Participants
Everyone heard or addressed on the recording. Spellings follow the agenda and approved minutes; where the dialogue file differs, both are shown. Students are not named on this page. The dialogue file attributes no rows to Brian Rapp and merges several men's voices under William Madden's label; where the minutes name a different speaker, both sources are given.
| Name | Role | Participation |
|---|
| Candace Crawford | Chair | Presides. Introduces Broadrick (0:00:47); approves the consent agenda without a motion (0:02:46); explains why the Claremont board makes SAU-level appointments (0:37:31); relays the metal-detector grant figures (0:42:51); asks to move the goal-setting meeting to July (1:47:44). |
| Michael Petrin | Vice chair | States that the board never voted on the metal detectors or their grant (0:44:50, 0:45:14); seconds moving policy EBCH to second read (minutes); answers the return roll call (1:46:03). The minutes also credit him with recognizing the student representative's award, which the dialogue file labels Madden (0:08:04). |
| Heather Whitney | Member; Finance subcommittee; reconfiguration ad hoc chair | Questions the forensic-audit engagement change (0:40:28) and the lunch-refund procedure (0:56:11); asks when a firm deficit figure will exist (1:02:47); moves the CCTV reappointment (1:22:00), the HR appointment (1:27:23) and the seal (1:46:11); seconds the Kennedy appointment (1:24:08); moves to table policy FA and withdraws (1:34:55, 1:40:37); asks for a TMS report (1:52:22). |
| William Madden | Member; Capital Improvements chair | Present. The dialogue file's Madden label is a merged cluster; the minutes assign several of its turns to Rapp, Lavalette, Howard, Petrin or Matt Bean (see flag 10). Turns the minutes do not reassign include the consent-agenda remark (0:02:39) and the question on CMS award displays (0:23:33). The minutes credit him with the PowerSchool question the dialogue file labels Lavalette (1:53:31) and with seconding the FA tabling motion. |
| Loren Howard | Member; Policy subcommittee chair; ad hoc communications | Delivered the board's teacher-appreciation tulips with Lavalette (0:19:42); reports NH Listens contact (1:29:19); presents policies EBCA, EBCB, EBCH and FA (1:30:40); moves EBCH to second read (1:40:41); seconds the return from nonpublic (1:45:48). |
| Don Lavalette | Member; Policy and Finance subcommittees; reconfiguration ad hoc | Moves the Kennedy appointment (1:23:56); seconds EBCA/EBCB (1:34:25); answers a commenter's fear about CMS (1:29:39); says board members paid for the tulips (1:48:57); reads his reasons for voting to hire Broadrick (1:50:17). |
| Brian Rapp | Member; Policy and Capital Improvements subcommittees | Present at roll call (0:01:46). No row in the dialogue file carries his name. The minutes record him moving the forensic engagement change, the nonpublic session and the return, seconding the CCTV reappointment and the seal, and asking for a finance update and for documents before meetings. |
| Noelle Kronberg | School board clerk | Calls the rolls (0:01:46, 1:45:55, 1:46:25); explains the special-meeting minutes (0:02:15); suggests exemption II(c) for the student matter (1:44:51). |
| Kerry Kennedy | Interim Superintendent, SAU 6 | Reports the calendar waiver (0:26:03), graduation (0:27:21) and Goshen's letter (0:27:57); reconfiguration (1:14:07); 15 new Right-to-Know requests (1:17:23); adds a student-transportation discipline matter for nonpublic (1:17:31); presents the general assurances (1:19:17); appointed director of curriculum, instruction and assessment and describes her background (1:24:35). |
| Matt Angell | Senior Comptroller / Interim Business Administrator | Forensic-audit engagement letter (0:38:55); cash, audit and invoice report (0:48:38 to 0:53:28); manifest procedure and the refund (0:54:33); deficit and DOE-25 timetable (1:01:52, 1:04:18); expected audit disclaimers (1:05:52); OPEB actuary (1:09:44); hiring "throttling" (1:10:44); floor-plan safety (1:16:39); the Alma contract (1:54:22). |
| Dr. Timothy Broadrick | Incoming superintendent (from July 1, 2026); guest | Summarizes his memo: Kennedy's appointment, administrative postings, the HR nomination and the calendar (0:29:57 to 0:37:05); comments on the opening-balance problem and the DOE-25 deadline (1:06:39, 1:07:23). His own memo signs "Broadrick"; the minutes and the transcript use "Broderick". |
| Dr. Michael Herrington | Principal, Stevens High School | Says he was told to put the metal detectors up and then take them down (0:42:14, 0:46:06). ASR renders "Harrington". |
| Students (two) | Stevens student board representative; CMS math-team member | The representative's report (0:03:30); the math team presentation (0:21:26). Not named on this page. |
