Participants
Everyone in the record. Spellings follow the agenda and draft minutes; where the dialogue file labels a speaker differently, the label is noted. Most members are never named on the recording.
| Name | Role | Participation |
|---|
| Marjorie Erickson | SAU 6 Chair (Unity) | Arrives during the superintendent's report (first heard at 0:10:54) and presides from about 0:15:05: runs the budget-timeline, audit, staffing and future-agenda items, confirms merit pay is not being pursued (0:50:49) and promises to convene the superintendent goal-setting subcommittee (0:51:12). Never named on tape; the draft minutes name her as chair and record her reminder about goal-setting. |
| Frank Sprague | SAU 6 Vice Chair (Claremont) | Draft minutes: "Meeting called to order by Frank Sprague." The opening presiding voice (0:00:32 to 0:04:00) is labeled Unidentified in the dialogue file; the minutes also credit him with seconding the April 21 minutes. |
| Steven Horsky | Member (Claremont) | Abstains on two sets of minutes (0:02:54); questions the COVID figures (0:11:33) and the consultant's comparison districts (0:22:23); argues for an October 27 budget meeting (0:31:56, 0:32:31); asks about merit pay (0:50:26); moves adjournment (0:52:04). |
| Whitney Skillen | Member (Claremont), participating remotely | "This is Whitney, and I. You probably can't see me." (0:20:34); asks how staff can speak candidly to the consultants (0:20:40, 0:21:56); will miss October 27 (0:35:54). Draft minutes: seconded adjournment. The dialogue file marks the identification uncertain. |
| Bonnie Miles | Member (Claremont) | Moves the June 16 minutes (0:03:54). |
| Joshua Lambert | Member (Claremont) | Seconds the agenda (0:02:13); draft minutes: moved the December 16 and April 21 minutes. |
| Shannon Popescu | Member (Unity) | Seconds the June 16 minutes (0:03:57). |
| Michael Petrin | Member (Claremont) | Draft minutes: moved approval of the agenda. The dialogue file gives that row (0:02:09) to the superintendent; see the footer. |
| Rocco Ruggeri, Atonya Hart | Members (Unity) | Present per draft minutes; neither is named on the recording. |
| Heather Whitney | Member (Claremont) | The draft minutes list her as both present and absent; she is not named or identifiable on the recording. |
| Garry Bator | Member (Unity) | Absent (draft minutes). |
| Unidentified members | Board members | Ask about the study timeline and split roles (0:24:16, 0:24:42), the Unity audit (0:39:52), and job postings and ESSER-funded positions (0:42:32, 0:44:32). |
| Michael Tempesta | Superintendent, SAU 6 | Superintendent's report: FableVision events, SB 420, the staffing study, COVID figures (0:04:27 to 0:14:06); staffing update (0:40:39). |
| Richard Seaman | Assistant Superintendent for Finance, Operations and HR, SAU 6 | Budget calendar (0:27:41); audits and grants (0:36:29 to 0:39:41). |
| William (Bill) Lupini | Consultant, SAU staffing study (remote) | Describes the study he is conducting with Anne Wilson (0:15:35 to 0:20:13) and answers questions until 0:27:12. |
Agenda
Item wording is quoted from the official agenda (SAU 6 School Board Agenda 9.29.22 .pdf); dispositions come from the recording and the draft minutes. All votes were by voice.
Agenda items, when each was taken up, and what was decided.
| Taken up | Item | Agenda text / disposition |
|---|
| 0:00:32 | I. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance | Called to order by the vice chair (draft minutes). |
| 0:00:58 | II. Secretary Roll Call | An acting secretary calls the roll (0:00:58). Draft minutes: present Erickson, Sprague, Petrin, Popescu, Ruggeri, Hart, Horsky, Lambert, Miles, Skillen and Heather Whitney; absent Bator and Heather Whitney. The minutes do not note Erickson's late arrival although the agenda says late arrivals "will be noted". |
| 0:01:49 | II.a Agenda | Approved as presented. Draft minutes: motion Michael Petrin, second Joshua Lambert ("Seconded by Josh", 0:02:14). |
| 0:02:21 | II.b Minutes: December 16, 2021; April 21, 2022; June 16, 2022 | Taken separately because Horsky abstains on two (0:02:54). December 16: approved; draft minutes credit Lambert and Horsky. April 21: approved, Horsky abstaining; draft minutes credit Lambert and Sprague. June 16: "Motion made by Bonnie. Seconded by Shannon." Horsky abstaining (0:04:00). |
| 0:04:00 | II.c Citizens Comments | No citizens present; closed. |
| 0:04:27 | III. Superintendent Report | FableVision literacy events, SB 420 special meetings, introduction of the staffing study, COVID figures, staffing shortages. |
| 0:14:58 | IV.a SAU 6 Consultant Review Discussion/ Update | Presentation by consultant William Lupini; written report and presentation expected early November. No action. |
| 0:27:22 | IV.b FY23 SAU 6 Budget Timeline | Agreed by consensus, no vote: October 27, December 1, and final approval targeted December 15 (0:34:50). The agenda's FY23 is the budget being prepared for the next fiscal year. |
| 0:36:24 | IV.c Update of SAU 6 Financial Audits/Grants | Report; no action. See flag 1. |
| 0:40:37 | IV.d SAU 6 Staffing Update | Report; no action. |
| 0:47:25 | V. Future Agenda Items | Budget, the consultants' report, SAU policy review, superintendent goal-setting. |
| 0:51:48 | VI. Other Business; VII. Closing Activities | Horsky moved to adjourn (0:52:04); draft minutes: seconded by Whitney Skillen; carried by voice (0:52:13). |
Discussion timeline
Times are taken from the dialogue transcript (Dialogue/14630 SAU6092922.mp4.CSV) and link into the recording.
