Participants
Everyone heard or addressed on the recording. There are no minutes to check spellings or attendance against; names follow the project's 2015-2023 roster, the attribution report for this show and the project's CSV corrections ledger. Students other than the student representative are not named on this page.
| Name | Role | Participation |
|---|
| Frank Sprague | Chair | Presides; moves the auditor up the agenda (0:01:02); responds to the audit update (0:13:49); explains the special-meeting money (1:05:31) and past budget cuts (1:11:19); reports on a Medicaid billing workshop (1:27:30); reminds voters to bring ID (1:38:27). |
| Rebecca Zullo | Vice Chair | Seconds the agenda (0:01:44) and the minutes (0:02:41); responds to the auditor (0:15:19); on the programs as revenue (0:48:50) and an honest budget (1:12:45); presents four policies for the policy subcommittee (1:23:00). |
| Jason Benware | Member | Moves the agenda (0:01:42), the November 6 minutes with a correction (0:02:01), the nonpublic session (0:15:43), the sealing of its minutes (0:31:30), the curing meeting (1:05:10) and the policies to second read (1:25:23); questions the program costs (0:39:01, 0:50:40) and the lunch debt (1:19:24). |
| Carolyn Towle | Member | Asks the student representative to introduce himself for viewers (0:07:32); on students' quality of life (0:46:57); asks for school-by-school lunch figures (1:21:56) and for viewing instructions for CCTV on the website (1:36:44). |
| Heather Whitney | Member | Identified by elimination (attribution report, medium confidence). Questions on budget optics, Medicaid billing, control over out-of-district tuition and local students' priority (0:39:43 to 0:48:00); on future special-needs enrollment (0:56:26); suggests a nurse practitioner on staff (1:33:15). |
| Rob Lovett Jr. | Member | Named in the roll (0:00:50). The dialogue file attributes to him a comment on long-term tax returns (1:10:46) and the motion to adjourn (1:40:18); the attribution report rates the label low confidence. |
| Michael Petrin | Member | Named in the roll, transcribed Michael, patron (0:00:50). No speech is attributed to him. |
| Mary Woodman | School district clerk | Calls the roll (0:00:50) and the nonpublic roll calls (0:16:15, 0:31:17). |
| Michael Campo | Auditor, Plodzik & Sanderson | Audit update (0:08:42 to 0:15:36). The chair introduces him as “Mr. Michael Campo from Plods and Sanderson” (0:08:29); the dialogue file labels him “Michael Campbell”, from the transcription of his self-introduction (see footer). |
| Matt Upton | District counsel | Explains the posting question and recommends a curing meeting under RSA 40:16 (1:01:24 to 1:04:25). |
| Michael Tempesta | Superintendent, SAU 6 | Presents the costs and expected savings of the three programs on the next night's warrant (0:32:14 to 0:58:17). |
| Richard Seaman | SAU 6 business administrator | Reports on school-lunch claims and debt (1:14:55 to 1:21:44). Not named on the recording; the attribution report assigns these rows to him on content and rates it uncertain. |
| Ben Nester | Director of Special Education | On the district's obligation under IDEA (0:52:03); on Medicaid billing and the unfilled nurse-practitioner post (1:30:34, 1:33:44, 1:34:10). |
| Donna Magoon | Assistant Superintendent, SAU 6 | Shows the revised registration and tour page on the website (0:59:23). |
| Tyler Sullivan | Student representative | Student report (0:03:07). |
| Unidentified voices | Members and staff | 56 of 501 rows (11.2%): roll-call answers, a male board member, vote responses and fragments. |
Order of business (reconstructed)
No agenda was posted to any surviving district share. The items below are reconstructed from the chair's transitions. Votes are by voice unless noted; no dissent is audible on any vote.