| Ms. Gagnon | CMS math teacher and coach | Describes the Prodigy program and the state win (0:23:59). Named in the minutes; the dialogue file leaves her unidentified, and the interim superintendent's introduction is transcribed "Miss Jennifer Gannon" (0:20:53). |
| Steven (surname in conflict) | Citizens' comments, Ward 2 | Seeks a $395.20 lunch-account refund (0:08:52); speaks again from the floor (0:53:57, 0:57:30). The minutes name him "Steven Horsky"; the chair addresses him as "Mr. Walker" at 0:57:28 and the dialogue file labels him Stephen Walker. This page prints neither surname as fact. |
| Rebecca | Citizens' comments, Ward 1; CMS teacher and SREA building representative | Staffing at CMS (0:11:59); asks about offer letters (1:10:13). The minutes spell her surname "Vinduska"; the project does not print a spelling as fact (see the method note). |
| Rod Beaton | Citizens' comments, Ward 2 | Asks why positions are not posted (0:15:13). |
| Michelle Springer-Blake | Citizens' comments, Ward 2 | The Academy program (0:16:20). The dialogue file labels her "Michelle Springer". |
| Gary Merchant | Ward 2; state representative | Asks how sports will be funded given a $1 budget line (1:13:11). |
| Matt Bean | Member of the public (per the minutes) | The minutes credit him with the question on the $1 million deficit figure at 0:59:17; the dialogue file labels that turn Madden. |
| Unidentified | Various | 30 dialogue rows, including the second on the forensic motion (0:40:18), the EBCA/EBCB mover (1:34:23) and an audience member, self-described as a teacher, who asks that floor plans not be published (1:17:00). |
Named but not present: Amy Savage (appointed HR director), Chelsea Weatherford (departing interim HR manager), Joella Merchant (reappointed to the CCTV board; the transcript renders "Joel Merchant"), Goshen School Board chair Peter Brigham (letter read aloud), Unity board chair Rocco Ruggeri, the TMS consulting firm and Bernstein Shur (board counsel for the forensic audit; ASR "Bernstein Shaw").
Agenda
Items from 5.6.26 CSB Meeting Agenda; agenda wording is quoted from that document. Dispositions from the recording, checked against the approved minutes. The chair moved the student report ahead of citizens' comments, and the board took up the follow-up items after the finance update.
| Taken up | Item | Agenda text / disposition |
|---|
| 0:00:15 | 1. Call to order | Pledge; the chair introduces Broadrick (0:00:47). |
| 0:01:28 | 2. General business | Roll call; minutes: "All present". |
| 0:01:52 | a. Consent agenda | Agenda: "Approval of Minutes: 3/30/26, 4/9/26, 4/15/26, 4/17/26" and "Approval of Manifest". The chair: minutes "which I thought we had done, but apparently we had been amending the minutes. We hadn't voted to approve all of them." No motion or vote: "Seeing no opposition, we're. We approve of them." (0:02:46). Minutes: "Consent approval of all". |
| 0:03:19 | c. Student board member report (moved up) | Report by the Stevens representative. |
| 0:08:40 | b. Citizens' comments | Four speakers: Steven (Ward 2), Rebecca (Ward 1), Rod Beaton, Michelle Springer-Blake. Closed at 0:19:42, about 11 minutes. |
| 0:20:24 | d. Superintendent's report | Agenda: "CMS Math Team Recognition", "Last Day of School", "SHS Graduation Details", "Notice From Goshen School District". Broadrick then summarizes his memo (0:29:57). |
| 0:38:28 | d. Finance update | Agenda: "Re-sign forensic audit engagement letter". The chair asks for a motion authorizing her to sign (0:40:12); an unidentified second (0:40:18); "All those in favor say aye." is followed by Whitney's question, and the chair then declares "The motion carries." (0:41:10) with no further call heard. Minutes: Rapp moved, Whitney seconded, "Voice vote taken, all present voting in favor". A finance discussion follows from 0:47:26. |
| 0:41:10 | Follow-up items | Agenda: "Metal Detectors Grant: Language and Disposal of Equipment" (0:41:10); "Reconfiguration of Schools for '26-'27 School Year Updates" (1:13:59); "Academy Update- moved to June"; "PreK Analysis- moved to June" (1:18:11). A student-transportation discipline matter is added for nonpublic session (1:17:31). |
| 1:19:01 | General assurances (not on the agenda) | Presented by the interim superintendent; deferred to May 20 because it was not on the agenda and members could not open the document (1:20:16, 1:21:00). |
| 1:21:04 | 1. Reappointment to CCTV Board | Agenda: "Reappointment of Joella Merchant to CCTV Board". Whitney moved (1:22:00); minutes: Rapp seconded. Voice vote, carried (1:22:17, 1:22:20); minutes: "All present voting in favor". Whitney notes she did not receive the reappointment paperwork (1:21:13). |
| 1:22:28 | 2. Personnel: Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment | Lavalette moved "that we appoint Carrie Kennedy as the Director of curriculum, Instruction and assessment of July 1st at the salary that was negotiated." (1:23:56); Whitney seconded (1:24:08); voice vote, carried (1:26:59). Minutes: "Voice vote, all present voting in favor". No salary is stated on the record. See flag 6. |
