be sufficient and it's not reciprocal. >> They're just saying he's got one >> and we're just letting you know that >> commercial driver's license. >> No, I got it. But they're saying he doesn't have one.
006They're different things. >> No, they're saying he's got the Vermont CDL, which is above a regular place. That's what I'm asking. >> But it's not the same. >> It's not reciprocal. Right. So, he needs to pursue the bus certification in New Hampshire >> and intends to pursue it or is already pursuing it. >> He as soon as we have another course, he'll take it. He was tied up this summer and couldn't take the course with um Patty provided it. >> So, it's a matter of the next available course for the state of New Hampshire, we will get him into that. But in the meantime, if we wait for him to get to class, then we're waiting another whole year. >> Sure. before we can get building one and two down to the elementary school. >>
007And if we had a driver, we would utilize that to >> our city. >> These guys have questions. >> Go ahead, please. >> So, I know we're already we struggle to find drivers period. Correct. For the vans, for other activities for >> Yeah, for the most part. I mean, we do have 10 on the roster, but a lot of them are teachers, right? So, they have classes during the day. But if we have others that that are interested or is a need for, does it make sense to try to line up more than just this one teacher and try to get several and do it offer a course between sooner than next June? >> Well, I do want to say I offered three over the summer, three, and sent emails out to folks. So, it's
008not like we only had one. We did have three trainings. No, but that doesn't regardless of that, if you've got one person that needs it now, you still have others that could or would, you know, would >> I'm not aware that there's anyone else out there that wants the training, so I wasn't going to pay that amount of money for just one person. >> Okay. >> What's the insurance carrier? >> What's our insurance? I mean, we're following the law, so it's not any different than what we're practicing now. >> I think our policy >> our above above the state requirement. >> Yeah, we we had talked about that >> August the 24th. >> So, because this person already has a Vermont CD, I'd be okay with this person only, not making a broad exception that
009any teacher who wants to drive kids will not be able to. I have no comment for that. >> So, I wonder if um we can take this up on in new business, but I want Is there other stuff that you cover off on? >> Yes. >> Um our joint loss management committee, I attached our latest plan that needs to be reviewed and approved by the board. I do have to submit it to the Department of Labor by October 1st along with several other documents that I've provided. Um, I will need a vote on that. And you also need to vote on accepting the $3,000 donation from David Trono. Um that will be for an upcoming $2,500 gift to a senior with 500 being used for underassmen for a math or science activity. The enclosure stuff
010is part of the agendment later on. >> Yep. >> Anything else? >> That is it for me. Any additional questions then for Patty? Then we'll I guess move into new business and start with seeking a motion to approve an exception the board policy and allow teacher to transport students during the school day within the town limits for educ classroom educational activities as described or as presented. I'll make the motion. >> I'll second. Motion made and seconded. Any discussion? >> Ashton, any input? All those in favor? >> I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries. 5. We'll look then for a motion to review and approve the updated joint loss management committee safety plan as presented. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Ashton, any comments on the joint loss management committee safety plan? >>
011How about if she has something to say? She can just speak. Well, you know, I actually didn't want to be chair and you could have been chair decided I don't want the meeting, but you refused and I think nominated me. So, this is your problem actually. And I will run it how I feel until I'm removed by the board, which I hope comes soon. So, motion's been made and seconded. All those in favor? >> I oppose. Stain. Motion carries. 5-0. will move on and look for a motion to accept the $3,000 donation from David Trono for the purposes explained. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Action. >> All those in favor? >> I oppose. Abstain. Motion carries. 5-0. We'll go back then to the agenda as prepared and we will move on
012to new business item A, graduation requirements. Yeah, if you haven't already, open the link. Um, so the 306 is kind kind of interesting because oftentimes uh when they write these rules, they'll they'll refer to uh certain standards to be taught with an existing curriculum and so on. This is a bit of a shift going from having certain standards of existing courses to creating actually new courses and making them a credit requirement. So without be laboring it, I think that the big the biggest uh change here and we were talking about this the other day as we were looking at staffing and the budget and everything else is in social studies. um requiring standalone credits in US history, New Hampshire history, log logic and rhetoric and civics along with the history, government, constitution of the United
013States of New Hampshire. So that is a a change as you see from what the past credit requirements have been as you look down the columns. Uh the other the other ones aren't uh aren't quite as uh significant. But want the board to be aware of that. I I want to defer to Al and and high school administration. There are any any comments they want to make on this as well, entertain any questions the board has. This is just kind of an FYI as we look at the work we'll be doing with staffing and so on. Well, as Steve mentioned, there are changes in the requirement for minimum standards. 20 credit all students will have to meet uh these standards. But embedded in this is the work that we've been doing for last number of
014years, five, six years around competencies. uh students will earn credit based on whether or not they're proficient in course competencies. So every course have to clearly outline what the competencies are for that course and be closely aligned to um grading system of of every teacher and students will have to meet our competences. For example, in any given course a student may ear a three which is roughly a B average but is not proficient in all competencies and we'll have we will have to schedule times when students can redo competency assessments to ensure that they're confident in every single competencies. So fortunately, we've been doing a lot of work in this area and so I think we'll be in good shape. >> So too soon to know I suppose the sort of budgetary headcount impacts but
