Participants
Everyone heard or addressed on the recording, plus the absent member. Names follow the agenda masthead and the approved October 21 minutes; attributions come from the speaker-attributed dialogue file and are named only where the record supports them.
| Name | Role | Participation |
|---|
| Candace Crawford | Chair; Finance Subcommittee chair | Calls the meeting to order (0:00:03), runs every agenda item and vote, and announces the nonpublic motion as her own (1:33:21). Reminds subcommittee chairs to forward their minutes (0:01:52). Questions the corrective-action plan on Excel-based reports, the amount owed to Unity, stale checks and journal entries (0:26:41 to 0:32:11), and walks through grade-cohort changes in the enrollment table (0:39:13). |
| Michael Petrin | Vice chair; SRVRTC Committee chair | Finds the misplaced line in the reconciliation; the treasurer answers "I think that, that I think you've got it Mike" (0:13:07). Asks whether the district could plow with the city (1:15:57) and gives the SRVRTC Committee report (1:23:14). The minutes correction at 0:01:28 sits in his voice cluster but is not confirmed as his (see the method note). |
| Heather Whitney | Member; Ad Hoc Exploratory Reconfiguration Subcommittee chair | Asks about the projected FY27 surplus (0:18:08), audit progress (0:20:06), alternative-pathway teachers (0:45:28), late arrivals she saw on a school tour with Mr. Madden (0:48:42), litigation costs (0:53:25) and the district's payroll-tax filing history (1:08:50). Moves the plowing contract (1:17:24), the corrective-action plan (1:18:43) and the nomination (1:21:35); asks the policy committee to consider a toileting requirement (1:31:27). |
| William 'Bill' Madden | Member; Capital Improvement & Facilities chair; Curriculum Advisory Committee chair | Asks which audits must be finished before the forensic investigation can begin (0:25:05). Reports that Capital Improvement has not met again (1:24:59) and that the Curriculum Advisory meeting must be rescheduled (1:26:51). |
| Loren Howard | Member; Policy Subcommittee chair | Asks about a completion date in the corrective-action plan (1:19:08). Reports the Policy Subcommittee meeting held that afternoon (1:25:32) and the school board association meeting he attended (1:27:09). Seconds the nomination and the nonpublic motion, per the chair (1:21:57, 1:33:21). The transcript renders his name as Lauren. |
| Don Lavalette | Member | Present by the roll-call count: six members answer, and the chair says the seventh, Mr. Rapp, is absent (0:00:43, 0:00:51). The draft minutes name him for two remarks the voice clustering had placed with Mr. Petrin: the question on payments the treasurer did not authorize, "It just seems that's continued since July." (0:08:58), and "We have a shortage of, fair working environments for teachers." (0:46:59). The superintendent refers to a staffing census "Mr. Level has been asking for" (1:28:50). |
| Brian Rapp | Member | Absent. The chair: "Mr. Rap talked to me today and wanted it. Noted that he has a required training tonight." (0:00:51). |
| Noelle Kronberg | School Board clerk | Calls the roll (0:00:43); her readings of the names were not captured by the transcript. Addressed as Noel (0:01:28, 0:23:25). |
| Tim Broadrick | Superintendent, SAU 6 | Answers the citizen's question (0:03:37); puts the treasurer's findings in context (0:09:45); reports on the audits (0:18:57, 0:22:01), enrollment history (0:32:41), the Supreme Court decision (0:50:57), payroll-tax filings (0:56:10), the draft safety plan (0:56:55), the Frontline breach (0:58:24), trust funds (1:00:14) and the alumni association (1:03:36). Says the forensic audit "isn't happening anymore" (0:25:17). Rendered Broderick and Frederick in the transcript. |
| Teresa Taylor | Business Administrator, SAU 6 | Presents the finance report in a new layout with a revenue section (0:13:40); explains the ACH and voucher-batch problems (0:10:16); reports on the FY22 and FY23 audit close-out (0:20:30), the DOE-25 (0:23:38) and the corrective actions (0:25:42); proposes reporting payroll-tax filing confirmations on the agenda (1:10:41). |
| Kerry Kennedy | Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment | Presents the enrollment decline (0:34:38), the planned data dashboard (0:43:30), educator licensure counts (0:47:19) and the lapsed professional development master plan (0:49:37). Rendered Carrie in the transcript. |
| Luke Diamond | District treasurer | Presents the payments that cleared in September, flags those he did not authorize, and gives a first reconciliation of vouchers against amounts paid (0:04:09 to 0:13:19). |
| Wayne Hemingway | Citizens' comments, Ward 1 | Asks whether a math course taught at home would earn credit while the eighth grade has substitutes for math (0:02:53). The transcript renders his introduction as "Boiling him away. Ward one"; the chair calls him "Mister Hemingway." (0:02:50). |
| Unidentified | Two voice clusters of short interjections | Short answers, fragments split off other speakers, the Pledge, the roll-call answers and the votes. The dialogue file labels 94 of its 596 rows Unidentified. |
Agenda
The posted agenda (CSB Agenda - November 4 2026) with where each item is taken up. Linked times are from the recording; clock times are the agenda's.
