[0:00] Good evening everyone.
[0:01] I will now call this meeting
[0:02] of the Dairy School Board to order.
[0:03] Please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance,
[0:09] All the United States of America
[0:13] to Republic, which stands, one Nation.
[0:18] This will liberty Justice.
[0:23] Thank you everyone. We will start with the roll call.
[0:25] If everyone could introduce
[0:26] themselves, starting from my right.
[0:31] Christina Zi, child Nutrition Director,
[0:34] Joe Crawford, assistant Superintendent
[0:37] Jane Ard, business administrator,
[0:39] Michael Flynn, superintendent Brenda Willis,
[0:41] School Board.
[0:42] Michael Thiel, school Board Chair.
[0:44] Jen Thoreau, school Board, vice Chair.
[0:46] Jenna Paradise, school Board Secretary,
[0:48] Jamie Caru, school Board.
[0:49] Karen Rand, school Board. David K Clap School Board.
[0:52] Thank you everybody. Our first order
[0:55] of business tonight will be the consent agenda.
[0:57] We have the public meeting minutes of June 9th, 2026,
[1:01] the non-public meeting minutes of June 9th, 2026.
[1:04] The manifests in the amount of $6,716,461
[1:09] and 52 cents, of which
[1:10] $4,923,659 and 4 cents is general payroll
[1:16] and $1,792,802
[1:19] and 48 cents is general expense approval of the following,
[1:23] professional staff nominations.
[1:24] Melissa Carley, special education teacher,
[1:27] Grinnell Elementary School, Ellen McGonal,
[1:30] special education teacher, Grinnell Elementary School.
[1:33] Melissa Stevens, special education teacher,
[1:35] Gilbert H should middle school
[1:37] and Hillary Woods Elementary teacher,
[1:39] Ernest p Barka Elementary School.
[1:42] We're also putting forward permission for the superintendent
[1:45] to hire professional staff through the end of August
[1:47] with the board adjourning until August 11th.
[1:49] After tonight, this would grant the superintendent
[1:51] permission to continue hiring to ensure the district is able
[1:53] to lock up qualified staff over the summer.
[1:56] Hires made under this authorization would be brought
[1:58] to the board for election at
[1:59] the next scheduled board meeting.
[2:01] Do you wanna add anything there, Mike?
[2:03] Nope. Alright.
[2:06] Do I have a motion to accept the consent agenda?
[2:09] I moved First by Jenna second. Second by Jamie.
[2:13] Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? Aye.
[2:17] Aye. All opposed. Motion carries seven zero. I changed
[2:21] My mind.
[2:22] I just wanna reiterate that this is standard practice,
[2:24] that you are not granting me some magical thing
[2:27] that none others districts do, which just allows us
[2:30] to move candidates forward
[2:31] and then you confirm them in August.
[2:33] So thank you.
[2:37] No presentations tonight.
[2:38] So we'll move on to delegations in individuals at this time.
[2:41] Residents of Derry, parents of currently enrolled dairy
[2:43] students and employees of the district may address the
[2:45] school board and matters that pertain only to school
[2:47] and district business for a period of time.
[2:49] Not to exceed three minutes per person.
[2:51] As a reminder, the board welcomes input,
[2:53] however questions are not entertained during the comment.
[2:55] If you would like to speak, please come up
[2:57] to the microphone at this time and state your
[2:58] name and address for the record.
[3:10] Not seeing anyone come to the microphone, we'll move on
[3:13] to the meeting, but the public comment period will remain
[3:15] open until 7:03 PM if you wish to speak prior to
[3:17] that time, approach the microphone.
[3:18] And I will recognize you with the next break in the agenda.
[3:22] No student members with us tonight,
[3:23] so we'll move on to deliberations.
[3:25] We have four items to consider tonight.
[3:28] The first item is a proposed increase
[3:30] to the cost of student meals.
[3:31] So I'll turn it over to Mike
[3:33] as see we also have Christina LaBelle to
[3:34] Here.
[3:35] Yeah, Christina and Jane did an
[3:37] evaluation of our current meal prices.
[3:38] So they're here to kind of walk through with you
[3:41] and ask you for recommendations.
[3:43] So Christina, are you taking the lead? Jane?
[3:46] I believe Jane ARD is going to. Okay,
[3:48] Thank you.
[3:50] Okay, so we are bringing forward a proposed meal increase
[3:55] for 26 27,
[3:57] and we wanted to bring it at this last meeting so
[4:00] that Christina can get all the paperwork
[4:02] and notifications out to families.
[4:04] So as we go through the presentation,
[4:06] it is a 10 cent increase on meals.
[4:09] And as we go through the slides,
[4:11] Christina's gonna talk about why we're bringing it forward.
[4:15] This is not just something that's a dairy initiative, it's
[4:18] through the USDA.
[4:19] There's a whole price calculation
[4:21] of why we would be bringing forward the price increase.
[4:25] So we're going to move along
[4:27] and I'm gonna have Christina talk about the purpose
[4:31] of why we're doing this.
[4:33] Thank you, Jane. So for the purpose of the proposal,
[4:37] we're looking to maintain a financially
[4:39] sustainable food service program.
[4:42] We continue to offer nutritious, high quality meals
[4:45] to our students based on the bids we receive
[4:47] from our distributors.
[4:49] But over the course of the past two years,
[4:52] there has been a huge increase in cost, you know,
[4:56] through these bids.
[4:58] And even though we get locked in rates, we end up with
[5:02] surcharges such as gas charges and things like that.
[5:04] Everything that just, you know, helps increase the cost,
[5:07] you know, more so than what we had anticipated.
[5:10] So we're looking to, you know, move up the,
[5:14] the cost an additional 10 cents, which is not a huge amount,
[5:18] but it's just enough to kind of, you know, move us along
[5:20] to hopefully, you know, work through some of these costs
[5:23] that we're currently getting.
[5:25] So we're looking to preserve the district's ability
[5:27] to meet the federal nutritional requirements.
[5:30] And we're also looking to meet the USDA recommended
[5:32] requirements for pricing increased
[5:35] in the price calculator chart,
[5:37] which we have on the next slide, I believe.
[5:41] Oh, nope. We asked some facts about the program First,
[5:43] let's talk about the child nutrition program first.
[5:47] So overall, we have nine employees of the, including myself,
[5:50] that are considered full-time employees in our department.
[5:54] You know, one of the main focuses
[5:56] of our program is obviously labor costs
[5:59] and it looks to be about 60% of our program budget.
[6:02] The last price increase that we did have was after COVID,
[6:06] after everyone had been free
[6:08] for a year and a half, two years.
[6:09] And we did raise that price 10 cents.
[6:13] And as I stated before, a lot of these operational costs,
[6:16] you know, have increased dramatically
[6:18] over the past few years.
[6:20] So for a, a snapshot, look at it, you know,
[6:23] right now we're looking at an additional $18 a year
[6:28] for a student for 180 days, you know, to have a lunch.
[6:31] So really over the, the course
[6:33] of the 10 month period, it's not a lot.
[6:36] It would not include any increases in the reduced students
[6:40] which pay currently 40 cents for lunch
[6:42] or obviously free students, which would be free.
[6:45] And this does not affect our snack milk,
[6:49] which remain at 50 cents for the students.
[6:57] So what the USDA has us work with
[7:02] as far as figuring out costs,
[7:04] it's called the paid lunch Equity tool.
[7:07] And what this is, it's a way
[7:09] of making sure the schools gradually charge
[7:10] enough for paid lunches.
[7:12] So the federal funds intended for free
[7:14] and reduced price meals are not subsidizing the paid meals.
[7:18] The USDA compares what we charge students for paid lunches
[7:20] to what it actually costs to provide those meals.
[7:23] The paid lunch equity tool calculates whether our paid lunch
[7:26] price is high enough
[7:27] and if it isn't, the USDA requires us
[7:29] to either increase prices
[7:31] or contribute non-federal funds to make up the difference.
[7:34] The calculator below was used in May of 2026,
[7:38] about two months ago at a Department
[7:42] of Education Child Nutrition meeting, where a lot
[7:45] of the directors in the state of New Hampshire,
[7:47] we come together quarterly and and speak with the DOE and,
[7:51] and we work together as a group to see
[7:53] where we fall as a district.
[7:55] So these are the numbers that we came up with,
[7:58] provided that we're using the numbers from October of 2025.
[8:03] As you can see, we input the number of lunches
[8:06] and what the costs were
[8:07] for the lunches to look at our revenue.
[8:10] And then towards the bottom in step two, you'll see
[8:13] that we did have a shortfall of 48 cents,
[8:15] which ultimately means we could definitely raise
[8:18] prices more than 10 cents.
[8:20] So if you look at the number of paid lunches broken down,
[8:23] you might see seven, seven schools listed.