015right now not anticipated to be something. dig a little deeper into the budget and look at personnel see what's there to see. >> Yeah, it is an increase in social settings requirements. >> How do they define logic and rhetoric? >> Well, that's that's an issue. They really don't. >> Is that a logical question or a rhetorical one? >> So, they don't at all truly >> not at this point. >> So, Have they given any expectation that they'll be given guidance at some point? >> The the DOE, I'm sure, will to be honest, although they've refused to talk about social studies for 25 years. So maybe they will. >> What do you mean? Um so you know we we have we have a common core standards in in uh ELA math we have next generation science
016standards uh social studies standards at the state level they've been very hands off and I ever since I came here and you know 10 years ago I've been hearing well they're right they're just around the corner no I guess they're not ready to come out social studies standards so it didn't belong before I got So that one's been in a state of flux for a while politically driven by disagreements and what's taught how it's taught some of the issues driving social. So I would I would like to think that the DOE will be able now to move forward and issue some guidance on this. I would expect that to happen. It's interesting and they sound well I guess they don't define them. So that's how I'm defining them in my head. They sound awesome. >>
017Really? >> But maybe they don't mean that. I don't know. >> I talk debate. I think logic and rhetoric's a good thing. >> Economics, Finlet, that's good stuff. >> That's the same thing though. They made that a require, right? Did they make personal finance a requirement and didn't give you any sort of guidelines? >> No. >> And now is no longer Oh, it's still there. half credit, but now it's going away and it's shifting to half credit for each thing, I guess. I see. >> Yeah, >> that's interesting. >> Yeah. Yeah. I just thought the board should be aware of this because these are kind of things that >> So, what's the timeline? So, assuming that there won't be DOE may issue guidance, but it won't issue binding guidance, right? Obviously. So, what's the timeline
018against which you'll be able to brief the board of kind of how we're interpreting these requirements? Not from a staffing and budget perspective because we know what that timeline looks like, >> but from the curricular perspective. >> Well, I I I'll be surprised if if we don't have some guidance, like I said, from the new wheel fairly short uh at least in some broad terms, fairly fairly shortly here. So, I I would expect that to come, you know, as we get certainly before we get through the budget because everybody's going to ask the same question. And look, we got this is this is a this is a different set of requirements. It's going to require some staffing changes. It's going to require us to again go back and review the entire staffing matrix here at
019the high school and and see what where we can what we will have to do. So, yeah, to answer your question, I I can't tell you when. I can tell you when I hope it happens. >> Yeah. >> Counselor school boy went to conference last week and more questions and answers. >> Sure. I imagine so. Oh, just >> yeah. >> How long has it been? There's no foreign language requirement, but there doesn't appear to be now. How has that been the case for a long time? >> Except for an answer for scholars. Yes. for a while requirement to extra scholars designation. Okay. Any other questions or comments on graduation requirements? Nothing. No vote for us to take. It just isn't just an awareness topic. >> Yes. Ashton, any thoughts? >> Okay, >> whatever. Soak them.
020All math 20 math requirements. >> A couple other people over there, too, but >> that same section anyway. >> Oh, very well. Very well. All right, we'll move on then to do business b uh ATN tuition. So since since we began, I don't remember the history. Has it always been $500 where we started back in 17 and 18? >> Yeah. >> Has anything else gone or 2017? >> Yeah. Huh. >> 1718 or 2017. >> Yeah. >> Could could be. Uh I don't know about you, I notice everything's kind of gone up since then except for this. Uh so we are going to need to this again is more information tonight just prepare but we talked about it we're losing some of our state revenue in terms of grants some of our federal revenue in terms
021of uh grants to support above the notch above the notch uh you know supports anywhere from 20 to 30 students every year. Um you know and we need we need around $13,500 to run the program. we have enough uh to run the program for this semester. Uh next semester we will not have enough from grants to run the program. So we'll have to you know request the board to fund it through general fund. But in accordance with that we we think it's we're going to have to look at our tuition rates and obviously bump those up. The tuition rates alone aren't going to make up for the difference. But uh I think we be well within our our rights and well certainly within our rights. It's our program. We do what we want. But I
022think we can make a strong argument. So information tonight we ask questions. It's fine as we move forward and we will ask the board to formally consider the tuition increase pretty significantly for that program. Any questions as we get on that? Okay, we will move on. I can find my page here to I don't even know. I'm going to mess up this pronunciation. I could go a lot of different ways. Presentation. >> Zello. Is that what is that what the first? I would have got that >> now. >> Sneaking in my hair so I can Yeah, I know. >> I have to do it. [Music] >> I'll get it done. >> I have to do because I don't have a computer. >> Computer lit. >> Wait, so you're saying computer? I don't have >> welcome
023to Zello. So Zel Zello is a platform that we encourage students to use. Some students enjoy using Zel, some do not. It's a platform that will promote um life after high school, so college and career. And we spend time during our advisory, we give some time to go and sell them. And we've actually came to the board last year and asked because we were phasing out uh our one of our computer science uh opportunities for a half a credit which was a state requirement. I don't think it is any longer. Um but this is um what we wanted students to create a port electronic portfolio of their interests, their desires of what they may be interested in in the future. And the state now is funding this so we don't have to pay for the
