Participants
Everyone the recording shows taking part or being named. Names follow the project's dialogue file and the 2015 to 2023 roster; no minutes are online to check spellings against. Where the dialogue file says Unidentified, this page does too.
| Name | Role | Participation |
|---|
| Frank Sprague | Chair | Presided; moved the board into and out of nonpublic session; proposed answering the superintendent that night on the NHSBA role review; relayed a realtors' suggestion about school data; seconded several motions himself. |
| Rebecca Zullo | Vice chair | Moved the January 31 minutes, Herzog's resignation, JLF (second) and adjournment; raised school safety and the bullying committee; asked about security-grant bids and the curriculum's cost. |
| Brian Rapp | Member | Asked about staff and student discussion after the Florida shooting; moved Herzog's appointment, the donations, the Healthy Relationships curriculum, JLF and the five policies; raised audio recording on buses. |
| Michael Petrin | Member | Moved the K-8 competencies (attribution rests on the chair's "Thank you Mike"). |
| Chris Irish | Member | Named in the roll; not heard speaking. |
| Michelle Pierce | Member | Named in the roll; not heard speaking. |
| Dr. Alex Herzog | Former member (resignation effective February 20); nominee for SRVRTC director | Named in the nonpublic roll call; not heard speaking. His resignation was accepted and he was elected director of the Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center. |
| Lexi Grenier | Student representative, Stevens High School | Student report; described plans for a March 14 walkout. |
| Middleton McGoodwin | Superintendent, SAU 6 | Superintendent's report on school safety after the Florida shooting, the MTSS grant, Black History Month, student conflict managers, and a proposal to invite the NHSBA; nominated Herzog; presented the donations, the security-grant letters and policy JLF; responded to the parent's comment. |
| Cory LeClair | Assistant Superintendent | Announced a March 5 candidate forum; presented growth data and the curriculum website; introduced the Healthy Relationships program; presented the state K-8 competencies. |
| Patricia Barry | Principal, Stevens High School | High school building report on the writing work and the coming program of studies (attribution rests on content; medium confidence). |
| Josh Malloy | Director of Instructional Technology | Explained how the security-upgrade costs were estimated and what happens to unspent grant money. |
| Mary Woodman | Clerk; recording secretary | Called the roll and the two roll-call votes on nonpublic session. |
| Emily (surname not on the record) | Community educator, Turning Points Network | Presented the Healthy Relationships sexual abuse prevention program for grades 2 to 5. |
| Jessica Sawyer | Citizens' comments (Mulberry Street) | Described two years of bullying incidents involving her daughter at Claremont Middle School and proposed a Bully Prevention week. This page does not repeat the details of her account. |
| Unidentified (three speakers) | Elementary and middle school administrators | Two-minute building reports on data use; names not on the record. |
| Unidentified | Various | Roll answers, motions and seconds from the table, and short remarks, including a voice asking whether the resignation and the appointment would be separate motions. 46 of 567 rows (8.1%) are Unidentified. |
Order of business (reconstructed)
No agenda for this meeting is posted in any district share, so this list is reconstructed from the chair's transitions on the recording. A written agenda existed and was sent to members electronically (0:03:44); it was amended on the floor. Hover over (or Tab to) a clipped entry for the full text.
| Taken up | Item | Agenda text / disposition |
|---|
| 0:00:09 | Call to order, pledge, roll | Roll at 0:00:54; see Board composition above. |
| 0:01:13 | Nonpublic session | Chair's motion "to go into nonpublic under RSA 913 colon two C [91-A:3, II(c)]", moved and seconded; roll call 0:01:37 to 0:01:51. Motion to come out at 0:02:26; roll call 0:02:41 to 0:02:53. No decision announced and no vote to seal minutes heard. |
| 0:02:54 | Agenda | Added: a board resignation, the SRVRTC director nomination, and two donations (Fuel Up to Play 60 and the preschool) alongside the cheer donation already listed (0:03:26); math competencies document corrected. Voice vote at 0:04:22. |
| 0:04:33 | Student representative's report | Informational. |
| 0:09:45 | Superintendent's report | Informational, except the NHSBA proposal: the board agreed that night to invite the association after the election (0:30:57 to 0:32:04). |
| 0:35:46 | Minutes of January 31, 2018 | Moved by Zullo (0:35:54), seconded; voice vote at 0:35:58. |
| 0:35:58 | Citizens' comments | Jessica Sawyer; the superintendent and Zullo responded. |
| 0:48:29 | Discussion: writing, reading and math growth | LeClair's presentation, building reports and questions to 1:24:04. Informational. |
