The Walpolean

Pre-K – 8 Withdrawal Study Committee Notes

6/26/24

Present: Jo Cowgill, Stan Hutchings, Jean Kobeski, Chas Street, Tom Ronning, Steve Varone

Absent:  Diana Petrie

The meeting commenced at 6:28 p.m. 

Steve provided copies of RSA:16-a Increase or Decrease in Grades, which is relevant to the committee’s “Option 4” idea. A lengthy discussion about this option ensued, including Steve’s explanation of the financial ramifications, should the district go in that direction.  

Tom summarized where the committee is so far with our research and our recommendation for the Selectboard. The next step is for Diana and Jean to draft a summary of the pros and cons of withdrawal and our recommendation.  It will then be reviewed by the committee. Once approved, it will be sent to the Selectboard, along with our Option 4 idea. Steve reminded us that, if the Selectboard decides to write a warrant article to proceed with the study to withdraw, it would need 50% of the vote to pass. The next study committee would be made up of the Selectboard and School Board.

Though not charged with making decisions about the high school, the committee discussed high school options for students if Walpole withdraws and forms its own district. Finances, programming, and location were considered.

Jo presented a copy of a letter, which could potentially be a letter to the editor, for the committee to review. She based this on the fact that no one from Walpole ran for the school board this year.  Are we becoming complacent? It was suggested that the reason is, people are discontent with the collective model; they are frustrated. Committee members offered thoughts on the letter and decided to send it on to Diana for her opinion of how to proceed with it. It was suggested that the thoughts expressed in the letter could be included in the list of pros and cons we are compiling.

Stan said he has had some difficulty getting information from Central Office about resources in our facilities. The Superintendent needs to grant permission for the release of information;  that hasn’t happened yet. The committee then discussed what effect Walpole withdrawal would have on Central Office staff. 

 Action Items:

1. Diana and Jean will write a draft summary of the pros and cons of each of the three withdrawal options.
2. Diana and Jean will write an explanation of the committee’s idea for Option 4.
3. Stan will pursue getting the information about the resources in our facilities.

The meeting ended at 7:50 p.m.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall.

Pre-K – 8 School Withdrawal Study Committee Notes

6/19/24

Present:  Diana Petrie (Chair), Jo Cowgill, Jean Kobeski, Chas Street, Tom Ronning, Steve Varone

Absent:  Stan Hutchngs

The meeting was called to  order at 6:30 p.m.

Committee members reported on topics they chose to research last week.

Teacher and Staff Interviews:  Jean interviewed staff members from Walpole Middle and N. Walpole Schools. They discussed climate within the school and district, staffing and curriculum challenges, local and district administrative support, the survey distributed to district teachers, and their thoughts on the benefits and concerns associated with the proposed withdrawal from the district. Additional interviews are scheduled for the coming week and Diana will try to schedule a meeting with teachers/or staff from the Primary School.

Financial Ramifications of Walpole Withdrawing from FMRSD and SAU60:  Steve distributed and discussed his preliminary report outlining withdrawal from the district with the three options:

1. Remaining in SAU 60
2. Joining a different SAU
3. Forming our own SAU

The above led to a discussion of the high school, and what happens after our students leave Walpole, Grade 8.  If we tuition them to FMRHS, will our Walpole district have a say in programming, etc. at the high school?  No. The committee brainstormed a fourth option that could possibly benefit all towns and the high school. A lengthy discussion about this idea ensued, ending with Diana asking how to proceed with presenting this fourth option to the Selectboard. Steve and Chas said they would look for RSA 195. Diana and Jean will craft a draft of Option 4. 

The next meeting will be June 26 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall.

Action Items:

1. Diana will try to interview staff from the Primary School.
2. Steve and Chas will look for RSA 195 as it would pertain to Option 4.
3. Diana and Jean will create a draft of Option 4.
4. Diana will ask the Chesterfield Board member the question of how Chesterfield feels about having no say on the Keene School Board.

Now open to anyone in our community!

Upstairs at the Walpole Town Hall tomorrow (Monday, July 1st) between 1 and 3 PM.

Mascots, costumes, uniforms, dresses, suits, kids’ items, shoes and so much more!!

By donation, please!

