Croydon School District

Meeting Minutes

School Board Regular Meeting

Time:
April 15, 2025
at 6:00 pm
Location:
Little Red

Meeting Minutes

  1. Call to Order: Susan Blair, SEO, 6:01 p. m.
  2. Roll Call: Susan Blair, SEO
    1. Aaron McKeon, Amanda Leslie, Samantha Nelson
  3. Election of Officers
    1. School Board Chair – Leslie moves for McKeon as chair, Nelson seconds. Passes unanimously
    2. School Board Vice Chair – McKeon moves for Leslie, Nelson seconds. Passes unanimously
    3. School Board Secretary – McKeon moves for Nelson, Leslie seconds. Passes unanimously
    4. Discussion of Secretary roles (correspondence). If School Board clerk Kent Randell is here, he can take notes.
  4. School Board Chair takes over the meeting
  5. Board decides to swap items E and F, non-public and public session.
  6. Public Forum # 1
    1. Susan Edwards.  Happy with renovation. Would like to see a proposal to replace Big White with another modular structure, done over 26-27 summer school year. McKeon notes that the cost difference between temporary structure versus permanent structure was not large. Edwards notes the positive student experience, and that two buildings are okay. Leslie notes that, having two buildings, there is safety concerns and organization concerns.  Leslie is looking for guidance about the reason for the vote concerning the bond failed.  Edwards notes that they do not want to change the historical character of the building. Leslie states that an addition would not take away from being a historic building. McKeon notes that there is more work to be done and perhaps it is too late to change. A large grant proposal with NH Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is 2 years out — SEO Blair notes that there is a release of money, and we are applying for the agricultural section of the Sen. Shaheen grant and the match will not be substantial. McKeon adds that people are concerned about whether Sunapee will be the anchor school.
    2. Amy Benson – need division from pre-K and K. Wants a teacher to make a presentation to the town. Blair mentions that we are still making decisions about what pre-K looks like.  McKeon notes that the town wants kindergarten and pre-school. 
    3. Amy Campbell – is size of Little Red a concern for pre-K and K? Blair is not concerned about the space.  Sue says we may need to keep the modular for other things.
    4. Russ Edwards – Community is somewhat confused about what will take place in the Little Red. Russ Edwards wants the school board to make clear that Little Red will house pre-k and kindergarten. McKeon doesn’t think there are people that still think that.  Leslie thinks the School Board should be added to the town’s revamped messaging.
    5. Jess Weigel – the possibility of lower elementary ending is a surprise to her and it disappoints her. However, 4th grade will still be here the following 25-26 academic year. McKeon explains that Claremont is our anchor school and Leslie adds that Newport is still the school that we bus to and the school that we send many of our children to and what we set our tuition rates to.
    6. Cassie Hoyt – Clarifies that the current tuition rate of neighboring schools can always change. Cassie works at Sunapee schools and thinks that there is little chance that it becomes the anchor school due to the current load of IEPs (special needs students).  Asks what was the price difference between modular options.  McKeon answers 1.5 million for the total expansion.  To replace the modular it is 500K to 600K, totaling at 700K.  350K to renovate Little Red.  The town may want to replace Big White with a modular.  Leslie mentions the previous meetings concerning options. Sue Blair is concerned about emergency operations plans. Leslie adds that the modular discussion has been happening for many years but the cost difference was not a good long-term choice.
    7. Sharon Riker – clarification of reconsideration vote – only applies to the meeting.
    8. Kent Randell – the modular building does not seem like such a bad idea if it means keeping lower elementary.
    9. Cassie Hoyt – is worried that the pre-k and k might have another bad vote where the vote was voted down. Leslie notes we are already paying pre-k and k with special ed needs.
    10. Kent Randell – the school board passed a budget and renovation and that is commendable
    11. Leslie – should we have a survey of the town for funded options?  Yes is the resounding answer in the room.
    12. Kent Randell – a funded lower elementary option is not necessarily a tax loss if tuition rates go up or there is a large amount of development in Croydon.
    13. Blair – we have no control over state regulations. Croydon needs to do what is right for Croydon, we can shield ourselves from the decisions of neighboring towns and the state by having our own lower elementary and control.