| Taken up | Item | Agenda text / disposition |
|---|
| 0:00:03 | Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance (agenda 6:30 p.m.) | The chair: "The meeting is for November 4th, 2026." (0:00:03). |
| 0:00:39 | Secretary roll call of attendance | Six answers of Here. (0:00:43 to 0:00:51); the clerk's readings of names were not transcribed. Mr. Rapp absent (0:00:51). |
| 0:00:51 | Recognition | None: "we don't have a recognition tonight" (0:00:51). |
| 0:01:12 | Consent agenda | Agenda: amendments and final approval of the agenda, and "Approval of Minutes: October 21 DRAFT School Board Minutes" (agenda). The chair also names the SRVRTC subcommittee meeting of August 10, 2026. A member asks that Sam Deering's description be changed: "he's a citizen of Washington and he was a candidate for New Hampshire Rep." (0:01:28); the approved October 21 minutes in this packet carry that change. No motion or vote; the chair: "see, no, resistance to acceptance of the consent agenda. I'll move on." (0:02:17). OBSERVATION |
| 0:02:50 | Citizens' comments | One speaker, Wayne Hemingway (0:02:50); the superintendent answers (0:03:37). |
| 0:04:06 | Treasurer's report (Luke Diamond) | September's cleared payments, the ones the treasurer did not authorize, and voucher discrepancies (0:04:09 to 0:13:19). No action. MEDIUM POSITIVE |
| 0:13:31 | Finance report (Teresa Taylor): FY27 budget-to-actual, FY26 DOE-25 update, FY24 and FY25 audit update, FY22 and FY23 corrective actions update | Budget-to-actual (0:13:40); surplus question (0:18:08); audits (0:20:06); DOE-25 (0:23:38); forensic audit question (0:25:05); corrective actions (0:25:39). No action. MEDIUM OBSERVATION OBSERVATION |
| 0:32:41 | Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment report: ten-year enrollment history and projection, district data dashboard, educator licensure | Enrollment (0:32:41, 0:34:38); dashboard (0:43:30); licensure (0:47:19); professional development plan (0:49:37). No action. OBSERVATION |
| 0:50:53 | Superintendent's report (Tim Broadrick) | Supreme Court opinion (0:50:57); IRS filings (0:56:10); comprehensive safety plan (0:56:55); bus and plowing bids (0:57:57); Frontline breach (0:58:24); corrective actions and trustees of trust funds (1:00:14); alumni association (1:03:36); website (1:07:06); exit interviews and the December 2 workshop (1:07:57). Questions follow on IRS filings (1:08:50). No action. OBSERVATION POSITIVE |
| 1:14:59 | Plowing & sanding bids (agenda 7:00 p.m.) | Ms. Whitney moves to accept the "Stenson [Stetson] Enterprise bid for snow care removal for school year 2627 and 2728" with a provision for sale of buildings (1:17:24); Mr. Howard seconded, per the draft minutes (1:18:07); voice vote, no opposition heard; "Motion is carries." (1:18:18). POSITIVE OBSERVATION |
| 1:18:18 | Audit corrective actions (for school board approval) | Ms. Whitney moves to accept the plans "dated June 30th, 2023 and updated on November 3rd, 2026" (1:18:43); Mr. Howard seconded, per the draft minutes (1:19:01); question from Mr. Howard (1:19:08); "The motion carries unanimously." (1:19:53). POSITIVE |
| 1:19:53 | Tuition agreements (for nonpublic discussion) | Deferred: "we will talk about this in nonpublic because it has money attached to it" (1:19:53). |
| 1:19:53 | Policies | Agenda: DJB, DJB-R, DJC and DJC-R, DJD, DJF and DJG adopted at the last meeting, no action; no first or second readings (agenda). The chair: "I don't think we have any new policies to address tonight." (1:19:53). |
| 1:20:20 | Personnel report: nominations, retirements, resignations | Ms. Whitney moves the nomination of an electrical instructor at a "full schedule salary of 63,436." (1:21:35); the chair: "Second by Mr. Howard." (1:21:57); voice vote; "Motion carries." is said by an unidentified voice (1:22:08). Three retirement notices (1:22:13); a resignation the superintendent "accepted on your behalf" (1:22:48). |
| 1:23:02 | Emergency Operations Plans (nonpublic, "Under RSA 91-A:3, II (i)", agenda) | The chair reaches the item (1:23:02) and moves on to subcommittee reports; it is not taken up in public and is not named in the nonpublic motion (1:33:00). OBSERVATION |
| 1:23:07 | Subcommittee reports | SRVRTC (1:23:14); Ad Hoc Reconfiguration (1:24:09); Capital Improvement (1:24:55); Finance, meeting the next morning (1:25:01); Policy (1:25:32); Curriculum Advisory (1:26:46). MEDIUM |
| 1:26:56 | Other business | Mr. Howard reports on the school board association meeting (1:27:09). |
| 1:28:35 | Future dates and items for future agendas | Taken before the nonpublic session: staffing census, tech programs, disciplinary policies and a toileting requirement (1:28:35 to 1:32:56). |