[8:26] Just for the record, the 1 1 78, the bottom is
[8:29] for next charter school.
[8:31] So technically they count as a school for us.
[8:39] This is just a quick comparison that I had done reaching out
[8:42] with a few of the local districts where we fall as far as
[8:48] breakfast and lunch and what we're looking to propose.
[8:52] And towards the bottom we do have the averages,
[8:55] which you can see we'd fall between, for breakfast one 90,
[9:00] we would be moving up 10 cents to a dollar 80, still
[9:03] below the average of a lot
[9:05] of the local districts in our area.
[9:07] Lunch, again, we're at $3 for elementary
[9:12] proposing to move up to three 10.
[9:13] Three 10 is the average.
[9:15] So we'd be right in aligned with the average.
[9:17] And as far as the middle school, intermediate schools,
[9:20] we're looking to bump up 10 additional cents.
[9:23] Average comes to 3 29, we'd be at three 30.
[9:26] So proposing
[9:27] to do the Tencent increase would put us right in alignment
[9:30] with all the other districts.
[9:35] So we also just wanna talk about some of the food costs.
[9:39] Just a few things to show you what the cost increase was.
[9:43] So in 2023,
[9:45] a hot dog bun was $22 72 cents per case.
[9:48] And in 2026 it's 36 59.
[9:53] A four ounce yogurt cup in 2023 was 25 cents,
[9:57] and now they're 30 cents.
[9:59] Individually wrapped. Bagels were 27 and now they're 45.
[10:05] The chicken patties used to be 36 cents,
[10:07] now they're 54 cents.
[10:10] And they also serve a pork barbecue.
[10:13] Pork RT was 52 cents and now it's 98 cents.
[10:18] Also cheese pizza quesadillas were 48 cents
[10:21] and now they're 74 cents.
[10:23] So pretty much everything
[10:25] that we're serving across the board has
[10:28] increased their cost, if not doubled their cost.
[10:31] And so we are trying to
[10:34] not only do the additional 10 cents,
[10:36] but we're doing it following the USDA's
[10:39] calculator and guideline.
[10:41] And what Christina's saying is when you look at
[10:43] that shortfall or credit, the 48 cents, they would like us
[10:48] to go to the 48 cents.
[10:49] But we're trying to grow, just go incrementally
[10:52] and just ask for a 10 cent increase for 26 27
[10:57] to make up for some of those increased costs.
[11:03] All right, well thank you Jane and Christina.
[11:06] I mean, this is an unfortunate
[11:07] thing that we have to consider.
[11:08] You know, in a perfect world we'd be feeding students
[11:10] as part of their education,
[11:13] but you know, this is the reality.
[11:14] It's one of the more difficult decisions we have to make.
[11:16] But I think when you consider the rising costs impacting
[11:18] everything, the requirements from the USDA,
[11:20] you look at the average meal prices in other districts,
[11:23] and I think this is a fair increase that you're asking for.
[11:27] I'll turn it over to the board if anyone
[11:29] has any other questions or comments.
[11:32] I know you said that it doesn't affect anyone on free
[11:34] lunch right now, but will it
[11:37] increase on numbers for free lunch?
[11:39] Will more people be eligible
[11:41] because it's gone up 10 cents? Not at all.
[11:43] No. The increase, the change in whether someone qualifies
[11:47] or not are federal guidelines,
[11:49] which doesn't have anything to do with.
[11:51] Okay. Yep. And just a side note, we also noted that
[11:56] eighth grade students who just graduated
[11:58] still owe $1,992 in
[12:02] unpaid lunch debt.
[12:04] And total outstanding
[12:06] unpaid bills are $24,369 and 65 cents.
[12:12] No, it was high.
[12:18] So I know this seems like an obvious thing,
[12:23] but so if the price increases
[12:25] and we have X amount
[12:27] of people still basically defaulting not paying,
[12:31] then the amount owed is going to then increase.
[12:34] When does it level out or does it ever level out?
[12:38] How does that deficit ever get paid?
[12:41] And if it doesn't, where who, who takes the hit?
[12:45] The district deficit, the district is
[12:47] obligated to take that debt.
[12:50] I, every district I've worked in all the way back
[12:52] to Milford, it, there's always a, a negative lunch balance.
[12:57] And I told you, I think a couple weeks ago,
[12:59] this actually is not a bad number.
[13:02] And the challenge is
[13:05] we're working on it in policy right now.
[13:08] It's, it's how do you, how do you collect, when is it
[13:12] with a struggling family
[13:13] that is never gonna be able to pay it?
[13:14] Right? What's the relief program that look like?
[13:16] Or is it people that are just
[13:17] being ignorant and not paying it?
[13:20] So we're trying to navigate that.
[13:22] But this, you're right, this number,
[13:23] the unpaid is always a hit to us.
[13:28] And in most districts, the reason why a lot of
[13:30] that is unpaid is
[13:32] because we don't have enough staff
[13:34] to put somebody in the beginning
[13:35] of the line to check your account.
[13:37] So when a child goes through the line, we're not shutting.
[13:39] We'll never not feed a child.
[13:42] So the children are continuing to go through the line
[13:44] and incurring debt,
[13:47] but we don't have the staff
[13:49] to have someone sitting at the front of the line to say,
[13:52] Hey, you have no money in your account. So,
[13:55] So I know this seems like a silly question,
[13:58] but if you ever go to a restaurant
[14:00] or any other type of canteen, you can go through
[14:05] and ask for what you're gonna get first and pay
[14:08] and then go in line.
[14:09] Is that not something that we could ever do?
[14:11] Is it because the direction comes in from two different
[14:14] directions and there's only one register at the end?
[14:16] Right. So as part of the National School Lunch program,
[14:18] the technically the cashier, the register really has
[14:22] to be the final eyes on the tray
[14:24] to make sure the child has a full
[14:26] complete reimbursable meal.
[14:28] So if we were to staff
[14:30] and have, as Jane had said, someone at the front
[14:33] of the line servers, two people at, at the registers,
[14:36] I mean, our elementary schools now run pretty smooth
[14:40] with three staff members.
[14:42] You'd be looking at five staff members
[14:43] and increase even more in labor costs, things like that.
[14:47] So it's, it's, it's definitely a tough, you know, a a tough
[14:53] problem to face, I guess, in the sense
[14:56] that we wanna do everything we possibly can to
[15:00] get these families on free and reduced meals.
[15:02] We want to communicate with them, we reach out,
[15:04] we are constantly sending home emails, letters.
[15:08] I think sometimes it's almost overkill to the point
[15:11] where we're trying to do everything we possibly can.
[15:13] It, it's, it's communication. It really boils down.
[15:16] If a family is struggling,
[15:17] we do everything we absolutely can to work with them,
[15:21] payment plans, you know, help them figure out, hey,
[15:24] you know, this is what, what the cost is.
[15:26] You know, what are you looking at as far as
[15:29] when you fill out your application?
[15:30] Did you fill it out correctly?
[15:31] Did you maybe, you know, put a wrong number down there?
[15:34] Or how many family, you know,
[15:36] how many members are in your household.
[15:37] There's so many, you know, working pieces to an application.
[15:41] Unfortunately, I think that it really, it really boils down
[15:44] to communicating with these families.
[15:45] And when they are negative, they don't respond back to us.
[15:49] So it just, it snowballs
[15:50] and it gets worse and worse and worse.
[15:52] And it's, it's hard.
[15:53] That's, that's the business part of it, right?
[15:55] We see the kids every day, we look at a child,
[15:58] it's clearly not, you know, their fault.
[16:00] It's not their responsibility to pay their meal accounts.
[16:02] So it's hard, you know, it, it's a double-edged sword.
[16:05] So we do everything we possibly can to get these families,
[16:09] you know, the information,
[16:10] the knowledge, how to do applications.
[16:12] I have families in my office, I'll sit with them,
[16:14] they'll come to the front office.
[16:15] We have online services, multiple languages.
[16:19] We do everything we can.
[16:20] I don't know if maybe moving forward it's,
[16:22] it's just a requirement.
[16:24] I mean, we're not catching some of these families
[16:26] because they don't feel like they want the
[16:28] assistance. I don't know. It's tough.
[16:30] Yeah. Well, let's
[16:30] compartmentalize the two different issues, right?
[16:32] One is we're trying to raise the price 10 cents.
[16:34] And then the other is the outstanding balance
[16:36] in which we're working on that.
[16:37] You know, even if we had someone at the front of line,
[16:39] I mean, I hate to break it, like,
[16:41] we're not gonna tell the kid no anyways, right?
[16:42] We're still sending him through the line anyways.
[16:44] So it's, it's, it's, it's this challenge.
[16:47] 'cause I like your line the most.
[16:48] The kid's not the one paying the bill,
[16:50] but they're the ones that are coming through the line.
[16:52] So I think it really is driven at the policy level
[16:55] on what we can institute.