| 1:24:38 | Discussion: Public School Infrastructure Fund | Governor's letters confirming the grant, contingent on Article 3 passing on March 13. Informational. |
| 1:29:44 | Action: board resignation (added) | Herzog, effective February 20. Moved by Zullo, seconded by the chair; voice vote at 1:33:57. |
| 1:30:28 | Action: SRVRTC director nomination (added) | Dr. Alex Herzog. Moved by Rapp (1:33:07), seconded; voice vote at 1:34:53, no audible opposition. |
| 1:35:47 | Action: donations (two added) | $250 from Claremont Savings Bank for Fuel Up to Play 60; $5,000 from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation for the preschool playground; $2,500 anonymous for Stevens cheer uniforms. A vote on the $250 gift is called at 1:36:35 but the superintendent continues; all three are then approved on one motion by Rapp (1:38:57 to 1:39:02), voice vote at 1:39:07. |
| 1:39:29 | Healthy Relationships curriculum (moved up) | Grades 2 to 5 pilot. Moved by Rapp (1:53:28), seconded; voice vote at 1:53:31. |
| 1:53:57 | K-8 competencies | State-written math, ELA and science competencies adopted. Moved by Petrin (1:55:39), seconded by the chair; voice vote at 1:56:02. |
| 1:56:45 | Policy JLF (reporting child abuse and neglect), first read | 2014 policy restored with a posting requirement added; second and third readings waived. Moved by Rapp (1:59:14), seconded by Zullo; voice vote at 1:59:25. |
| 1:59:32 | Five policies, second read | Advanced coursework, advanced placement, emergency care, police relations, bus audio and video surveillance, gifts. Moved to third read as a group by Rapp (2:04:37), seconded by the chair; voice vote at 2:04:44. |
| 2:04:59 | Adjournment | Moved by Zullo, seconded by Rapp; voice vote at 2:05:02. |
Discussion timeline
Chronological, from the dialogue CSV. Times are the start of the cited exchange, taken from the CSV's own second count. Hover over (or Tab to) a clipped cell for the full entry.
| Time | Topic | What was said | Flags |
|---|
| 0:01:13 | Into nonpublic | Chair: "I'd like to get a motion to go into nonpublic under RSA 913 colon two C [91-A:3, II(c)]." Roll call; the clerk's list includes "Irish. Alex. Herzog. Michael. Petra [Petrin]." (0:01:40). The next recorded words are at 0:02:21; the motion to come out is at 0:02:26. | OBSERVATION |
| 0:03:26 | Agenda additions | Superintendent: "I would like to add two additional donations to be approved by the board. Fuel Up to play 60 and our preschool program donation." At 0:03:44: "What you received and should not have received are the grade nine through 12 math competencies." | MEDIUM |
| 0:09:53 | Safety after Florida | Superintendent: the nation was "rocked by some horrific behavior and killings of students in Florida". At 0:10:52: "This is a copy of a protocol that's posted in every one of our classrooms." The emergency operations plan, "about 130 pages", is being revised. | |
| 0:14:04 | MTSS grant; Black History Month; conflict managers | "the Claremont School District was awarded a multiyear Multi-tiered System of Support grant." A screening of A Raisin in the Sun (0:16:47); fourth-grade conflict managers recognized by name (0:20:39). | |
| 0:23:32 | Board and superintendent roles | Superintendent on the budget season: "it revealed a fundamental lack of trust between the community and his schools." At 0:25:41: he proposes that "we approach the New Hampshire School Board Association and asked for their assistance in reviewing the roles and responsibilities". Sprague at 0:30:57: "I don't see a reason why we can't give Middleton an answer." Zullo at 0:31:32 on new-member training: "I thought the city council did really well". | |
| 0:27:36 | Walkout plans | Rapp asks about discussion among staff and students after Florida; Grenier describes a March 14 walkout proposal. Rapp at 0:30:07: "for me as an individual, you have my full support". | |
| 0:34:42 | Candidate forum | LeClair: a school board candidate forum on March 5 at 6 p.m. at the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center; "every candidate has been invited". | |
| 0:36:40 | Citizens' comments: Jessica Sawyer | "All of these incidents have occurred at Claremont Middle School." At 0:39:24 she cites "RSA 193-F4" [193-F:4] as requiring a letter home for each incident (her characterization; not verified for this page). At 0:44:29 she proposes "a Bully Prevention week". Superintendent at 0:45:44: "I can't go into details, obviously, because I can't discuss publicly about other students"; "The issue is not resolved, but the issue will be resolved." Zullo at 0:47:30 asks about the bullying committee; superintendent: "There was a forum in December." | |
| 0:49:16 | Growth data | LeClair on i-Ready growth targets and writing pre- and post-assessments by grade. Building reports from 1:07:59; high school from 1:13:28. Curriculum website demonstration at 1:18:12. | |