| 1:27:10 | 2. Personnel: Human Resources Director | Whitney moved to appoint Amy Savage "at the salary negotiated" (1:27:23); minutes: Lavalette seconded. Voice vote, carried (1:28:18). See flag 6. |
| 1:28:53 | Subcommittee reports | Superintendent evaluation subcommittee named (1:28:53); NH Listens (1:29:19); reconfiguration ad hoc (1:29:39). Policy first reads: EBCA and EBCB adopted as revisions by voice vote (1:34:39; minutes: Howard moved, Lavalette seconded); EBCH moved to second read (1:41:09; minutes: Howard moved, Petrin seconded); a motion to table FA was withdrawn and FA stays with the committee (1:40:37, 1:41:19). |
| 1:44:08 | Non-public session | Agenda: "Non-Public Session RSA 91-A:3,II(b&l)". On the floor the clerk adds II(c) for the student matter (1:44:51). Minutes: Rapp moved "under RSA 91-A:3,II(b,l,&c)", Whitney seconded; roll call, all present in favor (1:45:16 to 1:45:28); in at 8:16 p.m. Return: So moved. (1:45:44; minutes: Rapp), Howard seconded (1:45:48); roll call (1:45:55); minutes: out at 8:56 p.m. Seal: Whitney moved "to seal the minutes until September 1st, 2027." (1:46:11); roll call, all yes (1:46:25). See flag 1. |
| 1:46:32 | IV. Other business; V. Future dates | SAU 6 meeting moved to May 28 (1:46:42); goal-setting meeting moved to July by consensus (1:47:44, 1:47:55); members' remarks (1:48:57 to 1:54:54). |
| 1:55:07 | VI. Adjournment | Motion to adjourn, "So moved." Minutes: 9:06 p.m. |
Discussion timeline
Times are taken from the dialogue transcript (Dialogue/17348 SchoolBoard050626.mp4.CSV) and link into the recording.
| Time | Topic | What was said | Flags |
|---|
| 0:00:47 | Incoming superintendent introduced | The chair: Broadrick "is going to be our new superintendent as of July 1st" and will spend a day a week in the district until then. | |
| 0:01:52 | Minutes approved by consent | Four sets of minutes, including special meetings the clerk says "were only non public meetings" (0:02:15); approved with no motion: "Seeing no opposition, we're. We approve of them." (0:02:46). | |
| 0:03:30 | Student representative's report | Senior play, the spring musical (May 21 to 23), Music in the Parks, a guest clinician, a student-composed band piece, sports, Key Club, the NHS blood drive, prom on May 16 and senior events. A member notes her community award (0:08:04). | |
| 0:08:52 | Public comment: lunch-account refund | Steven (Ward 2): "I have simply asked this school district Food Services Department to refund funds in my students account that have not been utilized since October 8th of 2025." The request was made in writing on April 23; the account "still shows a positive balance in the account of 395 20." (0:09:22). District policy "refers to New Hampshire RSA 19723 A, which allows this board to direct funds to be paid, and there is no mention of a manifest." (0:09:44). "This district has a long history of bullying parents and taxpayers financially, and you will not bully me any longer." (0:11:38). | POSITIVE |
| 0:11:59 | Public comment: CMS staffing | Rebecca (Ward 1) thanks the board for the tulips; CMS returned from break "down three staff members" and "we continue again to hemorrhage people." (0:12:26); asks about required one-to-ones (0:13:25) and "There's a conspiracy theory that this has been done on purpose, that there is an effort to close another school." (0:14:09). | |
| 0:15:13 | Public comment: postings | Rod Beaton (Ward 2): "we've known for months that the CMS was going to need a principal next year. And that's not posted." (0:15:32); "we cut, I think, 19 positions from CMS at the beginning of the year" (0:15:52). | |
| 0:16:20 | Public comment: the Academy | Michelle Springer-Blake (Ward 2): "During discussions, it was stated that there were no current students with IEPs in that program, and that information was incorrect." Students with IEPs, some returned from out-of-district placements, are served there; "this program was never certified with the New Hampshire Department of Education" (0:16:45); the special educator is "regularly being pulled to another school, leaving the classroom to be run by non certified staff on a daily basis." and "some students, juniors and seniors have gone an entire year without earning credits from last year." (0:17:16). Proposes a certified alternative classroom (0:18:29). | OBSERVATION |
| 0:20:53 | CMS math recognitions | The MathCounts team presents; it earned a Silver Level Club pennant (0:23:06). Ms. Gagnon (minutes): "Last month, CMS won the New Hampshire state competition." for the Prodigy program (0:24:37). | |