Chronological topics with what was said. Quotations are from the transcript as transcribed.
| Time | Topic | What was said | Flags |
|---|
| 0:00:58 | Roll call | "Are you acting Secretary tonight? I can be." The roll is called; one response is "Whitney. Skilling." (0:01:44). | MEDIUM |
| 0:02:21 | Minutes | The presiding member: "We don't have them here, but we received them by email." Three sets approved separately, Horsky abstaining on two. | |
| 0:04:29 | FableVision events | Tempesta describes the Peter Reynolds literacy events and credits the SAU's contracted publicist, "Contracted for for coming out with the, with the esser money" (0:05:24). | |
| 0:05:50 | SB 420 money | SB 420 money is "coming into both districts"; Claremont's special meeting "It's going to be on 1020" (0:06:14). "We have to have accountability plans for both saying how we're going to use the money" (0:06:35). | |
| 0:06:50 | Staffing study introduced | Tempesta: members and he contacted Will Phillips of the School Boards Association to find someone to "do an audit of the staffing that was requested" and compare the SAU with districts of similar size (0:07:14). The consultant has worked for the Collins Center and been a superintendent in three states (0:07:43). | |
| 0:08:39 | COVID figures | Tempesta: "34 students were out, total population of 1650 17 members of the staff were out" in SAU-wide figures, and in Unity, of 366, two students and no staff (0:09:21, 0:09:45). Horsky confirms Claremont's share as 32 students (0:11:55). Home testing means "there's not a lot of validity in all of the numbers" (0:09:45). Drivers and paraprofessionals remain short; the transportation coordinator is driving (0:13:39, 0:14:06). | |
| 0:15:35 | Consultant's overview | Lupini: the study asks whether the SAU is "appropriately staffed" with people "in the right positions" on two tracks, document review and interviews; three days of interviews done and four more scheduled (0:16:31, 0:17:05); comparison districts still being chosen (0:17:37); "we have a timeline that I think gets you a report in in early November" (0:18:14); other issues such as course offerings and special education will be shared but not studied as deeply (0:18:53). | |
| 0:20:40 | Candor and fear of retaliation | Skillen, remote: "How will you provide a safe space for the school staff to be candid about what is not working from their perspective?" Lupini: "we will not be attributing anything to any individuals in the report" (0:20:57). Skillen says teachers have told her they fear retaliation (0:21:56); Lupini: "We can't give you recommendations that will help you if they don't." (0:22:11). | POSITIVE |
| 0:22:23 | Comparison districts; deliverable | Horsky asks why Vermont is not among the comparisons; Lupini says it will be (0:22:44). Product: a written report and a presentation (0:23:59); preliminary findings end of the month, final report "first or second week of November ish" (0:24:20). A member asks whether staff who carry duties beyond their title will be recognized; Lupini cites special education at the high school being managed by the two assistant principals (0:25:20). | |
| 0:27:41 | Budget calendar | Seaman proposes the third Thursdays (October 20, November 17, December 15), noting that "90% of the budget for the Saw is people" so the staffing study matters (0:28:40). Tempesta: October 20 is Claremont's special meeting (0:30:13); Seaman offers October 27. Horsky: November 17 "is pushing it" (0:32:31), and without the study "it's just money that we lit on fire" (0:34:13). Agreed: October 27, December 1, December 15 (0:34:50). | |
| 0:36:29 | Audits | Seaman: a draft of Unity's 2020 audit arrived this week (0:36:29). The auditor asks to push "the date for the Claremont audit, which was supposed to have been done by tomorrow to the end of next month", citing "the unexpected departure of two senior members of the six Sanderson team" [Plodzik & Sanderson] and "the continuing effort that we have in reconciling our grant funds" (0:36:55, 0:37:19); the delay "will not impact having our fiscal 22 completed by the 15th of February" (0:37:19). Then Claremont 21 and 22 (0:38:02). Unity's 2020 audit awaits a four-page representation letter (0:39:57). | HIGH |
