Claremont School Board, June 15, 2022

Regular meeting of the Claremont School Board: a sealed nonpublic session, the first-year district data and curriculum report, a vote moving school food service from The Abbey Group to Cafe Services (Fresh Picks), the clerk’s resignation, a revised police MOU and two CCTV board reappointments. Built from the dialogue transcript and the district’s combined agenda and minutes. Timestamps link to the same moment in the Cablecast recording.

Body
Claremont School Board (Claremont School District, SAU 6), chaired by Michael Petrin
Date
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Start time
Not printed on the agenda; the assistant superintendent for finance refers to the meeting starting at 6:30 (1:48:28). A nonpublic session preceded the recording, which opens on the motion to return at 0:00:33. Adjournment vote at 2:13:45; the dialogue transcript ends at 2:14:00.
Location
Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center (per the minutes heading)
Recording
Cablecast: Claremont School Board live on 6/15/22 (show 13420; about 2:14:00 by the last transcript row; the Cablecast API refused requests from this environment, so the run time was not retrieved)
Minutes
CSB Agenda minutes 6.15.22 .pdf, a combined agenda and minutes document submitted by Melissa Small, filed in the packet folder for the July 20, 2022 meeting (created July 21, 2022). No separate agenda or packet for this meeting is in the district’s shares.
Board composition
Seven members, all present per the minutes: Petrin (chair), Heather Whitney (vice chair), Steven Horsky, Joshua Lambert, Bonnie Miles, Frank Sprague, Whitney Skillen. Miles and Skillen joined in March 2022 and abstain on the earlier minutes.

Participants

Everyone in the record. Spellings follow the minutes; where the dialogue file uses a first name only, the surname comes from the minutes. 16.7% of dialogue rows are unidentified.
NameRoleParticipation
Michael PetrinChair, Claremont School BoardPresides; recognizes the motion out of nonpublic (0:00:33); adds the CCTV item (0:01:39); asks about vendor staff transition (1:29:18); explains the clerk vacancy (1:45:13).
Heather WhitneyVice ChairSeconds the motions out of nonpublic and to seal (0:00:38); questions SAT comparisons (0:10:01) and unpaid meal debt (1:30:15); seconds the food-service motion (1:43:34); asks about drill meeting points (1:58:32) and how CCTV vacancies are publicized (2:02:12). Votes no on the CCTV appointments per the minutes.
Steven HorskyMemberMoves out of nonpublic and to seal for 99 years (0:01:11); moves the agenda and all six sets of minutes; comments on the curriculum data (0:54:14); moves the food-service contract (1:43:21); asks about raising clerk pay retroactively (1:49:40). Votes no on the CCTV appointments per the minutes.
Joshua LambertMemberAsks that the 1/5/22 minutes show he arrived late (0:03:24); asks whether the vendor would charge more per lunch (1:11:00); asks that the clerk posting state the term (1:47:34).
Whitney SkillenMemberSeconds (per the chair) the agenda and the January 18 minutes (0:04:33); questions AP scores (0:21:32) and the new data and grants manager post (0:51:04); seconds the CCTV appointments (2:08:08); moves to adjourn per the minutes.
Bonnie MilesMemberPresent per the minutes; not anchored to a voice in the dialogue file. The minutes credit her with asking whether students return after open lunch, which matches the unlabeled question at 1:43:38.
Frank SpragueMemberPresent per the minutes; not anchored to a voice. The minutes credit him with the open-lunch question (matches the unlabeled row at 1:26:30), the only No on the food-service contract, and the CCTV motion.
Michael TempestaSuperintendent, SAU 6Says the data and grants manager has been offered the post (0:51:18); speaks on the clerk vacancy (1:46:14), the graduation profile (1:51:55), the police MOU (1:53:28) and his report (2:08:48).
Richard SeamanAssistant Superintendent for Finance, Operations and Human Resources, SAU 6Presents the food-service RFP (1:05:05); asks for MS-22 signatures (1:04:34); recommends raising clerk pay from $75 a meeting (1:48:01). Some short questions during the data presentation are attributed to him by diarization only.
Dr. Mary Ellen JaneiroAssistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, Innovation and Assessment (title per the minutes)Presents the district data report: SAT, AP, state assessment, DIBELS and i-Ready results, Mystery Science kits, the Math in Focus update and the social studies framework (0:06:59 to 1:01:08). Labeled “Mary Ellen” in the dialogue file; surname from the minutes.
Jeff SmallDirector of Technology, SAU 6Took the initial attendance roll in the secretary’s absence, per the chair (0:00:09); not otherwise heard.
Melissa SmallRecording secretaryAddressed by the chair at the opening (0:00:09); submitted the minutes.
Mimi RhinesStevens High School guidance counselor; Ward 1 residentAnswers SAT questions (0:10:35); reports the Title I teacher’s answer on DIBELS (1:03:39); asks about salad bars, local farms and student tasting before the vote (1:34:54). Labeled Mimi in the dialogue file; surname from the minutes.
Josh ReyesCitizens’ comments, Ward 2Asks how SAT scores are used as an indicator (0:16:53) and what 113% growth means (0:31:48); asks what will change for students and whether the $25,000 guarantee is enforceable (1:38:45, 1:42:51). Labeled Josh in the dialogue file; surname from the minutes.
Josh NelsonCCTV representative (audience)Explains CCTV board terms and the city application process (2:03:07 to 2:07:14). Labeled Josh in the dialogue file (a separate diarized voice from Josh Reyes); surname from the minutes.
Student representativeStudent representativeNot present, “last week of school and finals week” (0:06:34).