    14. Cassie Hoyt – has anybody talked to Goshen? Beth mentions that Goshen tuitions kids all over the state.  Goshen does not tuition out to private and religious schools.
    15. Caroline Dupree – Looking for more information concerning Sunapee starting at the 1st grade. McKeon mentions that there is no news yet, but their superintendent had interest, however the school board is an unknown. Caroline wants stability. McKeon wants stability. Blair notes that it is all about available resources, which may limit Sunapee.
    16. Amy Campbell – What is the 2025-26 staffing situation? Blair cannot address staffing prior to consulting the board.
    17. Cassie Hoyt – Croydon is our school. Sunapee changes annually and does not have to say yes to all of our students.  Newport says no to some of our students. Cassie emphasizes there is a disparity between kids who are accepted and those who are not.
    18. Sue Blair – Croydon Village School is wonderful!! Much better than other elementary schools. She just visited another school. We are a spectacular, non-regular school. No child will fall through a crack here, but do fall through cracks in other schools.
    19. Kaplan Scanlan – we need a second opinion on an outbuilding.  We are going to lose too much by having only pre/pre-k. Suggests building a reserve fund during the life of the modular building until a more permanent option is found.
    20. Leslie – will draft up a survey for next month.
    21. Amy Benson – small schools in small towns thrive.
    22. Leslie – Jim Morgan has offered to host a fundraiser. Next year town meeting is Saturday, March 14th.
    23. McKeon – close the public forum (91a3-2-a).  Moves to enter non-public, Leslie seconds, passes unanimously.
  7. D. Non-Public Session: NON-PUBLIC SESSION NH RSA 91-A:3, II (a)
  8. F. Changes or Additions to the Agenda
    1. There will be a second non-public session
  9. G.  Approval of minutes: March 4, 2025
    1.   Leslie made a spelling correction. Leslie moves, McKeon seconds, passes unanimously.
  10. Discussion/ Action Items:
    1. Items for annual Reorganization
      1. Attorneys as needed. Auditor are Roberts & Greene. Bank is Mascoma Savings Bank. Newspapers are Valley News and Eagle Times. Leslie moves to reappoint, Nelson seconds. Passes unanimously.
      2. Re-affirmation of policy manual. Blair notes that the board chair, SEO, and community member could not regularly meet during previous academic year.  (Policies from Newport are dated 1988.) Blair asks the Board to review the policy book prior to reaffirmation to align with NH School Board Association.  Leslie moves to reaffirm what exists and commits to clean it up, Nelson seconds, passes unanimously.
      3. Leslie moves to reaffirm safety manual, Nelson seconds, passes unanimously.
      4. Blair suggests to wait until May to affirm the federal funding assurances.  Passes unanimously.
      5. Blair notes that she did the civil rights survey and it was difficult, but CVS was manageable.
      6. Policy Committee discussion. Blair could not affirm that we had the policies.  (Leslie and Nelson noted that there are 70 mandatory policies that need to be approved). McKeon thinks it will be more efficient outside of a policy committee.  The Board is obligated to have 3 meetings on each policy. Leslie sees a benefit to the policy committee but also sees the benefit to streamlining things. McKeon thinks the committee should have only 3 people. The policy committee meetings should be publicly warned. Blair suggests making these zoom meetings and notes that Croydon has specific needs. Everybody agrees to the zoom meeting. Leslie moves for Nelson to serve as the board member of the policy committee and Laura Keniston as the community member. Nelson seconds. Passes unanimously.
      7. Leslie remains on the Grants and Philanthropy committee, plus Kent Randell and Hope Damon as community members. Nelson moves and Leslie seconds. Passes unanimously. 
  11. Preservation Alliance Association Update
    1. McKeon updates. Inclusion on the NH Historical Registry is the precursor to being eligible for a L-CHIP grant. McKeon was impressed with NH Preservation — performed research with books, visited the historical society, and investigated past town minutes. They agreed to fast-track our L-CHIP application. Letter of Intent is due on April 30. Paid Jim Perkins and Martha Cummings from the Preservation alliance.  Register payment was submitted today. Should be informed in August. Needs a qualified preservation plan, will have assistance from NH Preservation Alliance. The NH Preservation Alliance said that SAU-99 should put in the grant, McKeon offers to go Selectboard and deliver a presentation on Tuesday April 22nd. The building needs to maintain the historical character, but we could still have an addition. McKeon is not bothered by the limited strings attached. Jim Perkins noted that there is beaded trimming, the brick building dates from 1825 or 1834.
