The Walpolean

Town of Walpole, New Hampshire Public Information Meeting

School Withdrawal Study and Police Station Study

September 19, 2024

Selectboard Present: Cheryl Mayberry, Chair; Steven Dalessio and Carolyn Vose

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Total Attendance: 62 People

Cheryl Mayberry, Selectboard Chair, opened the meeting at 5:32 PM. She introduced the
Selectboard and reminded the public that questions should come from Walpole residents only,
but all are welcome to listen.

Police Station Study Committee – Steven Dalessio

Mr. Dalessio introduced the members of Police Building Committee who are Dave Adams, Rod Bouchard, Steve Dalessio – Selectboard member and Committee Chair, Andrew Dey, Trevor MacLachlan, Peggy Pschirrer, Jay Punt, Justin Sanctuary – Police Chief, and Cheri Watson. A new building is being considered because the current building has several deficiencies including that the building is not strong enough (it was breached when a car backed into it), the drug hood is in kitchen where the officers eat lunch, there is no decontamination area if officers are exposed to drugs or bio-hazards, it is too crowded so space must be shared by multiple officers and for multiple purposes (e.g. lockers are in the bathroom), it is not efficient or safe, there is no private interview room, and the auto storage in the sally port is inadequate and exhaust fumes leak into the building. Last year a drug addict destroyed the holding cell. Because of this incident, people taken into custody must be handcuffed to a bar. That is not an appropriate detention method. Although we tend to think of Walpole as a sleepy little town, there are typically 250-350 calls per month. The count has been as high as 500 calls in a month. The Police Department consists of the Chief, an administrator, (5) Full-time officers, (1) part-time officer, and (1) part-time clerk.

The Committee has so far determined that the current station is not adequate now or for the future, visited five facilities in this area, identified space requirements (8,500 square feet), selected a potential site which was approved at the 2024 Town Meeting (which is 2.6 acres and will have a drive to Upper Walpole Road), hired Michael Petrovick Architect for the schematic phase (completed 9/24), and discussed the need for community input.

The next steps include information meetings for the public and with smaller community groups, complete purchase of the land in 2024, develop a cost model in September 2024, determine how funds are to be raised, and create a realistic timeline for completion.

The Committee has prepared a rough magnitude of cost and schedule. The cost is estimated to be $7M – $7.25M for the land and construction. Additionally, the Town needs to raise 50% through grants and donations, needs to determine the size and timing of a bond for the balance, and the target date for completion is in 2026 or 2027 depending on funding. A potential grant writer has been identified and which grants to apply for. Contractors are currently hard to get, which may be an issue during construction.

Tom Aldrich would like the schematic drawings taken to MacMillian so see what they think of the plan. He would also like the meeting to discuss only the School Withdrawal Study.

John Peska pointed out that this is a big project for our small town. It is critical it is done right.

Tom Beaudry asked if the training/common room might be removed to cut costs. Mr. Sanctuary pointed out that officer training is critical, but the space can be shared with the community when not needed by the Police Department. They also hope to share training with surrounding towns. A square space with lower security, like the training room, is relatively low cost – most of the cost will be in the secure areas of the building.

School Withdrawal Study Committee – Carolyn Vose

Ms. Vose was the Selectboard Liaison to the School Withdrawal Study Committee and introduced the study. Warrant Article 11 was created to gauge voter interest after a group of concerned citizens met with the Selectboard. The Selectboard has no position on this issue. Article 11 passed with a majority vote. Following the approval, a Walpole School PreK to 8th Grade Withdrawal Study Committee was created and charged with considering options for Walpole students’ education in this age range. The Committee is made up of volunteers with varied backgrounds and interests. They focused on different areas of potential impact on the students’ education as well as school funding. Over roughly four months of weekly meetings, conversations included the feasibility of working within the current structure as well as creating an alternative structure.