Agenda

Items as printed in the district’s combined agenda and minutes document (CSB Agenda minutes 6.15.22 .pdf), with the time each was taken up and its disposition from the recording and minutes.

Agenda items and dispositions.
Taken upItemAgenda text / disposition
6:30 p.m. (per speaker)Call to order; nonpublic sessionAgenda/minutes: “Non Public RSA only 91-A:3(a)”. Entry is before the recording starts. See flag 1.
0:00:33Return from nonpublicHorsky moves, Whitney seconds; roll call (0:00:52). Seal for 99 years moved at 0:01:11, roll call at 0:01:21; carried. MED MED
0:01:39AgendaApproved with item 6 (CCTV board) added; moved by Horsky, second announced as “Second. Whitney.” (0:02:41); carried.
0:02:48Previous minutesSix sets approved one at a time on Horsky’s motions: 1/5/22 (0:03:12), 1/18/22 (0:04:27), 2/2/22, 2/16/22, 5/4/22, 5/18/22 (0:05:52); new members abstain on the earlier sets. April 6 “is in process” (0:05:58). MED
0:06:18Citizens’ commentsNone on non-agenda items; comment invited on each discussion item. POS
0:06:34Student representative reportNot present.
0:06:491. Claremont District Data Presentation (Dr. Janeiro)Discussion only; no vote.
1:04:192. Selection of Food Service Provider (Seaman)Horsky moves to accept Fresh Picks / Cafe Services (1:43:21), Whitney seconds; carried (1:44:58). Minutes: all in favor except Frank Sprague. OBS OBS POS
1:45:133. Resignation of CSB Clerk, Mary WoodmanResignation effective June 1, 2022 noted; position to be advertised; no vote.
1:51:524. Stevens High School Graduation Profile (Tempesta)Update only; profile not yet complete.
1:53:225. Revised Claremont Public Schools MOU; Safety Planning (Tempesta)Information only; no motion (2:00:39). OBS
2:01:096. CCTV Board (added)Motion to reappoint Eric Zengota and Mark Chase (2:07:53), second (2:08:08); carried. Minutes: Whitney and Horsky voted no. MED OBS
2:08:24Superintendent’s reportStevens and Unity graduations.
2:13:23Other business; adjournmentNone; motion to adjourn (2:13:33), seconded (2:13:40); carried.

Discussion timeline

Times are taken from the dialogue transcript (Dialogue/13420 SchoolBoard061522.mp4.CSV) and link into the recording. Quotations are as transcribed; bracketed words are corrections, with the transcript’s wording kept where the correction changes sense.