[16:56] Right. You know, several things that we,
[16:59] I instituted in other districts where a la carte, you know,
[17:02] no, a la carte charges if you're
[17:03] Over Yeah.
[17:04] They don't, they don't get a la carte no. Right?
[17:05] So those are things that are already in place.
[17:07] So this really is the meal itself.
[17:08] And, and that's, it's a, it's, it's a challenging topic
[17:12] because kids need to eat most times it's not their fault,
[17:16] if not always, not their fault.
[17:17] So we really,
[17:18] So is that 10 cents really though, logistically enough?
[17:22] Because you were just listing off the amount of
[17:26] what the price increase has been?
[17:28] I mean, I know going food shopping,
[17:29] I've seen the price increase.
[17:31] I don't wanna see a higher price go to parents,
[17:34] because like Mike said, in a perfect world,
[17:36] we would feed our kids for free.
[17:38] We required 'em to be there, they should be fed,
[17:41] but we don't go that route.
[17:43] So if you're saying, you know,
[17:45] a yogurt cup went from 25 cents to 45 cents, I mean
[17:49] that right there we're asking for 10 cents more.
[17:51] That doesn't even cover the d the price difference
[17:54] between the yogurt cup.
[17:55] And you're saying the state, the government is asking
[17:59] is requesting 40 something cents saying that,
[18:01] Well, that's just their recommendation.
[18:02] They're not mandating
[18:03] Anything.
[18:04] So, right. So it's 10 cents enough for us to
[18:05] Increase, you know, maybe it's not, and maybe we revisit
[18:07] it again next year and, you know, I just don't know.
[18:09] Approaching, coming up with a 20,
[18:11] 25 cent increase is gonna go over well. Yeah,
[18:14] We try.
[18:15] How much is that gonna put us more in a deficit though,
[18:17] if we don't meet that difference in price? Well,
[18:19] Obviously we have a lot
[18:20] of government commodities we utilize.
[18:22] So these are just broken down items
[18:24] that we order off of our bid.
[18:26] Not all of our meals come off of the bid.
[18:28] We, we get numerous items from the government
[18:31] that we're able to use, say such as,
[18:33] say like a shepherd's pie.
[18:34] You know, we, we get the, the commodities beef.
[18:37] So that right there helps to alleviate some of the cost.
[18:39] Okay. Because we get that at such a reduced rate.
[18:41] And I've, you know, since I've been on board
[18:43] for a few years, I've really tried to focus
[18:45] and have a good balance of like, items we order
[18:49] through our bid and our suppliers versus
[18:52] commodity items too.
[18:53] So I try to balance it out at least a 50 50
[18:55] mix moving forward.
[18:56] If we have to go, you know,
[18:58] 45, 55, 40, 60, we can do what we want.
[19:01] But I mean, we, we like to get the things
[19:03] that we know the kids really enjoy.
[19:04] So we like to have that good balance too.
[19:06] That keeps our numbers up.
[19:08] Yeah. I think the Tencent is, is, is the,
[19:11] is the appropriate first step
[19:13] and then next year, like we say, if, you know, let's do some
[19:16] of the policy work and see what we can do in reclaiming some
[19:18] of the money and then we can take that evaluation.
[19:22] I think that, honestly, I think it should be a yearly
[19:25] board topic that we should evaluate all of that.
[19:29] The revenue, the what you're purchasing, the meal counts
[19:33] or people, are they eating the cheese quesadillas or not?
[19:36] So I think that would help us too.
[19:38] But this, this at least creates that first step of we need,
[19:41] we need to start getting in that balance
[19:43] of the 48 cent recommendation.
[19:45] I'm just concerned because if we're continuously seeing
[19:48] the price of things go up, I mean,
[19:50] it has been a marked increase.
[19:51] We had a huge jump. I just don't wanna end up
[19:54] falling even further behind.
[19:56] And then one year, like next year coming back
[19:58] and asking for 15 more cents.
[20:00] Like is there, I'm just wondering if there was a
[20:03] 10 cents is a lot, but I don't know. Sorry. Yeah,
[20:07] Yeah.
[20:08] It's tough because we can't control what we can't control.
[20:10] Right. Yeah. So I think, you know, coming out of this,
[20:12] you know, was a, a big part of it came outta COD you know,
[20:15] when we had a couple years where, you know,
[20:17] everyone was free and our numbers were huge,
[20:19] we were getting huge reimbursements
[20:20] and then suddenly people had to start paying and,
[20:22] and people were just, what do you mean we have to pay?
[20:25] I thought it was free. So you, you just, it's hard.
[20:27] So then to try to increase right
[20:29] after that on top of trying to collect
[20:31] that was definitely a tough, we're in a tough,
[20:33] tough dynamic right now, the past few years.
[20:37] I think we wanna be reasonable and gradual with increases.
[20:39] You know, 10 cents is a reasonable increase, you know,
[20:41] to hit families with a 40,
[20:43] 50 cent increase in one year on lunches.
[20:46] Well, you also, the opposite effect.
[20:48] You, you people won't buy it as much. Right.
[20:50] You, you'll actually drive your customer away
[20:52] 'cause they're customers and then they'll end
[20:54] up packing lunches.
[20:55] And then honestly we've seen the, the other result too.
[20:58] So you'll, you'll have less lunches, which is a revenue
[21:02] that helps support the, the labor. Yep.
[21:05] The department. So if,
[21:10] if someone's behind on their payments
[21:13] and they get all of a sudden are eligible for free
[21:16] and reduced lunch, does it go back for the whole year?
[21:19] That's, that's a great question.
[21:20] No, unfortunately it's not retroactive.
[21:22] So that's why we really try
[21:24] to get a jump at the beginning of the year.
[21:26] So they will have a 30 day grace period coming from
[21:29] the prior school year.
[21:30] So anyone who, you know, was free
[21:32] or reduced this year will have 30 days.
[21:35] And usually it's right around October 9th, 10th, 11th,
[21:38] depending on when we start,
[21:39] before they have to submit an updated application with us
[21:43] for the 26th, 27 year.
[21:45] And even if that status changes, so say they were free
[21:50] and then they filled out a new application,
[21:52] now they were reduced, it won't affect
[21:54] their prior purchases.
[21:56] Right. They'll stay free for those 30 days
[21:57] or until we filled out the new application,
[21:59] then it'll go to reduced.
[22:02] But yeah, that's why we run a lot
[22:04] of reports usually the second week in September showing the
[22:08] households who qualified the prior year
[22:11] and if they'd submitted a new application yet.
[22:14] And from there, my admin assistant
[22:16] and I, it's just blast of communications, phone calls,
[22:20] sending, you know, free and reduced applications home.
[22:22] Like I said, sometimes I feel it's almost overkill
[22:24] and people are sick of hearing from me,
[22:26] but we just try to get the word out there
[22:28] to get these families to know, Hey, you got two weeks.
[22:30] Hey, you got a week. Hey you got three days
[22:32] and then you're gonna lapse and go paid.
[22:34] And then what families need to understand too is when
[22:36] that happens, say they just say, oh,
[22:39] it's only been a week or two, I'll fill it out.
[22:40] I know it, it expired.
[22:42] Well now you're being charged the paid rate despite the fact
[22:45] that you might've been free and that is not retroactive.
[22:49] So you, you are now responsible for those
[22:52] expenses you just incurred.
[22:53] So that's, that's a tough, a tough debt to try
[22:57] to collect also because they're like, well we're free.
[22:59] Well we just, you know, we didn't get an application
[23:01] or we didn't, whatever.
[23:02] So it's, it's like I said, it's communication. It really is.
[23:06] We just ask the families to communicate
[23:07] as best as they can with us.
[23:08] We're always there to answer any questions,
[23:10] always there to help out.
[23:11] No, no questions. A dumb question. You know.
[23:14] And what's the best way for the families
[23:16] to get in touch with you?
[23:18] Email. I have a direct line right
[23:20] to my office at West Running Brook.
[23:22] But you know, we send blast notices out
[23:25] for the applications beginning of the year.
[23:28] We send home the parent letters,
[23:29] like kinda like the welcome letter with the,
[23:31] the paper application that has all my information on it
[23:34] and my administrative assistance
[23:36] name and number on it. Also,
[23:37] We did the video this year
[23:39] and we did, we did a lot of digital pushing this year
[23:41] Too.
[23:42] Yeah, that was a great video. We're gonna continue to keep,
[23:44] that's still on the website, I believe, right?
[23:46] So
[23:48] You can apply online?
[23:49] Yep, absolutely.
[23:51] Absolutely. Yep. Yep. The my school apps.com. Yep.
[23:54] Absolutely. And even if you literally,
[23:55] it takes minutes for me to process it.