024job any longer. And although there has been some little bit of resistance, um we are actually doing better than most other schools in the state according to folks at Zel and Department of Ed. department of bed paid us a visit last year and we had some seniors who volunteered to present their portfolios which they did and very impressive and we've been asked to present at a conference of school counselors in New Hampshire because Littleton High School is is doing really well overall with zel So, I don't know if you want to give them a little tour. >> Um, so for those who don't know me, I'm Mary Coleman. Um, I was asked by the administration to come here a couple years ago and work on Zello and this was before the state had sort of
025mandated it. So, um, Al and Steve and Michelle hauled me out of mothball. So you have a very crusty old school counselor of 42 years to get on board with this. Uh in my former school, we did digital portfolios and um with the idea that kids leave high school with a with a plan. What do you want to do when you get out of school? Because there's so many kids. I mean, if you go off to college, we know that's kind, you know, that's there's a process you go through when you do that. But Zello does address all kids. uh whether you're going directly into the workforce, the military, going into college, tech schools, whatever it may be. So, I wish I had had this program when I was a school counselor. Um I know
026that Christine will be using it a lot um with the kids coming along so she can go in ahead of time and see what it is the kids are interested in. So, so, so I just want to say initially in middle school or even ninth grade, there's a lot of activities that students could play around with that will tap into their self-interest and provide them with um, you know, template of of maybe what they're good at, maybe what they're thinking about in the future, and provide them with there's so many resources on this that students can maneuver through through high school and narrow down hopefully uh something that they're interested in. >> So this is what the students dashboard will look like. So I went in here and this is what all the teachers can
027do. You can go in on the dashboard and you can pretend to be a student and start making your own portfolio. So we see exactly what the kids have to do. So over here on the right there are all of these different tasks that the kids will have to do. Um, and then like this one I made and it will show you the ones that I've already got and done, that kind of thing. So, it actually takes their their interests, their skills, their experiences and all that kind of puts it all together so that they can start thinking about post-graduation plans. So, I'm not this does we haven't even scratched the surface of what this program can actually do. Um, Mrs. Le Moine has put in local scholarships and then Zello has put in all
028the national scholarships so that you can put in what you want to major in that kind of thing and it'll pull up a bazillion scholarships and the kids can apply for it. They can apply for college through that they can do their FAFSA everything. Um and then for the kids that want to go to White Community College, that kind of thing, they can do that on here. Everything is in one spot. So the kids go through the different standards on the right hand side and we added some things that Al wanted in there. Uh for example, you know what what is a Littleton Crusader? So what what is it when you come out of here? What does it mean to be a crusader from Littleton High School? We also put in personal best >> part
029of our NAS vision of a graduate. We was hoping to tie that in to this. >> Yeah. So, I'm going to show you or I'm going to try to show you a student that we had last year who did hers. >> We do have permission. >> Yeah, we have permission. So, this was a student who did hers last year and I'll show you what the portfolio what hers looks like. I'm sorry about my glasses for falling off my face, but it goes with my age. So, this is uh Fiona and she did her senior portfolio just for her one year and the kids can put graphics in, they can put videos in, all kinds of cool stuff. So, one of the things we want the kids to do is courses enrolled uh for their senior
030year. um her extracurricular activities which she apparently did a lot her community service which is required of all crusaders her personal best which is something that Al put in a personal best could be anything and this is about the student so if you did a great project of nay on it or whatever you can put that in and you learned how to snowboard and that was the first time you've ever done it. Put it in there. You can have several personal bests. This is her vision of a crusader, different school events that she participated in. This is her learning style which was all done in activities that she did that she added to her portfolio. what her personality style is, her interests, and then finally her career and post-graduation plans. So, I think the plan
031at this point, and you know, this is something that's ongoing. We have a committee now that we've started to talk about what we all want in a post in the portfolio. they will also receive uh credit for their computer as a digital portfolio. So we want to again um working with advisors and students in advisory have uh a check in the end of sophomore year see how how they're doing on their portfolio and we do have a committee that's working on you saw it last year when I presented a capstone project that's still in development for this year's uh saw course become seniors and we went up against the same kind of issues when we started our portfolio which was probably I don't know 20 25 years ago um in my former school and the
032kids were resistant at first they weren't really down for it I think the more they get into it and it becomes like second nature to get into they'll they'll they'll enjoy it more. Um, you know, the seniors aren't required to get it all done this year. Um, we're we're we are hoping they're going to do a senior at least their senior portfolio. >> We've been trying to use platforms like this for many many years. An ambiance is another one that we tried to use, but we want to tie some some credit requirements into this like the check in into the sophomore year and then capo project. hopefully students Hawaiian, you know, the ultimate goal is everyone sitting on the stage to receive the diploma has some kind of postsecondary plans and obviously those can change
