Exeter School Board — June 9, 2026

The speaker discussed handing over leadership to incoming presidents Jesse King and Kathleen Pratt. Key points included the need to update outdated 2005 bylaws, successful fundraising and participation in the recent 5K race, and the dedication of the butterfly garden to Susie Finnis.

The PTO is in a healthy budget position moving into the next school year.

The incoming PTO presidents will look into updating the bylaws.

Pansio highlighted the impact of the afterschool program at Main Street School, noting the number of students served and healthy meals provided. Board members and other commenters echoed praise for the program's professionalism and its role in supporting working parents.

The community and board expressed strong support for the continued partnership.

A correction was noted regarding the name of an equity committee member (Seariskaw Holmes was cited instead of Kathleen Pratt).

The board approved the minutes as amended.

Main Street School reported on the butterfly garden dedication, grade 2 musical celebrations, and the 'Senior Clapout.' Lincoln Street School reported on field days, the fifth-grade celebration, and the fourth-grade reading carnival. Summer updates included the 'Exeter' program starting July 6th and professional development focused on AI integration and multi-tiered systems of support.

The end-of-year activities were completed successfully.

Staff will participate in summer professional development workshops; summer programs begin in July.

The report is intended to inform the board of building capacities to prepare for potential future policy changes regarding open enrollment. Board members questioned how class size caps and square footage determine capacity.

The report was provided for information only; no immediate policy changes were made.

The board will continue to monitor open enrollment legislation.

Resignations were submitted by Caitlyn Anglia (Nurse at Main Street) and Caitlyn Teneaglia (Speech Language Pathologist at the preschool).

The board approved the resignations with regret.

The board debated whether to fund an emergency blue light/strobe alert system for one school or both. There was significant discussion regarding the use of the capital reserve fund (noting it would use roughly 25% of the fund) and the priority of security versus other capital needs. A member cautioned against 'chasing' every security measure due to limited funds.

The board initially moved to fund only Main Street School but then withdrew that motion to instead approve funding for both schools.

Implementation of the security system over the summer.

The committee presented data showing that providing second meals is a very low cost (approximately 0.1% of the budget). Arguments centered on student hunger versus potential food waste and the difficulty of predicting demand for second helpings.

The board decided to include second meals in the paid lunch option (meaning the district covers the cost) to ensure equitable access.

The committee will track usage and waste to make potential mid-year adjustments.

The Food Service Director recommended a 10-cent increase for breakfast and lunch, and a 15-cent increase for milk. The board discussed the impact on families and noted that because the board covers much of the cost, the financial impact on the budget is minimal. Recommendations were based on USDA tools.

The board voted to maintain current pricing levels rather than implementing the recommended increases.

A board member inquired if existing grant balances must be drawn down by June 30th and if they are tied to summer programs. It was clarified that while the goal is to spend down funds, different grants have different end dates, with some extending to September 2027.

The board received clarification that staff is working with principals to create activities to fulfill grant requirements.

Board members expressed concerns that the draft was too 'pro-AI' and lacked specificity regarding student/staff privacy and the preservation of original thought. They also noted the difficulty of maintaining an approved list of AI tools in a rapidly evolving field.

The policy was presented for a first read only.

The policy will return to the board in the fall, potentially for discussion in October after being reviewed by the policy committee.

The board discussed a line in the policy that only required CPR-certified staff for grades 6-12. Members expressed concerns that this might leave younger students unprotected and suggested striking the specific grade limitation.

The board approved the policy with amendments to strike the grade-specific limitation and correct the district's name.

Board members reviewed the document for transparency, questioning the order of listed groups and how SAU 16 is identified within the text. There was confusion as to whether the SAU was being represented as a separate party or as the unit comprising the districts.

The board noted the need for clearer language regarding the distinction between the SAU and the individual districts.

The Superintendent suggested training to help onboard and develop board members. Members expressed interest in topics such as equity/DEI, unconscious bias, special education, and legislative changes.

The board expressed general interest in training.

The Superintendent will look into scheduling training, potentially with Arland, around October.