[23:58] And even if someone isn't sure if they're eligible,
[24:00] you know, maybe they're right on the cusp,
[24:02] buy all the application,
[24:04] You might be reduced, you know,
[24:06] and then you get free breakfast
[24:07] and 40 cent lunch, which is, that's huge.
[24:11] Jane, at what point do we write the debt
[24:14] off or sell the debt?
[24:15] When does, how do, when should that decision be made?
[24:17] Because we, you, I think we started like 35,000 if
[24:20] I remember several years ago.
[24:22] I could be wrong with the number. Yeah.
[24:23] That was coming outta COVID. Yeah.
[24:25] What's the process? 'cause we
[24:27] can't keep carrying it on the books.
[24:28] We can have you guys being debt collectors.
[24:29] That's just not realistic or a good use of your time.
[24:33] I guess my question is when, how should we make
[24:35] that decision and maybe just sell the debt
[24:37] and have somebody else collect it?
[24:39] Yeah, and I don't think that we don't have a formal policy
[24:41] on when we sell the debt.
[24:43] I know there is, there are collection
[24:46] rules that you have to follow.
[24:47] And I think it was, it was three years, you can't go back.
[24:51] So we try to stay up on it as much as we can,
[24:54] but we've never had a collection agency to turn it over to.
[24:59] No one's ever wanted to take on school lunch.
[25:02] And, but we do, we have one now.
[25:04] So we found a company that's local
[25:07] and they actually do the debt collection for Timber Lane
[25:10] and a couple of other places.
[25:12] Yeah. And we approach it, we're trying to approach it,
[25:15] targeted approach with families that we, that we know.
[25:19] Right. But it's, we're gonna try
[25:22] and incorporate it into policy so
[25:23] that we have some clear levers of of what stuff.
[25:29] There's no further questions.
[25:30] I would take a motion on the issue at hand
[25:33] to prove a Tencent increase to the cost of student meals.
[25:38] So moved Verse by Jenna
[25:41] Second.
[25:42] Second by Jen. Any further discussion?
[25:46] Hearing none. All in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed.
[25:50] Motion carries. Seven zero.
[25:54] Thanks for coming, Christina. Thank
[25:55] You very much.
[25:56] Thanks Christina.
[25:59] All right. The next item is gonna be year
[26:01] end fund balance project.
[26:03] We had this discussion and approved
[26:04] for projects at our last meeting.
[26:06] We discussed coming back
[26:07] to the guardrail replacement of West Running Brook at this meeting.
[26:09] And I think we also had the replacement
[26:11] of the tactile pads at Barca still on the table.
[26:15] So there's another factor at play here coming from the
[26:17] legislature concerning the contingency fund.
[26:20] We would normally be looking ahead to retaining some
[26:23] of the year-end fund balance in a contingency fund.
[26:24] But there's the possibility
[26:26] that won't be an option this year.
[26:27] There's a bill HB 1610 that's cleared the legislature.
[26:31] It's awaiting the governor's signature.
[26:33] If it becomes law,
[26:34] it would rescind any prior authorization from the voters
[26:36] for a contingency fund
[26:38] and would require districts
[26:39] to vote annually at the district meeting on whether
[26:41] or not retainage of year end
[26:42] as unassigned funds would be allowed for the upcoming year.
[26:46] The rescinding of prior authorization would be effective
[26:48] immediately upon the bill becoming law.
[26:51] So as the FY 27 meeting is already passed,
[26:54] districts would not have the opportunity
[26:55] to retain funds in a contingency fund for FY 27.
[26:59] So that might change some of the calculus
[27:01] for our decision on completing one
[27:04] or more of these projects. So Mike, did you have
[27:08] Yeah, just briefly in front of you
[27:11] is the updated unassigned fund balance
[27:13] two weeks ago when you guys were making a decision?
[27:15] It was at 1.756
[27:21] this week because of those approved jobs
[27:23] and the purchase orders that Jane has been trying her dandy
[27:27] to close that number is now down to 1.45.
[27:33] We have a lot of special ed, which is,
[27:35] which is pretty typical open at the end
[27:36] of the year in regards to purchase orders, trying
[27:40] to finalize those bills.
[27:41] So what Jane's done here is given you a number
[27:43] that she's protecting the house.
[27:45] So if those purchase orders sway one way
[27:47] or the other, there's kind of a delta,
[27:48] which you'll get again in August on your final decisions.
[27:51] But this gives you an idea of what's re
[27:53] remaining as of today.
[27:58] Any questions or comments from the board?
[28:03] So if we approve the year end fund balance projects
[28:08] and then the bill passes,
[28:13] we don't have, we won't have any of this.
[28:17] 1.4 left. Is that my,
[28:20] The bill is signed into law.
[28:21] The entirety of the unassigned fund balance is gonna roll
[28:25] into your next year's budget as a revenue source.
[28:28] Yep. To offset taxes, there would be no option
[28:31] to retain in a contingency fund.
[28:34] So if we vote that we want all this and then
[28:37] Well, it's just the two projects that we didn't
[28:39] Approve last week.
[28:40] Yeah. We're not voting on contingency tonight.
[28:42] Sorry, We're not voting on Yeah. Contingency tonight.
[28:45] Okay. So we, we, we determined two weeks ago
[28:47] that I would come back with an updated number
[28:49] and you guys could say yay, nay
[28:51] or nothing on those remaining projects.
[28:53] And then what's come a little bit hotter is
[28:55] what Mike was describing,
[28:57] is the new bill. Yeah, that is, yeah.
[28:58] That is a possibility.
[28:59] That might impact how you think about approving either one
[29:04] or both of these remaining projects
[29:08] Or neither.
[29:09] So if that, if, if the governor signs that bill
[29:14] that 1.45 automatically next year without a
[29:18] vote goes right back.
[29:19] Right. So I'm saying if we say yes, that we want
[29:21] to do the, the two projects Yep.
[29:23] And this gets removed, then can,
[29:27] You've already approved the project so that okay.
[29:29] Yes. That's what I'm asking is do we have
[29:31] to find another source of income for these projects?
[29:35] They would get put it back into the CIP
[29:37] for further discussion, further down the road
[29:38] Discussion.
[29:39] Yeah. We're talking about if you approve these
[29:41] projects tonight, they get encumbered under this
[29:43] current year's budget.
[29:45] Yes. So next year contingency fund
[29:48] is not a thought about that.
[29:51] So Mr. Chad, I'd like make, so I'd like to
[29:53] if Well, no, Mr.
[29:54] Clap, you can go ahead. No,
[29:57] We can talk.
[29:59] Go ahead. I wasn't aware that we took out,
[30:01] or we were not considering the tactile
[30:04] pads at Barca. I made the motion.
[30:05] Brenda, what? You made the motion last
[30:07] Week to take out the tactile pads?
[30:08] You made the motion. They weren't included.
[30:10] We only approved the four projects at the top of the list.
[30:13] Okay, then I didn't understand that.
[30:14] But I'm, can you not roll your eyes?
[30:19] I'm just telling you who passed out.
[30:20] Okay. I'm just going to, just gonna say this clear.
[30:26] Okay. If you, how were
[30:28] You gonna say if you've been to Barca
[30:30] and see where those pads are?
[30:33] They're at the end of the ramp.
[30:34] I have pictures on my phone if you'd like to see them.
[30:36] 'cause I was there today with
[30:37] my grandkids on the playground.
[30:38] They're at the end of the ramp.
[30:40] The ramp people that come down there with a wheelchair.
[30:44] It's not, it's absolutely not safe. So they should be fixed.
[30:49] And I did not realize that they were not part
[30:51] of the original request.
[30:53] So I made that mistake.
[30:57] $6,000 is short money to make sure people are safe.
[31:01] I thought Mike, I thought last meeting.
[31:04] Didn't you say that you found like the money in house
[31:07] or something to take care of that?
[31:09] No, I was talking about how we were trying to reduce stuff
[31:11] to be cognizant of putting all the requests forward.
[31:16] This the 6,000 we did not internally.
[31:18] We said we'd move that to the next year
[31:20] and then that's when that would,
[31:21] that 6,000 if we were talking about would be
[31:24] incorporated. Okay.
[31:25] I can't remember. Mr. Chair. I'd like
[31:26] to put forth a motion to include the guardrail
[31:28] and tactile pads as per
[31:30] of the projects under the unassigned fund balance.
[31:34] All right. So we have a motion on the table to
[31:40] recommend the administration complete the remaining two
[31:42] projects that's $35,000
[31:43] for the guardrail replacement at West Running Brook.
[31:45] And $6,000 for the replacement of the tactile pads at Barca
[31:49] from the fund balance for an amount not to exceed $41,000.
[31:54] So we have a first by Jen on that second. Second by Jenna.
[31:57] Is there any further discussion of this?
[31:59] Yes, I'd, I'd, I'd like to say something. Sure.
