[0:00] Good evening everyone.
[0:00] I wanna now call this meeting of
[0:01] the Derry School Board to order.
[0:03] Please stand and join me in the Pledge
[0:04] of Allegiance. Pledge of Allegiance
[0:09] Flag,
[0:10] United States Nation.
[0:22] Thank you. We'll start with the roll call.
[0:23] If everyone could introduce
[0:25] themselves, starting from my right,
[0:27] Jeremy Lama, facilities director,
[0:30] Joe Crawford, assistant Superintendent
[0:32] Jane Ard, business administrator,
[0:34] Michael Flynn, superintendent
[0:37] Michael Thiel, school board Chair.
[0:39] Jen Thoro, school Board Vice Chair, Jen Paradise,
[0:41] school Board Secretary Jamie Car School Board.
[0:45] Karen r. School Board.
[0:46] David Clap, school board.
[0:48] All right. Thank you everyone.
[0:49] We will begin tonight with a public hearing on the
[0:51] withdrawal of funds from the maintenance
[0:52] and repair expendable trust fund per RSA 1 98,
[0:56] section 20 C, paragraph two.
[0:58] The board must hold a public hearing prior
[1:00] to withdrawing funds from an expendable trust fund.
[1:03] I will take a motion to open the public hearing.
[1:05] So moved first by Jen.
[1:07] Second. Second by Jenna. All in favor? Aye. Aye.
[1:11] All opposed. Motion carries. Seven zero.
[1:14] I'll turn it over to Mike for a presentation.
[1:16] Thanks. So a public hearing, as Mike mentioned
[1:20] this March, we asked the taxpayers for $500,000
[1:24] to move towards the capital improvement trust fund
[1:27] that dairy had already established.
[1:29] In order to access those funds, we have
[1:31] to have a public hearing so that we're clearly communicating
[1:34] to the community what those funds will be used
[1:35] for the up to price.
[1:37] If we, if we don't know the exact price in kind
[1:40] of a brief discussion on what it is,
[1:42] anyone in the community can come
[1:43] and offer their opinion on on the work.
[1:46] The board can have discussion,
[1:47] then we move into the regular meeting
[1:49] and then you guys can vote to withdraw those funds.
[1:51] So the first opportunity that we'd like to, to do with the,
[1:56] the money that we've, we've asked for from the taxpayers is
[1:59] to chip away at the CIP plan that we'll be discussing
[2:02] and reviewing in the June meetings.
[2:05] We're just waiting for facilities meeting to review it,
[2:07] but one of the first things we're looking
[2:08] to check off is flooring district wide.
[2:11] So Jeremy's gonna explain the flooring of the bid
[2:14] that went out and any discussion
[2:16] or questions that you may have.
[2:17] So,
[2:22] Okay.
[2:23] So it's actually been a dream of mine since I started here
[2:25] to get rid of these carpets that are in the schools as well
[2:28] as there's two, I'm sure
[2:31] the first list I made years ago had a priority number
[2:35] that I associated to it, one through four, one being
[2:38] in the worst condition and the rest could wait over time.
[2:43] They've all become ones
[2:44] and I'm sure you guys have seen
[2:45] the carpets in the schools there.
[2:47] Disgusting. So we went through
[2:50] and we did our yearly RFP
[2:52] and we put 33 locations in total, which includes
[2:58] some of the, the hallways like at East
[2:59] Dairy West running Brook.
[3:01] The hubs, again, I've said it in the past.
[3:04] We go through and we clean those rugs twice a
[3:06] year and it just doesn't show.
[3:08] So this is a great opportunity for us.
[3:10] We're gonna be doing six classrooms for asbestos abatement,
[3:14] 21 classrooms, we'll get the carpets torn out
[3:18] and new VCT put down as well as two of the libraries.
[3:22] We're gonna re-carpet, Grinnell
[3:24] and Hood Library to match the hallways.
[3:27] So
[3:28] Can you explain carpet tile versus what you're replacing
[3:30] with so that community?
[3:32] Yeah. So right now it's rolled carpet
[3:34] and for some reason, I don't know if it's
[3:37] because the schools aren't air conditioned,
[3:39] but in the summertime it, it wrinkles
[3:41] and comes up, becomes a tripping hazard, a safety hazard.
[3:45] Our plan is to go with a carpet tile like a square two foot
[3:49] carpet tile and in the future if we have one that stains
[3:52] or we have an issue, maintenance can actually replace that
[3:55] and keep it looking professional.
[3:58] Can you explain how many bids
[3:59] went out and how many We got back,
[4:02] We posted it to the website.
[4:04] We only got one bid back.
[4:06] It was from the company that is actually doing some flooring
[4:09] for the flood work that we did.
[4:12] And they've been doing work for the school for,
[4:15] for us for a couple of years.
[4:18] Again, with the ti with the time crunch
[4:21] before they, you know, once they put the bid in,
[4:23] we made sure that that was something
[4:24] that they could actually attack for this summer.
[4:26] So yeah, just that one bid this year.
[4:30] And the goal with this capital improvement trust fund is
[4:32] to always carry a balance, right?
[4:34] So it's not every mon all the
[4:35] monies that's coming in is going out.
[4:36] So we, we requested $500,000, which was approved
[4:39] by the, the community.
[4:41] This is an up to 3 75 number.
[4:43] We think it, it will more than likely come in under
[4:46] and then that will carry a balance with,
[4:48] I think we had roughly about $250,000 in there already.
[4:52] So then the next year when we go back to the taxpayer
[4:53] and we, and we ask or request some more, some funds,
[4:58] this capital improvement plan will kind of show
[5:00] and continue to show the dedication of the funds so
[5:02] that it's not so
[5:06] that it's clearly communicated the path that we're going on
[5:08] and what the tax dollars are used for.
[5:10] So that's the real goal. So
[5:12] One thing I forgot to mention
[5:13] as I've learned since I've been here is the gym floors
[5:16] typically should be resurfaced every seven years.
[5:20] One, we learned that when we had the issue at Hood a couple
[5:23] years ago and that floor was refinished
[5:25] and it just made the school look brand new.
[5:27] So part of this flooring is going to be
[5:29] to refinish the west running brook floor
[5:31] and actually put the appropriate logo on the middle
[5:34] and just kind of make it look much better.
[5:41] So the cost savings in the end, like you said,
[5:43] we will be able to maintain the carpet if far greater
[5:45] won't have to wash it as much
[5:47] because of the type of carpet. Yeah, I think
[5:48] We'll still have to wash it
[5:49] but there's gonna be a lot of areas that won't have it.
[5:51] Yep. So that's gonna, I think it, the cost
[5:55] to do all the floors in the district was like 20 grand
[5:59] and I think that was, the numbers aren't exact,
[6:02] but it was like 9 cents a square foot to clean the carpets.
[6:06] But that's how much carpet we had.
[6:08] And can you just explain what VCT is for everyone?
[6:11] It's that 12 inch cool white square tile
[6:14] that's in all the schools, like in the
[6:16] hallways, the cafeterias.
[6:20] I have a question. Yep. Why choose carpet squares over
[6:24] doing everything in the VCT?
[6:27] Why not? Why keep some of them with carpet squares,
[6:30] Acoustics?
[6:31] Oh, like we wouldn't do it in a library. Okay.
[6:34] So that, those are the areas
[6:35] that're getting carpet replaced.
[6:37] So,
[6:39] Okay.
[6:40] That's pretty much the only areas,
[6:43] Right?
[6:44] Just the libraries. Most of the other areas are going BCT.
[6:46] Yeah.
[6:50] Yep. So the music rooms are still,
[6:53] will have the regular VCT flooring and not carpet.
[6:57] East area has a VCT floor.
[7:00] We're doing the music room at Grinnell.
[7:02] I think we're gonna keep that carpet. That's a smaller area.
[7:06] Some areas like we're doing a couple ramps that's gonna be,
[7:09] they call it a coin rubber floor so that it's not a,
[7:13] a slip hazard on the ramps.
[7:15] So there's, there's a little bit here
[7:17] and there that that's different.
[7:18] But just to accommodate the space, we made that decision,
[7:23] That ramp on east area, the really long one, is
[7:25] that gonna be the coin rubber?
[7:27] That one? That one is in very good shape
[7:29] and that one is gonna remain carpet.
[7:32] Oh, okay. Yep.
[7:35] But the long hallways that are, that blue carpet,
[7:39] Is that eventually going to be when
[7:41] It needs to be replaced?
[7:42] Yeah, but that has a lot of life in it
[7:44] that it, it looks good.
[7:45] It's, I don't know when it was put down
[7:47] but doesn't look like it was long before I get here.
[7:50] Okay. Thank you. Questions
[7:54] that conclude your presentation?
[7:55] Yep. Alright, so I'll now open the floor
[7:59] for questions or comments from the public.
[8:01] If you'd like to speak to the topic of the withdrawal
[8:03] of funds from the maintenance and repair expendable trust
[8:05] fund only, please approach the microphone
[8:07] and state your name and address for the record.
[8:16] David Procher 26 Milmore Road.
[8:19] I happen to frequent a place that uses carpet squares
[8:22] and they've had problems in the past
[8:25] of keeping the squares down.
[8:28] Do you anticipate a need for resorting to greater
[8:33] and greater adhesives
[8:34] or are you gonna do it right the first
[8:35] time is basically the question.
[8:38] Sorry, that's a rude question
[8:40] to rude way to ask that question.
[8:43] If there are problems keeping the squares down,
[8:45] do you have a plan to deal with that?
[8:48] So we did have a problem at West Running Brook in
[8:51] that music room and the flooring contractor came back three
[8:56] times to get it right and it was an adhesive issue.
[9:00] We actually pay a little bit more for them
[9:03] to do moisture testing even if the school's a hundred years
[9:06] old, they test the concrete to see what level it's at
[9:08] for moisture and that determines what they use for adhesive.
[9:11] So we don't bypass that for that reason. Okay, thank you.
[9:15] That's all I wanted to know.
[9:23] All right. Seeing no one else coming to the microphone,
[9:26] I'd accept a motion to close the public
[9:27] hearing first by Jen.
[9:31] Second. Second by Jenna. All in favor? Aye. All opposed.
[9:37] Motion carries seven zero.
[9:38] So we'll take up the issue of the,
[9:40] this withdrawal in the public meeting to follow.
[9:43] So we will take a recess
[9:45] until 6:30 PM when we'll begin the
[9:47] regularly scheduled public meeting.
[15:17] All right, welcome back everyone.
[15:18] We'll now pick up with the public meeting agenda.
[15:21] Our first order of business will be the consent
[15:23] agenda for tonight.
[15:25] We have the public meeting minutes of May 12th, 2026.
[15:28] The manifests in the amount of $2,555,330 and 43 cents.
[15:34] Of which $1,338,036
[15:37] and 73 cents is general payroll
[15:39] and $1,217,293
[15:42] and 70 cents is general expense
[15:45] following professional staff nominations.
[15:47] Kate Griffin out of district coordinator District,
[15:50] Jill Hartman, special education teacher District
[15:53] Autumn Stavenger, English Language Arts teacher,
[15:56] west Running Brook Intermediate School.
[15:58] The following resignation effective June 30th, 2026.
[16:02] Barry Jane Corey, director
[16:04] of the Dairy Center for Adult Studies.
[16:07] And the following resignation effective immediately,
[16:09] Jason McLeod School District Treasurer.
[16:12] So with Jason's resignation,
[16:14] the deputy treasurer Kathy Kennedy will fulfill the duties
[16:16] of the treasurer during the search
[16:18] for a permanent replacement.
[16:20] We also have the election of administrators
[16:22] for the 20 26 20 27 year.
[16:24] You may remember last month we elected teachers,
[16:26] our professional staff per RSA 180 9 39.
[16:30] That law also requires the election
[16:32] of any school district employee whose position requires
[16:35] certification as a professional engaged in teaching,
[16:37] which includes principals and other administrators.
[16:40] Mike has provided the board with a list of administrators,
[16:43] so nominated for 20 26, 27.
[16:45] These are all administrators currently employed
[16:46] by the district that are verified to hold a valid,
[16:48] appropriate credential where required.
[16:51] Do I have a motion to accept the consent agenda?
[16:54] So moved first by Jenna. Second. Second by Jen.
[16:59] Is there any further discussion of any of these items?
[17:03] All right, hearing none. All in favor? Aye. All opposed.
[17:06] Motion carries. Seven zero.
[17:10] Our next item will be appointment presentations.
[17:12] We have all of our school principals with us tonight
[17:14] to give end of year reports.
[17:16] So I will turn it over to Mike to introduce everyone.
[17:19] Thank you Mike. Mary, you can start working right here.
[17:23] So we've done a cadence this year.
[17:24] This will be the third time the
[17:25] the, the principals are here.
[17:27] As you can see in the board packet,
[17:30] it's a little bit more detail than,
[17:31] than it has been previously.
[17:32] We had a lot of objectives coming in, trying to share, start
[17:35] to finish, goals, growths, all of all of that fun stuff.
[17:39] They're not gonna read it for you.
[17:40] You guys are all more than capable of reading,
[17:42] but they're, we've allowed a little bit more flexibility
[17:44] this evening rather than a hot timer
[17:47] of three minutes. So looking
[17:48] Forward to it.
[17:49] Go ahead Mayor. So can you hear me
[17:58] Now?
[17:59] You can. Yeah. So,
[18:00] and he told us we only had one minute,
[18:02] we got to three minutes this time.
[18:03] He said think about five minutes.
[18:06] And it was supposed to be one page
[18:07] and when I sent it to Kathleen I said Here's my one
[18:10] plus three page report.
[18:11] 'cause I just, when you talk about a whole year, it's hard
[18:13] to narrow it down because such
[18:15] wonderful things happen all year.
[18:16] And so I'm just gonna start with math, which was
[18:19] what the first heading there was really talking
[18:21] to our kids about being math thinkers, not just getting
[18:25] to the right answer, being able to explain the answer
[18:28] to the point where I observe in classrooms
[18:31] and they're each telling each other like,
[18:33] well how'd you get there?
[18:35] Like why do you think that's right?
[18:37] What if they're coaching each other like well
[18:40] and beyond the teacher, which is amazing.
[18:42] And then through intervention groups and through focus
[18:45] and along with great instructional
[18:48] practices in the classroom, we have
[18:51] really moved forward in the area
[18:53] of phonemic awareness and phonics.
[18:54] That has been an area that we tended
[18:56] to be a little weaker on over the several years.
[18:58] And go figure what you focus on, you grow in
[19:02] and there's definitely been some growth in that.
[19:04] Cares continues to be a strong component of our,
[19:06] our building where we speak about it all
[19:08] day long in the classrooms.
[19:10] If there's a discipline thing
[19:11] and the that comes to the office, we always fall back on one
[19:13] of those tenants to say, you know, was that responsible
[19:16] or was, did you show empathy when you did that?
[19:18] And we have our monthly meetings
[19:19] where the kids come together and they do skits and they sing
[19:22] and they create these things all
[19:25] as a class, which is amazing.
[19:27] And stand up in front of the PI with such confidence.
[19:29] And this year with, with the new student council,
[19:32] they literally ran one of the meetings
[19:34] where they did the slides for the event.
[19:36] They did all the skits for the event
[19:37] and you got, I forgot they came and talked to you about it.
[19:39] Like it was just so exciting to see.
[19:41] So to be able to feel confident to allow kids
[19:44] to lead the way and know that a good job is going
[19:47] to be none has been very exciting for us.
[19:50] Then we have, one of the pieces that I am so proud
[19:55] of is this year we had committees in our building
[19:57] with the teachers and there were four groups.
[19:59] You were either in the responsive,
[20:02] the Res Restorative Practice group or the Cares Group
[20:05] or the Wellness group or the safety group where they met.
[20:08] The first time they met, they two groups read a book,
[20:12] two groups did, worked off a policy
[20:14] and practices within the building
[20:17] and they put, we would meet together, we would talk about
[20:20] what we learned, we'd put a slideshow together
[20:22] and the following staff meeting we would present out
[20:24] to the staff and it was quality, quality work that was done.
[20:28] Teachers asking their peers to reflect and share.
[20:31] They also would come back
[20:34] and you would see some of the things happening
[20:36] that we talked about in the classroom.
[20:38] Or most recently they talked about
[20:39] how some of the things that they learned.
[20:41] One of the things was reframing, I got to share
[20:43] with Joe was reframing how it impacted not just
[20:45] what was happening in school but also at home.
[20:47] How that these strategies can help us across.
[20:50] So the fact that they were able
[20:52] to like our students stand up in front of their peers
[20:54] and share their knowledge
[20:56] and their learning has been so exciting for us.
[20:59] We also had two people that were nominated for Teacher
[21:02] of the year, Katie b Carey and Amy Landry.
[21:05] And Amy Landry was one of 11 in the state
[21:07] that made it to semifinals.
[21:08] So that was very exciting for us.
[21:10] And we have two
[21:12] paraprofessionals that finish their programs.
[21:14] One with masters and the other one
[21:15] with batches in psychology.
[21:17] So they, it looks like they're staying along long
[21:20] for another year, which is great because sometimes when
[21:21] that happens you lose 'em.
[21:22] But I think we might have them for another year.
[21:25] And then Kathy Tropel, who's been in the building
[21:26] for 27 years as a reading specialist is retiring this year
[21:30] We had 13 different opportunities for extracurricular
[21:33] that kids were able to sign up for.
[21:35] And this is something that teachers give their own time for
[21:37] to do and they plan it and they get excited about it.
[21:41] We've had my most favorite com,
[21:43] I love all the community partnerships.
[21:45] My most favorite is the Pinkerton one where they come
[21:47] for pals and also the future teacher.
[21:49] And I've had an opportunity to talk to the board
[21:51] before about that knowing what you don't want is just
[21:54] as important, as important as knowing what you do want.
[21:56] And they come in and some kids are like,
[21:58] yeah, I really wanna be a teacher.