| 0:38:27 | Federal grants | Seaman: Claremont used "all of the title, except for, I think, about $10,000 of the title, two, three, and four funds" (0:38:27); "Now we haven't completed the expenditure of those" but "we've met the required time frames" (0:39:20). | OBSERVATION |
| 0:40:39 | SAU staffing | Chelsea Weatherford moves from part-time receptionist to assistant to the superintendent; a new part-time receptionist (Susan Cantara in the draft minutes) starts soon; Melissa Small's departure was a hard loss (0:40:39, 0:41:16). A member notes the receptionist posting is still up (0:42:32) and asks how an assistant to the assistant superintendent is funded; Tempesta: a Claremont position, ESSER-funded, replacing Tammy Morse (0:42:51, 0:43:01). Tempesta says the superintendent has had no administrative assistant "For at least 12 years or so" (0:45:59). | |
| 0:47:25 | Future meetings and items | Four SAU 6 meetings before December 15 (Tempesta: "That's a year's worth in other years ago", 0:49:22). Erickson notes SAU policies have not been reviewed "in a long time" (0:50:04); Tempesta will send them to the School Boards Association (0:50:08). | |
| 0:50:26 | Superintendent merit pay | Horsky asks whether the merit-pay review process was finalized; the answer: "it's been discontinued" (0:50:50). Erickson will reconvene the goal-setting subcommittee (0:51:12). | |
| 0:52:04 | Adjournment | Horsky moves to adjourn; carried by voice. Tempesta: "I think that's a record." (0:52:18). | |
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 September 29, 2022, or is labeled an observation where no verified rule applies.
HIGH Claremont's fiscal 2020 audit, due in 2021, was still unfinished and was pushed to the end of October 2022
Seaman reported that the auditor asked to move "the date for the Claremont audit, which was supposed to have been done by tomorrow to the end of next month", for Claremont's 2020 audit, with Claremont's 2021 and 2022 audits to follow (0:36:55, 0:38:02). Fiscal 2020 ended June 30, 2020. Under 2 CFR 200.512(a)(1), a single audit 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), that is March 31, 2021, and OMB Memorandum M-21-20 allowed fiscal years ending through June 30, 2021 a further six months, to September 30, 2021. The single-audit requirement applies when a district spends $750,000 or more in federal awards in the year (2 CFR 200.501(a)); the recording does not give Claremont's fiscal 2020 federal total, though the same report describes Title II, III and IV grants and ESSER money. Unity's 2020 audit was only in final draft. Mitigation stated on the record: the auditor attributed the delay to losing two senior staff and to grant reconciliation, and Seaman said the plan keeps fiscal 2022 on schedule, "as is required" (0:38:02).
Sources: 2 CFR 200.512(a)(1), 2022 annual edition (earlier of 30 days or nine months after period end); OMB M-21-20 (Mar. 19, 2021), App. 3, sec. IX (six-month delay for fiscal years ending through June 30, 2021); 2 CFR 200.501(a), 2022 annual edition ($750,000 threshold)
MEDIUM A member took part remotely, but votes were by voice and the minutes give no reason for the remote participation
A member identified as Whitney Skillen joined remotely ("You probably can't see me. I don't think you can see me. There I am now.", 0:20:34), answered the roll (0:01:44) and, per the draft minutes, seconded the adjournment. RSA 91-A:2, III, in the form in force from January 1, 2019 to October 2, 2023, allows a member to participate remotely only when attendance in person is "not reasonably practical", with the reason "stated in the minutes", and provides that "All votes taken during such a meeting shall be by roll call vote." (statute text). Every vote at this meeting (agenda, three sets of minutes, adjournment) was by voice, and the draft minutes do not mention remote participation at all. The COVID emergency order that once relaxed these rules ended in June 2021. Mitigation: a physical quorum was present, so the remote participation did not decide whether the board could act.