[32:02] So I went to West to see the guard rail.
[32:06] 'cause it's not an emergency.
[32:09] It's not a ha a safety hazard, anything like that.
[32:12] It's actually a wooden guardrail that's there.
[32:15] So aside from aesthetics,
[32:17] I can't imagine why we would replace that right now.
[32:20] It's very easy to repair the wood.
[32:24] That, and it's short money to repair wood.
[32:27] And I know 35,000 show up money.
[32:29] I know we talked about that last meeting,
[32:31] but I don't know, I'm not crazy about
[32:35] just throwing everything on right now.
[32:37] Just quickly. It
[32:39] It is, it, it will be a safety hazard.
[32:42] I said last it was an imminent danger.
[32:44] But if we have in the winter, that is a close area to
[32:47] where cars pass and buses stop and cars pass.
[32:50] So it is, Jeremy is recommending it as a safety replacement.
[32:53] So I just want to say like, so it
[32:55] Is a safety issue Issue.
[32:56] It is. It's not an aesthetic thing.
[32:57] It's, it's, it, it will become a fail safe
[33:00] on some of those poles.
[33:01] Yes. They've had to re I dunno how to explain.
[33:03] They had to re pull them up because of bumps.
[33:08] So it's just like the, again, what was it?
[33:10] I forgive, gimme where did we just replace one?
[33:12] What was that? We just Replaced Grinnell.
[33:13] Thank you Grinnell. Yeah.
[33:15] And Mr. Flynn, my understanding of all these projects is
[33:18] that they're going to be on the needs list.
[33:19] They will, and they'll continue to be on the needs list.
[33:21] And we'll have the same discussion continually about
[33:24] all the projects that are here, whether
[33:25] or not we decide to do them now or later.
[33:28] Yeah. And this is the habit I'm just trying
[33:29] to get the board into talking about.
[33:30] Right. So it's, it's, you guys are the seven that get
[33:33] to decide on, on the, on the remaining funds.
[33:36] If, if it's accepted or not.
[33:39] Tactile pads would become a priority
[33:41] and we would, we would, we would try
[33:43] and service those immediately in the, in the fall
[33:45] and if the guardrail would come back through the CIP plan.
[33:47] So,
[33:50] All right.
[33:51] So we have a motion on the table.
[33:52] If there's no further discussion, I'll call for a vote.
[33:56] All right. All in favor? Aye. All opposed.
[34:01] Motion passes. Seven zero.
[34:06] The next item will be appointments
[34:07] to the fiscal advisory committee.
[34:09] As I've stated the last two meetings, the application period
[34:12] for this advisory committee has been open
[34:14] and policy calls for the board
[34:15] to make appointments prior to June 30th.
[34:17] The advisory group is made up
[34:19] of nine members from the community and up to two alternates.
[34:22] We had a full contingent of members
[34:24] and alternates last year.
[34:25] However, we've had two members voluntarily
[34:27] step down from the committee.
[34:29] So thank you to Elizabeth Corcoran
[34:30] and Jody Nelson for their service
[34:32] over the last couple of years.
[34:33] Returning for the FY 28 budget process on their existing
[34:36] terms will be Michael Allen, Derek Anderson, Steve Barry,
[34:39] Tom Cardin, Anthony Henry, and Richard Trip.
[34:42] For our consideration tonight,
[34:43] we've received an application from Marissa
[34:46] Russo Stitt for another term.
[34:47] She's an incumbent whose term is expiring.
[34:50] And applications for full membership from two people
[34:52] who have been serving as alternates.
[34:53] Ben Con and Jim Dietzel.
[34:55] That would give us a full contingent of nine members,
[34:58] but it would still leave the two alternate seats open.
[35:00] So if you are out there
[35:01] and you're inst interested in serving as an alternate,
[35:03] we'd continue to accept applications at the district office.
[35:08] So I would accept a motion to appoint Ben Cohn, Jim Dietzel
[35:12] and Marissa Russo Stitt
[35:14] to three year terms on the fiscal advisory committee.
[35:16] So moved First by Jen.
[35:19] Second. Second by Jenna. Any further discussion?
[35:24] Hearing none. All in favor? Aye. All opposed.
[35:28] Motion carries. Seven zero. So welcome back to Ms.
[35:32] Rousso Stitt and welcome Ms. Full members Mr. Cohen and Mr.
[35:35] Dietzel. The last item we have
[35:39] to consider is appointment of the school district clerk
[35:42] in a cooperative school district.
[35:44] As we are the clerk is appointed by the board
[35:47] RSA 1 95 section five paragraph one.
[35:49] Calls for cooperative boards to appoint annually
[35:51] and fixed salary of the district clerk
[35:54] to eliminate any confusion moving forward.
[35:56] We're gonna level set the clerk's term
[35:58] as running from July 1st to June 30th.
[36:01] The clerk would be appointed annually at our last meeting
[36:03] prior to June 30th.
[36:04] And in the case of a mid-year resignation,
[36:06] we would appoint a replacement to fill the remainder
[36:08] of the term through June 30th.
[36:11] The current annual stipend for the clerk is $300 per year.
[36:15] And the current clerk, Tina Guilford, wishes
[36:16] to continue serving in the position.
[36:18] So I would accept a motion to appoint Tina Guilford
[36:21] as the school district clerk
[36:22] for a one year term ending on June 30th, 2027
[36:25] and to set the salary for the clerk at $300 for the year.
[36:28] So moved First by Karen
[36:31] Second.
[36:32] Second by Jen. Any further discussion? Yeah, I just
[36:35] Have a quick thing.
[36:36] I am not saying tonight or anything like that,
[36:37] but when we get to the budget process, we should, these,
[36:40] these stipends have probably been on
[36:42] the books for like 20 years.
[36:43] We should probably talk about, I dunno,
[36:47] something more appropriate to the position
[36:49] that's being asked of people in the community.
[36:51] I absolutely agree. I mean, you know,
[36:53] right now the treasurer position is open.
[36:55] You know, we're gonna have to try to find somebody to serve
[36:57] as treasurer and it is hard to find people
[37:00] to do these positions for what the stipends currently are.
[37:03] Agreed. So, alright,
[37:07] so we have a motion on the table
[37:09] so if there's no further discussion we will vote.
[37:13] All in favor? Aye. Aye. All opposed. Motion carries.
[37:17] Seven zero. Alright, thank you everyone.
[37:21] We'll move on to administration reports.
[37:22] First step is Jane with her business administrators update.
[37:28] Okay. Kind of quick.
[37:30] For the end of the year, we're really just trying
[37:32] to close out our financials
[37:33] for 25, 26 closing out purchase orders
[37:37] and we're actually rolling over our system
[37:40] and starting work in 26, 27.
[37:42] So that's what we're working on right now.
[37:44] I think I mentioned the last time we have our audit
[37:46] scheduled for August.
[37:49] We've also been doing training on the software
[37:54] that we're transitioning to.
[37:55] It's the same company, same platform,
[37:59] but we've been using a desktop version which
[38:01] is significantly different than the cloud version.
[38:04] So we're actively in training for that to be prepared so
[38:08] that we are a hundred percent on the cloud version
[38:10] by the end of September.
[38:12] And that's finance and human resources.
[38:15] We'll all be on that. And that's,
[38:17] it sounds like it's not a lot, but we have a lot going on.
[38:21] Short and sweet. Any
[38:23] Jane?
[38:24] I have a quick thing for you. And this kind of relates
[38:25] to our food service discussion.
[38:27] So my school bucks can,
[38:31] sorry, my school bucks.
[38:36] Can you check when they can raise their,
[38:38] what their fee schedule looks like
[38:40] and what intervals they can raise their fees?
[38:42] 'cause if people are uncomfortable
[38:46] charging 10 cents on a meal, you should see
[38:48] what they charge you to load the card to pay for the meal.
[38:52] And if you don't do a hundred dollars at a time
[38:54] or something, I, I'm, I'm lazy, I do like 30 for each kid.
[38:57] I get charged $3 a whack for each kid, for each transaction.
[39:01] So I'm paying 10% per transaction.
[39:04] So I would, I would argue that those fees are
[39:08] much more pressing than, you know,
[39:11] if you're worried about a 10 cent fee on
[39:12] your, on your increased meal.
[39:14] So just kinda curious what the in, if they, what they're,
[39:16] what they can do to us
[39:18] and what they can't do to us as regard
[39:20] to an increase in fees.
[39:21] Sure. Moving forward,
[39:22] We actually just received an email from them last
[39:25] Wednesday and effective
[39:28] July 31st, 2026,
[39:32] the card, if you're gonna use a credit
[39:35] or debit card payment, it's going to increase to $3
[39:38] and 75 cents for each.
[39:43] If you do an eCheck payment that has a discounted rate
[39:47] and obviously people can pay cash
[39:50] or they can write a check to have no fees in the district.