| Taken up | Item | Agenda text / disposition |
|---|
| 0:00:07 | Call to order; Pledge; roll call | Roll (0:00:50 to 0:00:58). |
| 0:01:02 | Agenda | Auditor moved to follow citizens' comments. Moved by Benware (0:01:42), seconded by Zullo (0:01:44); approved (0:01:50). |
| 0:01:50 | Minutes of November 6, 2019 | Benware notes a correction (0:02:12) and moves approval as corrected (0:02:34), seconded by Zullo (0:02:41); approved (0:02:42). |
| 0:02:42 | Student representative report | Tyler Sullivan (0:03:07). No action. |
| 0:08:00 | Presentation: Stevens extended learning opportunities | Moved to a later meeting. |
| 0:08:10 | Citizens' comments | No speakers (0:08:21). |
| 0:08:29 | Audit update, Plodzik & Sanderson | Michael Campo. No action. See flag 1. |
| 0:15:43 | Nonpublic session, RSA 91-A:3, II [(l)], legal advice | Moved by Benware (0:15:43), second transcribed in the same voice (0:16:02); roll call (0:16:05 to 0:16:22). Out of nonpublic on a roll call (0:30:59 to 0:31:25). Sealing moved by Benware (0:31:30), seconded (0:31:35); the chair calls the vote (0:31:37) and moves on with no answers transcribed. See flag 3. |
| 0:31:40 | Superintendent's report | The three special education programs; website registration changes (0:59:23). No action. |
| 1:01:12 | Special district meeting of November 21 | Counsel on the posting question. Motion by Benware to hold a special district meeting under RSA 40:16 on December 12, 2019 to cure any defects (1:05:10), seconded by an unidentified member (1:05:29); approved (1:05:31). See flags 4 and 6. |
| 1:14:44 | Report: food service unpaid debt | Business administrator. Follow-up report set for January (1:22:12). See flags 5 and 7. |
| 1:22:12 | Policies, first read | Indoor air quality, staff ethics, teacher performance and evaluation, reporting child abuse or neglect. Moved to second read by Benware (1:25:23); approved (1:26:19). |
| 1:26:19 | Future agenda items; other business; adjournment | Food-service report in January; January meeting set for January 8 (1:36:36); Medicaid workshop report; CCTV viewing instructions; seating for registered voters at the special meeting. Adjournment moved (1:40:18), seconded by Benware (1:40:20); approved (1:40:21). |
Discussion timeline
Times are taken from the dialogue transcript (Dialogue/10623 SchoolBoard112019.mp4.CSV) and link into the recording. Timestamps link to the same moment in the Cablecast recording.
| Time | Topic | What was said | Flags |
|---|
| 0:01:02 | Agenda change | Chair: “I would like to move that presentation to directly after citizens comments.” because the auditor has a long drive. | |
| 0:02:12 | November 6 minutes corrected | Benware: “It should be 650,000, not 650 million.” Approved as corrected. | MEDIUM |
| 0:03:07 | Student report | On Stevens' college application day “we had 57 students send out applications on 188 applications were submitted.”, against 45 students and 101 applications the year before. Towle asks him to introduce himself each time for those “out in the CC, TV world” (0:07:32). | |
| 0:08:42 | Audit status | Campo has worked on Claremont's audits for about 18 months: “we've made some serious progress over those 18 months. Not as much as we would have liked.” On FY2017: “To start with December 17th. We plan on issuing a final report on that the first week of December.” [the context shows he means fiscal year 2017] (0:09:21). “We actually have issued a draft.” and “we're able to move forward with that fiscal year 18.” | HIGH |
| 0:09:43 | FY2018 and the records | “We plan on having the field work done this year.” The difficulty: “we are auditing records that were not maintained by the same people currently in place.” Expect “very similar management letters to what you've been seeing, because that's what the conditions were.” | HIGH |
| 0:10:32 | FY2019 target | “Fiscal year 19. Our goal is to have that in time for the federal clearinghouse, which is March 31st of 2020. That would put you back on track to a normal audit cycle.” He credits a person the transcript renders Mr. Auburn with helping (0:10:55). | HIGH |
| 0:11:36 | The prior administration | “That's the challenge we had with the previous administration.” “There were times where we actually arrived in Claremont to find out that management would not be available to assist us.” “Numerous communications in terms of requests went on, responded.” [probably unresponded] (0:11:57); the acting superintendent, Cory LeClair, helped. | HIGH |