| 1:33:00 | Nonpublic session (agenda: "Under RSA 91-A:3, II (a, d, & k)") | The chair: "I would entertain a motion to go into nonpublic under a D and K." (1:33:00); Ms. Whitney adds "So it's RSA 91 a colon three, two." (1:33:16); the chair: "I guess I made the motion and and Lauren seconded. Roll call please." (1:33:21). Roll-call answers of Yes. (1:33:29 to 1:33:35). The recording ends at 1:33:42. OBSERVATION After the session, which is not on the recording, the draft minutes record a return to public session at 8:40 p.m.; a motion by Ms. Whitney, seconded by Mr. Howard, for the superintendent "to send out updated tuition agreements to Cornish, Croydon, Unity, Lempster, Goshen, and Weathersfield as outlined" (voice vote, all present in favor); and adjournment at 8:42 p.m. |
Discussion timeline
Quotations are from the transcript as heard, including its errors; bracketed words are corrections. Speakers are named from the attributed dialogue file. Timestamps link to the same moment in the Cablecast recording.
| Time | Topic | What was said | Flags |
|---|
| 0:00:03 | Call to order | The chair opens the meeting and leads the Pledge of Allegiance. | |
| 0:00:39 | Roll call | Six answers of Here., the last from the chair. "Mr. Rap talked to me today and wanted it. Noted that he has a required training tonight." (0:00:51). | |
| 0:01:12 | Consent agenda | October 21 minutes and the SRVRTC subcommittee meeting of August 10. A member (labeled Michael Petrin in the dialogue file; see the method note) asks the clerk to change Sam Deering's description: "That should actually be changed to he's a citizen of Washington and he was a candidate for New Hampshire Rep." (0:01:28). No motion or vote (0:02:17). | OBSERVATION |
| 0:01:52 | Subcommittee minutes | The chair: "It's important for the minutes of your subcommittee meetings to get forwarded to Tammy and to me." and "we need to, integrate them into the minutes of our meeting so that there is a record" (0:02:17). | MEDIUM |
| 0:02:50 | Citizens' comments | Wayne Hemingway: "Or they're using substitutes for math in the eighth grade, for my knowledge." "So my question to the board is if I do a math for my student or child, will that be giving credit?" (0:02:53). The superintendent: "And generally speaking, the answer is yes." and to talk to the principal first (0:03:37). | |
| 0:04:06 | Treasurer's report | Payments that cleared in September: "there's a lot less red on it." The red items are "payments that were made that the current treasurer did not authorize." (0:04:09) "And that consequently means that probably the board never saw them either." (0:04:33). New this month: manifests approved by email, which are "machine readable" (0:04:43, 0:05:13). | MEDIUM POSITIVE |
| 0:06:13 | Vouchers versus amounts paid | A reconciliation column shows where "the voucher is for a different amount than what was actually paid." (0:06:13); "Page four has three of four of them." (0:06:31). The chair asks "Is it possible to get this document in our packet?" (0:07:44); the treasurer: "That's my hope." (0:07:52). | POSITIVE |
| 0:08:58 | Recurring unauthorized payments | Mr. Lavalette: "It just seems that's continued since July. Not from you, Luke." (0:08:58). The treasurer: "The number of those has gone way down since July." (0:09:16). The superintendent: Ms. Taylor "started work five days after the closing date of these records" (0:09:45). | MEDIUM |
| 0:10:16 | ACH payments and voucher batches | Ms. Taylor: ACH payments were made before their vouchers were created; "We have to do the Belcher [voucher] first." "So that process has already been changed going forward." (0:10:37). Invoices entered at the schools land in the central batch before checks print (0:11:00); remedy: "we're going to lock the batch." (0:11:57). | MEDIUM |
| 0:12:38 | A misplaced line | The chair asks about a variance "From 223 to 467." (0:12:38). Mr. Petrin: "The line above is very similar number." (0:12:56); "It's $150 variance instead of 200 zero zero." (0:13:16). The treasurer: "You're absolutely right. That's that's where that belongs." (0:13:19). | POSITIVE |
| 0:13:31 | Finance report | A new layout: budget versus actual on one page, comments on a second page, a monthly column added on board feedback, and revenues at the top (0:13:40 to 0:15:19). Bus insurance refund: "it's 126,500. That will actually offset the cost of the new bus." (0:16:11); the new bus "is about 146,000" (0:16:44). Budget lines still need shifting "So that we don't see so many reds" (0:17:41). | |
| 0:18:08 | The projected surplus | Ms. Whitney asks about "the unaudited projected FY 2627 total unassigned surplus" (0:18:08). The superintendent: "That number isn't real." (0:18:18). Ms. Taylor has no FY26 fund balance to plug in yet (0:18:23); Ms. Whitney: "It's it's not reflective of the deficit." (0:18:53). The superintendent: "there was a purchase ordering system in place, but no procurement procedures." (0:18:57) and "I'm not ready yet to feel comfortable that everything's encumbered" (0:19:23). | |