Chronological topics with the most concrete material first.
TimeTopicWhat was saidFlags
0:00:33Out of nonpublic; sealMotion to come out recognized (Steven.), second by Heather; roll call. Horsky: “To make a motion to seal the minutes from the non public for 99 years.” (0:01:11); roll call, members answer Yes; the clerk’s list ends “And friends. Yes.” (likely [Frank]).MED MED
0:01:39AgendaThe chair adds the CCTV reappointments: “We have two applicants that were on the commission before and just looking to be reappointed.” (0:02:03). Approved.
0:02:48Six sets of minutesLambert: “I showed up like three minutes late, but it was marked absent.” (0:03:24). Members new since March ask whether they may second minutes of meetings they did not attend; Horsky: “If you weren’t on the board, abstained.” All six approved; April 6 still in process.MED
0:06:18Citizens’ comments; student reportNo non-agenda comments. Student representative absent for finals week.POS
0:06:59District data: SAT and APDr. Janeiro presents five-year SAT averages, noting New Hampshire tests all juniors in the school day (0:07:21). Josh Reyes asks how SAT scores are used (0:16:53); she answers “we have very few data points for high school.” (0:17:50). AP: “We offered AP chem to seven students in AP Language Arts to 19 students for the national exam.” (0:20:08); semester-length AP courses criticized.
0:25:28State assessment, DIBELS, i-ReadyDistrict science and math proficiency below the state; first grade growth “at 113% for reading and for math at 117%.” (0:31:25). DIBELS end-of-year test is harder, as later confirmed (1:03:39).
0:33:24Curriculum: science, math, literacy, social studies“our science curriculum was at the elementary level, particularly, was almost nonexistent.” (0:33:24). Mystery Science kits bought for each classroom; Math in Focus in use “from 2014 or 16” to be updated (0:37:51); ESSER funds described as “this lovely gift” (0:43:27); Stephanie Hurst starts July 1 as literacy specialist (0:44:18); social studies work with Great Schools Partnership (0:48:47).
0:50:18Board questions on the dataSkillen confirms ESSER and curriculum-line funding; the data, assessment and grants manager post was offered “this week” (0:51:18). Horsky: “the ball has been getting dropped kind of sadly, regularly on certain topics.” (0:54:14). Whitney: elementary schools “have worked in isolation for a generation.” Janeiro: teacher turnover is the largest problem.
1:04:34MS-22 signatures“We’ve already provided to them without signatures, but they want it with signatures.”OBS
1:05:05Food service RFPContract rolls over yearly and must be rebid after five years. Two responses, The Abbey Group and Cafe Services (Fresh Picks). Weighted criteria read out (1:07:41). Abbey guarantees break-even; Cafe Services “said that the guaranteed return would be $25,000 a year” plus $6,000 a year of equipment (1:09:13). Scores generated by Seaman with “D Skinner” (1:11:48); minutes give the totals as 78 and 94.POS
1:17:00Site visits and supportCafe Services has “a 12 chef, floating pool” and sent its CEO; Abbey sent two regional people (1:17:00). Contract “is as much as five years” but the district can rebid after one (1:25:03).
1:26:30Board questions: open lunch, staff, debtOpen lunch is for grades 11 and 12 (1:26:38). Current Abbey staff may be hired by the new vendor; no non-compete. On debt: “If that debt cannot be covered, it’s our bad debt.” (1:33:10); the surplus “gives the board the ability to address that balance” (1:30:23).OBS
1:34:45Public questions on the vendorMimi Rhines asks whether Fresh Picks runs a salad bar (yes), about local farms, and whether students tasted the food; visits were between 11 and 1 (1:34:54). Josh Reyes asks what changes for students and whether the guarantee binds (1:38:45); answer: “It’s a contract.” (1:43:06).POS
1:43:21Vote: food serviceHorsky moves; Whitney seconds; one audible Hey. after Opposed? (1:44:52); “Motion carries.” (1:44:58). Contract to start July 1.POS
1:45:13Clerk resignation and payMary Woodman resigned as of June 1, 2022; an ad will run and the appointee “would then serve until the election” in March (1:46:08). Seaman: pay “has been at $75 a meeting for a very long time.” (1:48:01); earlier he had “presented it ambiguously that it was 75 an hour.” (1:48:59). The question goes to the SAU board.
1:51:52Graduation profileThe profile: “it’s not complete yet”; it is assembled over the following weeks (1:51:55).
1:53:28Police MOU and safetyRevised MOU after meeting the police chief and deputy chief; keys “in every cruiser” (1:54:59); to be executed next day; no motion needed per the chair (2:00:39). Chief Mark Chase retiring. Whitney asks about evacuation meeting points; answered as confidential (1:58:45).OBS
2:01:09CCTV board appointmentsCity Council appoints four seats, the school board two (2:01:09); terms “technically currently expired” (2:02:43). Whitney relays a resident’s interest (2:02:12). Josh Nelson explains the process (2:03:07, 2:05:16) and that there is “a person who’s applied recently for that city position.” (2:04:52). Motion to appoint Eric [Zengota] and Mark Chase; seconded; carried.MED OBS
2:08:24Superintendent’s reportUnity eighth-grade and Stevens graduations; graduates going to jobs at “20, 25 bucks an hour right out” (2:11:45). Horsky praises the ceremony (2:12:47).
2:13:23AdjournmentNo other business; motion and second; carried.