| 0:12:21 | Most delinquent client | “my firm does roughly 170 municipal audits a year, of which over 100 of them are school districts.” “This has been one of our most delinquent clients in the history of a 40, 45 year firm.” On FY2017: “We talked about potentially presenting 17. I don't know if there's a ton of value in telling you what was going wrong.” (0:13:06); “it's 17 is very similar to 16.” (0:13:29). | HIGH |
| 0:14:20 | Staff improving | Campo: “the general tone of your staff has improved.” Zullo: “I feel like I can sleep tonight finally after three years on this board.” (0:15:19). | |
| 0:15:43 | Nonpublic session | Benware moves nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3, paragraph II, reading the ground as “consideration of legal advice provided by legal counsel, either in writing or to one or more members of the public body”. Roll call, beginning Jason Pendleton. [Benware] (0:16:15); answers are merged. The transcript is silent from 0:16:22 to 0:30:54. | |
| 0:31:30 | Minutes sealed | “I'd like to make a motion to seal the minutes for 93 years.” (the duration is probably garbled). Seconded; the chair says “All those in favor?” and, with no answer transcribed, “Okay. Superintendents report.” (0:31:40). No reason for sealing is stated. | MEDIUM |
| 0:33:01 | PRIDE expansion cost | Tempesta: “The cost of the teacher on this would be about $43,000” half time, with a half-time behavior analyst and two paraprofessionals; “It would be about 182,000” in all (0:33:32). He cites the least restrictive environment under IDEA (0:34:01). | |
| 0:35:09 | Tuition revenue | At $65,000 per tuition student and eight seats, “we would have the potential to make about $500 in that one classroom.” [the arithmetic gives about $520,000] (0:35:34). | |
| 0:36:01 | Autism program | Three students may need placements averaging about $90,000: “So that's 270,000 that we think might go out before July 1st this year.” (0:36:31). Three students already placed cost “of their 287 561.” [$287,561] (0:36:58). In Massachusetts, “we went from $900,000 of tuitions to about $3.6 million intuitions.” (0:38:21). | |
| 0:39:43 | Budget optics | Whitney: “expanding these programs does not mean that we're actually expanding our overall budget because we're already paying for these students.” Chair on Medicaid: “if the services delivered exceed the IEP, that money is not recoverable by Medicaid because they will only pay what's in the IEP.” (0:45:11). Whitney: “the Claremont students would always take precedence over.” tuition students (0:47:34). | |
| 0:48:50 | Revenue and evidence | Zullo: “these programs are programs that would potentially generate quite a bit of revenue”. Benware asks to see “money invested in the program and less out of district placement cost.” in this year's line items (0:50:40). Nester: “we're obligated to meet these students needs under Ida.” [IDEA] (0:52:03). | |
| 0:53:45 | Stevens alternative program | About 30 Stevens students “who are identified as at risk of maybe not finishing on time.” Court-ordered placements have cost “about 180,000 last year and $280,000 a year before.” (0:55:03). | |
| 0:59:23 | Website registration | Magoon shows the revised parent page with school contacts for registration and tours, made after the concern raised on November 6 (November 6, 2019 page); Benware asks that bus sign-up be added (1:00:28). | |
| 1:01:24 | Counsel on the posting problem | Upton: “their concerns have been raised recently regarding the posting of the notices for the special district meeting.” “There's a strong argument that there was no requirement to post, notice of the special district meeting on the SA six website.” (1:01:24); “There is an saw six website, but saw six is a separate legal entity.” (1:02:01). The Department of Revenue Administration: “They've actually encouraged us to go forward with the meeting tomorrow night.” (1:03:01). | OBSERVATION POSITIVE |
| 1:03:54 | Every other requirement | Upton: “We held a public hearing. We posted the public hearing. We published the warrant. We've posted the warrant.” and “we have complied with each and every other requirement of the statute.” He recommends a curing meeting under RSA 40:16 (1:04:25). | OBSERVATION |
| 1:05:10 | Curing meeting scheduled | Benware: “I move that the Claremont School District hold a special district meeting pursuant to RSA 4016, for the purposes of curing any alleged defects in the posting of the November 21st, 2019 Special District Meeting. It proposed the date of that meeting be December 12th, 2019.” [RSA 40:16]. Seconded; approved (1:05:31). | POSITIVE |