| 0:20:06 | Audit status | Ms. Whitney asks about the target dates and the relationship with "and Sanderson" [Plodzik & Sanderson] (0:20:06). Ms. Taylor: the FY22 and FY23 representation letters are ready for signature (0:20:30, 0:20:52). The superintendent: "A final 22 audit and a final 23 audit." (0:21:53); outside help to pull FY24 and FY25 records "meaning a couple of months" (0:22:01); "These are likely to be the same issues in all of these years." (0:22:28); "we need to get to fiscal 26 and have it finished by the end of this fiscal year." (0:23:02). | OBSERVATION |
| 0:23:38 | DOE-25 | Ms. Taylor: "I reached back out to the DRA and let them know that right now the best I think I can do is November 16th November." (0:23:38); FY25 and FY26 grants "have to be done and submitted by November 14th." (0:24:01). Ms. Whitney: "So we're hitting a grant. Deadlines is what I'm hearing." (0:24:46). | MEDIUM |
| 0:24:56 | Forensic audit | Mr. Madden: "Which audits have to be completed in order to." "Begin the forensic investigation?" (0:25:05, 0:25:09). The superintendent: "The forensic audit that isn't happening anymore. Yeah. Isn't happening." (0:25:17). The chair: "Not at the moment." (0:25:24). | OBSERVATION |
| 0:25:39 | Corrective actions update | Ms. Taylor: the document gives the district's answer and a date for each finding (0:25:42 to 0:26:17). The chair wants it noted that reports now come from the general ledger, not Excel (0:26:41). On the amount owed to Unity, Ms. Taylor found "$209,000" on the Unity side against a written figure near 260,000: "I'm not going to send a check for 260,000 when I can't prove it right." (0:28:43). Checks outstanding 90 days or more will be voided and reissued (0:29:45); journal entries need documentation: "we need documentation." (0:31:49). | POSITIVE |
| 0:32:41 | Enrollment history | The superintendent presents 15 years of enrollment: "These numbers can never change again." (0:32:41). Ms. Kennedy: "we were down almost 28% from that time", "it's almost 24%" over ten years and "16% for those last five years" (0:34:38). Ms. Whitney: "So it's accelerating in the pace that which were declining." (0:34:59). About 100 kindergartners are expected next year (0:35:06). | |
| 0:35:43 | Projections and state data | The superintendent will compare the outside projection with his own: "if I knew what we gave them I might feel confident about their projections." (0:35:43). The chair tracks grade cohorts and asks what explains a drop to 91 (0:39:13, 0:39:43). Ms. Whitney on state figures: "I don't trust anything that's on that website." (0:41:23). | |
| 0:43:30 | Data dashboard | Ms. Kennedy: a district dashboard on enrollment, scores, graduation and dropout rates, attendance, activities and tech-center programs, reported "Typically at the beginning of the month" (0:43:30 to 0:44:15). | |
| 0:45:28 | Alternative-pathway teachers | Ms. Whitney: "We have a total number of 30 teachers on all pathways." (0:45:28). The superintendent: about 25 percent now, perhaps 24 last year (0:46:25). Mr. Lavalette: "We have a shortage of, fair working environments for teachers." (0:46:59). Ms. Kennedy: "there were 14 of those and then eight, two granted with the statement of eligibility and then five who have site based license plans" (0:47:40). | |
| 0:48:42 | Late arrivals | Ms. Whitney, after a school tour with Mr. Madden: "there are a lot of students that arrive very tardy but are not absent." (0:48:42). Ms. Kennedy: tracking will be part of the attendance reports (0:49:26). | |
| 0:49:37 | Professional development plan | Ms. Kennedy: "unfortunately last year our plan was up. We did not get a chance to finish renewing it. The Department of Education is aware." (0:49:37). The superintendent: "We we have the year to get it done. We've talked to the department." (0:50:43). | OBSERVATION |
| 0:50:57 | Supreme Court opinion | The superintendent: the court "ruled that the Family Court did not have jurisdiction to make the ruling that it made" (0:51:27); a family court cannot pick the district liable for an out-of-district special education placement, and the Commissioner of Education decides (0:52:37, 0:53:01). On cost: "You probably just about broke even." (0:53:56). | |
| 0:56:10 | IRS filings | The superintendent: "Our IRS issues that were due by the end of October were filed on time." (0:56:10), though the response noted "there may be more" (0:56:32). Ms. Taylor: "We found all the 940 ones." (0:56:50). | OBSERVATION |
| 0:56:55 | Comprehensive safety plan | The superintendent shares a draft, "clearly labels draft in red", and says such plans are required of employers with 15 or more employees (his characterization; no statute was read for this page) (0:56:55, 0:57:24). "I don't think it requires board approval." (0:57:48). | |
| 0:57:57 | Bus and plowing bids | "We got the bus." Two responsive bids for plowing and sanding, "This will be a two year contract." (0:57:57); "we're recommending the lower of the two bits" [bids] (0:58:17). | POSITIVE |