And, REMEMBER, on-line we are in FULL COLOR wherever possible. Summer is upon us, the 4th just days away. Extreme weather, serious rains and flooding elsewhere – but here in Walpole we continue to be blessed with a quiet “corner of the world.”

To see the July CLARION – Click this Link – or on the front page below. Have a great summer, stay safe and well, Have a safe but fun holiday. yours, RAY BOAS, Publisher

GREAT DECISIONS

“NATO at a Strategic Crossroads”

“NATO at a Strategic Crossroads” — our next “Great Decisions” public forum — will be moderated by Adrian Basora, former United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. This discussion will be on Monday, July 8, 6:00 p.m., in the Walpole Town Library, and promises to be a fascinating look at NATO’s evolution over the past 75 years, the Alliance’s original purpose, its present challenges and its options for the future.

Adrian Basora is a trustee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute and chairs its Eurasia Program. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and is on the international advisory board of the Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities. During his 33 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, Adrian served in former Soviet Bloc countries and helped develop America’s programs in support of their transition to democracy while serving at the National Security Council (1989–91).

The relevant article from the Foreign Policy Association’s 2024 publication is “NATO’s Future,” by Sarwar Kashmeri, and I highly recommend this informative examination of the Alliance’s history, its evolution and expansion, its present and future structure and purpose. A copy of the article can be emailed to you by Jane Malmberg, Library Director: jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org

Join the discussion at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 8, in the Hubbard Meeting Room at the Walpole Town Library. If you are joining via Zoom, please log on at 6:20, after the Foreign Policy Association’s Master Class video, which we are not permitted to show on Zoom. For the Zoom link, contact Jane Malmberg in advance of the meeting: jmalmberg@walpoletownlibrary.org. 

Sue Kibbe

Thanks to Wendy Grossman and many other volunteers, you are now able to do this! – Lil

THIS SUMMER ON WALPOLE TRAILS

Summer is a great time to explore, enjoy, and appreciate Walpole’s trails. Trail users will find many improvements this summer, due to the efforts of the Walpole Trail Committee and many additional volunteers at Help Our Trails Day and other events.

Brush hogging has just been completed on the Walpole section of the Cheshire Rail Trail!  Trail users on foot, bicycle or horseback can now more readily enjoy the scenery along 7+ miles of rail trail on the west side of town. Rail trail users this summer should find far fewer wet spots than in past years, thanks to last fall’s major drainage improvement project.  The rail trail is accessible from several cross streets, and there is dedicated parking on River Rd.

At Mill Pond, bridges have been repaired, new signs put up, trees cleared away, and erosion controls installed. In mid-June, encroaching vegetation was cut back.  The bridge on the Fanny Mason trail was replaced last fall.

Trail maps and photos of trail work events can be found on the Walpole Conservation Commission website, walpoleoutdoors.org. 

Many thanks to everyone in the Walpole government and community for supporting Walpole trails.

Enjoy Walpole’s trails!

Wendy Grossman

Walpole Trail Committee

Present:  Jo Cowgill, Jean Kobeski, Chas Street, Steve Varone, Tom Ronning, Carolyn Vose

    (Selectboard Liaison)

Absent:  Diana Petrie (Chair), Stan Hutchings

Visitors:  Cheryl Mayberry (Director of Finance, Winchester School District;  Walpole

    Selectboard), Katy Haas (Civic Documentor, Keene Sentinel)

The meeting commenced at 6:34 p.m. in Town Hall.

Cheryl Mayberry  was invited to speak about the Winchester School District, which is its own school district and SAU 94. She described their self-management model. Their SAU administrative office consists of a part-time superintendent, full-time business administrator, part-time payroll person, superintendent assistant (split – halftime supports the superintendent and handles HR and halftime works with the Special Ed director), Full-time Special Education and Facilities Directors. Administrators meet weekly with the principal to discuss what they need to administratively manage. 

Winchester’s budget is roughly $12,764,000, down $300,000 from last year.  They have 32 teachers, 6 SPED teachers, and 15 paras. Their budget is “upside down” – the majority of the budget is earmarked for SPED. The Special Ed director is working to lower special ed costs.  They are redoing IEPs, according to what SPED law states should and shouldn’t be in those IEPs.They want to focus on what needs to be in the IEP versus what should be a 504 plan. They want to make sure student educational needs are met but they are looking at their high number of out-of-district placements to determine if they are really needed.  They are following SEL initiatives and may add a part-time autism specialist.