| 1:06:01 | The money explained | Chair: “the first part of this money that we're getting is $1.3 million”, half for the programs and half to taxpayers; “And that is why the it's unanticipated income. That's why we have to have a special meeting.” (1:06:34); next year “we get 2.12 million in infrastructure aid” and “We're not getting a check for $6 million this year.” (1:07:12). | |
| 1:08:45 | Restored stabilization aid | Benware: the cuts ran “about 4% a year, about $225,000 a year over the last several years.”, then corrects himself: “I said adequacy when I met stabilization.” (1:13:52). The attributed Lovett: “on a long enough timeline you're going to see relief.” (1:10:46). | |
| 1:11:19 | Casualties of past cuts | Chair: the board told past administrations “that you have to cut 800,000.” and “You've got to cut 600,000. You've got to cut 900,000 out of your budget” (1:11:46), and “one of those casualties was the the owls program, last year”. Zullo: “we're actually with a budget that is honest. Finally.” (1:13:34). | |
| 1:15:05 | Lunch claims filed | The state accepted the district's application: “So we have made our first submissions of free and reduced lunches for September and October.” Seaman says the earlier failures “didn't happen last year and the year before” (1:15:27). | POSITIVE |
| 1:15:48 | Lunch debt | “we had a balance, a negative balance of $25,900 at the end of fiscal 19.” It has grown by about $6,000: “So it's up over $32,000.” Policy: “the policy of the school is that we will serve a lunch to a child.” (1:16:35), “with proper nutrition and the same as any other child.” | OBSERVATION |
| 1:17:23 | Offers to pay the debt | Seaman: “we have received inquiries from groups that are saying, is there a debt and we would like and make a contribution to that to help offset it.” He suggests studying a program like Bluff's, “where the whole school is covered by free and reduced.” (1:18:19), and whether the district reaches “the 50% number across the whole district” (1:21:22). | OBSERVATION |
| 1:23:00 | Policies, first read | Zullo: the policy subcommittee adopted state model language; on staff ethics, “the policy doesn't even come up on the website” (1:23:00). On sexual harassment, “we don't have anything specific on staff, student, those types of situations.” (1:24:48). Benware: “I'd like to make a motion to move these to second read.” (1:25:23). | |
| 1:27:38 | Medicaid workshop | Chair: “I attended a workshop yesterday that MSB puts on and I'm not sure what MSP stands for.” on new physician sign-off rules for school Medicaid billing; “Initially, the potential loss was three quarters of a million.” (1:34:01). Nester: a nurse-practitioner post has drawn no applicants (1:33:44). | |
| 1:36:44 | CCTV viewing | Towle: “I want to make sure we get instructions for people that are trying to view the school board meetings on CCTV.” on the website. See the maintainer note in the footer. | |
| 1:38:27 | Tomorrow's meeting | Chair: “if you're a registered voter, make sure you bring your ID”; registered voters will sit in one section for any hand count (1:39:39). Benware suggests childcare for future meetings (1:38:46). | |
Items flagged for review
These flags are a reviewer's aid, not findings of violation and not legal advice. Each one names the rule it rests on, as that rule read on November 20, 2019, or is labeled an observation where no verified rule applies.
HIGH The district's FY2017 and FY2018 single audits were more than a year past the federal deadline
The auditor told the board that the FY2017 audit (the year ended June 30, 2017) would be final “the first week of December” 2019 (0:09:21), that FY2018 fieldwork would be done “this year” (0:09:43), and that FY2019 was targeted “in time for the federal clearinghouse, which is March 31st of 2020” (0:10:32). Under the Uniform Guidance a single audit's reporting package is due "within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor's report(s), or nine months after the end of the audit period" (regulation text, 2 CFR 200.512(a)(1)). For a July to June district that is March 31 of the following year: March 31, 2018 for FY2017 and March 31, 2019 for FY2018. On his own timetable both were missed, by about 20 months and by more than 8 months. His reference to the clearinghouse deadline indicates the district was over the single-audit threshold, which was $750,000 of federal expenditures in a year (2 CFR 200.501(a)); the recording gives no federal-expenditure figure.