| 0:58:24 | Frontline data breach | A data security incident at the vendor around October 8: the vendor first told the district it was not involved, then employees received notices (0:58:49, 0:59:10). "They did have frontline did have a data privacy agreement in place." (0:59:34). | |
| 1:00:14 | Trustees of trust funds | Regular meetings with the trustees are among the corrective actions (1:00:14). About half a dozen trusts benefit the schools; "We're talking about six figures, well over $150,000. And that's just the interest" (1:01:08). The superintendent proposes "a written plan for you to see and approve" (1:01:08). Ms. Whitney: "I'm not sure we knew." (1:01:58). | POSITIVE |
| 1:03:36 | Alumni association | Its fund for extracurriculars and athletics; the superintendent asks staff not to seek donations for textbooks or the general program: "That's our job." (1:04:19). The chair wants the amounts for budget planning (1:05:26). The district co-sponsors a charitable casino with the association (1:06:39). | |
| 1:07:06 | Website and exit interviews | ParentSquare website changes may carry a design fee (1:07:06); Unity links checked (1:07:35); exit-interview questions to come next meeting (1:07:57); the Parent Information Center workshop on December 2 (1:08:23). | |
| 1:08:50 | Payroll-tax filing history | Ms. Whitney recalls ACA reporting problems from 2016 and asks how the board can oversee filings (1:08:50, 1:09:20): "The third business administrator that has failed to submit for these things." (1:10:01). Ms. Taylor: "I've never seen so many IRS notices" (1:10:22) and proposes putting filing confirmations on the agenda (1:10:41, 1:11:03). The superintendent: "These things will happen without anyone reading the policies. And when you don't, it won't matter what's in your policy." (1:12:54). | OBSERVATION |
| 1:14:59 | Plowing bids | The chair asks whether references were checked (1:15:14); the superintendent: "So I believe this is our current vendor." (1:15:30). Access to Bluff and the Masonic hall stays for fire equipment (1:15:41, 1:15:45). Mr. Petrin asks about partnering with the city (1:15:57). The superintendent: "we conducted a sealed bidding process as we have here" (1:16:29). Ms. Whitney asks for an adjustment "if bluff and the Masonic Temple get sold" (1:16:50), and moves the contract "with an amended provision that will be submitted by the administration to allow for adjustment of payment." (1:17:24): "The amount of the bid is 69,000 for 2026 and 69,000 for 2728 to be paid and six monthly payments of 11,500." (1:17:55). | POSITIVE OBSERVATION |
| 1:18:43 | Corrective action plan vote | Motion (1:18:43). Mr. Howard: "Anticipated completion date is August 31st, 26." (1:19:08); the answer is that the procurement procedures are already in place: "Because because we're already doing it." (1:19:36). "Okay. The motion carries unanimously." (1:19:53). | POSITIVE |
| 1:20:20 | Personnel | The superintendent withdraws his earlier report of a salary error: "It was not an error, it was just a difference in how we view these things." (1:21:21); annual and prorated figures will both be reported (1:20:54). Nomination moved and seconded; carried (1:21:35 to 1:22:08). "We've received three notifications of employees intent to retire" (1:22:13). | |
| 1:23:02 | Emergency operations plans | The chair: "That gets us to the." "Operation." is all the transcript holds before she moves on (1:22:56, 1:23:02). | OBSERVATION |
| 1:23:14 | SRVRTC Committee | Mr. Petrin: a meeting on Monday with the tech-center director and the superintendent on grants and "ways we may be looking to change, how we deliver education students here." (1:23:14). The superintendent: the plan "represents a pretty some pretty significant changes from the way the New Hampshire vocational technical delivery system works." (1:23:59); a presentation will come to a regular meeting. | |
| 1:24:09 | Ad Hoc, Capital Improvement, Finance | Ad Hoc: no meeting planned; documents on school capacity shared with the superintendent (1:24:29, 1:24:38). Capital Improvement: "We haven't had another meeting yet." (1:24:59); the chair asks that the October 20 minutes be attached to the next board meeting (1:25:01). Finance meets the next morning at 10:00 (1:25:01). | |
| 1:25:32 | Policy Subcommittee | Mr. Howard: "we met today. I think we discussed six policies.", four for a first reading at the next meeting (1:25:32); a fundraising document, new financial policies and the AI policy ahead (1:25:55). "We filmed it. I'm going to get that to CCTV tomorrow" (1:26:18). On minutes: "hoping by next, you know, the 18th, we'll have the the minutes for, I think 2 or 3 meetings." "We haven't had them before." (1:26:18, 1:26:37). | MEDIUM |
| 1:26:46 | Curriculum Advisory Committee | Mr. Madden: "We had a meeting scheduled for Monday, but I had a work conflict, so we have to reschedule it." (1:26:51). | |