[21:59] I'm so glad that's a profession I chose
[22:01] and more I'm going to college for.
[22:03] And then some pe some
[22:04] of the kids in the past have been like, Hmm, well this isn't
[22:07] what I thought it was, but, but saving that money
[22:10] and having a different direction
[22:12] can be priceless as a family.
[22:15] Our PTA amazing, like every year my,
[22:18] my board will do anything
[22:20] and everything to support the students,
[22:24] the staff and each other.
[22:25] Like the community at large.
[22:26] They do great events
[22:28] and we have an amazing volunteer program
[22:30] where there are tons of volunteers available for each event.
[22:34] Then for student achievements, we had two students,
[22:36] two fourth grade students, one came in first place
[22:38] and one got honorable, honorable mention
[22:41] for Reflections Math clubs, six of six of our students
[22:45] achieved 50% above 50% and nationally.
[22:48] And that was with 43, almost
[22:51] 44,000 students across the nation, which is amazing.
[22:55] Our I students have their own mail system we deliver, they,
[22:59] they delivered 1500 mail pieces of mail this year, which is
[23:02] so exciting to exciting to see them do each Friday.
[23:05] And then we came, we were top three in fundraising
[23:09] for Healthy Kids Heart
[23:11] and they raised $17,000, the families and the students at school.
[23:15] And then the two food drives.
[23:16] Anybody that's been lucky enough to come see our lobby
[23:18] or come and pick it up, like we
[23:20] always need more than one truck.
[23:22] The community at East areas so generous, so generous
[23:26] and then like it, you know,
[23:27] those are some of my big highlights.
[23:30] What two that are like beginning
[23:33] and ending for me is
[23:35] that we had our kindergarten orientation, which is
[23:37] so exciting to meet the families
[23:39] and to get them across the threshold.
[23:41] Some are prior families, some are brand spanking new.
[23:44] It's just an exciting day. And then the Westbrook band came.
[23:47] So to see students that were there
[23:48] before, so kids coming in, kids
[23:50] that were already in there have been,
[23:52] was very exciting over the last couple weeks.
[23:54] And just one more thing. Sure, those are all my highlights,
[23:57] but what's more important is how my teachers feel.
[23:58] And so I asked them, you know, what are some
[24:00] of the highlights that you had your grade level, you know,
[24:03] student successes, your successes,
[24:05] and across the board it was pretty much the same.
[24:08] They all felt like they were strong teams,
[24:10] that they were working together,
[24:12] that they were developing math thinkers.
[24:13] That really has been a focus of us.
[24:14] And they were so excited about the screeners
[24:16] and where kids have come with that.
[24:18] How they've built trusting relationships with each other
[24:20] and the students coming together for kiis.
[24:23] They love that monthly meeting.
[24:25] They come to the volun, they volunteer at our school events.
[24:28] And this was like a big thing was they felt
[24:30] heard with the scheduling.
[24:32] We struggle with the schedule at the beginning of the year
[24:34] and they, Mike gave them opportunity
[24:36] to fill out a survey like what they were looking for.
[24:38] And they felt heard because they, we switched the schedule
[24:42] after February vacation
[24:44] and know that is hard to switch a schedule that you're,
[24:46] you're already enmeshed in.
[24:48] They handled with great flexibility and, and excitement
[24:53] because it was their, it was those words
[24:56] that they had put forward that made the change.
[24:58] And when we had our meeting most recently about scheduling
[25:01] for next year, it was just minor little tweaks
[25:03] because some great work was done.
[25:05] So let's see. Terry, unless you have some questions,
[25:08] Awesome.
[25:09] I feel you're working hard trying
[25:11] to squeeze that all in. I know
[25:12] There's so much more, like we're blessed
[25:15] to do what we do for a living.
[25:16] Like I, I get to walk through the classrooms every day,
[25:18] like the first thing in the morning when they come in
[25:20] and they're already, you have the celebrity status
[25:23] that just fills your heart every day.
[25:25] They look you in the eye and they say good morning.
[25:26] When they leave in the afternoon, they, you know,
[25:28] have a great day Mrs. Hill.
[25:29] See you tomorrow. Like we are lucky to do what we do.
[25:33] Any questions for Mrs. Hill?
[25:36] All right, thank you everybody. Thanks
[25:37] You.
[25:38] Thank you. Thank you. Lots of
[25:39] good things going on at East Area.
[25:42] Alright, Melissa from Grinnell.
[25:47] Hi everybody. So one thing
[25:50] that always makes me proud at the end
[25:52] of every year is looking back at the way our community comes
[25:55] together at Grinnell
[25:56] and we come together in so many different ways.
[25:59] We have a lot of staff that gives of their time
[26:03] to do many different things,
[26:05] but they,
[26:07] they really are invested in the students
[26:11] and in helping them grow in all different ways,
[26:14] not just academically but as tiny humans.
[26:16] And as part of that they look to improve themselves.
[26:22] We have a lot of staff
[26:23] who are continuing their college credits.
[26:25] We have a staff member who just last week graduated
[26:28] with her master's degree
[26:30] and they look forward to different opportunities
[26:33] that the district provides
[26:35] or courses that they find on their own.
[26:37] And they look at ways that they can help support our kiddos
[26:40] through the classroom.
[26:43] One of the greatest prides of this year is
[26:46] Grinnell has always struggled with
[26:52] their SaaS testing and their NIWA scores.
[26:55] And over the past few years we've been working really hard
[26:58] at helping to change the way that our,
[27:02] our teachers look at their instruction through the work
[27:04] of the curriculum team, the math
[27:06] and the reading specialists, the teachers working
[27:08] as teams collaboratively together
[27:11] and in their work
[27:14] and showing the students that there are different ways
[27:16] to look at the problems
[27:17] and what Mary was saying about the math thinking
[27:21] and making all of those changes.
[27:23] We've seen tremendous success and growth with our students
[27:27] and we are on track to break some of the goals
[27:30] that we had put in place
[27:32] for achievement this year for our students.
[27:34] And that work wouldn't be possible without the students
[27:37] investing in themselves
[27:39] and the teachers investing in them as well.
[27:42] We pride ourselves as a community at Grinnell
[27:45] and we look for ways
[27:46] that we can bring the community into the building.
[27:49] We have worked with next charter school
[27:53] and some of the students from next,
[27:54] they actually wrote picture books
[27:57] and they came in, they read them to our students.
[28:00] We have Pinkerton come in, as Mary said, we have some
[28:03] of the future teachers come in and work with our students.
[28:06] We also have the PALS program, which is a great way for some
[28:10] of our students to have that extra little support and,
[28:13] and an older role model to take, take some time
[28:19] with on some afternoons.
[28:21] And then we continue to foster a big relationship
[28:24] with the dairy public library.
[28:26] Terry Stalling from the library comes in frequently
[28:28] throughout the year, works with our kindergarten classrooms,
[28:32] talks to them about the library,
[28:34] gets 'em excited about reading.
[28:35] It's just another way to highlight the benefits of reading
[28:39] and the fun of this community.
[28:42] One thing that was really special this year as well,
[28:45] we had about 10% of our students
[28:47] that received pre preventative dental care
[28:50] through the Children's Smile Connection,
[28:51] which is a great program for some students that might not
[28:55] otherwise have access to that kind of care.
[28:57] So it was nice to be able to partner with them
[29:00] and Mitch Edwards did some work in making that happen.
[29:04] So I appreciate that.
[29:06] As far as reading and math goes, as I mentioned,
[29:08] we've been making some great strides in our academic
[29:12] achievement as a school.
[29:13] And one of the things
[29:15] that my math specialist was very excited to see was that
[29:19] the increase, we had an over 7% increase in the number
[29:23] of students who were at grade level on their math
[29:26] screener by the end of this year.
[29:27] So that as compared to last year.
[29:29] So it was great to see some of that growth there.
[29:32] And my reading specialist, when I asked her, I said, talk
[29:36] to me about what you think is successful about the year.
[29:40] And I love the way she talked about it.
[29:42] She talked about the little things
[29:43] where a kid finally finds a book that they like
[29:46] and all of a sudden they're starting to read.
[29:49] Or when you have different students that you know,
[29:53] they've, they've had difficulty
[29:55] and all of a sudden some
[29:56] of the words are coming together for them.
[29:58] It's just those times when they get into the classrooms
[30:00] and they can see some of that work
[30:03] and help support the teachers and support the students
[30:06] and it brings a lot of excitement to the learning
[30:09] and I'm, I'm thankful
[30:11] that we have those specialists in our building.
[30:15] As Mary said, we also work with CARES a lot and
[30:18] before anything, when you have a guest come in the building
[30:21] or if we have a field trip going out, we always say remember
[30:25] and they say Grinnell Cares
[30:26] because they know what we're talking about and,
[30:29] and we review what all of those things mean
[30:32] and as the year goes on,
[30:33] the the s needs a little more review
[30:35] for self-control, but that's okay.
[30:38] They know what we're talking about
[30:40] and it's part of their day.
[30:43] We're very thankful to have had a lot
[30:46] of field trips this year for the different grade levels
[30:48] that tie into their learning.
[30:50] So that's been exciting for the students.
[30:52] And we had different events come into the school as well.
[30:58] Our Pinkerton student ambassadors came to visit
[31:00] with our kindergartners.
[31:02] So again, it's another way to get Pinkerton involved.
[31:05] And during Read Across America Week,
[31:08] we had a contest for the students.
[31:09] They got to design bookmarks
[31:11] and the winners from each grade level had their bookmarks
[31:14] laminated and distributed across to their grade level.
[31:18] We also had an honorable mention at Reflections, one
[31:21] of our first graders, one for her artwork.
[31:24] And my favorite spring event is our Night of the arts where
[31:28] families get to come into Grinnell.
[31:29] It's our course concert. Our STEM teacher, Dr.
[31:33] Napolitano had some
[31:34] of their STEM projects out this year for display.
[31:37] Our art teacher puts artwork up around the building.
[31:41] Our PE teacher does a a physical activity in the music room
[31:45] because music is in the gym for the concert.
[31:47] So it's kind of funny. And we have our book fair
[31:51] and the PTA also comes in
[31:53] and they do an ice cream social so that everybody can kind
[31:55] of wander around the building, check out some student work,
[31:58] see the arts and also have some time
[32:00] to mingle with one another.
[32:02] We had a lot of extracurricular clubs this year.
[32:06] We are finishing the year right now
[32:07] with a Little Runner's club
[32:09] and two of our first grade teachers are running that.
[32:12] One of them is Mary Cl who
[32:15] ran the Boston Marathon again this year
[32:17] and was the top female runner from
[32:19] New Hampshire in the marathon.
[32:21] And our PTA, we had a small turnover and board for next year
[32:26] because many of our board members,
[32:28] their children are moving on or have moved on
[32:30] and they've stayed with us for a long time.
[32:33] So we're excited to have a board in place for next year
[32:35] to continue some of the great things
[32:37] and look for some new things as well.
[32:39] Our community
[32:41] as a whole does a nice job supporting one another.
[32:43] We also participated in the Dairy Rotary N 68 food drive
[32:47] and when the rotary came to pick up the food, they were
[32:50] so excited to see the difference between November
[32:53] and April's Food Drive.
[32:55] We had over double the amount in April
[32:59] that we had in November.
[33:00] So it was a great thing to see,
[33:01] to give back to the community.
[33:03] Our physical education teacher,
[33:05] she runs the Kids' Heart Challenge
[33:07] and we raised over $7,500 for the American Heart Association
[33:11] and also our PTA fun run was the week
[33:15] before April vacation and that was a great time.
[33:18] We ended up having raised over $12,500 for the PTA,
[33:22] which they send right back to us for our field trips
[33:26] and family nights
[33:27] and trying to keep things fun for families without
[33:31] adding additional costs.
[33:34] So
[33:35] That was a lot.
[33:39] This is great. It's supposed to be a lot.
[33:41] Yeah. And it's exciting.
[33:42] It's, it's always bittersweet at the end of the year. Yep.
[33:46] All right. Do you guys have any questions for Mrs. Lance?
[33:50] All right, thank you.
[33:57] Ms. C from South Range. That's me. I got it.
[34:01] You did It took me all year. Figured it out. Not
[34:04] Just, not just Michelle's school.
[34:06] Can you pass this around for me? Thanks.
[34:08] Of Course you do. I left my other prop at my seat,
[34:12] but maybe we'll pull it out after.
[34:15] All right. So I was very stuck on this needs to be one page,
[34:19] this needs to be one page and I didn't get it there,
[34:22] but one of, we had a very successful
[34:26] and positive year at South Range.
[34:28] Lots of things to celebrate, lots of things that Melissa
[34:30] and Mary have already talked about.
[34:32] But what I wanna really focus on tonight is our community
[34:36] South Range is known to have a very positive community.
[34:39] But as you know, we had a lot of change.
[34:41] I've talked a lot about the change in our other
[34:43] presentations and we really focus this year on
[34:48] collaboration, consistency and student success
[34:51] and building our community with the changes that we had.
[34:54] So our school theme for this year was Ubuntu.
[34:57] Those of you that are sports fans, 2008 Boston Celtics,
[35:01] doc Rivers comes from there.
[35:03] Obviously it's, it's prior to him,
[35:05] but that's where, where I had known it from.
[35:09] I am because we are,
[35:10] and we really focus this year we started
[35:13] with just our staff, but we talked a lot
[35:14] with our students about how we, when we were together,
[35:19] it's super important and that our words
[35:21] and actions support one another
[35:23] and that everything we do has a meaning,
[35:26] meaningful impact on other people.
[35:28] So making sure that we know how all
[35:31] of our actions are impacting others.
[35:33] So again, not only with our staff
[35:35] but with our students, we really focused on that this year.
[35:38] Our fourth grade students,
[35:40] their growth this year was amazing.
[35:43] They, our fourth graders took on some leadership roles,
[35:46] especially with student council.
[35:48] They ran a pancake breakfast, they ran a spaghetti supper
[35:51] that they were the servers at
[35:54] and that really got them in that leadership role.
[35:57] They also took on in working
[36:01] after, right before April vacation, the Friday
[36:03] before April vacation, they ran
[36:05] one of our all school meetings.
[36:06] So they were charged with planning it
[36:08] and preparing everything,
[36:09] getting all the materials together.
[36:11] And they took that on
[36:13] and they really shined in that being collaborative together
[36:17] and doing that in front of our whole school.
[36:20] So that was, that was really great to watch.
[36:23] They have definitely shown maturity
[36:24] and independence as we prepare them for West Running Book.
[36:27] They had a day at the Boys
[36:28] and Girls Club today with adventure lore
[36:30] and it was great to watch them with all
[36:32] of the other fourth graders from the rest of the district.
[36:36] We have three along with cares
[36:38] and I'll talk a little bit about that in a minute,
[36:40] but we have three big rules at South Range
[36:43] and everything really fits into those three categories.
[36:45] We ask our students to be our students
[36:47] and staff to be safe, be kind and respectful
[36:50] and to do their best.
[36:51] And they are reminded of that every morning.
[36:54] Not only by us as adults, but by their peers.
[36:57] Our morning announcements they have every morning,
[36:59] there's different students
[37:01] that are on those morning announcements
[37:02] and they're sharing those expectations,
[37:04] reminding each other of that.
[37:05] And then you hear them talking about
[37:06] that in the hallway when they're reflecting about things
[37:08] that they're doing, they're talking about, okay, did
[37:11] that fit under those three big rules?
[37:13] Was I safe? Was I kind and respectful
[37:15] and was I doing my best?
[37:17] And again, everything we do in life, that's not just a thing
[37:19] for an elementary school, it's really something
[37:21] that we can focus on in everything that we do.
[37:25] Our first grade team really was proud of the work
[37:29] that they did with Responsive Classroom and Cares.
[37:33] They taught, deliberately taught all
[37:35] of those expectations in their first grade classrooms.
[37:38] And because of that, they felt that huge success again, as M
[37:43] and Melissa said, talking with some
[37:44] of the teachers about things that they felt successful.
[37:46] They talked about individual students,
[37:48] but then they really focused on overall as a grade,
[37:51] how the first grade had that buy-in to those expectations
[37:55] for responsive classroom and to cares.
[37:58] We also, obviously there's challenges
[38:00] as we're building our community, as we're working through
[38:02] that saying positive, we might have some challenges.
[38:05] And Mrs.
[38:07] Joseph's, our assistant principal,
[38:08] started doing some restorative circles with some
[38:10] of our students and it got them to have
[38:12] that ownership of what they were doing.
[38:14] It got them to strengthen their communication skills,
[38:17] take ownership, and really work together
[38:19] to build those relationships back.
[38:21] So that was a huge success this year with some
[38:23] of our groups academically.
[38:27] I wrote a little bit about our growth
[38:30] and our achievement from fall to winter in NWA,
[38:33] but I also wanna highlight, we did are mostly finished
[38:36] with our math NWBA
[38:38] and our spring math
[38:41] for our entire school is all
[38:43] of our grade levels are in the quadrant of high growth
[38:45] and high achievement, which is great to see.
[38:49] We have 65, 60 fifth percentile in growth
[38:53] and achievement was up to 61st percentile
[38:58] from the 53rd in the winter.
[38:59] So that was, that was really good information to see
[39:02] and good data to see.
[39:04] Our teachers are seeing the students growing,
[39:05] they're seeing that in their classrooms.
[39:07] But that was one data point just to highlight in there, PTA,
[39:12] as everybody else has said, we continue
[39:14] that positive partnership with them.
[39:16] We had our ice cream social,
[39:18] which is one of our biggest events.
[39:19] Our families come and they really just socialize
[39:21] and they walk the hallways, look at the different work
[39:24] that's in the hallways and then they,
[39:26] they have their ice cream in the cafeteria.
[39:28] And we also had our Mayfair in the spring.
[39:31] That has been ongoing since the school opened in 1966.