| 0:26:03 | Last day of school | Kennedy: "our waiver letter request is being discussed on May 12th at the meeting." If approved, "June 12th for all of the schools." (0:26:21). The district counts hours; "elementary school had already showed already is already on track to meet theirs. It was the middle school and high school" that fell short (0:27:02). Graduation June 11 at 6:00 p.m. regardless (0:27:21). | MEDIUM |
| 0:27:57 | Goshen ends its tuition agreement | Kennedy reads Goshen board chair Peter Brigham's April 10 letter: Goshen "is not pursuing an extension to our anchor school tuition agreement that ends on June 30th, 2026." (0:28:14); current Goshen students at Stevens may stay to graduation (0:28:42). The matter goes to the SAU 6 board. | |
| 0:29:57 | Broadrick's memo | "Typically, in a New Hampshire school district, the superintendent nominates certified staff for the board to appoint." (0:30:16); here "the interim superintendent would have to nominate herself, which seems awkward." (0:30:40); recommends Kennedy for the curriculum post (0:31:55); postings for a CMS principal, Maple principal and an assistant principal: "Posting allows the district to receive applications. It does not compel the district to fill a position" (0:32:58); TMS will bridge HR until Savage (0:33:28, 0:33:54). | OBSERVATION |
| 0:34:58 | The 172.5-day calendar | Broadrick: "There's there's a regulation that requires a school district to schedule 180 days on its calendar, and there's a regulation that allows us to count hours" (0:35:29); "Claremont seems to have been scheduled only the number of days that it thinks will be required to get to the number of hours that are required." (0:36:12); "Your school calendar, approved by the school board last year for the current year for 2526, only had 100 and 72.5 school days on it." (0:36:38), hence a waiver of four days "which typically I would not expect them to approve". | MEDIUM |
| 0:37:15 | Who appoints SAU staff | The chair: these are SAU positions, but "after unity leaves Claremont is the SA six and therefore it's it's on us to make those, hirings, if you will." (0:37:31); within the current budget (0:38:03). | OBSERVATION |
| 0:38:55 | Forensic-audit engagement letter | Angell: the firm's agreement had the board's counsel, Bernstein Shur, primarily responsible for payment ("they were requiring our attorneys to be primarily responsible for paying the obligation."); Whitney struck it by hand; the firm retyped it and "it now says that we're financially responsible for paying them." (0:39:36). Whitney: "it was pretty clear that we didn't want to do that. That we were advised not to do that." (0:40:28). Angell: "We are now we're now signing an agreement that says the school district is responsible." (0:40:44). The minutes describe only a handwriting objection. | OBSERVATION |
| 0:41:34 | Metal detectors | The chair: "the money came from a grant. The question was, did we ever get reimbursed from the grant?"; "The total value of the grant was $19,100. And that included the equipment and training for the staff on how to use them." (0:42:51); "We voted not to install them there in the closet." (0:43:21). Herrington: told to put them up, then to take them down (0:42:22). A member: "we had to do an end of life survey" (0:44:22; dialogue file Madden, minutes Lavalette). Petrin: "The board never voted to put them up. The board never voted to take them down." (0:45:14). The grant document was uploaded to the packet at 7:20 p.m., during the meeting. | MEDIUM |
| 0:46:44 | Documents arriving late | A member: "I would really like to have it before the meeting." (0:46:57; dialogue file Madden, minutes Rapp). | |
| 0:48:38 | Cash and the audits | Angell: "we have just over $6 million." and "we haven't seen cash balances like this in years." On the auditors' invoice testing: "On a normal audit, you're looking at 50 to 100 invoices. I'm up to almost a thousand invoices, and I'm only two thirds of the way through their list." (0:49:49); "they've asked me to stop because I don't think they have the manpower to go through all of that data." (0:50:13); "I'm doing three years worth of of research and not everything is there. And so I can find lists of invoices. I just can't find copies of them." (0:51:33). The chair: "in the month of February, it was like over $12,000 for lawyers fees to handle the right to know requests." (0:52:43). | MEDIUM |
| 0:53:57 | The refund and the manifest | Angell: "the administration wasn't bringing manifests to the school board." (0:54:33); now "I'm going to give the school board copies of the manifest the Friday before every meeting." (0:54:59); "If there's an emergency, then I can get two school board members to come in and sign a manifest for emergencies." (0:55:28); "I have no authority to disperse funds unless the school board orders it." (0:55:53); "The school district is obligated to pay this. This parent, we it's their money." (0:56:23); payable after the May 20 manifest (0:57:19). The commenter: "Two weeks is not an unacceptable time frame to receive $395.20 for a student who will be graduating." (0:57:56; quoted as transcribed). | POSITIVE |