| 1:27:09 | School board association meeting | Mr. Howard: "Heather's Claremont resolution passed." (1:27:09); he corrected some misunderstandings about Claremont (1:27:28, 1:27:46). | |
| 1:28:35 | Future agenda items | The superintendent: a staffing census for budget development (1:28:50, 1:29:16); a tech-program presentation to come (1:29:16); on discipline, "principals can suspend a student for up to ten days" and "I can then suspend a student for an additional up to ten days." (1:30:17, 1:30:51). Ms. Whitney asks for a policy on "toileting and requirements for children that do not have a physical or intellectual disability?" (1:31:27). The superintendent will look at it "as, requirements for enrollment." (1:32:35). | |
| 1:33:00 | Nonpublic session | Motion under RSA 91-A:3, II (a), (d) and (k) (1:33:00, 1:33:16); the chair made it and Mr. Howard seconded (1:33:21); roll call (1:33:29 to 1:33:35). "Great. Thank you folks." (1:33:38). | OBSERVATION |
Items flagged for review
These flags are a reviewer's aid, not findings of violation and not legal advice. Each cites the rule it rests on, or says that none applies. RSA 91-A:3 and Ed 504.02 were read at gc.nh.gov, 2 CFR 200.511 at govinfo.gov, and the text of 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 272 from the project's saved chaptered copy, on November 7, 2026; the other provisions come from the project's verified anchor files. Quotations from documents are marked as such; everything else in quotation marks is from the transcript.
MEDIUM Payments the treasurer did not authorize are still clearing the bank
The treasurer's report lists the payments that cleared in September; the red items are, in his words, "payments that were made that the current treasurer did not authorize." (0:04:09) and "probably the board never saw them either." (0:04:33). A member notes "It just seems that's continued since July." (0:08:58); the treasurer answers that "The number of those has gone way down since July." (0:09:16). The business administrator traces the cause to ACH payments processed before their vouchers were created, and says "So that process has already been changed going forward." (0:10:37); a second problem, invoices from the schools landing in an open voucher batch, is to be closed by locking batches (0:11:00 to 0:12:05). RSA 197:23-a lets the treasurer pay out district money only upon orders of the school board, which is what a signed manifest records; a payment the treasurer did not authorize has skipped that step.
Mitigation stated at the meeting: the superintendent says the business administrator started work five days after the period these records close (0:09:45), and the treasurer reports email approval of manifests (0:04:43). The October 21 page graded the same issue MEDIUM; this page keeps that grade because the record shows a fix under way and a falling count.
Sources: RSA 197:23-a (treasurer pays out district money only upon orders of the school board); Treasurers Report.pdf; October 21, 2026 page, flag 4
MEDIUM The FY26 DOE-25, due September 1, is now promised for mid-November
RSA 198:4-d, III, as reenacted by 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 272, requires the annual financial report showing receipts, expenditures and a balance sheet to be "submitted on or before September 1 of each year" (statute). Nine weeks after that date the business administrator reports "I reached back out to the DRA and let them know that right now the best I think I can do is November 16th November." (0:23:38), because FY25 and FY26 grant close-outs "have to be done and submitted by November 14th." (0:24:01) and feed the report's adjustments; filing sooner "I would it would be wrong." (0:24:24). RSA 189:28 lets the department withhold aid until required reports are complete and accurate.
Graded MEDIUM, as on October 21: the report is late, but the record explains why and now gives a date. Whether the department has agreed to November 16 is not on the record.
Sources: RSA 198:4-d, III (financial report "on or before September 1 of each year"); 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 272 (SB 586), approved July 2, 2026, eff. July 1, 2026; RSA 189:28 (reports to NHDOE; aid withheld until complete); October 21, 2026 page, flag 3
MEDIUM Policy Subcommittee minutes have not been produced for two or three meetings
The Policy Subcommittee chair reports that the committee met that afternoon and filmed it for CCTV (1:26:18), that a draft of the October minutes has been started, and: "hoping by next, you know, the 18th, we'll have the the minutes for, I think 2 or 3 meetings." "We haven't had them before." (1:26:18, 1:26:37). RSA 91-A:1-a, VI(d) makes "any committee, subcommittee, or subordinate body thereof" of a school board a public body (statute), and RSA 91-A:2, II requires its minutes to be open to inspection within five business days of each meeting.