033and then you know tying in uh as as Mary said internship opportunities as as students get older and senior year for example hopefully tied us all Any questions? I mean, I could spend hours on it. I know you've got a >> when you when you when you go into this and you look at especially your say your junior year, sophomore year, when you're looking at colleges, this does just gives you so much information on programs that are offered that you're interested in. obviously costs um other benefits to certain schools location. So just so much that you can just it's very very centralized. You could you could just go from one platform and get quite a bit of information. >> Students can share their portfolios with um potential employers, their college admission folks, that kind of
034thing. So it's it's and and more colleges are looking for that type of thing as well. You know, employers are looking for, you know, some kind of a portfolio that you bring so the kids can build their resumes in their and all kinds of things. So it it it's a neat program. >> Well, thank you very much. >> You're very welcome. >> That's pretty neat. I'm not pulling up that portfolio if I were. >> Yeah. >> There you go. >> All right. So, we're going to keep going then and uh go into items D, E, and F under new business, which all have to do with the budget. Did I skip something? >> Budget. >> Okay, there's the the budget calendar. Deal with that first of all, I guess, and ask for you to consider
035that for approval or questions if I have. This just extend to what we talked about the last couple meetings into the setting the the dates uh for the budget hearing >> and inviting the budget committee into our normal Monday meeting. >> Correct. >> Beginning with November the 3. >> That's correct. Exactly. >> Love it. The only question I had was looking at this and she is forgiving for not asking questions about it. >> Budget hearing on on January 5th. >> That's that is that's consistent what we've done before, right? >> Kind of seems early, >> but it is it is what it is. >> Yeah. It's just the >> Yeah. Has to be 60 days before the vote, right? Yeah, have to have it by the January 29th. >> So before we proceed then into
036the update and the priorities, are there any questions or concerns about the calendar? Otherwise, we'll seek a motion to approve budget >> real quick. >> Yes. >> I see the January 5th we have a school board meeting, but do we also have a budget hearing that same? >> Yes. Sorry. >> Sorry. >> That's okay. >> So, we'll look for See, Eric's nice to you today, but I'm also too we'll look for a motion to approve the budget calendar as presented. >> She just changed. I'll still make a motion. >> I'll still second person. >> Any discussion? >> Ashton. >> All those in favor? >> I oppose. Stain. Motion carries. 5-0. Move on to the budget update. Budget priorities. So the priorities are the ones from it's it's listed fiscal 20 2027 but these are actually
037private priorities from from last year. Um so we can talk about the priorities in conjunction with the first one of the budget which Patty shared with you. However the board wishes to approach this feel the best way to approach this is fine. You may want to take a look at priorities and be able to realize lightweight needs in there somewhere that's been a topic brought up I would say for the coming budget here, priority one was taking care of that was a priority last year. We're not going to be able to do anything per se to address that priority for another couple years. At least teacher staff will be next year. There's no there's no uh no new agreements coming in terms of negotiate agreements. So there are there are non union staff certainly fit
038into that. But uh I think the spirit of that priority was again accomplished successfully last year. I mean, two that stick out to me as being maybe absent and worth adding. one is lake as you point out and how exactly you word that I I could propose something I suppose but I think that that um you don't want to word it in such a way to suggest that that is more important than the other eight or all the things that we're obligated to do but I think that is a priority the other one that I guess is related is that I think something in the priority should state that um One of our goals or priorities is to always rightsize the budget and its expenditures to whatever the current projected demands are right as opposed
039to always just adding you know 3% one and a half% whatever it's a kind of I guess it's kind of like talking about zerobased budgeting as priority of let's say that everything is being evaluated a new as opposed to just taking kind of a cumulative approach to budget. But I'm sure there's a not stupid way to say that. >> She thoughts on the bottom of the document there. Are there other comments on budget priorities? No, I feel like Lakewood is sort of along the lines of what we discussed last time with the current academy building number five if you want to specify it as number 10. I would also include building as well. That's true. We want your facilities to be safe. >> Ashton, you have all the stuff in front of you. Yes. Any
040other comments on budget priy any comments on budget? Okay, I don't think we're taking any other votes on that, right? Just guys are going to go do and we'll do according to the calendar. Is that right? >> So, are we okay with taking item one off or does that mean just stay? Well, I I still think it's a priority of the budget. >> It's not one that is a primary driver of changes in the budget. >> Yeah, it's still overall. Okay, good. >> But it's still giving life to much of the budget. >> So five the way does that work for everybody? >> E for academy. high school. So there is something that's >> Oh yeah. >> Patty, you want to have more bands as a priority? >> Absolutely. >> And don't laugh about that
041too much. >> Know what that means? >> Things are not good in the transportation industry. Let's just put it that way. having a hard time finding help. >> All right, let me stop making jokes then. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any other questions on budget? >> Yes. >> Oh, thank you. >> Budget budget going on twice. >> I mean, >> I don't know how specific you want to get, Steve. So, number So, number five, like you you put Daisy Box in as a separate item. you need to put the academy or sorry CTC in there >> or can you just do C? I mean it's all the same building B and C. >> So I was really doing buildings facilities instead of like >> but however you want to do it I do it one way
042or the other I guess um to the part that I added, I don't know where it went now, but um do we also in last meeting's conversation want to have something around making sure that the facilities are fully utilized? Well, that's sort of what I was thinking when I when I broke it down like that. You started adding it, but you had said safe, but I I really meant like safe and utilized. Yeah. >> I mean, we really need to >> eventually we're going to have to answer to the decrease enrollment, the number of facilities we have, the bottom line, the budget. Like, we're really going to have to make some tough decisions. Maybe it's next year when I'm not here anymore. Maybe it's, you know, in a couple weeks. I don't really know. But,