[39:54] But I understand your point
[39:55] and you know,
[39:56] there's several other companies that do the same thing.
[39:59] You have to find one that works with our software.
[40:02] But I think that they're all similar in price.
[40:05] But we can definitely go out
[40:06] to see if there's any other companies.
[40:08] No, I get it. That may have a lower rate.
[40:09] I get, it just bugs me a lot.
[40:11] It's a lot like it, it's a lot.
[40:13] 10% on $30 would, I mean,
[40:15] I guess 37 point half percent on $30, whatever,
[40:18] not whatever the number is, but it just, it,
[40:20] it bugs the hell outta me.
[40:22] It just does. Always has.
[40:24] So, so it seems on that the best way to do it is
[40:26] to write a check and send it to the school.
[40:29] Now that's an accounting nightmare
[40:30] for them, you know what I mean?
[40:32] So I don't, and so many
[40:33] People just don't Do checks anymore.
[40:35] Checks anymore. Anymore. That's true too.
[40:37] The, is there any other way,
[40:39] is there anything else you guys have looked into?
[40:42] Well they can, again, they can pay cash,
[40:44] they can write a check, they can do it through my school box
[40:48] that connects directly to our
[40:51] food service accounting software.
[40:53] They can call our office.
[40:55] We charge, we don't want this to be a habit for people,
[40:58] but we do check credit card payments in our office.
[41:02] We charge two 50, but that's normal.
[41:04] Not for people to pay every month.
[41:06] That's if people are,
[41:07] we're negotiating a payment plan with them.
[41:10] We'll run, we'll do credit cards through us,
[41:13] but my school box is the preferred way.
[41:16] We would prefer to eliminate as much cash in our schools.
[41:21] So do we have Venmo and PayPal? Is that an option?
[41:25] We don't. Is that an
[41:27] Option?
[41:28] It's auditing. It's a huge auditing. No, no. Yeah, yeah.
[41:31] We can look in, I, I mean I'm taking notes.
[41:33] We can look at other vendors.
[41:35] There's always gonna be a fee though.
[41:38] You know, you're paying that company
[41:39] for the service they have
[41:40] to cover the credit card fees that they're incurring.
[41:42] Yeah, and you know, I mean there is a, a fee free option.
[41:44] It's not ideal, you know, to pay in cash
[41:46] or check at your school's office.
[41:50] Michael, the goal is to be convenient and $3
[41:54] and 75 cents on any amount you deposit is usy.
[41:58] And it's quite frankly, it's, I don't even know the word.
[42:02] I can't think off the top of my head, but it's
[42:04] excessive in my opinion.
[42:06] But, you know, it is what it is. I get it.
[42:08] And I'm not asking for you guys to do additional work.
[42:10] It's, this is my yearly complaint when we,
[42:12] when we discuss this and I just want be known that,
[42:17] you know, when we talk about 2 cents on the tax rate, I mean
[42:22] stuff like this adds up too.
[42:23] Like, and nobody says anything about it.
[42:26] So, you know, it's just one of those things that I find
[42:29] to be utterly ridiculous.
[42:30] And it's not anyone's fault sitting in this room,
[42:32] but I just find it to be excessive. That's all
[42:37] For, for curiosity.
[42:38] I looked up what my, my kids and it's mine's a $2
[42:42] and 60 cents fee.
[42:43] So there's other vendors out there that are lower.
[42:45] So we can certainly look into that. That's fine.
[42:48] Yeah, I mean there's a reason why there's competition in the
[42:51] world, so, you know what I mean,
[42:53] if even if we do reach outs, that's fine.
[42:56] Thanks Jane. Any, I'm sorry. Anything else for Jane? Yeah,
[42:59] There's no more questions for
[42:59] Jane. I'll turn it over to Mike.
[43:01] Alright, I'm, I'm sorry, I have a quick thing I want,
[43:04] can I go backwards just a minute
[43:06] to the unassigned fund balance
[43:08] because I just looked over at the notes at the minutes from
[43:12] the last meeting and I'm a little confused on something
[43:14] and need some clarification
[43:16] because it said that the recommended projects
[43:21] that, you know, Brenda made the motion,
[43:23] the recommended projects were going to be dock replacement,
[43:26] bleacher seat music, music room, wall courtyard paving.
[43:30] And it said in there that tactile pads were going
[43:33] to be moved to the regular budget.
[43:36] So that was supposed to be approved into the regular budget.
[43:41] Hold on. And that what's running Brook was going
[43:44] to come to a later vote.
[43:46] This is what's in the minute meeting. Sure.
[43:48] So what should have come back to us was the four
[43:51] that when Brenda made the motion, the four there
[43:55] that we approved and the next to come
[43:57] to the next meeting would only have been the guardrail,
[43:59] the tactile pads were supposed to go to the regular budget.
[44:02] So I, as I said a little bit earlier, I said at that time
[44:05] we would move it to next year's fall budget.
[44:08] So that, that was the discussion.
[44:10] It wasn't like I had it now.
[44:12] I didn't have the money available now.
[44:14] So when the, when the projects were just brought forward
[44:17] again, they were in the list, that's all.
[44:18] Yeah. There was no approval of the tactile pads.
[44:20] They just got punted.
[44:22] Yeah, so you know, the reason
[44:24] for reconsidering them tonight is, you know,
[44:26] you do have this additional factor of possibly
[44:31] not having contingency fund as an option
[44:34] to utilize sheer unassigned fund
[44:35] balance at the end of the year.
[44:37] So
[44:38] Yeah, I was gonna move it towards the general budget in
[44:41] the fall so that when we start that process,
[44:43] tactile pads would've been on there.
[44:49] Okay. Sorry. Thank you.
[44:53] Back to me. Back to you.
[44:54] Okay, so speaking of facilities, I just want
[44:58] to credit Jeremy again.
[45:02] I don't know if anyone was at the last day
[45:04] of school over at South Range.
[45:06] Literally when the buses pulled out, the trucks
[45:09] and the dumpsters closing.
[45:10] I'm not, I'm not kidding.
[45:13] And the first wall was torn down within the first hour.
[45:17] So that campus is closed.
[45:19] There are signs everywhere, but if you are driving by
[45:22] or anything, you'll see that the whole backside
[45:24] of the building has no brick right now.
[45:27] They are moving nothing like having no rain for six weeks
[45:30] and then rain on the first two days
[45:32] you're trying to replace a roof.
[45:34] But they've done a good job of working internally
[45:36] to keep the progress moving along so
[45:38] that we're not missing any steps.
[45:39] So I know Jeremy and Michelle
[45:41] and all those have done a lot of coordinating,
[45:43] but the, the comp, the companies
[45:44] that you guys have selected are just outstanding
[45:47] and they're ready and they're moving along.
[45:49] So thank you for that. House bill 1610 is something I wanted
[45:52] to bring up, but Mike brought up earlier.
[45:54] It's, it's gonna be intriguing.
[45:55] I mean, Jane, it came up in
[45:57] her business administrator meeting.
[46:01] You know, I would say that we're actually in a very good
[46:03] spot comparative to other districts who,
[46:05] who do carry over 5% a year
[46:08] and that 5% could be wiped out by, you know,
[46:11] the governor signing that.
[46:12] So if, if we have to return now 1.4, that's
[46:16] where we are gonna probably be anyways, right?
[46:17] So when we are gonna carry over,
[46:18] so we're in a good spot in dairy.
[46:20] It's not like we need to have an emergency meeting
[46:22] and all of a sudden we need to spend down,
[46:24] we've done a very good job of falling in that 2% range of
[46:27] what you try and do municipality wise.
[46:28] So thank you for that.
[46:31] And then I, sorry, I have to say it one more time.
[46:34] Joe's last meeting. So I, I know we've kind of had this,
[46:36] I've, I've made a joke today.
[46:37] We've kind of had this fair parade for Joe,
[46:40] but there's no one that's really deserved it more 26 years
[46:42] you said today at lunch, right?
[46:44] He's, what he said is he's keeping all his emotions at bay.
[46:47] So you used a different word if you wanna say that,
[46:51] what your wife said you are.
[46:52] Well my wife says I'm dead inside, but that's just
[46:55] 'cause I don't cry at sad movies.
[46:56] But I said that, you know, the first day that I'd come
[47:01] to the end of Faith Drive
[47:02] and I turned right instead of left,
[47:03] that's probably when it'll get me.
[47:05] But that hasn't happened yet.
[47:06] So that's a, that's a problem for July.
[47:08] Yeah, there's not enough things that any
[47:10] of us can say about Joe.
[47:12] And like I said, I've said it before, me taking this job
[47:15] and Joe being nothing than better than a right hand man
[47:19] several times with, just to give you an example, you know,
[47:23] Joe's job this year was supervision of the principals and,
[47:26] and I supervised the directors and Joe's like, I got it.