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 June 15, 2022, or is labeled an observation where no verified rule applies.

MEDIUM The nonpublic session opened off camera, and the only record of the motion to enter it cites “RSA only 91-A:3(a)” and names no mover or seconder

The recording begins after the nonpublic session, with the chair recognizing a motion to come out (Steven., 0:00:33; “The second, by Heather.”, 0:00:38) and a roll call (0:00:52). The motion to enter the session, its stated exemption and its roll call are therefore not on tape. The combined agenda and minutes document (CSB Agenda minutes 6.15.22 .pdf) is the only record. It reads, as the minutes’ own words: “Non Public RSA only 91-A:3(a)”, followed by a list of the seven members under “Roll call”. It gives no mover or seconder for entering the session.

RSA 91-A:3, I(b), as codified in 2022, requires that a motion to enter nonpublic session “state on its face the specific exemption under paragraph II” and be decided by roll call. “91-A:3(a)” omits the paragraph; the likeliest reading is II(a) (dismissal, promotion, compensation or discipline of an employee), but the document does not say so and this page does not supply it. RSA 91-A:2, II (in force since January 1, 2019) requires minutes to record the names of the members who moved and seconded each motion. Graded MEDIUM: a roll call is listed and the exemption letter is plausible, so this is a documentation gap rather than an unexplained closed session.

Sources: RSA 91-A:3, I(b), 2022 codification (motion states the paragraph II exemption; roll call); RSA 91-A:2, II, 2022 codification (minutes name movers and seconders); CSB Agenda minutes 6.15.22 .pdf

MEDIUM Nonpublic minutes sealed for 99 years with no statutory determination stated on tape or in the minutes

Steven Horsky moved “to seal the minutes from the non public for 99 years.” (0:01:11); the chair called a roll-call vote (0:01:21) and the members answered Yes in turn (0:01:23). The roll call satisfies the “recorded vote of 2/3 of the members present taken in public session” that RSA 91-A:3, III requires. What is missing is the determination the same paragraph makes a condition of withholding: that disclosure would likely affect adversely the reputation of a person other than a board member, render the proposed action ineffective, or concern terrorism. No reason is stated on the recording, and the minutes record only that the motion was made, seconded by Heather Whitney and passed (the minutes say “all in favor via voice vote” and then list a roll call).

The statute also sets no fixed term: information is withheld “until, in the opinion of a majority of members, the aforesaid circumstances no longer apply.” A 99-year term is the board’s choice, not a statutory period. The seal may well be justified (the exemption cited for the session concerns employees), but a reader cannot tell which ground the board relied on. Graded MEDIUM as a documentation gap.

