Selectboard Minutes
Town of Greenfield
7 Sawmill Road, Greenfield, NH 03047
Selectboard’s Minutes
Thursday, November 30, 2021 – 2:30 PM
Selectboard: Chairman Robert Marshall, Selectman Michael Borden, Selectman Mason Parker
Staff: Aaron Patt, Town Administrator;
ConVal Representative: Kimberly Rizzo Saunders, Superintendent
Documents for Discussion/Signature
- Oak Park Rental – Oak Park Committee
- Oak Park Rental – Firefighter’s Association
2:30 PM: Selectboard Business Meeting & Public Forum
The Chair opened the meeting. The Selectboard signed Oak Park rentals.
The Chair welcomed Superintendent Rizzo Saunders and suggested that the Superintendent bring the Selectboard up to speed on the reason for her visit with the selectmen. Superintendent Rizzo Saunders provided data outlining the requirements of the school district’s responsibility to educate students that enter the district with varying levels of development. Students that are behind the development curve when they enter the school district generally advance consistent with their starting point. To ensure that students have the best chance of entering the school district ready for the challenges of the available education, Superintendent Rizzo Saunders outlined her interest in promoting preschool starting with the 3-5 age group. The earlier children are exposed to developmental activities, the better chance students will have of entering the school district developmentally on time, rather than a year or two behind. This will have a significant impact on the district’s ability to fulfill its educational mission.
At the conclusion of the conversation on 3-5 preschool, the Board and Superintendent Rizzo Saunders discussed the current level of enrollment in elementary schools. The Superintendent stated that she is in favor of consolidating elementary schools and suggested that combining eight schools into four would serve the demographics that are currently in place. She noted that due to changes in demographics, the facilities in the non-serving towns would then need to remain on stand-by because the student population could change. The Board clarified that under the consolidation plan that the Superintendent is outlining the buildings could not be permanently re-purposed. Superintendent Rizzo Saunders agreed.
The Chair stated that Superintendent Rizzo Saunders has explained the changing needs of students in the district and outlined a way to address their education that maximizes their education in light of the needs. The Selectboard held a discussion with the Superintendent about other budget drivers. Superintendent Rizzo Saunders stated that correcting lack of efficiency is an ongoing effort within the district, as the district does its best to identify needs and allocate the best ‘dollars to educational minutes’. Chairman Marshall asked if the SAU was studying the district as a whole and are there any bonds scheduled or other district wide plans? The Superintendent discussed implementing a Capital Improvement Plan study for the district to help the SAU schedule.
Selectman Borden, citing a scheduled appointment, left the meeting.
The Chair outlined that in the past, under the previous Business Administrator; the town could interface with the SAU and make adjustments to the monthly payment schedule in the case of emergency or to accommodate simple issues of scheduling large payments. A discussion followed and Superintendent Rizzo Saunders outlined that the current business administrator could come and have a conversation with the Board and the Town Administrator. She stated that the question of payment schedule changes now goes to the School Board and not the Superintendent or the Business Administrator. She stated that 75% of district payments go to payroll. She stated that she doesn’t anticipate any bonds until 2023 or ’24. The Chair discussed the timing of the MS-24 and MS-25 in relation to the town’s tax rate setting process with the DRA. The School District has been trending late over a number of years and this pushes the tax rate deadline later into the month of December. The SAU needs to recognize that this is an issue and bring the process to completion in October rather than in November.
There being no further business the Board voted to adjourn.
Adjournment
At 3:39pm, Selectman Parker made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by the Chair. The motion carried 2-0.