[39:35] So that is one event that continues
[39:37] and it's, it's a successful one that members
[39:40] of the community come to that aren't even members
[39:42] of our school to that evening event.
[39:45] We also have community partnerships with police
[39:48] and fire, which is great to have, have those connections.
[39:52] We also had our spring concert with our chorus
[39:56] and we all, we have a Bell choir, which
[39:59] if you've never heard the South Range School Bell Choir,
[40:01] I encourage you in the winter
[40:03] or spring next year to, to come
[40:05] and visit us for one of those shows
[40:06] because they, they do a great job with that.
[40:09] And maybe, who knows, maybe
[40:11] that's something we can think about bringing
[40:12] to you next year if we can get that together.
[40:17] But as I said, we really focus this year
[40:20] obviously on student success, obviously on academics,
[40:23] but building and maintaining the community
[40:25] that South Range is known for.
[40:27] So Great. That's all I have.
[40:29] Awesome. Thanks Michelle.
[40:32] Yeah, I would echo what you said about the Bell Choir.
[40:33] If you haven't seen South Range's Bell Choir,
[40:36] they are very good.
[40:38] It's pretty awesome to see. You should bring it here.
[40:39] I already booked them for January. Yeah, awesome.
[40:42] For January. That's a perfect time
[40:44] because they, they will have their holiday songs,
[40:48] but they will be, they'll be ready for that. See
[40:50] 'em in January. Okay,
[40:50] We got it.
[40:52] Thank you Mr. Brown from
[40:55] Barca halfway there.
[41:00] I'll be quick. All right.
[41:02] Alright. All right. So I'll try not to repeat anything
[41:06] that's been set up here today.
[41:07] But we have, we have four awesome elementary schools
[41:10] and I, I just want to repeat what Mary said is
[41:13] that we have an awesome job,
[41:15] we have an awesome responsibility
[41:16] to take care of these little ones.
[41:18] And at the beginning of the year, Mike,
[41:21] at our very first meeting asked us
[41:23] to be curious, not judgemental.
[41:26] So with that being said,
[41:28] I'm just gonna give you guys the top 10 reasons why
[41:30] Barka had such a great year.
[41:32] Kind of David Letterman style.
[41:33] Everybody here is old enough to remember David Letterman.
[41:36] Typically, I'm not around, you know, I have
[41:38] to like talk TikTok and stuff like that.
[41:40] So here's, here's the David Letterman top 10 list.
[41:43] Why Barca was such a, had such a great year.
[41:45] So number 10,
[41:47] our focus blocks became more than just the schedule item.
[41:50] They became targeted opportunities for student growth,
[41:53] collaboration, and it built confidence in the areas of math
[41:57] and ELA at Barca.
[41:59] Number nine, our staff continued to prove
[42:02] that teamwork is not just a buzzword at Barca, whatever.
[42:06] Whether it was solving problems or supporting students
[42:10] and helping one another, people consistently stepped up
[42:13] and did this each and every day.
[42:15] Number eight, we welcome new initiatives,
[42:20] we refined some old ones
[42:21] and somehow still managed
[42:23] to keep the building running smoothly, even
[42:25] with the midyear schedule change.
[42:28] Number seven, our students reminded us daily that curiosity,
[42:32] kindness, and perseverance still matter more
[42:37] than even the test scores.
[42:38] And I'll talk a little bit more about that later.
[42:40] Number six, Barca baristas, which some
[42:43] of you have the opportunity to have here at some
[42:46] of our board meetings, continued
[42:48] to serve coffee throughout the school
[42:49] year with some life skills.
[42:52] And it was, you know, they kept us powered up all year long.
[42:55] So that was great. Number five, Stella, our therapy dog,
[42:59] once again proved that she is actually the most famous
[43:02] staff member that we have.
[43:04] You know, she's out at parent pickup, parent drop off.
[43:08] The kids just absolutely love seeing her every day.
[43:10] She comes in. Number four, our teachers continue
[43:13] to find creative ways to make learning meaningful, engaging,
[43:17] and connecting in real world, real world events.
[43:22] And really even through the longest stretch of the year,
[43:25] which is everybody knows is March number three.
[43:29] Our staff members recognize that the excellence
[43:31] beyond our building, including
[43:33] nominations for teacher of the year.
[43:35] We had two teachers nominated for Teacher of the year,
[43:38] and I'll talk more about that in a minute.
[43:40] Number two, Barca continues building a culture
[43:44] where relationships come first, students feel seen
[43:46] and the growth of celebration in all forms.
[43:49] And number one, at the end of the day,
[43:52] barca is a special place
[43:53] because of the people inside of it, the students, the staff,
[43:56] the families, and the community members who continue
[43:58] to show up every day caring deeply about our school
[44:01] and making a great place to be.
[44:03] I wrote in my writeup for you guys that there was one word
[44:06] that keeps coming to mind and that word is pride.
[44:09] And we take that responsibility very seriously.
[44:13] I said at the beginning of this
[44:14] that we have an awesome
[44:16] responsibility for these little ones.
[44:18] And today I received a phone call from a parent
[44:21] who when I first started as an administrator,
[44:23] I had her son in my office every day for four years.
[44:28] And I'm happy to say this
[44:29] because you know, a lot of people were saying,
[44:32] what are we gonna do for this guy?
[44:33] What are we, you know, what can we do?
[44:35] And I'm happy to report that he's going to college,
[44:39] he's going to college to become an electrical engineer.
[44:42] And you know, it's just those things
[44:45] that happen every single day.
[44:46] If you stick with it, great things are gonna happen
[44:49] for every one of those kids.
[44:52] So I said I would talk about test scores
[44:54] and we also focused on math at Barca
[44:58] and our barca NIWA scores, all grade levels reach both high,
[45:03] high growth and high achievement in the NIWA score in the
[45:07] niwa fall to spring testing time compared
[45:12] to the US schools that that complete the NIWA kindergarten
[45:16] for us improved from 20, from the 28th percentile to achieve
[45:21] to the 21st percentile for kindergarten.
[45:23] It was, it was awesome growth.
[45:26] GR first grade maintained the 58th percentile,
[45:30] but they improved in number in operations, which is
[45:33] what we were, were focused on as a school.
[45:36] Grade two improved from 58th percentile
[45:39] to the SE 72nd percentile in achievement.
[45:42] Grade three went from 58 percentile,
[45:46] stayed at the 78 percentile,
[45:48] but overall improved in number and operations.
[45:50] Again, that's the, the area of focus for our school.
[45:53] And fourth grade improved from the 57th percentile
[45:56] to the 63rd percentile.
[45:58] So we had awesome growth in the niwa
[46:01] and that that is really what the teachers used
[46:03] to focus their instruction
[46:05] and we're happy to do that with them.
[46:07] In our committees, we have both a curriculum committee
[46:10] and a data committee that meet at BARCA
[46:14] to really focus in on what's important
[46:16] for instruction for those students.
[46:18] But this success at Barca School is a direct reflection
[46:22] of the incredible people who work there everyday.
[46:26] Staff members contribute to making Barker a positive place.
[46:29] We have our teachers, paraprofessionals specialists,
[46:31] interventionists, cur counselors, our office staff,
[46:35] custodians, cafeteria workers support personnel,
[46:38] and our assistant principal,
[46:40] they play a critical role in doing everything
[46:43] that we need to do for these little guys.
[46:45] So the, the last thing that I want to talk about is the
[46:50] teachers that were recognized.
[46:51] Really all of our teachers deserve to be recognized,
[46:53] but we have two teachers.
[46:56] One, our math specialist, Jane Fox, who is recognized
[47:00] for New Hampshire Teacher of the Year.
[47:02] And our physical education teacher, Josh Johnston, was rec
[47:07] nominated for Fer Teacher of the Year.
[47:10] He's still going through that process
[47:12] and I was, I was hoping that we would have
[47:16] Richard Trip here
[47:18] because I wanted to explain to him what fer meant,
[47:21] but I'm gonna wait until I see him.
[47:23] So everybody's gonna be in suspense
[47:24] until we, until we hear about that.
[47:26] But, but overall education is not easy work.
[47:30] The demands are that are placed on
[47:32] educators continue to grow.
[47:33] Despite those challenges, our staff continue to show up
[47:36] for students with professionalism, humility in their heart,
[47:40] and continue to make Barca a great place to work and learn.
[47:44] So thank you guys very much. Appreciate it.
[47:46] Thanks Dave. Questions
[47:49] for Mr. Brown? All right,
[47:52] Thank you.
[47:53] Thanks Dave. Tanya, do you want, we're gonna skip you, bill.
[47:56] We'll go Tanya first.
[48:02] That's all right.
[48:06] All right everyone.
[48:08] So I'm gonna talk a little bit about Deep again.
[48:11] I know I just presented not too long ago.
[48:14] So you heard everything that we did with Mr.
[48:17] Manchester and the National Junior Honor Society,
[48:20] but this year deep, we experienced numerous accomplishments
[48:24] and we began, began several new initiatives.
[48:28] One of them being I really wanted
[48:30] to integrate more students into classrooms
[48:32] with their typical peers so they could grow alongside them.
[48:35] That was amazing. We started this very early on.
[48:39] We did a push in,
[48:40] we had other integrated classrooms go into special education
[48:44] classrooms and be with their friends.
[48:48] And now we have so many kiddos that are able
[48:50] to move into kindergarten in a typical classroom.
[48:52] So that's been a positive for deep.
[48:55] We had a lot of new staff at the beginning of the year.
[48:58] And with that we also had a new ideas,
[49:02] new thoughts, new strategies they use with children.
[49:05] So the team is really growing together
[49:08] and working well together.
[49:09] And we change, we shifted from everything
[49:12] that students cannot do to a they, they can do it,
[49:15] they haven't done it yet, but they will do it more
[49:18] of a positive vibe.
[49:20] And that collaboration, everyone is on the same page,
[49:23] all the new staff is on the same page.
[49:24] So that's been a really positive thing for Deep.
[49:29] The shift in mindset has helped us reframe expectations,
[49:32] support the student growth,
[49:34] and they're really becoming their own people.
[49:36] Because we keep saying, you are doing it, you can do it.
[49:40] And it's just shifting that mindset that's really helped us.
[49:44] We have also talked more about inclusion.
[49:49] We've had some different things.
[49:50] I know we talked about having, one of the big things
[49:52] for Deep, it's always been is our community support.
[49:55] So our collaboration with the community.
[49:57] We just recently had the fire station come,
[50:00] the dairy fire department.
[50:02] They came, they did an in-house field trip for all
[50:04] of our four year olds going off to kindergarten.
[50:07] We had the police dog come from dairy, we had Mr. And Mrs.
[50:11] Claus come, the Easter Bunny came.
[50:13] So we were doing a lot of like in-house things
[50:15] as we can't quite yet get out into the community.
[50:18] We also have a next capstone,
[50:21] a next student coming into Deep.
[50:24] And she's been with us since, I wanna say March.
[50:27] And she's been doing her capstone with us.
[50:29] And this has been a yearly thing that Deep has done as well.
[50:33] We bring the next students up
[50:35] that wanna learn more about early childhood in hopes
[50:37] to push them into a career
[50:39] or learning more, focusing on education.
[50:42] And they are doing great.
[50:43] We meet and we attend their ceremony when they graduate.
[50:47] So that's a really positive thing for them and for us.
[50:53] And then we also have had a few authors come to Deep.
[50:57] So we, in the beginning, in the fall, we had an author,
[51:01] she used to work for us,
[51:02] and then she wrote a few children's stories.
[51:04] She came and she presented and read her story.
[51:07] And then we also recently just had another parent
[51:12] who became an author.
[51:13] And she came to Deep
[51:14] and she's published a book now about her
[51:17] child that attends Deep.
[51:18] And so she was able to come in
[51:20] and read for a few of the classes, so that we're hoping
[51:24] to foster a love for reading.
[51:26] And it's really nice to share stories about
[51:29] your own child, right?
[51:31] And so there's that connection.
[51:33] It doesn't make parents feel so alone at times,
[51:36] having students, students with different needs.
[51:40] So student progress has been a huge thing for us.
[51:43] We are little, thank goodness we don't have neo scores,
[51:45] we don't have the testing, but we have school readiness.
[51:48] So the, these guys are learning all about school readiness
[51:51] skills, how to hang their backpack, how to stand in a line
[51:55] to get them ready for kindergarten.
[51:57] And you know, they, for us it's really important.
[51:59] They come in as three year olds. They're babies.
[52:01] They don't, you know, they've never left mom
[52:04] or dad or a caregiver.
[52:05] And then they are just
[52:07] independent by the time they leave us.
[52:09] And that's a really impressive thing
[52:10] because the, the age jump from three to five
[52:13] and the skillset is, is huge.
[52:16] And that's one thing we really, we really love
[52:18] to foster is you can do it.
[52:20] You're doing it yourself. Look at you,
[52:21] you're ready for big kids school.
[52:23] So just making them love school
[52:26] and continue that is, is wonderful to see.
[52:29] I think I am going to end it with our, a few of our
[52:35] end of the year celebrations that we have going on for deep.
[52:38] We have a new graduation
[52:41] that the teachers collaborated all year to work on.
[52:44] So we have somebody that built us a bridge
[52:47] and they have little caps that they're gonna wear
[52:51] that we ordered and they have diplomas.
[52:54] And I am gonna have a microphone reading off names.
[52:56] So everyone is welcome is gonna be so special.
[53:00] The children have been practicing, they're dancing
[53:03] to a graduation song.
[53:05] So my, my highlight is when I walk through the halls
[53:08] and I hear them and they're so excited
[53:12] and it's that love for learning, right?
[53:14] It's that love for their accomplishments at their age.
[53:17] That is so impressive.
[53:19] And then this coming Friday night, we have a deep end
[53:22] of the school year dance.
[53:24] And right now we have currently 200
[53:26] people signed up to come.
[53:28] So we have our own dj, he's coming
[53:31] and then we have, you know, gleam gleaming lights
[53:35] that say deep 20, 25, 26.
[53:38] So it's a great time pizza. And then Mr.
[53:40] Manchester's come in with his kiddos from Hood
[53:43] and they are gonna be doing face painting
[53:45] and games with the children.
[53:46] So lots of, lots of fun.
[53:49] And for me to end it,
[53:50] the the biggest highlight I had happen, I've been trying
[53:53] to put deep positive highlights.
[53:56] I notice everything, right?
[53:57] I notice the hard work that the teachers do all
[53:59] the time with those students.
[54:01] And as administrators, you know, we, we try our best
[54:05] to run the buildings and, and keep the programs afloat
[54:08] and abide by the rules.
[54:11] But there's so many magical moments.
[54:13] So I just want everyone to know I see everything, right?
[54:18] I see it all. So I see them when I walk, you know,
[54:21] I walk into a classroom to give a message
[54:24] and we're in a special education classroom
[54:27] and the other classroom
[54:29] that's fully integrated has come over to eat snack.
[54:32] I see all these magical moments.
[54:34] And so every night
[54:36] before I go to bed, I write a little message
[54:38] of all those moments that I've seen everybody do.
[54:40] And it just, it's uplifting because we do hard work, right?
[54:45] And we do lovely work, but it's hard.
[54:48] And I want them to keep that positivity going
[54:51] and knowing that the people above them see it all too.
[54:55] And we're in it with them.
[54:57] But the children are, have made incredible growth.
[55:00] I know everyone is gonna be
[55:01] so excited when they get our batch of
[55:05] a thousand children coming up to K.
[55:08] But for, for me, this is like they said,
[55:12] I don't have the numbers, I don't have the math,
[55:14] but just to pick a few moments, like there's
[55:16] so much greatness that happens all year with our littles
[55:20] and they, there's so many tears in the beginning.
[55:23] And then just to watch them become like mini,
[55:26] mini little learners, right?
[55:27] They're ready for that next step. So that's all great.
[55:31] That's all I have to say. Thank you
[55:33] Guys.
[55:34] Questions for Tanya? Thanks Tanya. I have one question.
[55:36] What does the soundtrack look like for a deep dance?
[55:40] Ah, so a lot of Preschooling songs,
[55:43] however, there, it's, there's pop.
[55:47] So I have to, I have to preview the list
[55:49] Just to Make sure the songs are appropriate.
[55:51] I was thinking Baby Shark and
[55:53] Paw Patrol stuff.
[55:55] There's a lot, there's the Congo line that we do.
[55:57] We go around the gym.
[56:00] A lot of the students that come that are coming,
[56:04] we have had their their siblings, right?
[56:06] So the whole family comes, which is amazing.
[56:09] Grandparents come, you know,
[56:12] and so you have the littles that you've seen, you know,
[56:15] at three years old all the way up to five.
[56:17] But then you have their siblings
[56:18] and then you have, you know, while everyone is,
[56:21] is getting ready for their students to move on
[56:23] to middle school or kindergarten,
[56:26] we also have newbies coming into deep.
[56:28] So we are sending ours off.
[56:30] And then we have many, many more families coming up
[56:34] and we, I wanna say 75% of our kiddos
[56:39] that are currently in deep
[56:40] or leaving to go off to kindergarten,
[56:42] their siblings are coming for this coming year,
[56:44] which leaves very little space for anyone else.
[56:47] But, so it's nice. It's a big family. Yeah.
[56:52] Do you wanna come? You know, it might just pop in.
[56:56] There's pizza, there's everything. So much fun. Thanks.
[57:00] At that age, Vince's favorite song I think
[57:02] Was Can't come back up.
[57:04] Really? Yeah. Can't come back up. Hilarious.
[57:08] We talked about being not judgemental
[57:11] and I appreciate you guys not judging me,
[57:13] but I guess when I was talking about meanwhile he
[57:15] Said 21 and 20 Abbot, you, You caught it.
[57:17] Oh yeah. But nobody was judgmental so I appreciate that.
[57:20] So I just want to correct it.
[57:22] And we don't have, we don't have editing in the back room.
[57:24] The guys are doing a great job but there's no editing.