Sources: RSA 91-A:3, III, 2022 codification (2/3 recorded vote with a determination; withheld until the circumstances no longer apply); CSB Agenda minutes 6.15.22 .pdf

MEDIUM The minutes misstate or omit who seconded several motions

RSA 91-A:2, II states (statute text): “The names of the members who made or seconded each motion shall be recorded in the minutes.” The 6/15/22 minutes credit every one of the six minutes approvals to “Steven Horsky … second by Joshua Lambert”. The recording does not support that for at least two of them. On the January 18 minutes the second comes from the voice the dialogue file labels Whitney Skillen (Second., 0:04:33) and the chair announces “Second by the Whitney.” (0:04:33); the minutes record Lambert as seconder and say Whitney Skillen abstained. On the February 16 minutes the second (0:05:14) is in the voice the dialogue file labels Heather Whitney. The minutes also approve “May 16, 2022” minutes where the motion on tape is for “May 18th, 2022” (0:05:52).

The CCTV appointment is the clearer gap. The minutes record “Frank Sprague made a motion to appoint Eric Zengota and Mark Chase to the CCTV board” and the split vote, but name no seconder. On tape a second is made (“Second, second.”, 2:08:08) and the chair acknowledges it (“Whitley. Further discussion.”, 2:08:10); the voice is labeled Whitney Skillen in the dialogue file. The mover on tape is not identified by voice, so this page does not contradict the minutes on that point. Graded MEDIUM: the minutes exist and are detailed elsewhere, but the mover-seconder record that the statute specifically requires is inaccurate in places.

Sources: RSA 91-A:2, II, 2022 codification (names of members who made or seconded each motion); CSB Agenda minutes 6.15.22 .pdf

OBSERVATION The guaranteed food-service surplus was described as available to address unpaid meal debt; federal guidance says that debt must be restored from non-federal funds

Asked whether the vendor’s guaranteed $25,000 annual surplus solves the district’s unpaid meal balances, the assistant superintendent for finance said it “gives the board the ability to address that balance should the board decide to.” (1:30:23) and that “we have the ability within the food service process to be able to address any of those delinquent accounts.” (1:30:33). He also said that unpaid meal debt is the district’s, not the vendor’s: “If that debt cannot be covered, it’s our bad debt.” (1:33:10). The chair put past food-service debt at “$30,000 plus.” (1:32:51).

USDA’s memo SP 23-2017 (March 23, 2017) states that nonprofit school food service account resources “may not be used to cover costs related to the bad debt” and that “these losses must be restored using non-Federal funds.” If the guaranteed surplus is paid into the food service account, using it to write off delinquent meal charges would run against that guidance. No decision was taken at this meeting, and the guarantee could be structured or used differently; this is noted so a reader can watch how the surplus is applied. The memo is guidance, not a regulation, so the item is an observation.

Sources: USDA FNS SP 23-2017, Unpaid Meal Charges (bad debt restored from non-federal funds)

OBSERVATION A signed MS-22 for the March 2022 appropriations was still being collected in June

Opening the food-service item, the assistant superintendent for finance asked members to sign “a document that goes into the state which is called miss 22 [MS-22], and it’s the budget that was actually approved at the time. We approve the budget in March.” He added: “We’ve already provided to them without signatures, but they want it with signatures.” (1:04:34).

RSA 21-J:34, II requires the governing body’s report that “shall certify the appropriations voted” to be filed “within 20 days of the close of the meeting.” By his account a report was filed but without the certifying signatures, three months after the March vote. The record does not show when the unsigned copy was filed or whether the Department of Revenue Administration treated it as received, so this is an observation rather than a missed-deadline finding.

Sources: RSA 21-J:34, II (appropriations report certified and filed within 20 days; source note ends 2007, 182:2)

OBSERVATION A revised police MOU giving every cruiser keys to the schools was to be signed without a board vote

The superintendent described a revised memorandum of understanding with the Claremont Police Department, “emailed … out today” and to be executed the next day (1:53:28, 1:55:21), under which keys to the schools will be in every cruiser: “There’ll be one in every cruiser so that they can get in the building quickly” (1:54:59). The chair asked whether a motion was needed and answered himself, “I don’t you don’t need a motion to enter this.” and the superintendent agreed, adding that counsel was reviewing it and that “it’s a state boilerplate.” (2:00:39, 2:00:47).