Graded MEDIUM under the project's rule for missing minutes, because the record says they are coming. Earlier in the meeting the chair asked every subcommittee chair to forward minutes so they can be folded into the board's record (0:01:52, 0:02:17), and the Capital Improvement subcommittee's October 20 minutes had been submitted (1:25:01).
Sources: RSA 91-A:1-a, VI(d) (subcommittees are public bodies); RSA 91-A:2, II (minutes within five business days)
OBSERVATION The forensic audit the board authorized a year ago "isn't happening anymore"
Asked which audits must be finished before the forensic investigation can begin (0:25:05, 0:25:09), the superintendent answers "The forensic audit that isn't happening anymore. Yeah. Isn't happening." (0:25:17), and the chair adds "Not at the moment." (0:25:24). No reason is given and no one follows up. On November 5, 2025 the board voted to authorize the administration to pursue a forensic audit, with the contract to come back for approval (November 5, 2025 page, flag 11); in February 2026 the interim business administrator reported that the chair had signed an engagement letter with a law firm (February 18, 2026 page), and members asked for updates on September 16 and October 21, 2026 (September 16, 2026 page; October 21, 2026 page).
The 2025 vote permitted the work but did not require it, so its not going ahead breaks no rule this page can cite. What the record lacks is a public account of who decided to stop and why. No vote ending the authorization appears in the recorded meetings this project holds; the minutes of the meetings in between were not searched for one.
Sources: No statute is cited for this observation.
OBSERVATION The FY26 audit target and the new nine-month audit law can be read two ways
The superintendent states the plan: "we need to get to fiscal 26 and have it finished by the end of this fiscal year." (0:23:02), that is, by June 30, 2027, after the final FY22 and FY23 audits (0:21:53) and an outside push through FY24 and FY25 (0:22:01). RSA 198:4-d, VIII, reenacted effective July 1, 2026, says "The audit report for the last completed fiscal year shall be submitted to the department within 9 months of the end of the fiscal year" and directs the commissioner to "withhold state grant funding, not including RSA 198:40-a funding" from a district that does not comply (statute).
Read on its face, FY2026 was the last completed fiscal year when the law took effect, which would make its audit due March 31, 2027, three months before the stated target; this project's earlier pages use that reading. The fiscal note printed with the House amendment (2026-1500h) assumes instead that the law "would impact FY 2027, which would require the audit to be submitted by April 1, 2028" (fiscal note), and under that reading the target is early. The statute also lets the department grant extensions "as needed to address any disputed items". The approved October 21 minutes record the business administrator saying "the Dept of Revenue requirement is by June of the next year" (minutes). Which reading the department applies to FY2026 is the question to ask it.
Sources: RSA 198:4-d, VIII (audit report within 9 months; state grant funding withheld); 2026 N.H. Laws ch. 272 (SB 586); SB 586 fiscal note, as amended by the House (2026-1500h), in the enrolled bill text; 10.21.26 Approved CSB Meeting Minutes.pdf
OBSERVATION The professional development master plan has lapsed
The curriculum director: "unfortunately last year our plan was up. We did not get a chance to finish renewing it. The Department of Education is aware." (0:49:37), with the year spent on new staff and a committee to write the next plan (0:49:56). The superintendent: "We we have the year to get it done. We've talked to the department." (0:50:43). The plan matters to individual teachers: Ed 504.02(a)(3) ties the experienced educator license to a completed renewal cycle and "the state or local professional development master plan" (rule, read at gc.nh.gov November 7, 2026). The rule that sets the plan's term and approval was not read for this page, so no deadline is asserted.
Sources: Ed 504.02(a)(3) (experienced educator license; renewal under the professional development master plan)
OBSERVATION Payroll-tax filings: the October deadlines met, a long history, no standing report
The superintendent reports "Our IRS issues that were due by the end of October were filed on time." (0:56:10), with a caution that the agency's reply says "there may be more" (0:56:32). A member traces late reporting back to 2016 ACA filings and asks how the board can oversee it (1:08:50, 1:09:20): "The third business administrator that has failed to submit for these things." (1:10:01). The business administrator says "I've never seen so many IRS notices" (1:10:22) and proposes putting filing confirmations on the agenda (1:10:41, 1:11:03); the superintendent replies that with competent administration "These things will happen without anyone reading the policies." (1:12:54). The board takes no action. The federal due dates were not verified for this page.
Sources: No statute is cited for this observation.