[57:26] So here in kindergarten, this is what we have for niwa,
[57:30] we were at 28%, we jumped 23% points
[57:34] to 51%. That makes
[57:36] More sense now.
[57:37] So kindergarten did a great
[57:38] job, so I appreciate, you're just gonna
[57:39] Give you a pass. It was like
[57:40] In okay in the pass.
[57:41] Well I did say in my packet, I did say
[57:44] that we really foster mistakes.
[57:46] So I want to speak up when I make a mistake
[57:49] and we learn from those mistakes.
[57:50] But without further ado, I don't want
[57:52] to take any more time away from Bill Fox, the principal
[57:56] of West Renbrook Intermediate School.
[58:00] Thank you.
[58:09] Thank you Mr. Brown for that lovely introduction
[58:12] and thank you for having me here tonight everybody.
[58:14] It's really great to be here.
[58:16] We have had a great year at West Running Brook,
[58:19] a busy year in our second year.
[58:21] We started off the year
[58:24] and I think probably the most important part about the Five
[58:27] six School, 'cause all of these elementary principals do a,
[58:30] got a good job getting them ready to come to us.
[58:33] And we have to establish those connections right off the bat
[58:36] so that kids feel welcome and supported at school.
[58:39] What we always say at West Running Brook is we want them to
[58:43] feel safe and be happy so they can learn.
[58:46] And we live by that every day. That's really our goal.
[58:48] And our staff really works tirelessly to make that happen.
[58:52] So the most important piece with connections,
[58:56] you know at the, in the first year we were working on our
[58:58] operations, getting things under control
[59:01] as we were new last year
[59:02] and this year we really could hone that.
[59:04] But we still focused a great deal on our responsive
[59:07] classroom and cares.
[59:08] And that really establishes some things
[59:12] and puts things in place for students so they can feel safe
[59:14] and happy at West Running Brook.
[59:16] At the beginning of the year, thanks to Mr. Edwards,
[59:19] right off the bat, we started with a trip to Camp Carpenter
[59:23] with our fifth graders
[59:24] where they could do some team building.
[59:26] And on that same day we had the Brown Center from UNH come
[59:31] and visit our sixth graders again to do some team building
[59:33] and establish those connections.
[59:35] We have the four schools coming in
[59:38] and right away what we want people, we want all our students
[59:41] to feel a welcome part of our school cares.
[59:45] They do a great job in the elementary
[59:46] schools teaching cares.
[59:48] So when they come up there, they know what to expect
[59:50] and we go pod to pod talking to the students off the bat.
[59:55] And the teachers really preach that day in and day out.
[59:58] Our counselors talk about
[59:59] that too when they do their comprehensive guidance.
[1:00:02] But as we moved into our second year, something
[1:00:06] that I'm really proud of is the hard work the staff put into
[1:00:09] our academics and our curriculum.
[1:00:10] We, we started a, it was last year, we recognized
[1:00:15] that we needed to do something a little bit different
[1:00:17] with our literacy program.
[1:00:18] And we made some shifts to make that happen.
[1:00:20] And I appreciate the support that we got from the folks here
[1:00:24] and our curriculum department to bring in our open,
[1:00:28] open up resources and EL program in fifth
[1:00:33] and sixth grade to really focus on our literacy.
[1:00:37] And that doesn't come without challenges when you take on a
[1:00:39] new, a new curriculum.
[1:00:42] And our staff met those challenges.
[1:00:45] We, although there were some bumps
[1:00:47] and we expected those when you integrated a new curriculum,
[1:00:49] we're really pleased at where
[1:00:50] we're at at the end of the year.
[1:00:52] And in my report you can see that we did make some,
[1:00:55] some solid growth in reading.
[1:00:57] Another piece that we recognized is we needed
[1:00:59] to provide some more writing instruction this year
[1:01:03] we shifted our schedules to make that happen.
[1:01:05] Within the fifth grade in our first year we had our
[1:01:10] ELA in social studies teacher.
[1:01:12] They had a 45 minute block
[1:01:14] for ELA 45 minute block for social studies.
[1:01:17] We added, we,
[1:01:18] we subtracted a little bit from the social studies
[1:01:21] to integrate some more writing instruction in fifth grade.
[1:01:24] And we continue to make those shifts next year as we respond
[1:01:27] to kind of what the student's needs are
[1:01:30] academically in sixth grade where all
[1:01:34] of the core teachers taught a trimester of social studies
[1:01:39] this year, and that was in the first year this year,
[1:01:42] students had a whole trimester
[1:01:43] of just writing rather than three
[1:01:45] trimesters of social studies.
[1:01:47] And I do believe, and you can see on the handouts, some
[1:01:49] of our results, we have seen some growth because of that
[1:01:52] and we hope that that continues.
[1:01:53] So really proud, really proud of that.
[1:01:57] We're also very pleased with our space that went in
[1:02:02] for our categorical programs, the IL space
[1:02:04] and the space for NCC
[1:02:06] that has made our operations much easier
[1:02:08] and it's really helping to meet the needs
[1:02:10] of those students in a, in a super way.
[1:02:15] As we look to continue
[1:02:20] and, and changes that we're putting into place next year,
[1:02:23] we really appreciate our staff work together
[1:02:25] to adjust our schedule for next year.
[1:02:27] Based on this year, we had 25 staff stay
[1:02:30] after school multiple times to tweak our
[1:02:32] schedule for this coming year.
[1:02:34] So again, showing just how hard everyone's working
[1:02:37] to make sure that we're doing the best thing we can
[1:02:39] for our students at West.
[1:02:42] We also wanna provide a, a strong culture for our students.
[1:02:46] And we didn't just do the mural this year,
[1:02:48] we did other things, even though you
[1:02:50] heard a heck of a lot about our mural.
[1:02:51] But I think that speaks to everyone being all in
[1:02:54] for the various things that we're trying to do at West
[1:02:57] to make people feel a part of our community.
[1:03:01] Our Kids care club did so much in, in raising
[1:03:06] money for different things that are happening at school.
[1:03:08] We had a band ambassadors group
[1:03:09] that just the other night when we had our transition night,
[1:03:12] greeted all of our, our band students
[1:03:15] and showed them the ropes
[1:03:16] and kind of talks about what it meant to be band.
[1:03:18] And that was all student led.
[1:03:22] We initiated within our classroom.
[1:03:25] Melissa Kershaw initiated a soft start program that all
[1:03:29] of our, our teachers actually at the beginning, a few were,
[1:03:32] were starting with our soft starts
[1:03:34] as students walk in in the morning to have a calm thing
[1:03:38] to do at the beginning of the day, doing different quiet
[1:03:42] collaborative activities before we
[1:03:44] roll into our morning meeting.
[1:03:45] Initially a few teachers showed interest.
[1:03:48] Melissa Kershaw worked with Mitch Edwards to write a grant
[1:03:52] for Soft Starts, which we obtained for, it was somewhere
[1:03:55] between two and $3,000.
[1:03:58] A few teachers took that on and that spread like wildfires.
[1:04:01] So now all of the teachers are participating in Soft Starts
[1:04:04] and we really, that's the kind of thing that we really want
[1:04:06] to encourage our staff to do to just take the initiative
[1:04:09] to do those kinds of things.
[1:04:10] Of course, the mural project,
[1:04:12] if you haven't been over there,
[1:04:13] you should come and check that out.
[1:04:15] It was really cool to see students as, as
[1:04:17] that was hung looking and pointing at their tiles.
[1:04:20] And I know some of you were there that night.
[1:04:22] We did that unveiling and that was a really cool,
[1:04:24] really cool evening
[1:04:25] and just a proud moment for, I think
[1:04:27] for the whole school community.
[1:04:29] And of course N 68 Hours of Hunger Food Drive.
[1:04:33] We collected a tremendous amount of food
[1:04:35] and actually our greenhouse
[1:04:38] sixth graders now collecting cereal boxes.
[1:04:40] So if you want to, if you want to donate cereal, cereal
[1:04:43] to West Running Brook, we would,
[1:04:45] we would welcome you to do so.
[1:04:47] That is also going to end 68 hours of hunger.
[1:04:49] But they're also gonna do, I think
[1:04:50] what East Area did last year with the,
[1:04:53] the Domino cereal out the door,
[1:04:55] literally into the courtyard of the school.
[1:04:58] And that was all student led to the students.
[1:05:00] There were four students in our greenhouse sixth grade
[1:05:03] that said, we really wanna do something extra
[1:05:06] to support our community.
[1:05:08] They went literally classroom to classroom
[1:05:11] and advisory announced it to all the students, came down,
[1:05:14] did announcements on the intercom.
[1:05:15] Really proud about about that.
[1:05:17] And we have hundreds of boxes of cereal
[1:05:20] from a student led initiative, which is really cool.
[1:05:23] And that's kind of a theme of
[1:05:25] what we try to do at West Running Brook.
[1:05:26] We did have 35 clubs and activities available to students.
[1:05:31] There were days where we had 200 students
[1:05:34] after school, which was just phenomenal.
[1:05:37] But I would say, I'm not gonna say half,
[1:05:39] but a good portion of those activities were student designed
[1:05:43] and they can't, you know,
[1:05:46] I'm not gonna call it like crochet club
[1:05:48] or B Ding Club, not Beating Club.
[1:05:51] I, I have to make that a a clear on the announcements.
[1:05:54] I'm not beating club.
[1:05:55] They're doing beating, beating like Crochet Garden Club.
[1:06:00] I had someone come down and ask if they could
[1:06:03] start a Gaga ball club.
[1:06:04] Just so many different things
[1:06:06] that students designed found an
[1:06:08] advisor and it made it happen.
[1:06:11] So that, that was just really exciting.
[1:06:13] We're also happy that
[1:06:16] Holly Whitney has come over from Gilbert H should
[1:06:18] to lead a field hockey skills and drills that's happened
[1:06:21] and they have their last wrap up next week
[1:06:24] and that's gone really well.
[1:06:25] And so hopefully that encourages more students
[1:06:27] to participate next year when they get over
[1:06:29] to Gilbert H should our music program
[1:06:32] and just continues to really shine.
[1:06:37] We had our group of advance band perform
[1:06:41] before the executive council and Governor AOT this year.
[1:06:45] I had posted that in one of the newsletters.
[1:06:46] So if you get a chance to listen to their music,
[1:06:49] you would never think
[1:06:50] that they were fifth and sixth graders.
[1:06:52] I mean, it was just really phenomenal.
[1:06:55] Bunny Nita, who has been here at board meetings
[1:06:59] before was our nominee for Teacher
[1:07:01] of the Year and well deserved.
[1:07:03] I mean, just the, again, band,
[1:07:09] anyone can get involved in the arts, right?
[1:07:11] So band is one of those things
[1:07:12] that just gets kids connected with our community.
[1:07:16] Our chorus, same thing that we had a group
[1:07:20] of students perform at the State Honors
[1:07:22] Chorus Ensemble this year.
[1:07:24] And that again, what, how they performed
[1:07:26] and how they sound was just amazing.
[1:07:29] Our drama club, we had over 60 students
[1:07:31] participate in Willy Wonka Jr.
[1:07:35] And they just did a, a phenomenal job
[1:07:37] and really to be 10, 11, 12 years old
[1:07:40] and to get up on a stage in front of hundreds of people
[1:07:42] and perform and the amount of work that they put into that,
[1:07:46] they're gonna carry that
[1:07:47] with them for the rest of their lives.
[1:07:48] That is not easy to memorize all those lines, practice each
[1:07:51] and every day and then perform.
[1:07:54] I know how great they felt about that after the fact.
[1:07:58] Our PTSA, I mean the,
[1:08:01] the fundraising alone would've been enough,
[1:08:04] like 30 plus thousand dollars of fundraising this year.
[1:08:08] But it was more their involvement.
[1:08:10] I think some of the activities that we were able
[1:08:13] to do this year, like the mural,
[1:08:15] but brought in so many parent volunteers,
[1:08:18] which I think sometimes it's harder as students get older
[1:08:21] to have that kind of regular parent volunteering.
[1:08:25] But we had a lot of that this year, which was,
[1:08:27] I was really glad to see we're happy about some
[1:08:31] of the transition events that we have had in our upcoming,
[1:08:35] and again, that speaks to the connection.
[1:08:36] So one of the things that we worked on
[1:08:38] with Mr. Flynn was having kind of going back
[1:08:41] to a step up day, but not on the last day of school.
[1:08:45] And I know Gilbert a should's gonna be doing the same thing,
[1:08:47] but we, next week, Monday, Tuesday,
[1:08:50] and Wednesday, Monday Barca comes to West Tuesday,
[1:08:53] east Dairy and then Wednesday South Range
[1:08:56] and Grinnell are coming to Visit West
[1:08:58] and we have about an hour
[1:09:00] and a half of transitional things happening
[1:09:02] so we can get them ready to come on over
[1:09:09] Veterans Breakfast.
[1:09:12] Over 250 people attended back
[1:09:14] to school bash hundreds of people there.
[1:09:17] So really trying to build a small community,
[1:09:20] even though we have students just for two years, again, it,
[1:09:22] it all goes back to that connection.
[1:09:24] And with all of those things that are happening, we believe
[1:09:28] that that really is gonna lead
[1:09:30] to continued academic success and growth.
[1:09:32] Those things are all connected.
[1:09:34] Students feel comfortable connected to their environment
[1:09:37] and connected to their teachers.
[1:09:39] They can achieve better things.
[1:09:41] And that's really what we're trying to do.
[1:09:44] The last thing I'll mention, or one
[1:09:46] of the last things I'll mention is our partnership
[1:09:48] with SNHU, which we, I have mentioned before,
[1:09:51] but we're really excited about that.
[1:09:52] We had four student interns this year.
[1:09:57] We had a field-based class taught in our building
[1:10:00] for special ed where we had approximately 15 SNHU students
[1:10:05] who would take a class within our school and then go out
[1:10:08] and do some field-based experience
[1:10:09] with our special education team.
[1:10:11] Next year we're looking to expand that partnership.
[1:10:13] So in addition to that special ed field-based class,
[1:10:17] we're looking to have a science field-based class,
[1:10:19] which we're pretty, pretty psyched about.
[1:10:21] And we met with someone today to talk about that.
[1:10:23] And I think what that helps us grow, people
[1:10:28] see what we do in dairy
[1:10:30] and you know, be able to bring some of these, these
[1:10:35] these people onto our team.
[1:10:37] You know, as they, as they finish up their experience at
[1:10:40] SNHU we are, we have a couple
[1:10:45] of teachers who are long-term
[1:10:47] dairy teachers retiring at the end of the year.
[1:10:49] Sean Carrin, who was a long time
[1:10:52] language arts teacher at West Running Brook
[1:10:54] and Diana Lang who came over from Gilbert H should
[1:10:58] a couple years ago, but spent a long time
[1:11:00] at Gilbert h Should and we will be sad to see them go.
[1:11:03] Erica Hy, who has been a, a major part of West Running Brook
[1:11:07] for a long, long time
[1:11:08] and her spirit will certainly be missed at West Running
[1:11:11] Brook, but she is shifting within the district to an
[1:11:14] to an ESOL program.
[1:11:15] So I know she's really excited about that
[1:11:17] and we are excited for her.
[1:11:18] But I couldn't be prouder between our
[1:11:24] assistants staff, nurse, top
[1:11:29] to bottom, my assistant principals.
[1:11:31] I mean everyone is working really hard
[1:11:33] and I think it shows with the connections we're building
[1:11:36] with our students and our families at West.
[1:11:43] I had a question, bill, you sort of touched on this.
[1:11:46] So we have four elementary schools,
[1:11:47] they all feed into your school for fifth grade.
[1:11:50] I know you all meet regularly, so,
[1:11:53] and any of the elementary principals
[1:11:55] wanted to chime in on this as well.
[1:11:56] I was wondering if you could expand on
[1:11:58] how you all work together to coordinate.
[1:12:00] So when our elementary school students move up
[1:12:02] to your school, they're all on the same level
[1:12:04] and and ready to succeed.
[1:12:07] Sure. So I mean I know
[1:12:09] that having worked in the elementary school, I know that all
[1:12:12] of these people, like they talked about the schedule,
[1:12:14] are collaborating all the time to make sure
[1:12:16] that those kids are getting what they need.
[1:12:18] And then our transition, especially if you, do you want me
[1:12:22] to talk about some of the transitional things we do too?
[1:12:24] Okay. I think we do a really good job at at that piece
[1:12:29] that starts really early when we're talking about,
[1:12:32] we're talking about kids
[1:12:34] and what they need early on, going back to probably January,
[1:12:39] February we start thinking about some
[1:12:40] of these things that are gonna be happening.
[1:12:44] Our assistant principals and counselors went over in March
[1:12:48] to meet and at length to talk about kids
[1:12:50] and kind of what their needs and what we have coming.
[1:12:55] We, we visited all the schools
[1:12:58] and spoke to all the fourth graders at each school.
[1:13:01] I was there, the counselors just to kind of get them ready.
[1:13:04] They put a, have our face.
[1:13:06] I think the next step, which is happening next week,
[1:13:08] transitionally with kids coming to our school
[1:13:11] and then seeing us all again
[1:13:13] is helpful in walking them through the school.
[1:13:15] We also had a really successful transition night.
[1:13:17] We learned last year that we didn't want to gather all,
[1:13:22] you know, five or 600 people in the gym at the same time.
[1:13:26] So we kinda shifted that piece a little bit
[1:13:28] and that was really successful.
[1:13:29] And then we already have plans over the summer too
[1:13:34] to meet with Gilbert h should we actually talked about
[1:13:36] that today to talk, go through literally every single kid
[1:13:40] for that connection piece.
[1:13:41] 'cause that's an important part. And then as far as
[1:13:45] the curricular piece goes, I mean working with Kim Conant
[1:13:48] and for us, Patty Thomas directly
[1:13:51] really helps connect those dots as far as content
[1:13:56] and academics go.