    2. Leslie moves, Nelson seconds to have McKeon to present to select board on April 22. 
  12. Resignations and Nominations
    1. Elizabeth O’Neil has resigned as the 2,3, and 4 teacher and is requesting to become the special education teacher, special education coordinator for pre-K and lower elementary, and the LEA for grades 5-12 as a full-time position.
    2. Leslie moves, McKeon seconds, to accept resignation, passes unanimously.
    3. Current special ed teacher is Karen Stenbeck who is “out-of-district.” Others have been filling in (currently the parapros, PO, and speech pathologist assist).
    4. Blair Nominates Liz O’Neil as Special Ed teacher and coordinator, full-time.
    5. Blair Nominates Elizabeth Scanlan as a K-2 teacher.  (two kindergarteners, four first graders, four second graders).   (We still have 10 third graders and 5 fourth graders).
    6. Blair notes new grade 3-4 (or grade 2-4) teacher has been posted.
    7. Blair Nominates Part-time music teacher Ellen Harrington, STEM interventionist; Brook Randell as parapro and art teacher, Rebecca Merrow who is PE teacher, Patricia Trader (?) as music teacher, Rebecca Mead as parapro.
    8. Blair nominates herself as SEO.
    9. Blair nominates Beth Beirwirth for business administrator.
    10. Leslie moves to accept nominations, Nelson seconds, passes unanimously.
  13. Annual Meeting Review/ Municipal Bond Bank Schedule
    1. Bierwirth, bond sales are in July and January. Recommends a January sale due to November notification of grants but due by November 15, though it is possible to work with the bond bank on this date (July application is due April 30).
  14. End of SY 25 School Calendar
    1. Waiting for DOE regarding their minimal standards. We still count up to 30 minutes of recess in the calendar because we are an early childhood school.  1,0006 hours on June 18.  Blair requests to allow Friday June 6 for a professional development day for teachers
    2. April 17 will be restarting with Laurie Fields for 4-H activities on the topic of gardening. April 22 is bus driver appreciation for Don Poulin.  April 24 at 5p-6:30p is the CVS STEAM exhibit and Earth Day concert and Sue is inviting the photographer and artwork will be displayed as well as the STEAM project display.  May 4-10 is teacher appreciation week and will take the teachers out to Helen’s Place (Board and Beth are invited). May 17 the kids are going to Odeon State Park and Sue has a reservation from their science center. Leave at 7:45 am and arrive at 3:30p.NH SAS testing is May 19-30. May 23 is the Memorial Day observation. Blair is looking for help from the fire department to re-do flag and have a ceremony. First week of June is make-ups.  Senior event is June 3 with Kelly George (McKeon will mention the event to the select board). Leslie will bring cards for seniors to the May meeting for signature. June 18 will have early release with a barbeque and end-of-year awards. Summer School is compensatory services for special needs. Training for teachers on April 9 from Hagerty coaching. Looking at Hagerty Coaching for August and October which will begin at 1p with a later “early release” so school gets credit for a full day. August 21 Mahesh Sharma from Hagerty is offering zoom coaching for all Croydon Parents on how to teach math. August 22 Mahesh will deliver teacher training. All teachers are being trained in Orton-Gillingham for special needs educations.
    3. Leslie moves to add a June 6 as a PD day, Nelson seconds, passes unanimously.
    4. General and Program Assurances for Federal Grants
      1. Already approved and signed
    5. Approval of Calendar SY 26
      1. Blair proposes next year’s calendar, which is a 181 day calendar.
      2. Leslie moves and Nelson seconds. Passes unanimously. 
  15. Extra items: School Board monthly meeting follows the third Tuesday schedule.  Summer retreat will be in July. McKeon proposes a working meeting for the renovation bond, first Tuesday of every month, 5:15 p.m.
  16. E-mail communication is only for scheduling and tiny details, but no decision making.
  17. Blair notes that she will not be available July 24 – August 1.
  18. Public Forum #2
    1. Randell asks about Letter of Intent for L-Chip grant ceiling amount. McKeon answers that is 390K. (like others, CVS is asking for 50%, but all other in-building expenses are eligible). McKeon gets approval from the board for the numbers on the application.
    2. DuPree notes that parents are missing school-wide announcements from Blair due to gmail updates. Prefers using class dojo.
  19. Adjournment
    1. Next Board Meeting:  May 20, 2025