Winchester has its own Pre-K – 8 program and tuitions the high school students to Keene High. They have a budget committee that works with administrators to keep costs down. Winchester outsources transportation and partners with Hinsdale to share a social worker and adjustment counselor.  Each town hires one of those teachers full time then reimburses the other for the days they are shared. They outsource a school psychologist and IT. They have three Title I interventionists, one of which is split between Title I and regular ed.  504 management was discussed. 

The group asked about cost/student. Further discussion focused on high school, but the group was reminded that our committee will only report on Pre-K – 8. 

It was suggested that it might be time to revisit and change the Fall Mountain Articles of Agreement.  Cheryl stated that was tried but got nowhere. The FM Board and representatives from all towns are required to participate, which was done. It was noted that if Walpole leaves the district, it would create a hardship in the other towns. That might provide the incentive needed to revisit and renegotiate the Articles. 

Once again, we were reminded that our charge is to consider Walpole students and how we move forward. How would our students benefit from our withdrawal? This charge is our town and our students.

It was also suggested that we could take SAU 60 down to a cooperative high school with each town being its own district.

Committee members presented their research/action item for the week.

Benefits and Disadvantages for Walpole Staying/or Leaving SAU 60:  Tom distributed copies of his preliminary list of the pros and cons of each scenario and briefly discussed them.

Tax Information:  Jo reports that Avitar has incorrect tax information and she reported it to Sarah Downing. 

Greater Potential for Civic Involvement:  Chas distributed copies of his report on how the community can become even more involved in our school. Presently we are hindered by the “sameness” policy of the SAU administration. 

Jean has started interviewing teachers and staff but will consolidate their comments and make one report when meetings have concluded.

Cheryl and Carolyn clarified that this committee is to make a recommendation to the selectboard based on the pros and cons they have gathered.

The meeting concluded at 8:10 p.m. The next meeting will be June 19, 6:30 p.m., in Town Hall.  

Present:  Diana Petrie (Chair), Jo Cargill, Jean Kobeski, Chas Street, Steve Varone, 

    Tom Ronning, Carolyn Vose (Selectboard Liaison)

Absent:  Stan Hutchings

The meeting commenced at 6:33 p.m. in Town Hall.

Tom made a correction to the notes of the last meeting regarding the Superintendent’s 100-Day Plan.  The plan does not include reinstatement of the NEHT and AHT programs, as reported.

Committee members reported on topics they chose to research last week.

Culture:  Chas has spoken to various community members who expressed concern that there are no parents on the curriculum selection committee.

He gave a brief history of the Walpole Schools and said that Walpole voters historically support the school budget.  Community members have generously donated money to the school for programs, buildings, scholarships (Hubbards, Hooper) and would most likely continue to do so in the event of the school withdrawal from the district. 

Chas said there is greater potential for civic involvement and he will research this.  He said the town has the resources to provide a mentoring/or gifted and talented program.

There was a question about the requirement that the North Walpole School stay open. That stipulation was repealed with the passage of Warrant Article 10.

Transportation:  Steve reported that Chesterfield pays $60,000 less per year for transportation than Walpole is paying the district.  Jo pointed out that the FM District has a fleet of five new buses and a master mechanic. 

Personnel and Programs: Diana, Steve, and Jean met with the Chesterfield principal and school board chair. They discussed the advantages of maintaining local control but remaining part of SAU 29. They described the hiring practices of their staff. Teachers are interviewed and selected locally then hired with the permission of the superintendent.  There is little turnover in Chesterfield, but teachers can move within the SAU if they so choose.  They will not be forced to do so. Specialists like speech, OT are also hired locally.  If they are only needed in Chesterfield part time, Chesterfield can hire them out to other school districts who also need part time services. 

They talked about how Chesterfield relies on SAU 29 for IT services, a Special Services Coordinator, Curriculum Coordinator, Public Relations, Food Services, and the Pre-K – 12 Strategic Plan. Teachers have grade-level meetings with colleagues across the SAU. They have representation on the SAU school board (but not Keene).