Sources: RSA 91-A:2, III(a) and (e), 2022 codification (source note ends 2018, 244:1): remote participation, reason in minutes, roll-call votes
MEDIUM The minutes reached the public share 48 days after the meeting, as an unapproved draft
RSA 91-A:2, II requires minutes to be "open to public inspection not more than 5 business days after the meeting" (statute text), here October 6, 2022. The only copy located is draft SAU 6 School Board Meeting Minutes 9.29.22, created in the November 16, 2022 packet folder on November 16. The search was two-stage, per the project's rule for SAU 6: this meeting's own folder (2. SAU SB 9.29.22, which per MAP.md holds only the agenda), then the later SAU 6 2022 folders recorded in MAP.md, of which the next is 3. SAU SB 11.16.22; the Claremont Meeting Minutes share starts in 2023. This applies the MEDIUM limb of the project's severity rule: the meeting was noticed and minutes exist, but the first public copy is far outside the window. Drive dates show when the share received a file, not whether the SAU office could produce minutes on request.
Sources: RSA 91-A:2, II, 2022 codification (source note ends 2018, 244:1): minutes within five business days; mover and seconder
OBSERVATION The draft minutes contradict themselves and the recording on several points
The draft minutes list Heather Whitney as both Present and Absent (minutes text). They record the chair as present from the roll call without noting her late arrival, although the agenda's own roll-call rule says members who arrive late "will be noted as" present at the point they arrive. They say "All Titles 2, 3, & 4 grant funds were spent" (minutes text), where Seaman said Claremont used all "except for, I think, about $10,000" and "we haven't completed the expenditure of those" (0:38:27, 0:39:20). They credit Horsky with proposing October 27 "due to the Special District meeting" (minutes text); on tape the superintendent raised the conflict and Seaman offered the 27th (0:30:13, 0:30:24), and Horsky then argued for it. The minutes do name a mover and seconder for each vote, as RSA 91-A:2, II requires.
Sources: draft SAU 6 School Board Meeting Minutes 9.29.22; SAU 6 School Board Agenda 9.29.22 .pdf; the recording
OBSERVATION The agenda reached the public share 30 minutes before the meeting
The agenda file in 2. SAU SB 9.29.22 was created at 6:00 p.m. Eastern on September 29, 2022 (Drive createdTime 22:00 UTC), half an hour before the 6:30 call to order. MAP.md records no other document in the folder; the earlier minutes the board approved were not posted with the agenda, and the presiding member said members "received them by email" (0:02:21). RSA 91-A:2, II requires notice of the meeting's time and place at least 24 hours ahead, not a posted agenda, and a notice may have been posted elsewhere; no rule was broken on this record. It is noted because the Drive share was the public's main route to the agenda.
Sources: RSA 91-A:2, II, 2022 codification: 24-hour notice of time and place; Drive metadata for SAU 6 School Board Agenda 9.29.22 .pdf (read 2026-10-03)
POSITIVE Staff fear of retaliation was raised in public, and the consultant committed to non-attribution on the record
A member asked how the consultants would let staff "be candid about what is not working" given "fear or apprehension towards negative feedback because of previous experience" (0:20:40), and said she was asking so teachers watching would know they could speak (0:21:56). The consultant answered on the record that nothing would be attributed to individuals (0:20:57). No rule requires this; putting the assurance on a public recording gives staff something they can rely on.
Sources: the recording (0:20:40 to 0:22:11)
Appendix: source files
Official and public sources
- Cablecast: SAU 6 Board Meeting of 9/29/22 (show 14630; run time from the Cablecast API not retrieved, as the API refuses requests from this environment, so the transcript's last row is used)
- Drive packet folder 2. SAU SB 9.29.22 (SAU 6 Schoolboard Packets, 2022 Meeting Packets; 1 document per MAP.md):
- Minutes: draft SAU 6 School Board Meeting Minutes 9.29.22, filed in
3. SAU SB 11.16.22 (created November 16, 2022). No approved version located; Drive API folder listings return nothing for these folders, so this is "not found", not "does not exist".
- Related meeting pages: Claremont School Board, September 21, 2022 and October 5, 2022 (SB 420 funds)
Project files
Working files this page was built from. The dialogue file is linked; the others are not published with the page.
Dialogue/14630 SAU6092922.mp4.CSV (314 attributed rows; the basis of this page)Input/Videos/14630 SAU6092922.mp4Input/Transcripts/14630 SAU6092922.mp4.jsonInput/SupportingDocuments/MAP.md, section 176Scripts/attribution_reports_2015_2023/14630 SAU6092922.mp4.md (speaker attribution report)
Laws and rules cited on this page
- 2 CFR 200.512(a)(1), 2022 annual edition: single-audit due date
- 2 CFR 200.501(a), 2022 annual edition: $750,000 single-audit threshold
- OMB Memorandum M-21-20 (Mar. 19, 2021), App. 3, sec. IX: six-month single-audit delay for fiscal years ending through June 30, 2021
- RSA 91-A:2, II and III(a), (e), 2022 codification (2018, 244:1): notice, minutes, remote participation, roll-call votes