HIGH: a missed federal deadline, stated by the auditor himself, who called Claremont “one of our most delinquent clients in the history of a 40, 45 year firm” (0:12:21). In fairness to the current administration, he attributes the delay to records kept by people no longer there and to a prior management that would not meet him (0:11:36), and reports improvement. The management letters he describes are not in the record.
Sources: 2 CFR 200.512(a)(1) (2019 annual edition; reporting package due nine months after period end); 2 CFR 200.501(a) (2019 annual edition; $750,000 threshold)
MEDIUM No agenda, packet or minutes for this meeting survive in any district share
MAP.md records no Drive material for this meeting. RSA 91-A:2, II, in the text in force from January 1, 2019, required minutes with "the names of members, persons appearing before the public bodies, and a brief description of the subject matter discussed and final decisions", required that "The names of the members who made or seconded each motion shall be recorded in the minutes", and required them to be "open to public inspection not more than 5 business days after the meeting" (statute text). Without them the seconders of the nonpublic and curing-meeting motions and the attendance of two members (see the facts panel) cannot be confirmed.
MEDIUM under the project's severity rule, because the record mitigates the gap: the board approved minutes of this meeting on December 4, 2019 (December 4, 2019 page). No public copy survives.
Sources: RSA 91-A:2, II (2019 codification; source note ends 2018, 244:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2019)
MEDIUM Nonpublic minutes sealed with no reason stated and no vote heard
After the legal-advice session the board moved to “seal the minutes for 93 years.” (0:31:30); the chair called “All those in favor?” and went straight to the superintendent's report with no answer transcribed (0:31:37). RSA 91-A:3, III requires nonpublic minutes to be "publicly disclosed within 72 hours of the meeting" unless withheld "by recorded vote of 2/3 of the members present taken in public session" on a determination that disclosure would harm a non-member's reputation, "render the proposed action ineffective", or pertain to terrorism (statute text). No determination is stated, and no tally is audible. The same pattern appears at the October 16 meeting (October 16, 2019 page).
MEDIUM: a documentation gap that the minutes might close, not a confirmed violation. Legal advice under II(l) justifies the closed session; it does not by itself justify withholding the minutes.
Sources: RSA 91-A:3, II(l) and III (2019 codification; source note ends 2016, 30:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017; 280:1)
OBSERVATION Counsel told the board every other posting requirement was met; three weeks later he named a second defect
On this recording counsel framed the problem as a single question, whether the notices had to go on the SAU 6 website, and said “we have complied with each and every other requirement of the statute.” (1:03:54). At the December 12 curing meeting he listed two defects: no website notice of the November 6 hearing, and a meeting notice “posted six days ahead of the Special District meeting, not seven” (counsel on the December 12 recording, show 10649; December 12, 2019 page). RSA 197:3-a, V requires the meeting notice, with the warrant, in at least two public places "at least 7 days prior" to the meeting (statute text), so the timing defect was independent of the website question. The board was asked to proceed on November 21 on the narrower account. The curing meeting covered both defects, so the consequence was limited; the point is the accuracy of what the board and viewers were told.
Sources: RSA 197:3-a, IV and V (2019 codification; source 2013, 197:1)
OBSERVATION School-lunch debt passed $32,000, and outside groups have offered to pay it
The business administrator reported a negative balance of $25,900 at the end of FY2019, now “up over $32,000” (1:15:48), while the district serves every child a full meal “the same as any other child” (1:16:35). That policy is what state law requires: RSA 189:11-a, VIII, in force since July 2, 2016, provides that "no student will be subject to different treatment from the standard school lunch meal or school cafeteria procedures" (statute text). Federal guidance bars covering bad debt from the nonprofit school food service account; USDA's SP 23-2017 says "these losses must be restored using non-Federal funds" (guidance text). Offers from groups to pay down the debt (1:17:23) would be gifts to the district; RSA 198:20-b requires notice in the agenda and minutes for unanticipated private money under $5,000, and a prior public hearing for $5,000 or more, if the district has adopted the enabling article. Nothing was accepted at this meeting.