[1:13:59] You know, we, last week in our early release we had kind
[1:14:04] of a wrap up between five through eight.
[1:14:06] And so I had the opportunity to sit in on the ELA portion of
[1:14:09] that, just five through eight are all working in similar
[1:14:16] curriculum piece in, in the literacy part.
[1:14:18] So we sort of, we collaborated
[1:14:22] and I can't think of it, I'm not gonna be able to come up
[1:14:25] with the word that I want to come up with right now,
[1:14:27] but we collaborated and just reflected on the year
[1:14:31] and what we need, what we kind
[1:14:33] of missed maybe in sixth grade that they're gonna need
[1:14:35] to focus on in seventh grade and things like that.
[1:14:37] And I know that that happened across all curricular areas.
[1:14:40] So, you know, I think we do a, a really thorough job
[1:14:45] and we always are looking
[1:14:46] to increase the job that we do there.
[1:14:48] So I think this next step of kind
[1:14:50] of bringing back step update post COVID
[1:14:53] in a more relaxed environment, I think that, that,
[1:14:56] doing it on that last day of school, we recognized
[1:14:58] that was really challenging for kids.
[1:15:00] They were trying to say goodbye to their old school
[1:15:01] and hello to their new school.
[1:15:03] This is a little bit more low stakes.
[1:15:04] They still have a couple weeks left in their school.
[1:15:07] It's an hour, an hour
[1:15:08] and a half experience that we'll get
[1:15:10] to see them in our students from West
[1:15:13] Running Brook on June 5th.
[1:15:14] Next Friday we'll be going up to Gilbert h should to
[1:15:17] to do the same thing.
[1:15:18] So yeah, we put a, we put we, that's the most, one
[1:15:23] of the most important things we do is to try
[1:15:25] to successfully transition all the kids among our schools.
[1:15:29] Thank you. You anyone have any other questions for Bill?
[1:15:34] Alright, thanks everybody. Thanks.
[1:15:37] Thanks Bill. Ms. Long from Hood,
[1:15:41] when we come back next year, you'll go
[1:15:42] first so you don't have to.
[1:15:43] Alright. Oh,
[1:15:50] I like it this way.
[1:15:51] They say most of the things I just
[1:15:52] have to like fill in some things.
[1:15:55] Hello everybody and thank you again for this opportunity to
[1:15:59] share some incredible successes.
[1:16:01] As my colleagues have said, there's no way
[1:16:04] to sum up the year, especially in a busy,
[1:16:07] vibrant middle school in one page or five minutes.
[1:16:11] So we're just gonna try, try to highlight.
[1:16:16] So again, thank you for this opportunity
[1:16:18] to share some successes of our second year
[1:16:21] as a seven eight school.
[1:16:23] Our mission this year has been intentionally
[1:16:25] simple, yet impactful.
[1:16:27] We've anchored, we were anchored by a school-wide framework
[1:16:31] of being Husky Strong daily.
[1:16:34] We challenge our students to work hard,
[1:16:36] make good decisions, and be kind.
[1:16:39] Tonight I wanna share how our staff
[1:16:41] and students brought that framework
[1:16:43] to life across three key goals.
[1:16:47] Building positive community,
[1:16:49] weaving the cares comp competencies into everything we do,
[1:16:53] and then expanding positive student recognition.
[1:16:57] So first, our first goal was
[1:16:59] to intentionally cultivate a positive supportive community
[1:17:03] where everyone feels connected.
[1:17:06] We didn't just wanna talk about community,
[1:17:08] we wanted to experience it.
[1:17:11] We kicked this off by restructuring
[1:17:13] and breathing some new life into our daily
[1:17:15] responsive classroom.
[1:17:16] Morning meetings, ensuring every morning
[1:17:19] starts with a connection.
[1:17:21] Later in the year, our entire campus engaged in a one
[1:17:26] school, one book initiative reading because of mrip.
[1:17:31] Together this shared literacy experience united our
[1:17:34] classrooms and culminated in an awesome assembly with
[1:17:38] that author, but perhaps nothing captured the spirit,
[1:17:42] our community, more than the launch
[1:17:44] of our brand new unified basketball program
[1:17:49] bringing student athletes and student partners together.
[1:17:53] This program kicked off
[1:17:54] with an electric school-wide assembly
[1:17:58] and later hosted a multi multi-school jamboree.
[1:18:02] The stands were packed with staff, peers, and families.
[1:18:07] Some of you, it was more than a sports event.
[1:18:11] It was a true live example of inclusion
[1:18:14] and genuine school pride.
[1:18:17] Our second goal focused on embedding our core
[1:18:21] cares competencies, cooperation, assertiveness,
[1:18:24] responsibility, empathy,
[1:18:26] and self-control directly into our daily academic
[1:18:29] instruction and school-wide activities.
[1:18:33] Our educators successfully integrate the components
[1:18:36] of cares in each classroom at the same time providing
[1:18:39] instruction connected to thoughtful,
[1:18:42] rigorous content curriculum this year.
[1:18:47] In addition to that, this year, our unified arts program,
[1:18:51] we introduced a couple new items in unified arts,
[1:18:55] specialized digital literacy,
[1:18:58] and a different music course.
[1:19:01] And we added a second wellness
[1:19:02] to further enhance our students' learning
[1:19:04] and growth outside the classroom.
[1:19:07] Our students put these competencies into action
[1:19:10] through over, I lost count over 25 different clubs.
[1:19:14] And in addition to some sports teams,
[1:19:17] whether it was the National Engineering Society,
[1:19:20] shipping thousands of holiday cards to active duty troops
[1:19:24] and volunteering free childcare
[1:19:26] for our district's deliberative session.
[1:19:28] Just to name a few, or our student council raising money
[1:19:31] for breast cancer research through pink Out day,
[1:19:34] our kids proved that leadership is defined by service.
[1:19:39] From our connection with Dairy Rotary to our partnership
[1:19:43] with the YMCA
[1:19:44] and Marion Garish Community Center
[1:19:46] for our free afterschool program,
[1:19:48] our students are actively learning how
[1:19:50] to be responsible, empathetic citizens.
[1:19:55] Our third goal was to actively look
[1:19:57] for the good and celebrate it.
[1:20:00] This year we expanded our initiatives
[1:20:03] to ensure more students felt seen, valued,
[1:20:06] and recognized through our husky.
[1:20:09] Top 10 teachers identified 10 standout students each month
[1:20:14] who embody what it means to be Husky strong.
[1:20:17] Their faces and achievements are proudly highlighted on
[1:20:20] digital monitors throughout the building all month long.
[1:20:24] We also had the pleasure
[1:20:27] of celebrating individual milestones like our seventh grader
[1:20:31] who won our school-wide spelling bee
[1:20:33] and advanced to the competitive regional bee.
[1:20:36] And another seventh grader
[1:20:38] who earned an honorable mention in the film production
[1:20:42] at the at the annual PTA Reflections program.
[1:20:48] As I come to a close, I was asked to think about
[1:20:52] what I'm most proud of this year.
[1:20:55] When I look back on the school year, I'm certainly proud
[1:20:58] of the academic success
[1:20:59] and growth of our students, the sports victories
[1:21:02] that happened here and there and our vibrant clubs.
[1:21:06] But what I am most proud of is the strong positive culture
[1:21:09] of belonging that we're building.
[1:21:13] Which brings me to currently, and it's been mentioned
[1:21:16] before, we are implementing a multi-tiered transitional plan
[1:21:20] for our incoming seventh graders.
[1:21:23] Our administrators, along
[1:21:25] with a GHH student panel have already visited the sixth
[1:21:29] graders at West Running Brook.
[1:21:31] And we are hosting a family transition night tomorrow night.
[1:21:34] And we also have our
[1:21:38] daytime step up time.
[1:21:40] On June 5th, our student leaders are even designing a
[1:21:44] special summer surprise, which I will not tell you about,
[1:21:48] to welcome them over the summer.
[1:21:52] I am most proud that when these rising seventh graders walk
[1:21:56] through the doors of Gilbert h Hood,
[1:21:58] they aren't just entering a building,
[1:22:00] they are being welcomed into a family
[1:22:03] where they will be supported, celebrated, and challenged.
[1:22:06] To be Husky Strong, I wanna thank our,
[1:22:10] the Gilbert H Hood, incredible dedicated staff
[1:22:13] who somehow every day choose to work with amazing,
[1:22:18] sometimes challenging middle schoolers.
[1:22:22] I'd like to thank our families who support us,
[1:22:24] including our dedicated PTA.
[1:22:27] And then two more thoughts.
[1:22:29] I'd like to thank so many of you
[1:22:31] who I've seen at our events.
[1:22:32] Your presence and support is noticed and appreciated.
[1:22:40] Couple other things.
[1:22:42] I, I mentioned my incredible staff,
[1:22:43] just a couple recognitions from this year.
[1:22:46] I want to recognize Allison Strobel, who was our Teacher
[1:22:50] of the Year nomination and an incredible job that she does.
[1:22:54] I'd also like to recognize our three retirees who have
[1:23:00] dedicated many years to Gilbert a should.
[1:23:03] And that is Diane Pius who teaches Spanish.
[1:23:06] That is, I'm gonna forget, don't tell her don't
[1:23:10] Mary Ellen Hedrick, who teaches social studies
[1:23:14] and Kristen Sarno who teaches art.
[1:23:16] And we will miss them dearly
[1:23:17] in the work that they have done.
[1:23:20] And then as a last thought, I just, we are preparing
[1:23:24] for our eighth grade promotion
[1:23:26] and I just wanna do a little shout out to the eighth graders
[1:23:29] and I, if any of them are listening, I just want them
[1:23:31] to know that Gilbert h wood staff is proud of them
[1:23:34] and we believe in them and we can't wait
[1:23:36] to see what they do in the future.
[1:23:40] Thanks, Lisa. Any questions? Yeah,
[1:23:46] Lisa, I was actually at the mall
[1:23:48] in a parent from another town
[1:23:51] who had a student playing in the unified basketball program
[1:23:55] or game recognized me.
[1:23:57] I was kind of surprised,
[1:23:58] but she just, she wanted to tell me how thankful she was
[1:24:01] that hood hosted that game and how great the program is.
[1:24:05] And she wants to, you know, hopes it continues
[1:24:07] and continues and continues.
[1:24:09] Yes. So it was, it was nice to hear. I
[1:24:11] Loved it.
[1:24:12] Yes. And to your point,
[1:24:13] and we've mentioned it a couple times here,
[1:24:15] it's definitely a highlight of what,
[1:24:18] it's not the only thing we did that showed school spirit,
[1:24:20] but is the best example to show what we're talking about.
[1:24:24] And the other thing I was gonna mention that I forgot is
[1:24:29] talking about preparing for the transition.
[1:24:32] And one of the, one of the things that we do
[1:24:34] to build our community is building strong student leaders.
[1:24:38] And just a little anecdote.
[1:24:39] So a couple weeks ago, some
[1:24:41] of our seventh graders were inducted into the National
[1:24:44] Junior Honor Society and tomorrow is
[1:24:47] for the transition night is their first leadership role in
[1:24:51] being ambassadors in the building.
[1:24:52] And they are a buzz, they have been a buzz
[1:24:55] around the building preparing for that.
[1:24:57] And so excited that they are stepping
[1:24:59] up in their leadership roles.
[1:25:00] And again, just another way to show our our school spirit.
[1:25:06] Thanks Lisa. I'll see you tomorrow night.
[1:25:10] Just really quickly before we dismiss
[1:25:12] the principals, is that all right?
[1:25:14] I, you know, I know we get our once a month,
[1:25:16] twice a month meetings and,
[1:25:18] and it's been a different year with me, so to speak.
[1:25:22] And I just want to thank you all talk about care
[1:25:25] as you guys have been very caring
[1:25:26] and kind to me as we've transitioned.
[1:25:29] I know my leadership style can be challenging at times,
[1:25:31] but I, I think the hardest job in any
[1:25:35] district, honestly, is the principal.
[1:25:36] And I've said that since the beginning.
[1:25:37] It, it was, you are the,
[1:25:40] you are the frontline of, of all the parents.
[1:25:42] You're the frontline of all the students.
[1:25:43] You are the frontline of all the
[1:25:45] complaints, all the joy, all of that.
[1:25:47] You are literally the point person for the district
[1:25:50] and you don't get to take minutes off, let alone days off.
[1:25:54] So you are, you are the story.
[1:25:56] And I'm so thankful
[1:25:57] that we shared all the things we do, right?
[1:26:00] 'cause in our profession we're, we're dragged down a lot
[1:26:02] by criticism, which can be pretty easy to say.
[1:26:07] But when you stand here and discuss literally 60 minutes
[1:26:10] and we didn't even scratch the surface of all the things
[1:26:13] that we do, you are very eloquent tonight.
[1:26:15] It's very clear how much you care about your,
[1:26:17] your staff and your students.
[1:26:20] And it's very clear that you're leaders in the district
[1:26:22] and, and you make a difference.
[1:26:23] So I just wanna thank you for the year we've,
[1:26:26] we've had, we have more to come.
[1:26:28] And I just appreciate you guys
[1:26:29] and what you do day in and day out.
[1:26:31] 'cause it's, it is the hardest job in the district.
[1:26:34] So well done. Thank you.
[1:26:36] Yeah, thank you guys for being here tonight.
[1:26:38] You know, I know the board,
[1:26:39] the community appreciates the opportunity for you guys
[1:26:42] to come to these meetings.
[1:26:43] We get to hear about all the great things, programs,
[1:26:45] activities, you know, the work being done by our students
[1:26:48] and teachers in all your schools.
[1:26:50] And I've noticed when you guys come to visit us,
[1:26:52] there seems to be a theme.
[1:26:54] I noticed many of you drew attention to the goals
[1:26:56] that you're setting and meeting around student achievement,
[1:26:59] the SaaS testing, NIWA testing.
[1:27:02] And I know that's something that we
[1:27:03] often hear about as a board.
[1:27:04] And we're always quick to point out
[1:27:06] that it's just one metric
[1:27:07] and one piece of what's going on in our schools.
[1:27:10] I do want to congratulate all of you on the work
[1:27:12] that your staff teachers are doing
[1:27:14] to advance student achievement.
[1:27:18] So yeah, again, thank you for everything. Yeah.
[1:27:21] And importantly thank you to your staff
[1:27:23] for making things happen all year.
[1:27:25] And I know you guys don't get the summer off,
[1:27:27] but hopefully you can enjoy some peace and quiet.
[1:27:30] Good luck the next three weeks.
[1:27:32] Yeah. All right. Thanks guys.
[1:27:39] All right. Our next order of business is delegations
[1:27:41] and individuals at this time, residents
[1:27:44] of dairy parents have currently enrolled dairy students
[1:27:46] and employees of the district may address the school board
[1:27:48] on matters that pertain only to school
[1:27:49] and district business for a period of time.
[1:27:51] Not to exceed three minutes per person.
[1:27:53] As a reminder, the Lord welcomes input,
[1:27:55] however questions are not
[1:27:56] entertained during the comment period.
[1:27:58] If you would like to speak, please come up
[1:27:59] to the microphone at this time and state your
[1:28:01] name and address for the record.
[1:28:04] Good evening, Mr. Chair. Jim Dietzel. 11 Hunter Drive.
[1:28:08] It's no secret to anybody who knows me that I like to
[1:28:12] complain and I like
[1:28:14] to complain about town matters and school matters.
[1:28:17] But I think it's really important
[1:28:19] that if somebody complains, they do it from a point
[1:28:22] of knowledge and not ignorance.
[1:28:27] And that's why I come to all these school board meetings
[1:28:30] and I try to participate
[1:28:31] by being on the fiscal advisory board.
[1:28:34] And I'm involved in other town matters as well
[1:28:40] tonight, folks, I really don't
[1:28:41] have anything to complain about.
[1:28:43] I think we've had a very successful year.
[1:28:47] We've had challenges. You've had challenges.
[1:28:50] But I include me
[1:28:51] because I'm one of the stakeholders as a member
[1:28:55] of the public, the school board.
[1:29:00] I've seen people asking that. We throw 'em all out.
[1:29:05] Well, we have four practically new people
[1:29:09] less than two years on the job.
[1:29:11] Okay? So we got the new people in,
[1:29:13] but we have our veterans too.
[1:29:18] So we have a good mix.
[1:29:21] I'm very pleased so far one year in
[1:29:24] with our new superintendent, he seems to get it.
[1:29:32] We're gonna have a big
[1:29:34] to-do in town when we get our tax bills in the fall.
[1:29:39] I think we're all prepared for that.
[1:29:41] But one of the goals that we set at the beginning
[1:29:43] of the year was to try to smooth things out,
[1:29:46] to avoid spikes, to incorporate predictability.
[1:29:51] And so that there's no sticker shock year in year out.
[1:29:54] And that's very difficult
[1:29:55] 'cause you folks have been saddled
[1:29:57] with challenges left over from school boards
[1:30:00] and school administrations from decades ago.
[1:30:04] You're still trying to play catch up.
[1:30:06] We want to build up these, these funds so
[1:30:09] that we can draw on them rather than
[1:30:11] to bond everything we wanna, we want to be prepared
[1:30:14] for the rainy day.
[1:30:16] We need to anticipate
[1:30:20] further increases in, in healthcare costs
[1:30:23] and the, and the like.
[1:30:26] So it is a challenge,
[1:30:27] but I think you guys have taken it head on
[1:30:32] and I, I really would like to, hello?
[1:30:36] Yellow light. I would really like to invite the public
[1:30:39] to please watch this on tv, get involved more,
[1:30:44] ask questions, challenge the school board.
[1:30:46] One more thing I'd like to say is that I'm very proud
[1:30:49] of this school board in that all of you are so approachable.
[1:30:54] I have no problem going up to any one of you
[1:30:56] and starting a conversation that includes you, Mr.
[1:31:00] Sup, superintendent, and all members.
[1:31:04] That's so appreciated
[1:31:05] and such change from school board's past.