| 0:59:17 | The deficit figure | Asked about the $1 million figure in the April 15 minutes, Angell: "I have not calculate what I'm estimating the deficit. I have a gut feeling." (0:59:39); the figure is "bringing the $5 million deficit that was accumulated from prior years down to a." and the chair: "$4 million." (1:01:52, 1:02:02); "I think I can carry the district with a higher deficit without borrowing money." (1:02:15). | |
| 1:03:35 | When a firm number will exist | Angell is "struggling with some out of district placements" and has held back spending on paper and supplies; the DOE-25: "We call it the Doe 25. And I've got it's due September 1st to the state." (1:04:18). The chair: "The unknown we have is what our beginning balance was, right? That's what we're waiting on the audit for." (1:04:52). Angell: "the auditors are going to disclaim an opinion for the beginning balance, even though it's going to be in the audit, they're going to say it's not reliable." and "they may even disclaim an opinion for this coming balance." (1:05:52). | MEDIUM |
| 1:06:39 | A DOE-25 "extension" | Broadrick: "the Doe 25 report, which is due September 1st, and if you ask nicely, you can get a 30 day extension." (1:07:23). Angell: "I've never." "Asked for an extension." (1:07:46). Angell on OPEB: "We have to we have to calculate this OHP liability, which is its other post employment benefits." and he has just begun with the actuary (1:09:44). | OBSERVATION |
| 1:10:13 | Offer letters | Rebecca: "Can you assure me if I apply and get an offer letter from Claremont, that the same thing is not going to happen this August?" Angell is discussing "throttling the amount of hiring." (1:10:44) to fit the budget, and: "If we give an offer letter to a teacher, we're going to hire them." (1:12:03). | |
| 1:13:11 | Public comment: sports funding | Gary Merchant (Ward 2): "the budget was approved, had a $1 line item for sports." He asks for detail at the next budget presentation. | |
| 1:14:07 | Reconfiguration; floor plans | Room-assignment maps attached for Disnard (pre-K to 2) and Maple (3 to 5); staggered bus times; Bluff may not remain a stop (1:14:51). Members cannot open the linked maps (1:15:43). Angell: "As a safety question, I don't think we should have the flood plains [floor plans] out." (1:16:39); an audience member: "Please don't make our floor plans public." (1:17:01). The minutes: "Maps will not be attached to minutes due to safety". Kennedy: "We have 15 new right to know requests since our last meeting" (1:17:23). | OBSERVATION |
| 1:17:31 | A late nonpublic item | Kennedy: "There is a discussion of policy JICC and that is a student suspension from the bus that just happened today. And it does require a board vote." Pre-K and Academy items pushed to June at Broadrick's request (1:18:11); Whitney cites "a policy DBJ that does not allow, funds to be appropriated for a program that was removed." (1:18:39). | MEDIUM |
| 1:19:17 | Federal grant assurances deferred | Annual assurances covering Titles I through V, IDEA and Perkins (1:19:17); not on the agenda and not readable by members (1:20:16); moved to May 20 (1:21:00). | |
| 1:21:04 | CCTV board reappointment | Whitney: "It is, but I didn't receive the appointment paperwork." (1:21:13); the chair: "This is a reappointment of Joel Merchant to the CCTV board" for about three years (1:21:39); carried. | |
| 1:22:33 | Two administrators appointed | The chair was told the pay "was on the same level as what had been approved for the budget going forward." (1:22:54); Angell: "During the budget, we created a curriculum director position and eliminated the assistant superintendent position." (1:23:25). Kennedy describes 24 years in Massachusetts, five as a Vermont principal and turnaround work (1:24:35 to 1:26:03). Howard on Savage's SAU 70 experience (1:27:43). Kennedy thanks Weatherford: "June 5th is her last day within our district." (1:28:21). | OBSERVATION |
| 1:29:39 | "Not the intent" | Lavalette, answering the CMS commenter: "Yes, Rebecca, that that's ridiculous to think that way, because that is certainly not not the intent." (1:29:48). | |
| 1:30:40 | Policies EBCA, EBCB, EBCH, FA | Howard: EBCA and EBCB updated for active-shooter drills; a suggested friendly amendment that "at least once a year, we would request someone from either the fire department or police department to be at one of the drills." (1:31:30) is not in the version adopted (1:34:39). EBCH (chemical hygiene) to second read. Whitney moves to table FA (facilities planning) pending the new superintendent (1:34:55); Angell: a capital plan is needed "to collect impact fees in the future." (1:37:02); motion withdrawn (1:40:37). | |