[47:29] Don't need any help. So you don't, as you're transitioning
[47:31] as a new superintendent, you don't have to think about it
[47:32] or you know, me trying to figure out what this next thing is
[47:36] and Joe's like, it's mine.
[47:37] I got it. I'll go to the events, I'll meet with Emily.
[47:39] You don't have to think about it. Joe did a lot of work
[47:42] that I never had to think about as a first year
[47:44] and I can never thank you enough.
[47:45] I know it sounds cheesy, but first class is,
[47:50] is is the word that always comes to mind.
[47:51] And I you're gonna be so good in Hamstead,
[47:53] it's not even gonna be funny.
[47:55] So good luck.
[47:56] It's gonna be amazing to watch
[47:58] and I still see you every three weeks, so it won't matter.
[48:00] Sounds good. So thank you for that.
[48:03] And then, you know, you know,
[48:05] this superintendent's report's been new
[48:07] for me in this community as well.
[48:09] I've really tried to emphasize in
[48:10] the focus being on the board.
[48:11] This is your meeting, right?
[48:12] Let's, let's remember that it's the board's meeting.
[48:14] It's not Mike's meeting, it's not our meeting,
[48:16] it's a meeting of the board in public.
[48:18] And so at the superintendent's updates, I've kind
[48:20] of just tried to keep a business
[48:22] and so as we've seen the principals come through
[48:25] and the directors come through
[48:26] and kind of give their year end
[48:28] report, I just said, why not me?
[48:30] So I'm gonna stand on my soapbox a little bit here
[48:32] and kind of just review a little bit of what I've done.
[48:35] And Jenna, I didn't use ai, so it's all over the place.
[48:37] So be be prepared as I scatterbrain
[48:40] as you can see my computer, it's literally one liner.
[48:43] So I just wanna take some time
[48:45] and reflect on my first year here.
[48:46] I've said it repeatedly when people are like, how's dairy?
[48:49] And, and I and I stand by it.
[48:50] It's the best move I've ever had in my life.
[48:52] Professionally, it's come with a lot of challenges,
[48:56] like a lot of excitement, but I haven't been mourn happy,
[48:59] going to work in some time
[49:01] and that's not a negative of where I've been, right?
[49:03] It's just like there's some things that I'm like, oh,
[49:06] this is my wheelhouse or this is my wheelhouse.
[49:08] So it's kind of, it's kind of reignited some of my fire.
[49:11] But going back to July,
[49:12] I talked about in my interview process
[49:14] and in the community is structure accountability.
[49:17] And it's important to me that I think that's
[49:20] how I drove a lot of my first year here.
[49:23] I'm not gonna sit here and say I'm not a
[49:25] rainbows and unicorns guy.
[49:26] I am not gonna say everything's perfect,
[49:27] but I think we've made some strides.
[49:29] And I had Kathleen do some nerdy data diving for me.
[49:33] So she said that I had over 400 meetings, which is,
[49:36] which is awesome to hear.
[49:38] And then some of the things
[49:40] that she put into a list is obviously easy stuff.
[49:42] Parents, individual students, employee groups,
[49:45] the DEA support staff.
[49:47] But there's been the school board building administration,
[49:50] principals, assistant principals, town manager,
[49:53] police department, fire department, planning board,
[49:55] Pinkerton Academy, YMCA, rotary community organizations,
[49:59] parent groups, PTOs, retiring teachers, athletic groups,
[50:03] special education families, individual students.
[50:06] You know, it's kind of crazy to think,
[50:07] 'cause in our lives you're like,
[50:09] oh, what's my calendar today?
[50:10] What's my calendar today? And then you just
[50:12] kind of go through some of those things.
[50:13] You know, some of those conversations were easy
[50:15] and enjoyable, but some of them were hard
[50:17] and difficult as we try and establish some new practices.
[50:21] But it's reinforced what I already knew is that I've come
[50:23] to a strong district, and particularly I'm proud
[50:26] of the work we've done to strengthen the relationships
[50:28] of both the bargaining units, which has shown, you know,
[50:32] anecdotal evidence where previously if you're talking,
[50:36] let's say grievances like the past couple years,
[50:38] there's been an average of 10.
[50:39] And this year we've had a whole one.
[50:42] So that shows that we've developed,
[50:44] we've had tough discussions.
[50:46] So staffing concerns, curriculum implementation,
[50:49] evaluations, professional development, scheduling,
[50:52] planning time, special education supports,
[50:55] this is the nerdy stuff, right?
[50:56] So you guys are getting a little bit of, of, of a glimpse of
[50:58] what we talk about every day in our world.
[51:00] But it's resulted in, in improvement
[51:02] of labor management relationships, the dynamics between
[51:06] both partners and both groups on what we're trying to do.
[51:11] I'm also proud of the governments of the board
[51:13] and what you guys have done to strengthen it.
[51:15] I, you know, I, I kind of went nerdy this morning,
[51:17] but if you see the newsletter that you guys sent out,
[51:19] it's pretty cool what you guys have done, right?
[51:21] That's your work
[51:22] that you've helped drive the administration to complete.
[51:25] I mean, Joe putting it together
[51:26] and starting to see those list of things, that's a,
[51:28] that's a real body of evidence of what we've done.
[51:31] Communications committee, improved transparency facilities.
[51:34] We created a long-term plan that you'll see in the fall
[51:36] for seven years policy.
[51:38] We didn't reach our goal of 70,
[51:40] but we got halfway, like around 30, 35.
[51:43] That's pretty good in the first year.
[51:46] We've also talked about creating
[51:47] consistency in this district.
[51:48] So for the first time,
[51:50] we've established a district-wide pre-K
[51:52] through eight behavior framework.
[51:54] That what I did with the assistant principals, so that now
[51:57] students have common experiences no matter
[51:59] what school you're in or where your grade,
[52:01] the progression is there for parents
[52:02] and families to understand.
[52:04] We expanded our transitional activities between schools
[52:06] to really have a deeper transitional process
[52:08] that students aren't just showing up
[52:10] to a new school saying, where's a lunchroom?
[52:12] What do I doing? We had multiple activities to strengthen
[52:14] that transitioning so that behavior should be improved.
[52:18] We've made significant progress in cr in creating our
[52:20] systems of support, which has been important.
[52:25] Starting at the administrative level,
[52:27] we implemented a new evaluation process.
[52:29] So every administrator in this district,
[52:30] from me all the way down was evaluated,
[52:33] was the first time in several years, which include
[52:37] structured evaluations, goal setting, mid-year review, end
[52:39] of year reviews, ongoing coaching discussions.
[52:43] We've also launching a new redesign teacher
[52:45] evaluation system in the fall.
[52:47] So the teachers will have valuable feedback,
[52:50] valuable evaluation, clear operations, clear expectations,
[52:54] goal setting, professional growth.
[52:56] We worked with the DEA, the ame, we worked
[52:59] with administration to come to, to this, this plan
[53:02] that we're, we're kicking off
[53:03] and we're gonna see how it goes.
[53:04] But everyone on both sides were, were excited about it.
[53:08] In the HR department, we really tried to focus on
[53:12] timely feedback, individualized feedback,
[53:14] and supportive feedback.
[53:16] And that's a really lot of work of Paula
[53:18] and her team, as she mentioned with Mary Ellen and Kim.
[53:22] We did a, an evaluation system, I'll call it an audit,
[53:25] but more of an valuation system of our curriculum department
[53:28] and our special ed department.
[53:29] Our special ed department took almost two and a half months.
[53:31] Our curriculum department took
[53:33] about a month and a half, two months.
[53:34] So now we have clearly articulated flowcharts for
[53:37] who contacts who in charge of what, how do I get an answer
[53:40] so that it just doesn't go off into the abyss.
[53:42] So I'm proud of it for that department.
[53:46] We've transitioned the majority of our processes
[53:48] to Panda Doc, reducing paperwork, streamlining workflows,
[53:51] improving accountability.
[53:54] We've continued to reduce ways
[53:55] of unnecessary administrative burdens.
[53:57] I know I, I used the simple word as paper.
[53:59] We're trying to get rid of some paper.
[54:02] So another thing, like we've mentioned several times,
[54:05] I'm very proud of our, our hiring this year.
[54:08] So like many districts in New Hampshire, we're continuing
[54:11] to face challenges in recruiting
[54:12] and retaining high quality employees.
[54:14] However, this year we made a conscious decision to be,
[54:18] to go from reactive hiring, wait
[54:20] and see, to really being proactive
[54:21] in our recruiting strategy.
[54:23] So with Paula and the human resource team,
[54:25] we've updated job descriptions.
[54:27] We've improved our employee website,
[54:28] we strengthened our vacancy postings,
[54:30] we expanded to LinkedIn.
[54:32] I know she'll be happy about that.