Their advice for getting state approval for withdrawal focuses on four areas:

1. Finances

2. Where you feel you are lacking support from the SAU

3. Reasons for choosing to withdraw

4. How withdrawal will benefit your students

Thoughts from Some Walpole Staff:

1. In order to create “sameness” in programming across the district, some teachers feel they have been held back in order to “bring others up.” 

2. (Veteran) Teachers are being moved to other schools in the district against their will. Some say they will leave the district as a result.

3. Teachers don’t feel valued by Central Office.

Teacher Survey: A climate survey was distributed to teachers around the district.  Results have not yet been released.  Diana would like to get a copy of the survey and will contact Misty to request one.

Action Items:

Chas:  Research the greater potential for civic involvement

Jo:  Try to find the reason for the tax discrepancies among documents

Tom: Start a Google sheet listing the benefits to our students of withdrawal from the 

         district

Jean and Diana:  Interview teachers

Diana:  Ask Misty Bushee for a copy of the teacher survey.

The next meeting, which is open to the public, will be on Wednesday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall.

Present:  Diana Petrie (Chair), Jo Cargill, Stan Hutchings, Jean Kobeski, Chas Street, Steve Varone, Carolyn Vose (Selectboard Liaison)

Absent:  Tom Ronning

The meeting commenced at 6:34.

Committee members reported on the topics they chose to research last week.

Meeting with the Superintendent:  Chas and Diana met with Dr. Christopher Spence, Superintendent, and Fall Mountain School Board Chair, Alyssa Bascom at Central Office. Dr. Spence discussed his 100 Day Plan (Find at www.sau60.org), which includes revamping the curriculum by 2025, creating a Gifted and Talented Program in each attendance area, and reinstating AHT and NEHT trips.

Dr. Spence’s question to the group was, “What can we do to bring the towns together?”

According to the Articles of Agreement, the SAU owns all buildings within the district. If, in the event of a town’s withdrawal from the SAU and buildings change possession, the town will need to bring school buildings up to code. Stan recommended doing an inventory of the buildings in Walpole.

Personnel and Programs:  A chart was presented comparing the cost/student for the state, the FM district, and Keene.

​​​​​​HS

​State​​ – $20,900​       $19,917

​  
FM​​ – $24,264​       $21,134

         
Keene​​ – $20,751​       $16,693

Diana and Jean met with Justin Cassarino primarily to discuss personnel and programs. Justin provided us with current staffing and enrollment figures, including Special Education We discussed class size, staff turnover and recruitment, curriculum, professional development, SEL (Social Emotional Learning), community involvement, and maintenance. 

The next step will be to contact the Chesterfield principal to discuss their district.  Since Chesterfield’s demographics are similar to Walpole’s, Steve felt it would be better to go there rather than Westmoreland for that reason.

Transportation: We looked at Walpole’s share of the Fall Mountain transportation budget then compared it to Chesterfield’s budget, which includes outside contractor and high school costs.

Committee members were given handouts showing the Westmoreland and Chesterfield budgets and employee health insurance costs. They also received a handout of reference links.

Jo pointed out that schools withdrawing from a school district must include grades Pre-K -12, not just 8; therefore we should include the high school in our study.  Carolyn Vose explained that to include the high school at this time would be “a big ask”. It would be included in stage 2 of this process if voters choose to pursue withdrawal.

Action Items for Next Meeting:

1. Diana, Jean, and Steve will meet with the Chesterfield principal.

2. Steve will try to find and talk to Marty Mahoney.

3. Jo will explore RSA 125-25:  Withdrawal from a cooperative. 

4. Chas will contact past “influencers”  (St. Pierre, Shaw, Jacobs) about culture.

5. Carolyn Vose will talk to the selectboard about including HS in this study and charter school as a choice upon withdrawal. 

6. Stan will inventory buildings to list resources. He also wants to explore RSAs related to education/withdrawal 

7. Invite Cheryl Mayberry to a future meeting to explain the Winchester School District’s withdrawal process. Carolyn will email an invitation. 

8. Everyone was asked to think about and start listing pros and cons of the information they have researched.   

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