043>> yeah. The way I would maybe change that is I would I would ensure school facilities are safe for students and staff fully utilized and provide an adequate learning and work environment. And then I would drop the buy funding because you don't get that specific in any other priority, right? I mean how it gets funded is So that Anybody else on budget? I think the other the only other thing you you got the first the first run. I think it shows what an increase of over $400,000. Any any reactions, thoughts, questions about how we got there? I know Patty always does a pretty good job of explaining it, but I think that uh >> um >> this is level service. Yeah, >> this is staffing as it is currently, not as we budgeted in our
044current budget, but as they were built and we're operating under right now. >> So, we had we had divergent board thoughts on this when we talked about it two weeks ago. Steve loan and myself my what I'm hoping to see in our first budget meeting is a budget that is reduced not level of service not level funded but reduced >> so that there's space for so that we meet all his priorities right so it's right size but also so that there's space >> and a gesture of of goodwill and intent to the town to try to make space for a new elementary school and so yeah my reaction to 400,000 and as it increases it's in the wrong direction but obviously not review the particulars but I would hope that the my expectation just me
045is that I would expect the administration to bring us a budget that shows bring us a budget that is smaller and walk walk us through how that could still work if we could meet all of our requirements all the students needs all of our priorities that will be The challenge I would put to the administrative team as they shake propos >> how much of a reduction should be planning for it would be kind of foolish for me to impose an arbitrary number because I don't know I don't but I do know that $400,000 increase is not a reduction of any kind. >> It's about a 2% increase. Um, we realize and and I'm not arguing I'm not countering any anything here because I I do know the operative question out there and I hear it
046all the time. I know you will hear it all the time too. Your student enrollment keeps going down, right? your budget keeps going up and and fact is we are I mean even even the budget we're bringing the first run and I'm again I'm not defending it whatever I'm just stating some facts does does represent a decrease of at least three three staff members isn't much but it's something right >> yeah my argument is a different I know Erica gave voice to this I don't I don't I don't approach it from the same angle and I think >> the way our budget has increased year-over-year at least as I look the numbers and for the years I've been on the board has been very responsible has been sort of behind the pace of inflation and
047I am not at all bothered by the enrollment is going down budget is going up argument. I think it's a bit of a of a straw man a bit of a false narrative or one that at least doesn't take into appreciation all the other factors and facets. I'm not quite making that argument though I agree with that's a very real argument and I yes and and certainly Erica the only one who hears that we hear it all the time. I'm making a different argument, which is that aside, I'm not looking backwards and say, "What have you done for me lately? Have you cut enough positions?" Whatever the case is. >> I I'm saying right now in this moment, are we doing more than we ought to be given the current state of everything? And is
048there a way that we can carve out space in the budget for some of that new elementary building? >> You know, a new elementary building. I think the last run we were looking at was an annual payment of about 2.2 million. So I guess how much how much uh how much we buying down the 2.2 million is even would even be effective at this question. >> I thought we had discussed something about like meeting the taxpayers at the halfway point probably like could we come up with something where we can put a million up to two 2.2 But I don't know what that looks like. I know that you've given us suggestions before like, okay, we cut 300,000. This is what it's going to look like. 500,000 will look like this. So maybe you start
049that by instead of me coming keep coming back to us and asking us and don't try to figure it just sit here and be kind. >> Well, >> and I think we could do it by levels like show you um the value >> the value of production. So if we did this, this and this that equals 500,000. Then if we continue and do it will be this this and everything will have a value. Obviously everything in our budget has a value. >> It's not like we have to recreate an actual budget. We can just do a spreadsheet that shows you this is what these reductions mean. >> I'm actually defending you in this. You may not like you might not think it but I'm just saying you are very vocal and the rest of us
050for the most part kind of just sit here and stare in space and are asking us for our opinion and asking us >> in the past too negotiations and other things you say option A option B option always been helpful for me to see those >> and that's kind of like what I alluded to in my report that we have at least those three options right so this is running as is right now which is the stack reduction currently. And then what would it be to reduce another 400 plus, right, to get to that level point and then there'll probably be several levels after that, right? like this is what would be impacted and then maybe the board will have different priorities than the admin because the ad admin obviously are come up with this
051list and maybe our priority of those cuts will be different to you guys like we're going to present it but the board will then have to decide if they want to go that direction if so are these the areas that the district will reduce >> and we've asked you Can we make that half a payment ourselves to our budget? Can we give back or can we put some in capital reserves? You know, like we keep asking you money for that and now we're asking you to give us a budget with deduction. So, >> but you could got to remove the capital reserve, you know, just comes from unexpended funds which you've already taken >> that taxpayer money we've already taken. Um, you know, obviously they give us permission to take some more via warrant article.