| 1:20:51 | School ratings online | Sprague relays a realtors' suggestion to publish a district profile "instead of looking at great schools data". Rapp at 1:22:46: "we're kind of screwed unless the state of New Hampshire starts to do something differently." | |
| 1:24:43 | Security grant | "in your packet are letters from the governor which confirm we will receive the funding. The only thing that has to occur now is the community has to have support. Article three on March 13th, 2018." Malloy at 1:26:09: shade costs were extrapolated from the high school; at 1:27:20: "if we get a good deal, we wouldn't get the money from the state that would stay with the state." | |
| 1:30:01 | Herzog resigns | "Alex Herzog, effective February 20th, 2018. Regrets to inform the board that he has decided to resign, and his term will remain unfilled until March 13th, 2018." Rapp at 1:33:34: "You can't force someone to be on the board if they don't want to." | OBSERVATION |
| 1:30:28 | SRVRTC director | A "two and a half month process"; a search committee including Jason Benware, then a board candidate (1:31:02). At 1:31:41: "Corey did not tell me what the committee felt was their top choice." At 1:32:10: "The committee unanimously selected the same candidate I did". Elected at 1:34:53. At 1:34:59: "his name will remain on the ballot". | OBSERVATION |
| 1:35:47 | Donations | "Claremont Savings Bank is donating $250" at a student's request. At 1:36:37: the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation "provided a donation to our the Claremont Preschool program in the amount of $5,000" as "a gift for a playground project". At 1:37:53: an anonymous gift to the cheer team "for the amount of $2,500". One vote at 1:39:07. | MEDIUM |
| 1:40:30 | Healthy Relationships curriculum | Emily of Turning Points Network presents the grades 2 to 5 program. LeClair at 1:49:08: "The curriculum is mandated by law." At 1:51:15: "there will be a two week sort of posting period, and there will be a parent letter that gets sent home tomorrow". At 1:51:35: "I believe it's March 7th at 530 to review the curriculum." At 1:52:31: "they aren't charging us extra to do this." Approved at 1:53:31. | POSITIVE |
| 1:53:57 | K-8 competencies | LeClair: "The state has developed competencies that we can adopt, and that's what we're choosing to do at this time." Social studies not included; superintendent at 1:56:08 on its being "driven by assessments". | |
| 1:56:58 | Policy JLF | The NHSBA revision implied "the principal is the one who will file"; the superintendent restores the 2014 policy with "information signs be posted in each school regarding reporting child abuse and neglect" (1:57:52), "as a result of House Bill 556" (1:58:32). Adopted with readings waived at 1:59:25. | |
| 2:00:12 | Bus audio and video | Rapp asks whether audio recording is allowed; the superintendent at 2:01:03 cites "RSA 570-A Roman numeral two" (his reference; not verified for this page). Retention over vacations raised; moved to third read at 2:04:44. | |
Items flagged for review
Flags are a reviewer's aid generated by comparing the meeting against the law in force on February 21, 2018, cited as it then read. They are not findings of violation, and nothing here is legal advice. Where no verified rule applies, the flag says so and is recorded as an observation. Five flags follow, ordered by severity.
MEDIUM A $5,000 gift was added to the agenda that night and accepted with no public hearing on the record
The superintendent asked at the start of the meeting to add "two additional donations", the $250 Fuel Up to Play 60 gift and "our preschool program donation" (0:03:26). The preschool gift was $5,000 from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation (1:36:37), and the board accepted it with the other two on one motion (1:38:57 to 1:39:07). RSA 198:20-b, as it read in 2018, lets a district authorize its board to accept "unanticipated money from a state, federal or other governmental unit or a private source", but provides at III(a): "For unanticipated funds in the amount of $5,000 or more, the school board shall hold a prior public hearing on the action to be taken", with newspaper notice at least 7 days before. Nothing on the recording refers to a hearing, and an item added to the agenda the same night cannot have been noticed seven days ahead as an agenda item. For the two gifts under $5,000, III(b) required notice "in the agenda"; the $250 gift was added on the floor, so that notice could not have appeared on the posted agenda either. The board's own gifts policy, then on its second reading, restated the $5,000 hearing rule a month later (March 21 page). Graded MEDIUM, not HIGH, because a hearing held at some other time would not appear on this recording and the agenda and minutes that might show one are not online.
Sources: RSA 198:20-b, I, III(a) and III(b) (2017 codification; source note ends 2005, 188:1, so the text in force on this date).