[1:31:08] And one last thing I would really like to commend Ms. Ard.
[1:31:13] I think she is just an outstanding steward
[1:31:17] of the entire ex checker
[1:31:20] and her one thing particularly.
[1:31:25] Mr. Chairman, may I have one more minute? Yep.
[1:31:27] Could we extend Mr Diet's time by one minute?
[1:31:30] So moved second. I remember an obstructing I we have to vote
[1:31:34] On it.
[1:31:35] Second. I'm sorry.
[1:31:37] Second by David. Yeah. All right. All in favor?
[1:31:40] Aye. Opposed? Motion passes.
[1:31:41] Last year you, we were undergoing the audit
[1:31:44] and they seemed to have, I don't even remember.
[1:31:46] The issue was so insignificant
[1:31:47] and had something to do with computer access
[1:31:51] and it was some sort of a minor criticism.
[1:31:54] And I recall you took that personally,
[1:31:56] your goal was perfection
[1:31:59] and you didn't like being called out on this
[1:32:02] ridiculously minor thing,
[1:32:04] but your conscientiousness was proved to me that day
[1:32:07] and that whatever it was, I don't even remember.
[1:32:10] That's how insignificant it was.
[1:32:12] You were taking actions to correct it
[1:32:14] and it was important to you that everything is right.
[1:32:17] And so thank you board.
[1:32:19] We have challenges coming up this year.
[1:32:21] We all know about what's going on in Concord.
[1:32:24] I think, you know, 1330 stone committee
[1:32:27] and 1339 is probably gonna be signed.
[1:32:29] So let's be prepared for that.
[1:32:31] But great, great
[1:32:36] year of school work.
[1:32:39] And a lot of that has to do with this board
[1:32:41] and certainly the administration. Thank you. Thanks.
[1:32:44] Thanks Jim. Thanks Jim. We don't hear that
[1:32:50] Jane's still taking it personal for the record.
[1:32:53] Any other takers? We
[1:32:56] should just quit while we're all right.
[1:32:57] Not seeing anyone else coming to the microphone.
[1:32:59] So we'll move on with the meeting.
[1:33:00] However, the public comment period will remain open
[1:33:02] until 8:13 PM if you wish to speak prior to
[1:33:05] that approach the microphone.
[1:33:06] And I will recognize you at the next break in the agenda.
[1:33:10] No student members with us tonight.
[1:33:11] So we'll move on to deliberations.
[1:33:13] We'll start with the topic of our earlier public hearing,
[1:33:15] the withdrawal, all the funds from the maintenance
[1:33:17] and repair expendable trust fund.
[1:33:20] Mike, did you have anything else
[1:33:21] that you wanted to add on this?
[1:33:22] Typically as we're this new practice, I would reopen it
[1:33:26] for questions or concerns that you may have had.
[1:33:29] If not, I would ask a motion of the board to withdraw
[1:33:33] funds from the maintenance and repair expandable trust fund,
[1:33:35] not to exceed $375,000 as presented by Jeremy
[1:33:40] for district-wide flooring and replacement.
[1:33:44] So first by David second. Second by Jenna.
[1:33:49] Any discussion on this? Are we ready to vote?
[1:33:55] All right, so all in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed.
[1:34:01] Motion carries. Seven zero.
[1:34:04] Great. And I wanna thank Jeremy
[1:34:05] for the hard work along with Jane.
[1:34:07] They've become a, I mean, they've always been a partnership,
[1:34:10] but with their new relationship in, in in the structure,
[1:34:13] it's been fun to watch more specifically with
[1:34:18] how they're able to attack some of the deficiencies.
[1:34:20] So that we're, what we had said earlier was,
[1:34:22] we become more predictable rather than reaction area.
[1:34:26] That's the real goal. So thank you guys for that very much.
[1:34:29] And importantly, this is a first step, right?
[1:34:31] You know, you're working on a capital improvement plan.
[1:34:33] You know this, this trust fund is something that, you know,
[1:34:36] we plan to replenish, you know, if not annually, regularly.
[1:34:41] Yep. So, you know,
[1:34:42] this is the plan moving forward, right?
[1:34:47] Our second item is the 2026, 2027 general assurances
[1:34:51] requirements and definitions
[1:34:52] for our participation in federal programs.
[1:34:55] This is an item we need to take up annually.
[1:34:57] This document has to be filed with the state in order
[1:34:58] to be eligible to receive federal grants.
[1:35:01] So I would hope everyone
[1:35:02] had a chance to take a look at this.
[1:35:03] And I'll turn it over to Mike if you wanna.
[1:35:05] Yeah, no real changes from last year.
[1:35:07] This year we had our annual meeting with the state
[1:35:10] and the requirements and the review.
[1:35:12] Kim KT does an outstanding job partnering
[1:35:14] with all the directors
[1:35:16] to make sure we're meeting more specifically
[1:35:17] the policies that are required.
[1:35:19] We wanna make sure that we're accepting all these.
[1:35:21] So presenting it to you as, as recommended
[1:35:26] and with no concerns, nothing really
[1:35:28] to discuss your boiler boilerplate federal language.
[1:35:32] All right. Did we have any
[1:35:33] questions for Mike on this item?
[1:35:36] All right. So I would accept the motion
[1:35:38] to authorize the board chair to certify on behalf
[1:35:40] of the board the general assurances requirements
[1:35:42] and definitions for participation in federal programs.
[1:35:45] Document as presented. So moved first by Jen. Second.
[1:35:50] Go ahead you second by Jamie. No further discussion.
[1:35:55] All in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed. Motion carries.
[1:35:58] 7 0 1 final item
[1:36:02] to consider tonight will be an intercom system project.
[1:36:04] The administration is looking to fund from year end funds.
[1:36:07] We had several bids to consider for this project.
[1:36:09] So I'll turn it over to Mike to present.
[1:36:11] Yeah. And this is, this is coming in at,
[1:36:14] at a different, lemme step back.
[1:36:18] I approach you guys asking
[1:36:20] for this recommendation this evening,
[1:36:22] even though I'll be presenting on the superintendent's
[1:36:24] update year-end bond violence and the rest of the list.
[1:36:26] The real reason behind this one is, is Dr.
[1:36:29] Dancy brought this forward two
[1:36:31] and a half months ago during his director's update.
[1:36:33] And as I mentioned in my email to the board, we have to kind
[1:36:37] of be careful on
[1:36:38] how we're communicating the deficiencies
[1:36:39] in some of our safety plans.
[1:36:41] So if you have detailed questions,
[1:36:42] we can certainly go into non-public under safety.
[1:36:45] But more specifically, one of the things
[1:36:47] that I asked when I started here was where are our areas
[1:36:50] that we need to improve on the safety and security side?
[1:36:55] We've had several discussions throughout the year.
[1:36:58] This one more specifically kind
[1:37:00] of hit home a little bit last week with the Pinkerton with
[1:37:04] alarm, false alarm incident, so to speak.
[1:37:08] And it couldn't have been more perfect time on our end
[1:37:11] trying to be ahead of the game rather than reactionaries.
[1:37:15] We do have deficiencies in our Intercon system.
[1:37:18] And when you think intercon system,
[1:37:19] most people think active shooter,
[1:37:21] but actually there's other times.
[1:37:22] So there could be a heart attack of maybe a staff member.
[1:37:26] And we need to clear hallways.
[1:37:28] I shared this example with Jamie in which there could be a,
[1:37:31] a coyote on the playground
[1:37:33] and we need to be able to get announcements out
[1:37:34] to the playground in a quick and efficient manner.
[1:37:37] That does happen Easter.
[1:37:38] So this intercom system will be a system wide
[1:37:40] upgrade in all six schools.
[1:37:41] It does not include the new SAU.
[1:37:43] Several of you had that question.
[1:37:45] Clifton reminded me at the time when we were going out
[1:37:47] to bid that, that I had said no,
[1:37:49] that we didn't need it for that time.
[1:37:51] Another question was the warranty.
[1:37:53] That was one that was specific. It's a one year warranty.
[1:37:57] The difference in the bids, the significant difference
[1:37:59] between the, the $250,000 to the ones, the, the $85,000,
[1:38:04] the 250,000 was replacing everything.
[1:38:06] So that was ripping everything out and replacing everything.
[1:38:09] The, the one that we're recommending is actually just
[1:38:12] evaluating our current system and structure and wiring
[1:38:15] and being able to upgrade and, and bring that back to par.
[1:38:18] So that's where that one was. The next question was grants.
[1:38:21] That was a great question. It did not
[1:38:23] qualify for the safe grants.
[1:38:24] So I looked that up today.
[1:38:25] There were certain things that qualified the,
[1:38:27] this one would not have qualified at that moment.
[1:38:31] So that was more barriers, like locks that we got, Ballards,
[1:38:37] panic buttons, things like that.
[1:38:38] So the reason why I'm actually moving it forward ahead
[1:38:42] of everything else, and that was again on timeline.
[1:38:43] So the, the, the, the vendor specifically was, was
[1:38:49] on a time crunch in order to get the supplies in.
[1:38:52] I don't need to talk to everyone about supply chains.
[1:38:54] We've all heard it to make sure
[1:38:56] that we can get the, the work done in the summer.
[1:38:58] So I do, I wanna say, I apologize
[1:39:00] 'cause you guys don't know me well enough to me throw
[1:39:02] that email at you the way I did about two weeks ago,
[1:39:05] but also that it was calculated
[1:39:06] and it wasn't just by the wayside as I was talking
[1:39:10] through Clifton, we really thought it was, we needed
[1:39:13] to approach you guys sooner rather than wait another,
[1:39:15] 'cause I'm presenting you a list this evening
[1:39:17] and then you're gonna vote on it another two weeks.
[1:39:19] So that's where we came in on that.
[1:39:20] So certainly open to any question, this will,
[1:39:23] this sets the bar for about 15 years, so to speak,
[1:39:26] in regards to won't need any upgrades
[1:39:28] and then we're gonna maintain, we're either that, I think
[1:39:30] that's the, the thing that I've been trying
[1:39:31] to talk about is we want to maintain our things
[1:39:33] so we don't end up in a failure mode, right?
[1:39:36] So that is doing a better,
[1:39:37] if we're doing system upgrade, we're gonna take care of it.
[1:39:40] If we're gonna do flooring, we're gonna take care of it.
[1:39:42] If we're gonna do these things,
[1:39:43] we're gonna make sure that we're maintaining 'em.
[1:39:44] So we don't come to a failure aspect of where Excellent.
[1:39:47] I've learned we've got to several times.
[1:39:49] So sorry that was a lot,
[1:39:51] but I wanted to make sure I tried to cover as much
[1:39:53] as I certainly any questions, concerns?
[1:39:58] I have a question. Sure. When,
[1:40:00] when would installation start? After school ends?
[1:40:03] Yeah. Okay. It'd be right when school ends. Yep. Okay.
[1:40:06] Yep. Any more questions?
[1:40:11] All right, thanks Mike. And I appreciate this
[1:40:13] being brought forward to the board.
[1:40:14] You know, I think it's a good move towards student safety
[1:40:16] to have a reliable district wide public address system.
[1:40:19] And this is the kind of project that's perfect
[1:40:20] to take care of at the end of the year.
[1:40:23] You know, I mean, $85,000 is a very reasonable amount
[1:40:27] and you know, the way municipal budgeting works,
[1:40:30] we're always going to have a chunk
[1:40:32] of money left at the end of the year. So
[1:40:34] Yeah, and my goal, you know, it's, as you get to know me
[1:40:38] and as the community will get to know me, the goal is
[1:40:42] to show the taxpayer where their dollar's going, right?
[1:40:45] We're going, we are going to need a system upgrade.
[1:40:47] There's not a question about it, right?
[1:40:49] It is a deficiency in our emergency operation plan.
[1:40:53] So when do we do it? And this is an opportunity to present.
[1:40:56] If I'm coming to the board or the community
[1:40:59] and just randomly picking things, then there's a problem.
[1:41:02] My goal is to always show the why behind it.
[1:41:04] And I'll get to that in the list, right?
[1:41:05] The, the list that I'm gonna present to you later,
[1:41:08] we're gonna make sense of the dollars
[1:41:10] and making sure that we're not coming back in five years
[1:41:12] and being like, you know what we did that was wrong, right?
[1:41:14] Everything's gonna be targeted in an approach so that
[1:41:17] those funds become more predictable.
[1:41:19] So that in 15 years you're gonna, in the CIP you'll know
[1:41:22] that you need a system upgrade, right?
[1:41:24] And that's the goal is to continue that predictability.
[1:41:26] So thanks for understanding as you get to know me here.
[1:41:31] All right, so if we don't have any further questions,
[1:41:35] I would accept a motion to approve the bid from telephone
[1:41:37] network technologies in the amount of $85,884
[1:41:42] for the completion of the district wide mass notification
[1:41:44] and intercom system upgrade as recommended.
[1:41:47] So moved first by Jamie second. Second by Jenna.
[1:41:51] Any further discussion? All right. Hearing none will vote.
[1:41:54] All in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed?
[1:41:57] Motion carries seven zero.
[1:42:00] Thank you everybody. Our next order
[1:42:03] of business will be.
[1:42:04] So I'll turn it over to Jamie
[1:42:05] for the business administrators update.
[1:42:09] Okay, thank you. I've included in your packet the
[1:42:13] business administrator summary, which would've been the up
[1:42:17] until May 21st.
[1:42:19] I just wanted to highlight the pancreatin general tuition.
[1:42:22] So we would with our general tuition
[1:42:26] be over budget 220,000 approximately for our year end.
[1:42:30] As I mentioned before, we don't have any further billings
[1:42:33] for general tuition.
[1:42:35] Typically we, once they've closed out their year end,
[1:42:38] we typically will get a refund
[1:42:41] or a credit tours next year once they've
[1:42:44] calculated out if there were any overs of overpayment.
[1:42:49] And the special education will actually be 841,000
[1:42:54] under budget for our rein services
[1:42:58] that we've been providing.
[1:43:00] And that's, you know, it's always a combination of
[1:43:04] students are moving in, moving out.
[1:43:07] Maybe they've moved on from
[1:43:11] needing an assistant, maybe they don't need a resource
[1:43:15] or as many resource sections as they
[1:43:18] originally had planned on.
[1:43:20] And our director Laura Powers, every year she goes
[1:43:24] through every single student.
[1:43:25] So when we're doing budgeting, it's on actual students
[1:43:28] and actual numbers of periods that they would require
[1:43:31] assistance and numbers of sections
[1:43:36] that they would have resource services.
[1:43:37] So, but that's where we are at the year end.
[1:43:41] We will continue to have
[1:43:44] a few more invoices coming in from Pinkerton related
[1:43:47] to special education, their assistance, any additional
[1:43:51] services outside of regular tuition such as nursing,
[1:43:56] additional o, occupational therapy,
[1:44:00] physical therapy, things like that.
[1:44:01] We always get those at the end of the year.
[1:44:03] And we also, again make not notion of the areas
[1:44:07] where we are over budget with special education, which is
[1:44:11] for the out of district tuition as well
[1:44:13] as contractor services.
[1:44:15] Just keep in mind with contracted services, many
[1:44:18] of those are for positions that we are unable
[1:44:20] to fill as employees.
[1:44:23] Most notably psychologists speech
[1:44:26] and language pathologists actually special
[1:44:31] education teachers.
[1:44:32] Most recently we've had to
[1:44:35] contract a few special education assistant positions
[1:44:38] and that's why you're seeing overages in
[1:44:41] their contracted services.
[1:44:43] But then we've underspent in many of those positions
[1:44:47] that are in the budget where we were unable to fill those.
[1:44:52] We also had, I just wanted to give you the update on
[1:44:55] what we have for interest and David
[1:44:57] and Jason have been updating us on those.
[1:44:59] So general banking to date, we've earned 139,000 in interest
[1:45:04] and the PIP account, which is the interest bearing account
[1:45:08] for the bond to date has earned 610,000.
[1:45:13] And we anticipate that we will be over our expectation
[1:45:17] of the 700,000 that was voted on as a warrant article to be
[1:45:23] moved over for maintenance items.
[1:45:28] And then I give you a a summary of the projects
[1:45:31] that we had payments on for April
[1:45:35] and May related to the bond projects.
[1:45:37] So we had some costs to job and construction.
[1:45:41] He's the consultant that we're using
[1:45:43] for a little over 10,000 South range engineering project
[1:45:47] with Gale Associates.
[1:45:48] A little over 1400 we're LaValley.
[1:45:52] Resinger is still working on their plans for East Area Barca
[1:45:56] and Gilbert H Hood for the replacement of doors and windows
[1:45:59] and that's a little over 26,000.
[1:46:03] We also have, we're going
[1:46:04] to have legal fees throughout the project
[1:46:06] and we doing contract review for all
[1:46:09] of our contractors that we're hiring.
[1:46:12] And so we had 1900
[1:46:14] and that was for the hvac,
[1:46:15] which was a very extensive contract
[1:46:17] that needed to be reviewed.
[1:46:19] South Range Structural Engineering was Sebago Technics
[1:46:23] 29,000
[1:46:25] and South Range HVAC project with Honeywell was 1.2 million.
[1:46:30] And all of those projects, I'm not sure what the doors
[1:46:34] and windows where we're gonna be at for the summer,
[1:46:36] but the engineering, the hvac,
[1:46:39] those are all gonna start this summer over at South Range
[1:46:44] as Mike's been talking about the capital reserve accounts,
[1:46:47] those I've listed, the current balances in those accounts,
[1:46:51] those are actually maintained.
[1:46:54] They are invested
[1:46:55] through the town's trustees of the trust funds.
[1:46:59] So the one account has a balance of 260,000
[1:47:04] and the roof repair
[1:47:05] and replacement, which was a bond on
[1:47:08] Warren article I believe in 2324.
[1:47:12] And that was originally
[1:47:16] for 1.8 million.