052That doesn't have to be. That's fine. I'm just in my head just trying to think about the math. You know, we're sitting at $400,000 level level funded or level funded level service. If we want to if we want to get to half of a bond payment, that's 1.1 million or less. So, what what I'm hearing is 1.5 million is something we should look at what that would look like and that's not going to be pretty. Um, but that's I'm just trying to, you know, we have a couple of weeks of administrative team to do a little bit of work before we come back for the next round of this. >> But I think the point is we're not as close to the details as you are. So, we don't know that it's not going to
053look pretty and we need you to illustrate ugliness. for us to understand that >> and it may get to that point that we're like no way we can't go any further. >> But to be clear though, we're not saying that's what it has to be, right? We're saying all things being equal, >> that's what we'd like to be able to do, but we don't know the feasibility feasibility and the impact of that. So, you have to kind of bring us along, >> show us what that looks like, and then we get to deliberate on it and make a decision on the proposal. And as we move further into the budget proceedings with like a budget committee, we've gone through the we we tried to look at that and this is what information >> and that's
054kind of that's kind of like the direction we're heading. >> But thank you for giving us some direction even though I don't like it. >> Well, I want that. >> No, it's okay. >> We'll I get that. I want to make sure. Thank you. Okay. Any other budget commentary? >> Any other new business? >> Middle school boys soccer. >> Oh, today >> um we will move on then to unfinished business residency program. I can't imagine we got anything there. Lakeway, >> there was a DOE. >> Do you want to talk about the DO? >> Yeah, that's Kale to join in as well. >> Kale to talk. I'll join in. Go ahead. >> Okay. So, um, we had a state rep, um, with Mr. Carney from the DOE visit today with Brad from Banwell, uh, Dr.
055Nius, Mrs. Martin um more or less was just the chore. Um they're in the ranking phase and the representative is part of um the public infrastructure um committee that is going to ultimately rank us on state funding um of the three that applied this year. Um so we we pretty much just walked the building and and talked about every everything for like two plus hours. It was a good time had by all and I I think they're very supportive of you know the process that we've gone through. Uh but they asked some really good questions today too of things that um you know we might not have looked at or talked about but we know it's a challenge funding wise. They they understand that too from the state level. So this ranking is just a
056position that has no money attached to it. I probably missed plenty of things, Steve. >> Yeah, we talked, you know, talked about a lot. It's very thorough. I think I think the the questions that were asked by uh the state representative Greg, what was Greg's last name? >> Greg Hill. Um he was I think he did a good job. Very interested I think and I think really really tried to listen, ask good questions. Um, so I really appreciate his presence there as well as the others that were there. And you know, we spent they also go two and a half hours going going through the building and around the building and time. I think Bob spent, you know, in and the list is pretty short now. We're on it. So we'll see just see what
057happening, but the list is short and we're on. >> Yeah, the list is short. We're on. There's no money. But you know what? That doesn't mean that'll always be the case. That's true. You >> got to start somewhere. But I'm glad we I'm glad we did what we did. >> All right. We'll move on then, too. Committee reports. I don't think the negotiations committee met. I don't think we're negotiating anything this year, right? >> Travis and I have vacation. >> I feel like you guys should be on the policy. You know who gets to decide committee assignments? >> Our policy says the chairman gets to decide committee assignments. And you can be the chairman if you'd like. >> Um so then we'll we'll move on to the facilities committee. >> I don't have anything in
058front of me. I mean I was on I was on as we were arriving so I don't have anything in front. >> Okay. Uh we did meet on September 19th. Uh we started the meeting at 7:21 in the morning. Uh Dale went over all the summer projects. Um all projects that we had scheduled to be done this summer were completed. Um review the photos from the ceiling work at the Lake Wman school. Um the acoustic panels. Um I'm just going to hit the highlights. Um the sound in the uh gymnasium is much better. Um the uh we still have a few panels. >> We have extra. >> Yeah, we have extra panels if we needed it, but right now everything's looking really good. Um the academy walkway and driveway. I don't if you noticed or