| 1:44:08 | Nonpublic session and seal | The chair: "I entertain a motion to go into nonpublic session under RSA 91, dash a colon three, section two a so." The clerk: "I believe the one for student discipline would fall under C" (1:44:51). After return, Whitney: "I'd like to make a motion to seal the minutes until September 1st, 2027." (1:46:11); Whitney: "I think we have to roll. Call that as well." (1:46:22); roll call, all yes. No reason for the seal is stated. | MEDIUM |
| 1:46:42 | Future dates | The SAU 6 meeting moves to May 28 because Unity is not ready, and "we have to address the dissolution of the essay [SAU] at that May 28th meeting." The goal-setting meeting the by-laws place in May: "I would like you to agree that we push that off until July with the change of administration." (1:47:44); no objection. | |
| 1:48:57 | Members' remarks | Lavalette: the tulips "There was no cost to the district. They were paid for by us"; Unified sports uniforms (1:49:36); on Broadrick's salary: "In that budget is a line item for the superintendent, $250,000." (1:50:38) and "it appears we would have been paying Mr. Pratt somewhere around $220,000 a year plus." (1:51:34). Whitney: "TMS is supposed to be doing this overview about how we got into this mess, how it can never happen again." (1:52:22). Kennedy: "So we have one more year of power school, and then we're switching to alma." (1:53:37); Angell: "some people did some things just before they left, just to make sure that it was going to implode as best they could." (1:54:54; no one is named). | |
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 May 6, 2026, or is labeled an observation where no verified rule applies.
MEDIUM Nonpublic minutes sealed for 16 months with no statutory finding stated
After a 40-minute nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3, II(b), (l) and (c) (hiring, legal advice, and a student-transportation suspension added that day; 1:17:31, 1:44:51), the board voted by roll call "to seal the minutes until September 1st, 2027." (1:46:11, 1:46:25). RSA 91-A:3, III allows nonpublic minutes and decisions to be withheld beyond 72 hours only "by recorded vote of 2/3 of the members present taken in public session" and only where it is determined that disclosure "likely would affect adversely the reputation of any person other than a member of the public body itself", or would render the proposed action ineffective, or pertains to terrorism. The roll-call vote satisfies the first condition. Neither the motion on tape nor the approved minutes states which finding the board made, so the record does not show the second. A student-discipline matter may well support the reputation finding; a hiring discussion and legal advice may not, and the seal covers all three. The interim superintendent said the suspension "does require a board vote" (1:17:31); no vote on it was taken in public session, so any decision is inside the sealed minutes. Graded MEDIUM as a documentation gap under a binding rule.
Sources: RSA 91-A:3, III (seal requires a 2/3 recorded vote and a stated basis); 5.6.26 approved minutes
MEDIUM Metal detectors bought with federal Title IV-A money sit unused in a closet
The packet's Metal Detectors Grant Language.pdf, printed from the NHDOE grants system at 3:22 p.m. on May 6 and uploaded at 7:20 p.m. during the meeting, shows the detectors were an activity of the district's Title IV-A grant (CFDA 84.424A, project 20240800, period February 28 to September 30, 2025, "Closed on 12/12/2025"): two Garrett walk-through units at $8,800 each, $18,799.98 with freight, budgeted at $18,800 under equipment, with a safety officer, parent notification, staff training and a student and staff safety survey as the promised measures. The chair gave the grant's value as $19,100 (0:42:51); the document supports $18,800. The detectors were set up briefly for summer-school trials and taken down (0:44:50); the chair: "We voted not to install them there in the closet." (0:43:21), while Petrin says the board never voted on them at all (0:45:14). Federal rules require equipment to be used "in the program or project for which it was acquired as long as needed" and, when no longer needed, set disposition rules (2 CFR 200.313(c)(1), (e)). The vintage matters: under the 2023 text a unit worth more than $5,000 is equipment with disposition duties; under the revision effective October 1, 2024, units of $10,000 or less may be "retained, sold, or otherwise disposed of with no further responsibility". Which text governs this subaward is not settled by the record. The application's promised survey was not done for an installation that never happened (0:44:22). Graded MEDIUM as a probable federal-grant compliance gap; the district's final report to NHDOE and the subaward terms would settle it.