[1:47:17] I think we were replacing two roofs,
[1:47:19] west Renbrook and Barca.
[1:47:21] And the 69,000 remaining was interest on that account.
[1:47:26] So that can only be spent on, if Jeremy sees
[1:47:30] roof repairs or any area like that,
[1:47:33] that can only be used for that.
[1:47:34] But the other account can be used
[1:47:36] for general maintenance repairs
[1:47:38] and that's when Mike brought forward to the flooring
[1:47:41] that's going to come out of that first account.
[1:47:43] Okay. I work with the town on these
[1:47:46] and make sure that we're tracking interest
[1:47:50] and all of the expenditures on them.
[1:47:52] So then I just wanna follow up
[1:47:55] with food service director Christina LeBel.
[1:47:58] She is continuing her outreach with families.
[1:48:01] She is actually been creating some new payment plans.
[1:48:06] We offer payment plans year round
[1:48:08] and she's working with, particularly with our eighth graders
[1:48:12] as they're gonna be leaving our system trying
[1:48:14] to get payment plans to zero out their accounts
[1:48:17] before they leave to highlight.
[1:48:20] We did have, we do have 656 students
[1:48:24] who are on free or reduced.
[1:48:26] Last year we had 722, however, you know it also,
[1:48:30] but that's also correlates with enrollment.
[1:48:33] So I think she's doing an outstanding job of outreach
[1:48:36] as well as with our home to school coordinators,
[1:48:40] identifying students who may be in need
[1:48:42] and we continue to have applications coming over
[1:48:45] and the ones that have been coming over have been approved.
[1:48:48] So we wanna continue to encourage families to
[1:48:53] apply if they have a need.
[1:48:56] Brenda, you mentioned before about when the cutoff,
[1:49:00] I think one of the meetings when the cutoff was
[1:49:01] that you could apply That's for our online portal just
[1:49:05] because so that she can make sure she sees it.
[1:49:07] So she tries to shut that off in June.
[1:49:10] But families can still apply on a paper application
[1:49:13] into June if they want.
[1:49:16] And if they didn't wanna do a paper application,
[1:49:19] just reach out to us
[1:49:20] and we'll make sure that they have it available
[1:49:22] to do it online in the month of June so they can apply
[1:49:26] for it at any, any time.
[1:49:28] And currently there's 24,000 in outstanding meal balances.
[1:49:33] The majority of that, almost 90% of that are students
[1:49:36] who are not on free or reduced.
[1:49:39] That's huge. I also included in your packet the
[1:49:45] UpToDate area of expenditures, also your revenues.
[1:49:50] I did have a question about the E-Rate where you may see
[1:49:53] that the E-Rate, we budgeted 5,000
[1:49:57] and we received I think a little over 35,000
[1:50:02] E-Rate is, it's reimbursable for
[1:50:07] internet equipment related to our technology programs.
[1:50:11] We're never really sure how much we're going to get,
[1:50:13] how much is gonna qualify, what the percentage is.
[1:50:16] And that's why that's what we budgeted.
[1:50:18] So we had a surplus of,
[1:50:20] I think it was 28,000 or somewhere around there.
[1:50:24] And then I also wanted to highlight, we also receive
[1:50:27] money from Comcast
[1:50:31] and the cable that we receive through the town
[1:50:34] and this year we're receiving quite a bit less
[1:50:38] and next year we're gonna be receiving even less
[1:50:40] because their funding that they're getting
[1:50:42] is less for the town.
[1:50:43] So I'll be noting that in my next report of
[1:50:47] how much that's gonna be.
[1:50:48] I think we're gonna be down to only receiving
[1:50:51] maybe 20,000 next year.
[1:50:54] So, and as you know, we are, our pools
[1:50:58] of revenue that we pull from are very limited.
[1:51:02] So that, that does affect us in our bottom line.
[1:51:06] But I'll let you know what the exact amount is gonna be.
[1:51:10] Owen, I don't see Owen out there,
[1:51:12] but Owen actually notified Patty to let her know so
[1:51:15] that we can plan because he already has been able
[1:51:17] to forecast what they're gonna receive in the next year.
[1:51:20] So we'll be able to budget for that.
[1:51:22] That's somewhat related to people who subscribe
[1:51:24] to Comcast will change.
[1:51:27] Yes. Providers That cut that rating.
[1:51:29] Yes, that's correct. I had a
[1:51:31] quick question, Jane, about that.
[1:51:33] The E-Rate, when the money
[1:51:35] that we got reimbursed comes back, does
[1:51:38] that go into a special pool specifically
[1:51:40] for tech to be spent?
[1:51:41] For to, for technology?
[1:51:44] No, it just comes in as miscellaneous revenue
[1:51:46] and is applied to the bottom line.
[1:51:48] Okay, thank you. You're welcome.
[1:51:50] It's a reimbursement for something you've
[1:51:52] Already spent, we've already spent, right?
[1:51:53] Yes. Okay. Yes.
[1:51:55] And that's, Clifton works with a rep who
[1:52:00] anytime that we're going out to bid, probably the,
[1:52:02] even the bogan, the anytime that he's going out to bid
[1:52:06] for things, it's all done.
[1:52:08] Like they work through the it's government.
[1:52:11] Yes, they work through the government agency
[1:52:13] and check all our bids
[1:52:14] and do all of that work with us on it.
[1:52:19] Does anybody have any questions? No, thank you. All
[1:52:24] Right, thank you Jane.
[1:52:25] We'll move on to Mike with his superintendent's update.
[1:52:27] All right, so I'm gonna start with year,
[1:52:31] year end facility recommendations.
[1:52:34] This has not gone to facilities yet
[1:52:36] because we haven't had a facilities meeting
[1:52:37] since we created this.
[1:52:39] So this is fresh off the press in your packet.
[1:52:41] There's a list and if you picked up a hard copy,
[1:52:45] I'm not sure it made it in
[1:52:46] because I had finalized it this afternoon with Jeremy,
[1:52:48] so you can look at mine as I go through it.
[1:52:52] We sat with Jeremy this afternoon to review the new CIP plan
[1:52:57] and I'll call it the old plan.
[1:53:01] I'm not sure what it was, but it, it's, it's been a list of,
[1:53:04] I'll call 'em hanging items for review.
[1:53:08] And the reason why you're getting this
[1:53:10] for two weeks in advance is so
[1:53:11] that you can certainly ask questions, dig in,
[1:53:15] see if you can see the theme here.
[1:53:17] The theme is really safety.
[1:53:19] That's, that's tending to where
[1:53:20] that these recommendations are coming from.
[1:53:23] So before you, tonight is 7, 9 1 2, 3, 6 items.
[1:53:28] So the loading dock replacement has been a discussion
[1:53:31] for years in this district at Grinnell
[1:53:34] that is estimated at a hundred thousand dollars,
[1:53:36] the bleacher seat replacement at Barca,
[1:53:38] we've officially ran out of parts to do
[1:53:41] appropriate replacements.
[1:53:43] So we're making our recommendation to do a full replacements
[1:53:46] of the bleachers at Barca.
[1:53:48] The music room wall, this is the music room
[1:53:50] now that's on the stage.
[1:53:51] There's disruption between phys ed class and music class.
[1:53:55] That's to my understanding, has come around for discussion
[1:53:58] before paving in the courtyard.
[1:54:01] And this is a little bit of me, our greatest
[1:54:04] accident reports for slips, trips
[1:54:05] and falls come from that cobblestone winter area in
[1:54:09] which students are hanging out.
[1:54:10] We've had several, I'm leaning
[1:54:12] to Jane like the accident reports that go through our office
[1:54:16] and the, I know it's been a discussion
[1:54:19] for outdoor classroom areas, stuff like that.
[1:54:21] But more specifically that would become a safer area
[1:54:24] for our students to make sure we're getting rid
[1:54:27] of the rid of that.
[1:54:31] I'm gonna leave it there at that one for now.
[1:54:33] Tactile pads for our a DA compliance at Barca
[1:54:37] have been paved away.
[1:54:39] So updating those back to a DA compliance
[1:54:42] and then the guardrail at west coming around the side
[1:54:45] that falls off the cliff there.
[1:54:47] I believe you replaced a
[1:54:49] guardrail within the last couple years.
[1:54:50] That one's nearing its end of life in
[1:54:53] can only foresee an accident happening.
[1:54:55] So this is nothing more than
[1:54:58] recommendations from our office.
[1:54:59] It hasn't gone to facilities for discussion.
[1:55:01] It really came from Jeremy
[1:55:02] and myself where I'm saying, okay,
[1:55:04] if we can chip away at things that are gonna be coming,
[1:55:06] this is the theme that we're trying to produce.
[1:55:10] The hot off the press, this is a soft number.
[1:55:13] Jane is not finalized.
[1:55:14] We still have roughly 300 pos still open.
[1:55:17] So for the community pos a purchase order,
[1:55:20] that means we've put in for, let's say it's an out
[1:55:23] of district placement that we anticipated was gonna cost
[1:55:25] $250,000 each month.
[1:55:28] It's paid. The outstanding balance is still in the po.
[1:55:31] We're trying to finalize
[1:55:32] and close RPO so
[1:55:33] that we have a real unassigned fund balance to produce the board.
[1:55:37] But off the press we're around 1.9 of unanticipated,
[1:55:42] excuse me, I have to use dairy words.
[1:55:43] I'm learning unassigned fund balance.
[1:55:46] So what does that include?
[1:55:48] That means, as I was explaining it a little bit
[1:55:49] to Jeremy today, it's the end of the year, your checkbook,
[1:55:52] what's left, what wasn't spent unfilled positions.
[1:55:55] Maybe someone left in the middle
[1:55:56] of the year rates came down on certain things maybe,
[1:55:59] well I was about, I was gonna say maybe we didn't spend
[1:56:02] as much on salt, but we did.
[1:56:05] That's where your, your unassigned fund balance comes in.
[1:56:07] Then you have the $500,000 that we,
[1:56:11] we ask the taxpayers for.
[1:56:12] We ask for 500,000 from unassigned fund balance.
[1:56:15] So that withdraws from your, your balance,
[1:56:20] the bond interest gets pulled from there
[1:56:23] because it goes into your checking account
[1:56:25] and then that gets pulled away.
[1:56:26] So if you are, if you are a finance person
[1:56:29] and you are into the weeds, you'll see that the, the, the,
[1:56:32] the true number is 3.6.
[1:56:34] But then you start subtracting all the things
[1:56:35] that we're requiring or we've already anticipated through.
[1:56:40] So presenting you tonight's about $336,000.
[1:56:43] I'm not asking for it all. I'm not recommending it all.
[1:56:46] I'm asking for you guys to start thinking as a board and,
[1:56:49] and I like to reference veteran board members
[1:56:52] to newer board members, is using some of these funds
[1:56:55] that you can still return to, to bring back,
[1:56:57] excuse me, that's the important piece.
[1:56:59] I'll get to that. 'cause we guaranteed $1.5 million to bring
[1:57:02] that back down through the budgeting process, right?
[1:57:04] So that 3.6,
[1:57:06] 1.5 automatically goes back to reduce the taxes.
[1:57:09] So that's where that leftover money is as a board start
[1:57:12] to think about being proactive rather than reactive.
[1:57:15] You're trying to thread that needle as a board member of,
[1:57:17] we wanna make sure we're cognizant of, of what we've,
[1:57:20] we've heard specifically from a community member tonight
[1:57:22] that we know what happened in our budgeting process
[1:57:24] and, and what we have coming forward.
[1:57:25] But this allows to chip away at some of that stuff
[1:57:28] that we're gonna be requesting for.
[1:57:29] It's not coming outta the blue, it's a necessity.
[1:57:32] These aren't, these aren't a lot
[1:57:33] of fun things out there that I'm asking for.
[1:57:35] So any questions on that?
[1:57:38] It's first digestion, but go ahead. Just
[1:57:40] The, could you explain that tactile pad
[1:57:42] Thing for me?
[1:57:43] Yeah. So when you're coming into any ramp,
[1:57:45] you know the bumps when you roll over, coming up to a ramp,
[1:57:48] the plowing over the winters have chipped away.
[1:57:51] He caught 'em Nick, I, I
[1:57:52] don't know, I picked up on it tonight.
[1:57:53] The nickel padding. So they're the, they're the holes
[1:57:55] or the lines that's just flat.
[1:57:57] So if people are coming down in a wheelchair
[1:58:00] or an assisted device, it doesn't help.
[1:58:03] That's the purpose of the tactile padding. So,
[1:58:05] Okay.
[1:58:06] Thank you.
[1:58:09] Did you say 300 is the number that you just
[1:58:11] 3 36 3 3 6.
[1:58:13] Yeah. And the plan, if facilities recommends, is to bring
[1:58:16] that to part of our year end spending on the reserve
[1:58:20] House.
[1:58:21] Yeah. And I think that's where I, I'm a little, I'm, I'm,
[1:58:23] I'm not asking for any moves tonight.
[1:58:25] It's gotta go to facilities.
[1:58:26] I think for first, for discussion specifically as you guys,
[1:58:29] but more importantly that you all can see
[1:58:31] what we're trying to chip away at.
[1:58:32] I think I'm trying to establish a theme of not,
[1:58:35] I'm not asking for the wants.
[1:58:36] I'm asking for the needs. The needs are gonna happen, right?
[1:58:39] Whether it's this year, whether it's next year.
[1:58:40] You'll see as you get to know me, the, the,
[1:58:44] the running joke in hopping is my list
[1:58:45] always got longer because it did.
[1:58:46] Right? So next year when I come back at the end of the year,
[1:58:49] you'll see curriculum stuff, you'll see technology stuff,
[1:58:51] you'll see things as they start to evaluate the district.
[1:58:54] And I, I just want
[1:58:55] to make sure we're squashing the misnomer.
[1:58:58] 'cause one of the things that people easily throw
[1:58:59] around in our profession is that it's a slush fund.
[1:59:01] It's not right.
[1:59:02] Every, every dollar's dedicated as we go
[1:59:04] through the budgeting process and whether things return in
[1:59:07] our favor or we get an extra $28,000 in returns,
[1:59:10] that's what these things can happen.
[1:59:11] So this list is gonna live for years
[1:59:14] and whether you choose 1, 2, 3,
[1:59:15] or six next year, if you don't choose for fun,
[1:59:18] let's say we don't do the guardrail,
[1:59:21] guess what's gonna be on the list next year?
[1:59:22] The guardrail. So whether that makes it
[1:59:24] through into the budgeting process or whether
[1:59:26] that makes it into the capital improvement plan,
[1:59:27] at least the community's not getting
[1:59:29] caught off guard by anything.
[1:59:31] And it's not just coming outta the
[1:59:32] blue of where did this come from?
[1:59:33] Or why do, why do we want it when it's more
[1:59:35] of a need. Thanks for that.
[1:59:37] And these numbers are rough estimates
[1:59:38] because obvious didn't, obviously it hasn't gone out.
[1:59:40] It, it's just something that
[1:59:41] Correct. You kind of pulled out. I'll
[1:59:42] Call placeholders. Yeah.
[1:59:43] Okay. Thank you. So any questions on first approach?
[1:59:48] If not, I'll move on. Thumbs up. Alright.
[1:59:52] Unassigned fund balance check.
[1:59:55] Ms. Hill had mentioned tonight,
[1:59:56] I think all the principals did a great job,
[1:59:58] but special emphasis to Ms. Landry who did make it
[2:00:01] to the top 11 in the state of New Hampshire.
[2:00:03] It's a big deal. You know, if you can imagine hundreds
[2:00:07] of people will put in and they go, they go
[2:00:09] through a grinding process to make it
[2:00:10] to the top 11 is outstanding.
[2:00:12] We're gonna put a nut, a press
[2:00:13] release out that's gonna go live.
[2:00:14] It'll be on our social, stuff like that.
[2:00:16] But just acknowledging the work, all the other teachers
[2:00:19] that, excuse me, that were nominated also outstanding.
[2:00:21] It's, it's gonna be a thing.
[2:00:23] We're gonna nominate people, we have
[2:00:24] outstanding teachers and they should be recognized.
[2:00:26] So on that. And then one other update, no two.
[2:00:30] One is the adult ed.
[2:00:32] So Barry Jane's been dedicating years to adult ed.
[2:00:35] That is a time consuming evening position, trying
[2:00:39] to find people that teach, want to teach,
[2:00:41] run the classes, space, location.
[2:00:44] We want to thank her for her time.
[2:00:45] But more importantly, we're gonna post that position.
[2:00:47] Anyone that's looking for part-time work, part-time,
[2:00:49] evening work, coordination, collaboration,
[2:00:52] that's gonna be going live.
[2:00:53] And then last is Joe and I losing track of days.
[2:00:58] Joe, when were we at the, in Concord? Wednesday.
[2:01:01] Wednesday last week. Wednesday last week feels right.
[2:01:04] We, we met with N-H-I-A-A in regards
[2:01:07] to middle school sports.
[2:01:08] So Joe and I are already on that action item.
[2:01:11] We heard from a community member,
[2:01:13] we've heard consistently in trying to do 5, 6, 7, 8 stuff.
[2:01:16] The thing that we can say now, city pretty publicly is NHIA
[2:01:19] is not replacing Tri-County.
[2:01:21] It's more of another option for schools.
[2:01:23] And what we learn more specifically is the flexibility
[2:01:27] that they're gonna allow,
[2:01:29] which we think will be an opportunity for dairy in Hamstead.
[2:01:33] I'm just saying so that you are able
[2:01:36] to do 5, 6, 7, 8 programs.
[2:01:38] Because right now Tri-County does not allow two separate
[2:01:42] buildings to combine and join one team.
[2:01:44] So it was very informative. It's gonna be pretty flexible.
[2:01:47] They're allowing us to create our own schedules so
[2:01:50] that we can do it regionally, but then you're based
[2:01:52] division wise on size as you make it to state playoffs.