OBSERVATION Nonpublic session properly moved by roll call, but its subject is not on the record and no sealing vote was taken
The chair moved into nonpublic session citing "RSA 913 colon two C" [91-A:3, II(c)] (0:01:13), and the board voted by roll call both to enter and to leave (0:01:37 to 0:01:51; 0:02:41 to 0:02:53). RSA 91-A:3, I(b), as it read in 2018, required the motion to "state on its face the specific exemption under paragraph II" and a roll-call vote, and both are on the recording. Paragraph II(c) covers matters that would likely affect adversely the reputation of a person "other than a member of the public body itself"; the subject is not stated, so the fit cannot be checked. No decision was announced on return and no vote to withhold minutes was taken. Under RSA 91-A:3, III, minutes and decisions of a nonpublic session "shall be publicly disclosed within 72 hours" unless withheld by a recorded two-thirds vote in public session with a stated determination; without such a vote, the nonpublic minutes should have become public, but they are not in the district's online shares (MAP.md section 60). The clerk's roll call also named Dr. Herzog (0:01:40, 0:02:46), whose resignation took effect the previous day; whether he answered is not audible.
Sources: RSA 91-A:3, I(b), II(c) and III (2017 codification; source note ends 2016, 30:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017).
OBSERVATION No agenda, packet or minutes online; the agenda was amended five ways on the floor
MAP.md section 60 records that neither district Drive share holds anything older than 2022 (checked 9/26/26). That is a limit of what the district posts online, not by itself evidence that records were never made: the board approved its January 31 minutes here (0:35:54) and these minutes on March 21. Because the posted agenda is not online, a reader cannot tell which of the night's actions were noticed; the resignation, the director nomination and two donations were added at the table (0:02:54 to 0:04:22). RSA 91-A:2, II, as it read in 2018, required minutes to include "the names of members, persons appearing before the public bodies, and a brief description of the subject matter discussed and final decisions", open to inspection within 5 business days; the mover-and-seconder requirement took effect January 1, 2019 and is not applied. The project's missing-records rule is applied on its online-availability limb.
Sources: RSA 91-A:2, II (2017 codification; the text in force for all of 2018); Input/SupportingDocuments/MAP.md section 60.
OBSERVATION A board member resigned effective the day before the board elected him to a district directorship
The superintendent reported Dr. Herzog's resignation "effective February 20th, 2018" and, in the next breath, nominated him as director of the Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center (1:30:01, 1:30:28). He described a two-and-a-half-month search, a committee that included a board candidate, his own interviews made without knowing the committee's ranking, and the committee's unanimous agreement (1:31:02 to 1:32:10). The board accepted the resignation and elected Herzog on separate voice votes (1:33:57, 1:34:53). The sequence is recorded because a reader would want to know it; no statute was identified that bars a former member's appointment, and none is cited. The superintendent said Herzog's name would stay on the March 13 ballot and that the appointment would be publicized (1:34:59); the ballot results read on March 21 do not show him elected.
Sources: the recording at 1:30:01 to 1:35:32. No statute relied on.
POSITIVE The sexual abuse prevention curriculum came with curriculum-council review, a parent letter, a parent review session and a two-week posting before teaching began
LeClair told the board the curriculum had been through the district's Curriculum Council and the SAU cabinet before reaching the board (1:48:44), that a parent letter would go home the next day with a two-week posting period (1:51:15), that parents could review the material on March 7 (1:51:35), and that teaching would begin about March 16 (1:51:56). RSA 186:11, as in force in February 2018, required district policies to give parents "not less than 2 weeks advance notice of curriculum course material used for instruction of human sexuality or human sexual education". The plan described meets that notice period, and the review session goes beyond it.
Sources: RSA 186:11, IX-b and IX-c (2017 codification; source note ends 2017, 251:1, eff. Sept. 16, 2017).
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/9631 SchoolBoard022118.mp4.CSV (567 attributed rows; the basis of this page)Input/Videos/9631 SchoolBoard022118.mp4Input/Transcripts/9631 SchoolBoard022118.mp4.jsonScripts/attribution_reports_2015_2023/9631 SchoolBoard022118.mp4.md; Scripts/roster_2015_2023.mdInput/SupportingDocuments/MAP.md, section 60
Laws and rules cited on this page
- New Hampshire statutes, as in force on February 21, 2018. RSA 198:20-b, I, III(a), III(b) (unanticipated funds; 2017 codification). RSA 91-A:3, I(b), II(c), III (nonpublic sessions; 2017 codification). RSA 91-A:2, II (minutes; 2017 codification). RSA 186:11, IX-b and IX-c (parental notice of sexual education material; 2017 codification).
- Named by speakers, not verified for this page: RSA 193-F:4 (cited by a parent); RSA 570-A:2, II (cited by the superintendent); House Bill 556.