059not, but it was now clean and safe. It's been repaired. Potholes and uneven surfaces are gone. So that was huge. um pressure washing in the exterior of the high school Daisy Bronson and CTC was completed. Um and that's uh um obviously a huge task on myself. Um I say new parking was also um cleaned up sealed and painted. Uh we we spent quite a bit of time on the Lakeway playground primex inspection came up at our request. Um there's some things that need needed immediate attention which were taken care of. The old school the swing set uh was the biggest thing is um the chairs themselves the seats and the chains were in bad shape. So those were removed to take that safety away. Um and we'll start working on a plan to address the
060other problems there. Um we got a report back on the second floor uh which provided us a monitoring proposal which would be installing uh monitoring sensors to check the uh flexing of the floor. Um, I think that was a rather lively discussion. >> Yeah. Um, and uh, at this point, uh, then we talked about bringing it before the board. Um, the pricing at some point, um, Patty did send off to Primex this morning. >> Okay. >> The reports from them as well as the monitoring and a previous report that was done. Okay. Mr. And I heard back from two of their three attorneys and um two of them I mean they basically said from both reports they would expect that we either install the monitoring system or we invest in the structural improvements that were
061described. >> Um We're looking at some asbestos abatement on the first floor hallway at the academy building possibly for a February education. Uh estimated cost of that is going to be about $15,000. Um obviously that's something that has to be dealt with. Can't remember on the five-year facility plan, but I might have got called away. Oh, I just to uh type in just a reminder that everything on the plan is what the committee agrees to. So, if we get to the end of the school year, we shouldn't be seeing any surprise requests for spending unless it's on that report or it's an emergency. We circumvented that. Thank you. That's all I had for notes. I miss it for the facilities report. Okay. Any questions? Move on then to policies. We have four the first reading
062adoption. These are all um related to the joint management loss committee. These are policies that are referenced within that document. There will be a another set of policies we'll look at next week committee will look at next week and bring to the October was it October 7th or second or whatever that first board meeting is a few additional policies that are referenced in the joint last made these at this point are part of that work extension of that Any questions on the policies that are being presented for first read? Okay. Then we'll look for a motion to read and adopt. calls E B E E to E BB and E B D >> second >> any discussion action. >> All those in favor >> I postain motion carries 5. We'll now move on to Oh,
063well we'll now move on to the student representative report. >> So, so we recently had the student council retreat. That was a big starting point for the year for student council and all of the class representatives and officers. We had an idea to move to do it at a different location, but then we ended up doing it in the church basement because it's closed. It was walking distance. We did it during the whole school day and during that time we talked about all the events that have happened in the past, how we can improve them like homecoming, the hunting walk, winter carl, and another thing we really wanted to focus on was the school spirit and our social media page, like how we can involve students more. Um I think it it has started off
064on a good way. We had posted about homecoming like the themes and we had a good amount of people dressing up today teachers included. That was a success. We talked about homecoming. So, we talked about um how we can make rally cars safer and what the rules will be for that. Um then most recently the bonfire because of the state ban on fires, we were trying to discuss alternatives. That's still in the process. Um, that's the haunted walk. We had a committee planning the theme, talking to the community and the businesses to figure out donations for that. Um, winter carnival themes. It's really a good time to get everybody, all the students as well. helps a lot to get. We had a good group of like 35 40 and there was a lot of ideas.