Sources: RSA 189:11-a, VIII (2018 codification; source note ends 2016, 48:1, eff. July 2, 2016); RSA 198:20-b, I and III (2019 codification; source note ends 2005, 188:1); USDA FNS SP 23-2017 (Mar. 23, 2017), unpaid meal charges
POSITIVE A possible notice defect was explained in public and a cure scheduled before the vote
The night before the special district meeting, district counsel explained on camera that concerns had been raised about the posting of its notices, that he had consulted the Department of Revenue Administration, and that the legislature provides a way to cure such defects (1:01:24 to 1:04:25). The board voted at once to hold a curing meeting on December 12 (1:05:10). RSA 40:16 lets an official-ballot district call a special meeting "for the exclusive purpose of curing such defect according to RSA 31:5-b", and RSA 31:5-b, II sets the timing, not less than 21 calendar days after the original vote; December 12 is 21 days after November 21. Disclosing the problem before the vote, rather than waiting for a challenge, protected the result and told voters what was at stake. (Flag 4 notes that the account given here was incomplete.)
Sources: RSA 40:16 (2019 codification; source 1999, 86:4); RSA 31:5-b, I and II (2019 codification; source 1988, 284:1; 1989, 287:1)
POSITIVE Current-year school-lunch claims filed within the federal window
Two weeks after reporting that claims had been missed for months over two years (November 6, 2019 page), the business administrator reported the state had accepted the district's application and the September and October claims had been submitted (1:15:05). Under 7 CFR 210.8 a final claim is due "not later than 60 days following the last day of the full month covered by the claim" (regulation text); on November 20 the September claim was within that window and the October claim well within it. The report also credited the staff and the food-service contractor by name and offered a school-by-school breakdown on request (1:22:06).
Sources: 7 CFR 210.8(b) (2019 annual edition; 60-day claim deadline)
Appendix: source files
Official and public sources
- Cablecast: SCHOOL BOARD MEETING of 11-20-19 (show 10623; run time from the Cablecast API not retrieved, the API returned 403 on 2026-10-02)
- Google Drive: no packet folder, agenda, audit reports or minutes. MAP.md: "neither share holds a year folder older than 2022, and the Meeting Minutes share starts at 2023 (checked 9/26/26)." Not searched again for this page, per the run instructions for meetings with no Drive material.
- Neighboring meeting pages: November 6, 2019 (hearing; missed lunch claims); November 21, 2019 (special district meeting); December 4, 2019 (approval of these minutes); December 12, 2019 (curing meeting).
Project files
Working files this page was built from. The dialogue file is linked; the others are not published with the page.
Laws and rules cited on this page
- RSA 91-A:2, II, 2019 codification (source note ends 2018, 244:1): minutes content, movers and seconders, five-business-day inspection
- RSA 91-A:3, II(l) and III, 2019 codification: legal-advice ground; 72-hour disclosure unless withheld by a recorded two-thirds vote with a stated determination
- RSA 197:3-a, IV and V, 2019 codification: hearing and meeting notices, including the website "if such exists", at least 7 days before
- RSA 40:16 and RSA 31:5-b, I and II, 2019 codifications: curing meetings for minor procedural defects, not less than 21 days after the original vote
- RSA 189:11-a, VIII, 2018 codification (2016, 48:1, eff. July 2, 2016): meal payment policy; no different treatment
- RSA 198:20-b, I and III, 2019 codification: acceptance of unanticipated money; notice under $5,000, prior hearing at $5,000 or more
- 2 CFR 200.512(a)(1) and 2 CFR 200.501(a), 2019 annual editions: single-audit due date and threshold
- 7 CFR 210.8(b), 2019 annual edition: school-lunch claims due within 60 days
- USDA FNS SP 23-2017 (guidance): unpaid meal charges and bad debt