Sources: Metal Detectors Grant Language.pdf (Title IV-A application, activity 169027); 2 CFR 200.313(c)(1), (e)(1) (2023 edition: use requirement; $5,000 threshold); 2 CFR 200.313 (current: 89 FR 30136, eff. Oct. 1, 2024; $10,000 threshold)
MEDIUM Supporting invoices for recorded payments cannot be found, and the auditors are expected to disclaim an opinion on the opening balance
The interim business administrator said the auditors' sample for the FY2025 audit had grown from the usual 50 to 100 invoices to "almost a thousand", that he was two-thirds through, and that "I can find lists of invoices. I just can't find copies of them." across three years of records (0:49:49, 0:51:33). He expects the auditors "to disclaim an opinion for the beginning balance" and possibly for June 30, 2026 (1:05:52); Whitney described earlier auditors "trying to reconstruct documents and accounting records" (1:08:57). The missing source documents are a control weakness on the district's own account. RSA 189:29-a makes the board responsible for a records retention and disposition schedule for all district records; for federal awards, 2 CFR 200.303 requires effective internal control. Under GASB-based GAAP (Rev 1102.03) an opening balance that cannot be supported leaves the FY2026 statements without a reliable starting point, as Broadrick said (1:06:58). The record does not show which invoices are missing or for which funds. The deadline in 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 272 for filing audits (nine months after year end) took effect July 1, 2026, after this meeting.
Sources: RSA 189:29-a (board establishes a records retention and disposition schedule); 2 CFR 200.303 (internal control over federal awards); Rev 1102.03 (GAAP hierarchy)
MEDIUM The 2025-26 calendar left middle and high school short of required instructional hours, requiring a State Board waiver
The interim superintendent said the elementary schools were on track for their hours but the middle and high schools were not, and that a waiver request would be heard on May 12 with June 12 as the last day if granted (0:26:03, 0:27:02). Broadrick said the board-approved calendar "only had 100 and 72.5 school days on it" and that Claremont has scheduled only the days it expects to need (0:36:12, 0:36:38). Ed 306.15 requires at least 990 hours of instructional time in each of grades 7 to 12, and (d) provides that "Schools shall use additional hours to reschedule lost instructional time before requesting a waiver". The record does not show whether added hours were considered before the request. One correction to the incoming superintendent's description: the rule as readopted December 13, 2024 does not require 180 scheduled days; Ed 306.15(a) requires a calendar "which provides for 180 days of instruction or the required number of instructional hours, which may result in fewer than 180 days", and RSA 189:1 reads the same way. The shortfall is in hours, and a calendar built with no margin is what produced it. Graded MEDIUM as a probable gap against a binding rule, pending the State Board's decision.
Sources: Ed 306.15(a), (b)(3), (d) (School Year; Doc. #14150, eff. 12-13-24); RSA 189:1 (180 days or the equivalent hours)
OBSERVATION The DOE-25 "30 day extension" the incoming superintendent described is not in the statute
Broadrick said the DOE-25 annual financial report "is due September 1st, and if you ask nicely, you can get a 30 day extension", and predicted the district would ask (1:07:23); Angell answered that he had never asked for one (1:07:46). RSA 198:4-d, in the version in force on this date (as amended 2025, 141:401, eff. July 1, 2025), requires the report "on or before September 1 of each year" and contains no extension provision. The reenactment by 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 272 (eff. July 1, 2026) keeps the September 1 date for this report; its only extension language concerns audit reports with disputed items. NHDOE practice may differ from the statute's text, which is why this is an observation. The September 1 date and the chairperson's certification "under the pains and penalties of perjury" are the operative terms.
Sources: RSA 198:4-d (annual financial report by September 1; no extension provision for that report); 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 272 (SB 586), approved July 2, 2026, eff. July 1, 2026
OBSERVATION The Claremont board appointed two SAU-level administrators before the SAU became single-district, "at the salary negotiated"
The chair said the curriculum director and HR director are SAU positions, and that the Claremont board could fill them because "after unity leaves Claremont is the SA six" (0:37:31); the minutes record that "Claremont has the authority to approve those positions/hiring because the SAU will only be Claremont as of July 1". On May 6 the SAU 6 board still included Unity, and RSA 194-C:5 assigns the SAU board to fix the salaries of SAU personnel. The appointments take effect July 1, when Claremont will be the only district in the unit, so the timing may cure the question; the record does not cite any other authority or show SAU 6 board action. Both motions approved pay "negotiated" off the record (1:23:56, 1:27:23). The chair and Angell said the curriculum post replaces an assistant superintendent line in the adopted budget (1:22:54, 1:23:25). Neither salary is stated on the recording or in the minutes.
Sources: RSA 194-C:5 (SAU board fixes salaries of SAU personnel); RSA 194-C:2, IV (withdrawal from an SAU)
OBSERVATION Room-assignment maps withheld from the public record "due to safety"
Members could not open the reconfiguration maps; staff then asked that "flood plains [floor plans]" not be published (1:16:39, 1:17:01), and the minutes record "Maps will not be attached to minutes due to safety". The clerk anticipated Right-to-Know requests (1:17:19). The emergency-functions exemption, RSA 91-A:5, VI, reaches records "developed by local or state safety officials that are directly intended to thwart" an attack; classroom assignment maps prepared for a reconfiguration may not fall within it. Declining to attach a document to minutes is not a denial of a request, so no rule was broken here; the test comes if someone asks for the maps.