065Um I think everybody enjoyed it. I hope so. >> Yeah. I didn't know escape van fires. Now I do. >> I wasn't planning on starting. >> Now I will continue to not no right now. >> Evidentally I grilled last night. Zach >> depends on how you grill. >> Not open pit. >> Okay. All right. Any questions for Ashton, her colleagues? Thank you again for being here. Appreciate it. It's good to have a student representative report again. We'll move on to the superintendent report. >> So there's more than I'll share with you and it did did add that to the agenda. Uh so people viewing the agenda see the award of excellence which is is important. Um so this is a award that goes to schools as as it states there the student wasn't disqualified in
066any events and consider the number of students that we have the number of events we have throughout the year that's significant students getting DQed is not that unusual. So hats off to the coaches and obviously the kids uh for that. Um, so a few things I've been up to. A couple weeks ago, regional meeting for for North Country Superintendent was held at Colber and we took a sec a circuitous route to the to the site because it was at a camp out in the countryside uh near Colbert. But uh I went uh went with some other other area superintendent colleagues and we had quite the ride getting there. We got there and got to see a lot of cows and hay and stuff along the way. Draw me back to my farming days fondly. Uh
067but that that uh that that event was a kickoff event and we we meet every month and we rotate the meetings and December it'll be they'll be here a little bit. lots to talk about um changes from the legislature. You know, I know I'm a broken record, but guess what? Number one topic was open enrollment. So, that's got everybody's attention, but other changes as well that have coming up and have come up. cell phones, how everybody doing cell phones, um staffing, regionalization. There's a lot of a lot of things we talked about that uh that event uh typically has representatives from other organizations from the state sometimes send a rep uh community college send a rep. Uh the DOE sends a rep. We did have a representative from the DOE committee up there. So that
068was good to see. uh following following day I was a congregate all day for the state superintendent um meeting and u that was a good a good followup that we've done the day before and then I spent the afternoon at a school law conference uh presentation by by a law lead a law firm here in New Hampshire going through all the changes uh in law and a little bit of changes on policy we've been working with school open houses uh were big success Unfortunately, I missed the one here u because of illness, but I wasn't wasn't late. Crystal reported 500 plus attendees probably. So, uh it was well attended open house to say the least. Um when we talk about field hockey, I didn't mention last week field hockey, we just did I emailed the
069board. We didn't have enough interest to have a team, but we did have interest in cross country, including some of the players who would have been in field hockey. So, Brock has been working uh to get that going and we do we will field team this year. First meet will be next week on Monday. So we will have a run run run a see how it goes this year with a small team five six runners but we did try we did promise in in L of field hockey not having the numbers to try to open up some other activities for for students and all these students are are female students. So, uh, doesn't doesn't take away the loss of field hockey certainly, but it does represent a good faith effort to offer athletes some other
070options. Um, Crotchet Mountain Foundation, which is a foundation that's funding half the cost of residency program this year. uh because we only had two residents instead of four, that left about $55,000 that that we wouldn't be wouldn't be using for the residency program. I notified them very early last well toward the end of the school year when we were making the final um plans for the residency program. Let them know, hey, we're only going to need half as much so that we have other uses for the funds. But uh they they like what we've done uh with with using their fund. they consider as a good partner and they said no, you can you can use these funds for some other projects. So, Kelly and I spent some time and talked about different options, but
071what we settled on um in working with Crosset Mountain is investing some money into some upgrades of the playground equipment in the preschool. And so that's what we're working on with with them on, you know, $55,000 doesn't go far when you're getting a playground equipment, but it'll get a few pieces and we're working with the preschool staff uh to make the selections for that. So again, shout out to Crosset Mountain for still uh Crosset Mountain Foundation for helping us still with another activity that supports students with disabilities and just students in general. Um, I I have been making it since actually toward the toward the end of last year. I I started going uh to the radio station every couple of weeks, spending a little time with Phil in the mornings and uh talking a
072little bit about school events and things that are happening in the in the school. Um so I continue that that this year. Every once in a while I bump into somebody that's listening to the radio and says, "Oh, you run the radio. I'm glad you're doing this." I did something I'm trying to do. I think I think it reached potential audience that we don't necessarily reach with other other methods that we have. Um, another not that not that I'm not that I'm a not that I'm seeking out um media and radio opportunities, but I just to let you know that because it's involved with a a graduate. Taylor Bayard has a has a a show that he's doing with North Country Community Radio and uh and so I will be going on his show this
073coming Saturday evening at 6:30. And so I'm really honored as knowing knowing Taylor uh as as a friend, former student, his family very well. I'm very honored to be on his show. So I don't know what Taylor's got in mind. I know he has some really hard questions for me. But uh I I look I look forward to that very So that's a few high points of of some of the work that I've been engaged in addition to other things the last few weeks. Thank you. Any questions for superintendent? >> No, the only one I would say Steve was on the radio. Um I think some of our audience might be um certainly our seniors in the community who our regulars at the voting >> polls and it's a chance for it to really maybe
074go through the budget. um a little bit more concentration on some of the the warrant articles, you know, to help possible, you know, now it's pretty light, but it's but it's it's something, you know, Phil's a very gracious host. I think you spent a little bit time talking about any additional questions or comments with superintendent then to public input. We'll look then for a properly worded motion to enter into nonpublic session. >> We're going to need several here. So, let me grab the cheat sheet. >> Yeah, we need eight also. We like to have Al join us, please. 238. I make a motion to enter into non-public session under paragraph 2 section 3 of RSA 91A form 3 of the right to no law for the dismissal promotion or compensation of any public employee or
075the discipline of such employee or investigation of any charges against him or her two. The hiring of any person as a public employee matters which if discussed in public would likely adversely affect the reputation of any person other than a member of this board and consideration of legal advice provided by legal counsel taking with us the superintendent and the principal of the high school. Correct. >> Is there a second? >> I second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? Roll call vote please. Wave JO. Great traffic, >> Matthew St. John. Motion carries 5. We are now in non-public session. Thank you very much, >> Ashton.