This page has not identified a statute or board policy requiring board approval of such an agreement, so nothing here suggests the procedure was unlawful. It is noted because the agreement changes physical access to every school building and the board saw it only on the day it was circulated. The signed MOU is not in the district’s public shares.

Sources: CSB Agenda minutes 6.15.22 .pdf (item “Revised Claremont Public Schools MOU; Safety Planning”)

OBSERVATION Two CCTV board seats were filled on expired terms with no posted vacancy, over two members’ objection

The chair added the CCTV appointments to the agenda at the start (0:01:39) and called the two incumbents’ terms “technically currently expired” (2:02:43). Heather Whitney said a resident had asked her how to be considered and “didn’t know if there was a deadline or what the process was.” (2:02:12). A CCTV representative, named Josh Nelson in the minutes, said “People can apply at any time.” and that the term “basically ended at the end of May.” (2:03:07, 2:04:23); asked how vacancies are made public, he said CCTV is “our own nonprofit” that does not have to post them (2:06:22). The board reappointed the two incumbents; the minutes record Heather Whitney and Steven Horsky voting no.

No statute governing how a school board fills its seats on a private nonprofit’s board has been identified, so this is an observation. It matters for this project directly: Claremont Community Television (CCTV) / Claremont Community Media Center (CCMC) made this recording and publishes these pages (see the footer).

Sources: CSB Agenda minutes 6.15.22 .pdf

OBSERVATION The minutes were first posted to the district’s Drive share 36 days after the meeting

RSA 91-A:2, II requires minutes to be “open to public inspection not more than 5 business days after the meeting”. Five business days from Wednesday, June 15, 2022 ends Wednesday, June 22 (June 20 was not a New Hampshire legal holiday; RSA 288:1 does not list Juneteenth). The only copy located, CSB Agenda minutes 6.15.22 .pdf, was created in the district’s Drive share on July 21, 2022, inside the packet folder for the July 20 meeting, which was itself created that day.

The Drive date shows when the district assembled the packet archive, not when the minutes were written or first available at the SAU office, and the board approved them on July 20. The document is also a combined agenda-and-minutes file: no separate posted agenda survives. Graded as an observation because the record cannot show when inspection was first possible.

Sources: RSA 91-A:2, II, 2022 codification (five business days); RSA 288:1 (legal holidays); Drive folder 1. CSB 7.20.22

POSITIVE The food-service vendor was chosen through a scored, state-template RFP presented in full in public session

The assistant superintendent for finance explained that a food service management contract can be rolled over yearly but must be rebid after five years (1:05:05), read the weighted criteria aloud (“the financial proposal, we’ve waited that 30 points”, 1:07:41), said the scoring used “lists of questions that the state recommends.” (1:11:48), described site visits to both bidders’ districts (1:17:00), and confirmed that the $25,000 annual surplus guarantee is in the contract (1:43:06). The presentation and the questions from members and two members of the public ran about forty minutes before the vote.

Federal rules cap a contract with a food service management company at one year, with renewals that “may not exceed 4 additional years”; the five-year rebid he described matches that cycle. Laying out the scoring sheet and the vendors’ guarantees in public before voting goes beyond what any rule cited here requires.

Sources: 7 CFR 210.16(d), 2022 CFR edition (one-year contract, four renewals)

POSITIVE Public comment was invited on every discussion item, before state law required any comment period

The chair opened citizens’ comments with “Just a reminder that citizens comments will be also part of any of the discussion items.” (0:06:18). He then took public questions on the data presentation (0:16:53) and on the food-service selection before the vote (1:34:54, 1:38:45). RSA 189:74, which requires a public comment period at school board meetings, took effect on September 6, 2022, after this meeting; no statute then required this.

Sources: RSA 189:74 (public comment; 2022, 333:1, eff. Sept. 6, 2022)

Appendix: source files

Official and public sources

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