It is critical to understand an SAU (School Administrative Unit) versus a School District. An SAU includes a superintendent and business office. It is responsible for managing the education system to comply with regulations including special education in their school districts. A School District manages the education of the children through a School Board and creates budgets, contracts, hires, manages bussing and building maintenance to provide education services. An SAU may contain one or multiple School Districts. A School District may be made up of one or multiple towns.

The Committee considered related RSA’s, laws in NH are called Revised Statutes Annotated, available related financial data and statistics for Fall Mountain Regional School District (FMRSD) and the State of New Hampshire, the structure of other multi-town districts in New Hampshire, and discussions with knowledgeable individuals in FMRSD and in other local school districts.

This Study Committee recommends the Selectboard issue a warrant article to vote on whether to form an official study committee to pursue withdrawal from FMRSD. This would be one of several steps, each voted on by the citizens, before any change to the current structure.

Tom Aldrich suggested that a better meeting time would be 7:00 PM. Charlestown went through this process, but in the end, the other towns voted against it. Why would it be different for Walpole? Mr. Dalessio said he does not know why it was voted down. Alissa Bascom from Charlestown and the FMRSD School Board said she has no conjecture on why people voted against it. Mr. Aldrich said he votes for his wallet. He thinks others do the same, and he thinks it will be hard to convince people to vote for it.

Steve Varone pointed out that there has been a rule change since the vote on Charlestown withdrawal. At that point, it was a simple majority vote. As of July 2023, it now requires a 60% vote in the withdrawing town plus a 40% vote in the whole School District.

Diana Watson Petrie reminded everyone that so far there has been no change in the school structure. The Committee was looking to see if it makes sense to have a warrant article to see if there is another better way to educate our students.

Another resident pointed out that so much information is missing at this time that it is impossible to decide. Mr. Varone said the Committee compared per student costs in FMRSD and nearby towns. Most were less expensive than FMRSD’s current rate. In general, cooperative education does not save money. He thinks a better education for our students is the goal, not saving money.

Tom Beaudry asked if we could get comparison costs. A committee member said the Committee did not present cost data because everything will change so much before a new structure can take effect.

Mrs. Watson Petrie said it was frustrating for the Committee not to be able to answer all the questions, but they were charged with determining what it might look like if Walpole were alone.

Becky Sethi said that enrollment is related to expenses and that is a real issue. If you are required to have one teacher per ten students, the cost per student is much higher if there are eleven students than if there are nineteen in the classroom.

Mr. Dalessio pointed out that if there is a 2025 Warrant Article and it passes, state statue directs the School Board to form a Withdrawal Committee of Selectboard and School Board members from all five towns to work with the FMRSD Business Administrator to answer all the questions in a written report to the Department of Education in 180 days. It is a big project and hard work.

One citizen said that Walpole is not permitted to make improvements to our schools because parity among the towns is required.

Karen Berry pointed out that we will not know any of the answers to the questions being asked unless we vote to form a study committee.

Stan Hutchings reiterated that the next study committee will answer all the detailed questions and money issues. If we become independent, then we will have complete control over the education of Walpole students.

Tina Tidd asked if there will be a cost to Walpole if there is a study committee. Mr. Dalessio said it is not required, but it is recommended that the Town considering withdrawal hire an attorney.

Tom Aldrich asked if there was any study of drugs, violence, LGBTQIA+, or other issues in the high schools we might consider sending Walpole students to. Ms. Vose said high school questions will be part of the next study committee. This Committee was asked to consider only Pre-K through 8th grade.

There was a reminder that the Town voted to form this Withdrawal Study Committee, and they will vote again if we proceed. Mr. Varone also reminded everyone there is no right or wrong way to educate our students. It is about what works for each town.

Mrs. Sethi said that when Fall Mountain Regional School District (FMRSD) was formed, it promised greater opportunities for all the students. Now it offers fewer opportunities. Maybe it is time for each town to look at what is best for their students.

Another resident said we need to put our students first and we should vote on whether to study withdrawal from FMRSD.

Respectfully submitted,
Sue Bauer, Selectboard Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the
September 26, 2024 Selectboard meeting.)