OBSERVATION What the draft minutes record, and what they leave open
The draft minutes (11.4.26 DRAFT CSB Minutes) close two gaps the recording left: they name Loren Howard as the seconder of the plowing motion (1:18:07) and the corrective-action motion (1:19:01), as RSA 91-A:2, II requires ("The names of the members who made or seconded each motion"), and they give the times the recording cannot: nonpublic session from 8:06 to 8:40 p.m. and adjournment at 8:42 p.m., with the clerk, Noelle Kronberg, named as author. Three points remain. The consent agenda, including the October 21 minutes with one correction, was accepted without a motion or vote: "see, no, resistance to acceptance of the consent agenda. I'll move on." (0:02:17); the draft minutes list the correction but record no vote. The draft does not state the actual call-to-order time, only the agenda's 6:30 p.m. And the nonpublic motion, as the minutes record it, named RSA 91-A:3, II (a), (d) and (k) on a roll call (1:33:00 to 1:33:35), as RSA 91-A:3, I(b) requires; II(k) covers the tuition agreements, acted on in public afterward. The agenda's separate Emergency Operations Plans item, listed "Under RSA 91-A:3, II (i)", was passed over in public (1:23:02) and is not named in the motion, so a discussion of those plans in the session would rest on an exemption the motion did not state. The draft minutes also link a nonpublic-minutes file titled "11.14.26 Non-Public Meeting Minutes.pdf", a date ten days after this meeting; whether that is a typing error the record does not say.
Sources: RSA 91-A:2, II (minutes record motions, movers and seconders, start and end times; five business days); RSA 91-A:3, I(b) and II(a), (d), (i), (k) (nonpublic session by recorded roll call on a stated exemption); 11.4.26 DRAFT CSB Minutes
POSITIVE The audit corrective action plan was adopted in public, after a member checked a date
The business administrator walks the board through the district's answer to each finding and its target date (0:25:42 to 0:26:39); the chair questions the Excel-based reports, the amount owed to Unity, stale checks and journal entries (0:26:41 to 0:32:11). Ms. Whitney then moves to accept the plans "dated June 30th, 2023 and updated on November 3rd, 2026" (1:18:43); Mr. Howard asks about a completion date of "August 31st, 26." for the first item (1:19:08), which turns out to be a step already in place (1:19:36). "The motion carries unanimously." (1:19:53). 2 CFR 200.511(c) requires the auditee to prepare a corrective action plan "At the completion of the audit" (regulation); debating and adopting it in public, with the draft posted in the packet (Audit Corrective Action Plan_Draft (1).pdf), goes beyond that minimum.
Sources: 2 CFR 200.511(c), 2022 edition (auditee prepares a corrective action plan); Audit Corrective Action Plan_Draft (1).pdf
POSITIVE Plowing went to the lower of two sealed bids, with a clause for buildings that may be sold
The superintendent recommends the lower of two responsive bids from "a sealed bidding process" (0:58:17, 1:16:29). The packet holds both: Stetson Enterprises at $69,000.00 for each of 2026-27 and 2027-28 in six monthly payments of $11,500.00 (Stetson Enterprises_Snow Removal Proposal (2).pdf), and Charlestown Property Maintenance at $83,775.00 and $86,288.25 (Charlestown Property Maintenance_Snow Removal Proposal (1).pdf). The Stetson sites include Bluff School and the former Masonic Hall, so Ms. Whitney asks for an adjustment if those are sold (1:16:50) and writes it into the motion (1:17:24). The board adopted purchasing policies DJB and DJB-R on October 21.
Sources: Stetson Enterprises_Snow Removal Proposal (2).pdf; Charlestown Property Maintenance_Snow Removal Proposal (1).pdf; DJB - Purchasing Procedures - 9.16.26.pdf and DJB-R Procurement & Purchasing Guide.pdf (district policy adopted October 21, 2026, in the October 21 packet). No statute is cited.
POSITIVE Trust-fund income is to get a written plan the board approves
The superintendent reports that the trustees of trust funds hold about half a dozen trusts for the schools, with income of "six figures, well over $150,000. And that's just the interest" (1:01:08), and proposes "a written plan for you to see and approve" reviewed periodically "so there's some kind of public oversight, accountability" (1:01:31). Regular meetings with the trustees are part of the corrective actions (1:00:14). A member: "I'm not sure we knew." (1:01:58). The chair asks for a list attached to the minutes (1:02:09).
Sources: No statute is cited; this is practice beyond the legal minimum.
POSITIVE Manifests approved by email, and a first reconciliation of vouchers against payments
The treasurer: "one thing we implemented for the first time was approval by email." (0:04:43), which makes the manifests "machine readable" and easier to track (0:05:13). His report adds a column for vouchers whose amount differs from what was paid (0:06:13); a member finds a misplaced line in it on the spot, and the treasurer agrees (0:13:16, 0:13:19). The chair asks for the document in the packet (0:07:44). Under RSA 197:23-a the treasurer pays out money only upon the board's orders; a dated email approval documents those orders.
Sources: RSA 197:23-a; Treasurers Report.pdf
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