Sources: RSA 91-A:5, VI (emergency-functions exemption, limited by its own terms)
OBSERVATION A parent's account of the Academy (students with IEPs, uncertified program, non-certified staff, lost credits) went unanswered, and the update was deferred again
Michelle Springer-Blake said the board had been told no students with IEPs were in the Academy, which she said was wrong; that the program was never certified with NHDOE; that its special educator is often pulled to another school, leaving non-certified staff in charge; and that some juniors and seniors earned no credits for a year (0:16:20 to 0:17:16). These are a speaker's statements, not findings, and the district did not respond on the record; the Academy update was moved to June (1:18:11), after being deferred on April 15. If a student's IEP services were not delivered as written, 34 CFR 300.323(c)(2) would be engaged; the record here cannot establish that.
Sources: 34 CFR 300.323(c)(2) (services made available in accordance with the IEP)
POSITIVE Payments go out only on board orders, with the manifest sent to members before each meeting
Pressed by a parent owed a $395.20 lunch refund, the interim business administrator declined to pay outside the board's manifest: "I have no authority to disperse funds unless the school board orders it." (0:55:53). He described the controls the board adopted: manifests delivered "the Friday before every meeting" for questions, and emergency payments only when "two school board members" sign (0:54:59, 0:55:28). RSA 197:23-a provides that the treasurer "shall pay out the same only upon orders of the school board or upon orders of 2 or more members of the school board empowered by the school board as a whole to authorize payments." The parent read the statute as permitting payment without a manifest (0:57:35); it requires a board order, and the manifest is how this board gives one. Advance circulation of the manifest goes beyond the statute. The refund itself was conceded as owed (0:56:23).
Sources: RSA 197:23-a (payment only on orders of the board or of two or more empowered members)
OBSERVATION The minutes and the dialogue file disagree on who spoke at a dozen points, and the minutes omit the substance of the forensic-audit change
The dialogue file gives no row to Brian Rapp, who answered the roll; the minutes record him moving three motions and seconding two. Turns labeled William Madden in the dialogue file are credited in the minutes to Petrin (0:08:04), Lavalette (0:44:22), Rapp (0:46:57, 0:47:26), Howard (0:48:08) and the public speaker Matt Bean (0:59:17); a turn labeled Lavalette is credited to Madden (1:53:31). The Ward 2 lunch-refund commenter is "Steven Horsky" in the minutes and "Mr. Walker" to the chair (0:57:28). On the forensic-audit engagement, the minutes say "the lawyers wanted it retyped instead of written on"; on tape Angell describes a change in who is "financially responsible for paying them", from the board's counsel to the district (0:39:36, 0:40:44), which Whitney said the board had been "advised not to do" (0:40:28). RSA 91-A:2, II requires minutes to give a brief description of the subject matter and final decisions, and to record movers and seconders; the minutes do that. The attribution differences are a reason to treat names on this page with care, and the forensic item is a reason to read the recording, not only the minutes.
Sources: RSA 91-A:2, II (minutes contents); 5.6.26 approved minutes
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.
Dialogue/17348 SchoolBoard050626.mp4.CSV (778 attributed rows; the basis of this page)Input/Videos/17348 SchoolBoard050626.mp4Input/Transcripts/17348 SchoolBoard050626.mp4.jsonInput/SupportingDocuments/MAP.md, section 302
Laws and rules cited on this page
- RSA 91-A:2, II (as amended 2025, 112:1, eff. Aug. 22, 2025): minutes contents
- RSA 91-A:3, II(b), (c), (l), III (note ends 2023, 189:1): nonpublic sessions and sealing
- RSA 91-A:5, VI (2022, 122:3): emergency-functions exemption
- RSA 197:23-a: treasurer pays on orders of the board or two or more empowered members
- RSA 198:4-d (2025, 141:401 vintage on this date): annual financial report by September 1; and 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 272 (SB 586), eff. July 1, 2026
- RSA 189:29-a: records retention schedule; RSA 189:1: 180 days or equivalent hours
- RSA 194-C:5 and RSA 194-C:2, IV: SAU board powers; withdrawal
- Ed 306.15 (Doc. #14150, eff. 12-13-24): school year and instructional hours
- Rev 1102.03: GAAP hierarchy
- 2 CFR 200.313: 2023 edition and current text; 2 CFR 200.303; 34 CFR 300.323(c)(2)
- District rules: Policy BEDH (cited on the agenda); policies JICC and DBJ and a lunch-account policy as cited by speakers; the by-laws' annual goal-setting meeting as described by the chair.