[2:01:57] I, I don't want to go into specific details
[2:01:59] 'cause I don't, I don't wanna say it's guaranteed
[2:02:02] certain things, but I feel great come 2027
[2:02:06] that we're gonna be able to participate in Tri-County.
[2:02:08] We're gonna meet with the athletic director. Dr.
[2:02:10] Sand is gonna be in part of that work.
[2:02:13] I feel pretty, pretty great about where we're moving,
[2:02:15] but I think we're gonna have to do some,
[2:02:19] we're gonna have to get creative in the fall.
[2:02:21] I think that's, that's the easiest way I can say that on
[2:02:22] what we, what we can offer, what we can do.
[2:02:24] But I think by the spring of next year,
[2:02:27] we're gonna be in great shape with, with this new program.
[2:02:30] So I'm really excited about that. That's it for me.
[2:02:35] Okay. Thank you. Any questions for Mike? All right.
[2:02:39] We will move on to our next item committee
[2:02:41] and liaison reports.
[2:02:43] First up will be Jenna with an update from the
[2:02:45] curriculum and assessment committee.
[2:02:48] All righty. So we met on Thursday the 21st.
[2:02:52] This was our first meeting since the new kind
[2:02:55] of a restructuring, Jen and I'm Jen and I met with Kim
[2:03:00] and we reviewed basically our year end goals,
[2:03:05] or I should say the goals that we had at the beginning
[2:03:07] of the year and reviewed them at the end.
[2:03:08] The first goal was to set up protocol
[2:03:11] for a rolling review cycle, which I'm happy
[2:03:14] to say it's pretty much almost done.
[2:03:16] I guess it was going to the principal's meeting next week,
[2:03:19] which I think would be this week for review.
[2:03:22] Once that is set, they will have
[2:03:26] a rolling review cycle for,
[2:03:29] for curriculum that's rolled out.
[2:03:31] And the first thing it'll be used
[2:03:33] for is a new science program that is going
[2:03:36] to be introduced in 27 28 school year called
[2:03:40] Open sed.
[2:03:42] The Kim is going to,
[2:03:43] and there's gonna start putting together a science task
[2:03:45] force team and begin the protocol
[2:03:49] for reviewing that program.
[2:03:51] Our second goal was to ha start educating families
[2:03:55] with educational guides, with documents on competencies
[2:04:00] and expectations
[2:04:01] and how families could support their children.
[2:04:04] I know one of the complications always when,
[2:04:07] when competencies came on board was what is a competency?
[2:04:11] 'cause we were so used to just rolling out letter grades
[2:04:14] and not understanding what children, what needs needed
[2:04:19] to be met every year.
[2:04:20] So having a a document, a forward facing document
[2:04:24] that is going to hopefully be on the website beginning,
[2:04:27] starting in the fall when parents say, what can I do
[2:04:31] to support my kid who's learning,
[2:04:33] you know, math in third grade.
[2:04:35] There will be a layout of
[2:04:37] what exactly they're focusing in on
[2:04:39] and how they're gonna be able to help out.
[2:04:41] And the third goal was using the protocol
[2:04:44] that we had in place for the rolling view cycle.
[2:04:49] And that is obviously we're in the process of being met.
[2:04:52] So it seemed like we were wrapped up at the end of the year
[2:04:57] and our goals are all just about complete,
[2:05:00] which felt pretty good.
[2:05:03] All right, thank you Jenna. Did
[2:05:05] anyone have any questions for Jenna?
[2:05:09] All right, next up will be Mike with a couple
[2:05:11] of first reads from the policy review committee.
[2:05:13] Yeah,
[2:05:15] Okay.
[2:05:16] Two policies for first read this evening.
[2:05:18] Certainly if you have any questions, feel free
[2:05:21] to send 'em along to Brenda or myself.
[2:05:24] Of course, I just closed out the document.
[2:05:27] But first policy is ac, I'm sorry, ADC
[2:05:31] slash gbe.
[2:05:33] D slash JI cg.
[2:05:35] We had to re-title this.
[2:05:39] We are out of compliance with our letters of our coding.
[2:05:43] But more specifically, the crux of this change is it's a ban
[2:05:46] of tobacco slash nicotine products as you're aware, vaping,
[2:05:51] but more specifically zens, which are nicotine.
[2:05:54] We had to make sure we introduced those into the policy.
[2:05:57] So as you go through the policy, you'll see just com
[2:06:01] continued recognition of nicotine pouches and or products.
[2:06:05] So that was that. I want the other policy is
[2:06:10] my favorite, JCA, which is your change of school assignment,
[2:06:13] best interest in manifestation manifest
[2:06:16] educational hardship.
[2:06:18] We had to come in line with the new laws
[2:06:20] and regulations under RSA 1 93 colon A
[2:06:24] that is right from law.
[2:06:26] So we had to basically carve out what dairy was doing
[2:06:28] because it was no longer applicable
[2:06:30] and we had to insert the new laws and regulations.
[2:06:32] So again, that's,
[2:06:33] that's straight cookie cutter language from the law so
[2:06:36] that we are in compliance.
[2:06:38] So With that, that's your first read.
[2:06:41] Feel free to reach out to us
[2:06:42] between now and the next board meeting.
[2:06:46] All right. Anyone have any initial questions on
[2:06:48] either of these policies?
[2:06:51] All right, so those will come up for a second read
[2:06:53] and a vote at our next meeting on June 9th.
[2:06:56] We also had a meeting of the legislative
[2:06:58] task force last week.
[2:06:59] If you're not familiar, this is
[2:07:00] a group formed under the town.
[2:07:01] It meets quarterly and it brings together three town council
[2:07:05] members, three school board members,
[2:07:07] three state representatives, and our state senators.
[2:07:09] So we can have an open discussion of issues
[2:07:11] and legislation affecting the town as a whole,
[2:07:14] and hopefully figure out ways we can help each other
[2:07:16] and ultimately our fellow residents and taxpayers.
[2:07:19] So we had a wide ranging discussion
[2:07:20] of bills working their way through the legislature,
[2:07:23] what each of our respective branches
[2:07:24] of government have in front of them at the moment.
[2:07:29] I thought it was good meeting. You know,
[2:07:30] everyone isn't always going to agree,
[2:07:31] but I think it's really important to have these lines
[2:07:33] of communication opened to be able, able
[2:07:35] to get us all together and talking about these things
[2:07:37] and you know, how we can best serve the town.
[2:07:40] So Karen and Jamie serve on this committee with me as well.
[2:07:44] If you guys, any updates
[2:07:45] that you wanted to provide from that meeting.
[2:07:51] All right,
[2:07:52] No question.
[2:07:53] Sure. Were there any action items coming outta that meeting
[2:07:56] that might help the schools, the town
[2:08:01] that you could think of that was relatable?
[2:08:04] Not at this meeting. I mean, we mostly, you know,
[2:08:06] talked about updates, you know, the things that are Yeah.
[2:08:09] So, you know, that we're facing and
[2:08:12] I can appreciate that and, and,
[2:08:13] and being part of this committee
[2:08:15] for my first two years on the board, we did a lot of that,
[2:08:19] A lot of just a lot of talk.
[2:08:21] So the one thing I would hope hopefully in your next meeting
[2:08:24] in three or four months, whenever that is, is maybe come
[2:08:27] to the meeting and say, what can we do
[2:08:28] to actually have some actual items that can actually help
[2:08:31] school district, the town and whatnot.
[2:08:33] I'm not blaming you. It's a tough,
[2:08:35] it's a tough meeting depending on who's on it.
[2:08:38] And, but I think
[2:08:41] this must be the fifth year now of this meeting.
[2:08:43] If I have two, if my first two years.
[2:08:45] So at some point I think we need
[2:08:47] to have some productivity outta that meeting
[2:08:50] and really some meat to what to look forward to and,
[2:08:54] and see what we can do to actually 99.
[2:08:56] And I get it, it's tough. There's, there's a lot
[2:08:59] of different opinions and, and all that,
[2:09:00] but there's gotta be something that we can all
[2:09:02] grab onto that makes sense.
[2:09:04] That can make a difference.
[2:09:05] So that's the only thing I would say. Yeah. Yeah.
[2:09:08] And I believe me, I, I understand the, what you guys go
[2:09:11] through in that meeting and it as tough as it is,
[2:09:14] but at some point we gotta say,
[2:09:16] Hey guys, we gotta get something done. You know,
[2:09:18] I disagree with you.
[2:09:21] They're, they're wrapping up the legislative season,
[2:09:24] so there's really not a lot
[2:09:26] That No, but I, I see what David is saying.
[2:09:28] Yeah, because I mean, I was on it for the past year
[2:09:30] and it felt like when the meeting was happening,
[2:09:33] it, it's an update meeting.
[2:09:35] It was more just, Hey, what's going on in, in your corner?
[2:09:37] And everybody just updated what was happening.
[2:09:40] A couple of times things were brought to attention like,
[2:09:42] Hey, could, do you think you can take care of this?
[2:09:44] And it was like, well, not this season.
[2:09:47] And so it was just a, a
[2:09:49] and I to use chitchat as a, a lighter term.
[2:09:52] It was just catching everybody up.
[2:09:54] So I see David's point on where if it's called a task force,
[2:09:57] then it'd be nice if we were, you know, if we had a task
[2:10:01] rather than just an update committee. An update meeting.
[2:10:04] Yeah. Yeah. I mean there's obviously things
[2:10:06] that our state representatives can do to help the town
[2:10:09] and government and the school district.
[2:10:10] There's things that the town government can do
[2:10:13] that affects the school districts and vice versa.
[2:10:15] So it would be nice to, you know, have some real meat
[2:10:18] that we can, you know, work together on
[2:10:20] that helps the town as a whole.
[2:10:22] And, and at the end of the day, it doesn't always have
[2:10:24] to be a revolve on money either.
[2:10:25] It can be, it can be something, I don't know,
[2:10:27] I can't think off the top of my head, but clearly the money
[2:10:29] thing is a contentious issue
[2:10:31] and it's never gonna get resolved in that meeting.
[2:10:33] Totally get it. But we gotta find some other common ground
[2:10:36] that we can, that doesn't involve money, that can move,
[2:10:39] move us in a direction that is helpful to the town,
[2:10:43] to the school district or whatever.
[2:10:45] So you know that, that's all. Thank you
[2:10:48] David.
[2:10:51] All right. We'll move on to member
[2:10:53] updates and other business.
[2:10:54] I had a couple of things first, another reminder
[2:10:56] that the application period
[2:10:57] for the fiscal advisory committee is open.
[2:11:00] There's going to be a few vacancies to fill
[2:11:02] for the upcoming budget season.
[2:11:03] So our board policy calls
[2:11:05] for those appointments to be made by the end of June.
[2:11:07] So if you're interested in joining the committee
[2:11:08] or if you're an alternate, you wanna move up
[2:11:10] to a full member, the application is available on the
[2:11:13] website, you can file it with the central office
[2:11:15] and we'll consider those appointments
[2:11:17] at the June 23rd meeting.
[2:11:20] I also wanted to bring up the topic
[2:11:21] of our goal setting meeting.
[2:11:22] Again, I know Mike
[2:11:24] and I had put out 5:00 PM prior to one of the June meetings
[2:11:28] as options for that.
[2:11:29] I've heard back from most of you
[2:11:30] and it sounds like either would work.
[2:11:33] So I'm gonna suggest we put Tuesday,
[2:11:35] June 23rd at 5:00 PM on the calendar for this meeting.
[2:11:39] And then we can discuss
[2:11:40] and approve final goals at one of the August meetings.
[2:11:43] Does that work for everybody?
[2:11:45] Repeat that again. June 23rd.
[2:11:46] So yeah, it'd be the second meeting in June, the 23rd,
[2:11:49] 5:00 PM Is that good? All right. We'll have
[2:11:53] Changing my calendar five. Yeah.
[2:11:54] Yeah, we'll have you get that, get that on the calendar.
[2:11:57] Alright. And I'm assuming you're also gonna have your
[2:11:59] superintendent's goals at some point in August
[2:12:01] so we can kind of tackle that all together.
[2:12:03] Got it. All right.
[2:12:08] A few more district events
[2:12:09] as we get through the busy end of the year.
[2:12:10] Congratulations to all the students
[2:12:12] that have had their chorus and band
[2:12:13] concerts over the last couple of weeks.
[2:12:15] I caught hood's, chorus and band concert
[2:12:17] and Grinnell's Chorus concert
[2:12:19] and you know, our music programs do such
[2:12:21] a fantastic job in this town.
[2:12:22] I'm always impressed by the talent that we have here.
[2:12:25] So congratulations to them
[2:12:27] and good luck to the students that
[2:12:28] still have concerts coming up.
[2:12:30] Did anyone else have any updates
[2:12:32] or other business to bring before the board?
[2:12:37] I just wanted to congratulate the two Timberwolves
[2:12:40] basketball teams that got silver medals.
[2:12:43] I was invited to go to their practices, several of them
[2:12:46] and I did go watch them and then watch the, went
[2:12:48] to the tournament at Riviera and it was great.
[2:12:51] And I also wanted to ask about the
[2:12:54] SAU Are we, is it Oh yeah.
[2:12:55] On the market is, what are we doing with that? So
[2:12:57] We are, we got the permit in hand
[2:13:02] last Monday from the town and we were in by noon on Monday.
[2:13:07] So the, the flooring was completed last week.
[2:13:10] The HVAC is going in.
[2:13:12] We, the snu, remember, I think I went on record.
[2:13:16] SNU donated over $30,000 worth of furniture.
[2:13:18] So the facilities crew went last week, they did two runs
[2:13:22] with the U-Haul we rented.
[2:13:24] So that's all on property.
[2:13:25] They anticipate end of June, early July for us,
[2:13:29] and I'm gonna call it a slow move
[2:13:31] because we got a lot to go, a lot to go through over there.
[2:13:35] So we are already, what would you call it? Decluttering,
[2:13:41] Purging, declutter, purging, what's that
[2:13:43] Word?
[2:13:44] Purging. Purging. We're trying to purge.
[2:13:46] So once, I mean, once the adults move in,
[2:13:50] we're gonna do the purging and finalizing and relocating
[2:13:52] and then we're gonna, it'll go to the board on
[2:13:56] that discussion of, alright, what's,
[2:13:58] when do you want to hit the target market?
[2:13:59] When do you want to, who do you wanna access? All of that.
[2:14:02] So I would hope that,
[2:14:03] that when the board's back in session in August,
[2:14:05] we're starting those discussions. Yep,
[2:14:07] Yep.
[2:14:08] I know you've said that you are waiting until you're out
[2:14:11] of the building to, to put it on
[2:14:12] the market, but have we started
[2:14:14] Thinking Yeah, discussions Absolutely. About realtors
[2:14:15] Putting, you know, when are we gonna put in RI
[2:14:17] Mean, realtors know what it looks like
[2:14:18] when it's empty, right?
[2:14:19] Yeah. So we have, I mean, I,
[2:14:24] getting aside, we have some work to dig out of there.
[2:14:26] How are you gonna pick a realtor?
[2:14:28] I'm just curious because like,
[2:14:30] how do you pick a realtor to sell a
[2:14:31] It'll we're, we will get our, when we did,
[2:14:35] when we got our recommendations in the fall,
[2:14:37] it was leaning towards, basically it'll go to an RFP
[2:14:41] so people put in, so it's fair and equitable.
[2:14:44] Everyone has a shot board reviews that you choose one,
[2:14:47] and then, then you'll probably put an
[2:14:48] RFP for it to go on the market. So
[2:14:50] What's the timeline to put that out there?
[2:14:53] When's a good time to sell Karen
[2:14:56] Anytime's a good time.
[2:14:59] I do, I do wanna just tell the public that we're gonna look
[2:15:02] for highest and best use for the building
[2:15:05] and whoever you pick to sell it needs to do that first.
[2:15:09] There definitely needs to be some
[2:15:12] definitive things looked at for the building.
[2:15:15] Sure. That's all part of
[2:15:16] the package the board put together.
[2:15:17] Yes. Yeah. That's not a, the record,
[2:15:19] that is not a MIC thing.
[2:15:20] That is, that is a, it's a board discussion.
[2:15:24] We've already had people reach out.
[2:15:25] I mean it's, there's definitely interest.
[2:15:27] There's no question about it.
[2:15:29] It'll be nice to get it off the books honestly.
[2:15:32] So thank you. Thank
[2:15:33] You.
[2:15:34] Thanks Mike. Anybody have anything else?
[2:15:37] Just as a, as a community information, the
[2:15:41] Dairy Garden Club is having their garden sale,
[2:15:44] which I know I see a lot of my fellow people here.
[2:15:48] I go every year. It's Saturday, June 6th
[2:15:50] and this year it is going to be at the Dairy Boys
[2:15:53] and Girls Club instead of Robert Far Frost Farm.
[2:15:56] And it starts at 9:00 AM rain or shine and bring your wagon
[2:16:00] and, and park it somewhere
[2:16:02] because people come in like vultures
[2:16:04] to come get their plants first thing in the morning.
[2:16:08] All right. Thank you Janice. Our upcoming meeting
[2:16:11] schedule, our next meeting will be in two weeks on Tuesday,
[2:16:13] June 9th, followed by Tuesday, June 23rd,
[2:16:15] both at 6:30 PM here at the municipal center.
[2:16:19] The board will be meeting in non-public session tonight.
[2:16:21] So I would accept a motion
[2:16:22] to enter non-public session under RSA 91 a Section three,
[2:16:26] paragraph two, subparagraph C.
[2:16:28] So moved first by Jamie second. Second by David.
[2:16:32] Statute requires we take a roll call vote.
[2:16:35] So we'll start with Brenda. Yes. Jen? Yes. Jenna? Yes.
[2:16:39] Jamie? Yes. Karen? Yes. David? Yes. Chair votes? Yes.
[2:16:43] Motion carries. Seven zero.
[2:16:45] The board will now move into non-public session.
[2:16:46] You can add everybody.