[54:34] LinkedIn for our custodial, we, we branched out to indeed.
[54:39] So what we've done is, rather than waiting, we've recruited
[54:42] and we successfully hired 19 positions.
[54:44] And I, and I know we have three more
[54:46] on the docket that are coming.
[54:48] So we will have the most,
[54:49] we will be the most fully staffed since 2000 and dairy.
[54:52] And that helps us in regards to contracted services, having
[54:55] to go out, having people that are not a part of us.
[54:57] So it's gonna be pretty cool to watch.
[55:00] Alright, this is where I get really
[55:02] scattered, so hang in there.
[55:03] So for throughout all of that, you know, we've talked about
[55:08] transitions, we've invested in our facilities.
[55:11] We're continuing to build systems.
[55:13] So that, what I continue
[55:15] to say is we're not just managing the district anymore.
[55:17] We're building an organization.
[55:18] And that organization, I made a joke earlier when we were
[55:21] doing the roles, whether it's me
[55:22] or whether it's the next person, that organization should be
[55:24] able to row in the right direction.
[55:26] And that's what I really believe that we've,
[55:28] we've really worked on towards going.
[55:29] So we've moved from individual practices
[55:33] to district-wide systems.
[55:34] We've moved from reacting. Instead, we're now planning.
[55:39] We've moved from isolated efforts.
[55:40] So as I said, we had like, felt like we had six buildings,
[55:43] but now I feel like we have one district
[55:45] and that we're operating a little bit more together.
[55:47] Our principals talk more often,
[55:48] they're making joint decisions.
[55:51] Our assistant principals work together stronger
[55:53] and we continue to build relationships.
[55:57] And last but not least, none
[55:58] of this is really about me in this moment.
[56:00] It's really about us as a group.
[56:02] But more importantly, it's about the work of our teachers,
[56:05] the work of our support staff, the work
[56:06] of our custodians, our administrators.
[56:08] They're really buying into my, my some
[56:11] of my things that I'm doing.
[56:12] And it's fun to watch it come to fruition.
[56:15] I'll still sit here and say we have a lot of work ahead.
[56:18] I'm in incred, incredibly proud of
[56:19] what we've accomplished in, in a short time.
[56:21] But I really think that we're more organized,
[56:23] we're more aligned, we're more accountable to each other.
[56:25] We've had a lot of difficult conversations and,
[56:27] and we know that some of those difficult conversations
[56:29] make us better in the long run.
[56:30] So I just wanna thank the board
[56:32] for allowing me this opportunity.
[56:34] I mean, you know, some
[56:35] of you weren't even here through the interview process.
[56:38] I wanna thank the staff for hanging in there.
[56:40] Some of the decisions weren't always popular,
[56:41] but I think as we work through these things,
[56:43] we're gonna see some of the fruition of, of
[56:45] what we've instilled and what we've positioned ourselves in.
[56:48] So, thank you to the town of Derry.
[56:49] Thank you to the community.
[56:51] If I haven't met with Ette yet, please reach out.
[56:54] You know, i, I, those are some of my favorite
[56:56] meetings that we work with.
[56:58] So thank you to everyone.
[56:59] And that's it for the 2020 5 26 school year.
[57:06] Thank you, Mike. Yeah. Congratulations on
[57:08] your first year in Derry.
[57:09] You know, we, you know, we'll be presenting you
[57:11] with your end of year evaluation pretty soon.
[57:13] And I mean, being for myself, I'm very happy
[57:16] with the work you've done over the last year.
[57:18] Thanks. And I won't harp on this too much
[57:21] 'cause I know Joe hates it and would
[57:22] rather we all just keep quiet.
[57:25] But I can't express enough how much you've meant
[57:27] to this district, you know, into next charter school
[57:29] and as a lifelong resident, just Derry as a whole.
[57:32] You know, on a personal note, I've worked with you for,
[57:34] you know, three plus years now.
[57:35] It's been an absolute pleasure working
[57:37] with you on this board.
[57:39] And yeah, we're gonna miss you.
[57:41] But I wish you the best in Hamstead
[57:43] and I know this isn't goodbye.
[57:44] We'll be seeing you around. He,
[57:46] He can now actually run for school board if you wanted to
[57:49] Pass, if he wanted to, is the
[57:52] Key.
[57:54] You guys are doing a great job.
[57:55] You don't need me on this board,
[57:57] but I'll, I'll watch the,
[57:59] I don't know if I'll watch the meetings,
[58:00] not gonna watch our meetings at the same time
[58:02] and day as yours, so I probably won't watch your meetings,
[58:04] but I'll check 'em out on the website.
[58:07] All right, move on to committee and liaison reports.
[58:10] We've had one committee that has met since our last meeting,
[58:13] so I'll turn it over to Jamie
[58:14] with an update from the communications committee.
[58:16] Alright, so we met Communications met on the 11th.
[58:20] It was Joe's last meeting with us, unfortunately,
[58:24] but Carrie is gonna be taking over as co-chair.
[58:27] She was able to attend remotely. It was a good meeting.
[58:30] It was very productive. We basically discussed the contents
[58:35] of the final newsletter for the school year,
[58:37] which was released on the last day of school, the 17th.
[58:40] And it's available in Parents Square,
[58:43] the district website and Facebook.
[58:45] It just provides a brief summary
[58:46] of all the work the board committees have been doing over
[58:49] the last quarter and also has
[58:51] a brief message from the chair.
[58:53] So check it out.
[58:56] All right, thank you, Jamie. Any questions?
[59:00] All right, our next item is member
[59:02] updates and any other business.
[59:04] So I have a few things I'll mention.
[59:06] The school year is officially over.
[59:08] Everyone's on summer break and we've obviously had a busy
[59:10] couple of weeks of activities close out the year.
[59:14] One thing I'll highlight, we had a,
[59:15] you'll notice we did not have a retiree celebration at one
[59:18] of our board meetings this year.
[59:19] We actually had a wonderful retiree
[59:21] celebration a couple of years ago.
[59:22] A couple of weeks ago, a new tradition
[59:25] for the district separated out from a board meeting.
[59:27] And we invite people who are special
[59:30] to each retiree to speak on their behalf.
[59:32] So I thought it was a really touching night.
[59:34] It's a great new tradition. I'm sure we'll
[59:35] be building on that in the coming years.
[59:39] We've also had a slew of graduations.
[59:40] Next charter school held their graduation on June 11th.
[59:44] If you've never attended a next graduation, that's a,
[59:46] you know, really cool intimate graduation.
[59:48] Each student is celebrated
[59:50] and the positive relationships they've
[59:52] developed in next are really evident.
[59:53] So congratulations to all of our Dairy Next graduates.
[59:57] We also had Pinkerton hold their graduation the next night.
[1:00:00] So other than a brief weather delay,
[1:00:01] it was a beautiful night.
[1:00:02] And congratulations to all
[1:00:04] of our Dairy Pinkerton graduates last Tuesday.
[1:00:07] We also had the promotion ceremony
[1:00:09] for our Gilbert H Chu students moving
[1:00:10] up to high school next year.
[1:00:12] Another wonderful ceremony.
[1:00:13] So congratulations to those graduates
[1:00:15] and good luck with wherever life takes you next year,
[1:00:17] whether that's Pinkerton next or somewhere else.
[1:00:22] Also, as we break for the summer, I just want to thank all
[1:00:24] of our staff and all of the schools in the district,
[1:00:27] teachers assistants, staff administrators, food service,
[1:00:30] custodians, you know, everyone that plays a role in
[1:00:32] providing an education for our children.
[1:00:35] I know the school year's an absolute grind
[1:00:37] and you all deserve every moment of rest
[1:00:38] and relaxation you get over the next couple of months.
[1:00:41] So please enjoy it
[1:00:42] and we'll see you all back rested and refreshed in the fall.
[1:00:46] Did anyone else have any updates
[1:00:47] or other business hearing none
[1:00:52] or upcoming meeting schedule?
[1:00:53] As we've noted, we are off for July
[1:00:55] and we will reconvene for our next meeting on Tuesday,
[1:00:57] August 11th, followed by Tuesday, August 25th,
[1:01:01] both meetings at 6:30 PM here at the Municipal Center.
[1:01:05] The board will be meeting in non-public session tonight.
[1:01:07] So I would accept a motion to enter non-public session under
[1:01:09] RSA 91 a Section three, paragraph two, subparagraph A.
[1:01:14] So moved first by Jen, second by Jamie.
[1:01:19] The statute requires we take a roll call. Vote. Brenda. Jen.
[1:01:23] Yes. Jenna? Yes. Jamie? Yes. Karen? Yes. David? Yes.
[1:01:28] Chair votes? Yes. Motion carries. Seven zero.
[1:01:31] The board will now move into non-public session.
[1:01:33] Goodnight everyone and have a good summer.