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Meeting report · Kearsarge Regional School Board Minutes-only
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Kearsarge Regional School Board — March 12, 2026

The meeting featured pointed questioning from a community member regarding financial data and showed internal division on specific program implementations and minute approvals.

Date Thursday, March 12, 2026 Public comments 2 Decisions 9 Lively

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Summary AI-generated to surface controversy & community impact without bias — always verify against the actual meeting before relying on it.

At the Kearsarge Regional School Board meeting on March 12, several decisions were made that directly impact both the district's curriculum and the community's wallet.

One of the most notable points of contention was the vote regarding 'Capturing Kids' Hearts,' a social-emotional/relational program. The board voted 6-2-1 to consider incorporating this program into the budget cycle. This split vote highlights an internal division regarding how the district approaches student programming and budget priorities.

Financial transparency was also a key theme. A community member raised concerns regarding the integrity of the district's financial presentations, specifically asking whether 'cost-per-student' metrics were being skewed by the omission of transportation costs. The board declined to provide an immediate answer during the meeting, opting instead to handle the inquiry via email.

Finally, the board approved building-aid applications for the Middle School ($13.9M) and High School ($42.3M). With over $56 million in applications on the table, the long-term fiscal impact on Kearsarge taxpayers is significant. Residents should continue to monitor how these large-scale projects are managed and funded.

Mar 12, 2026 2 public comments 9 decisions Lively
Notable statements Drag to browse

“This year she wants the Board to 'show their work' for transparency so that the public can see the thought processes that go into their decision making.”

— Chair Alison Mastin · Setting goals for the Board's transparency during the new term.

“Put the 'show your work' slogan on the agendas for the coming year.”

— Mr. McGowan · Formalizing the Chair's transparency goal into board procedure.
This meeting — choose a section

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
What was discussed

Combined applications totaling over $56 million for the Middle and High Schools.

What was discussed

A single payment of $25,124.42 to the IRS.

Topics ⁠discussed

Each topic expands to quotes and full context.
Speakers: Superintendent Fortney, Ms. Schultz, Mr. Esenwine, Mr. MacKenna, Chair Mastin, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Gregoire
What was discussed

The Board held elections for Chair and Vice-Chair and appointed various district officials including Clerk, Legal Counsel, Auditor, and Treasurer.

Speakers: Chair Alison Mastin, Superintendent John Fortney, Assistant Superintendent Michael Bessette, Business Administrator Larry LeBoeuf
What was discussed

Reports were provided by the Board Chair, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Business Administrator regarding district leadership, AP exam success, and tax deposit discrepancies.

Speakers: Catharine Hyson, Leah Stone, Cooper Russell
What was discussed

Updates on student achievements in drone racing, robotics, academics, and various extracurricular clubs and field trips.

Speakers: Principal Charles Langille, Mr. MacKenna
What was discussed

Principal Langille presented updates on robotics and drone team field trips and the status of the NEASC accreditation process.

Speakers: Superintendent Fortney, Chair Mastin, Mr. MacKenna
What was discussed

Discussion regarding the potential implementation of the 'Capturing Kids' Hearts' program and the initiation of a new Strategic Plan.

Speakers: Mr. MacKenna, Mr. Gregoire
What was discussed

Discussions regarding building needs at Simonds Elementary and the submission of building-aid applications for the Middle and High Schools.

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Capturing Kids' Hearts Implementation

The implementation of a new social-emotional/relational program involves budget allocation and shifts in educational approach, which can spark debate over pedagogical values and fiscal priorities.
Board position: The board moved to consider 'Option 3' for incorporation into the budget cycle.
Internal dissent
The vote was 6-2-1, indicating two members opposed the motion and one member (Chair Mastin) abstained.
low concern
02

Cost-per-student Data Accuracy

A community member challenged the integrity of the district's financial data presentation, suggesting inconsistencies that could skew public perception of district spending.
Board position: The board maintained protocol by declining an immediate Q&A but committed to following up via email.
medium concern

Split votes

Capturing Kids' Hearts Implementation (Option 3)
6-2-1
Approval of February 19 Minutes
6-0-3
Approval of February 19 Non-Public Minutes
6-0-3

Community vs. board tension

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
2
Total speakers
1
Addressed
1
Partial
0
Not addressed
Cathy Robjentt
Partial
She questioned whether the cost-per-student data presented by the Superintendent included transportation costs. She also expressed concern that the data presentation was inconsistent between slides, which she believes skewed the results. Key concern
Clarity and consistency of cost-per-student data presentation.
Board response
The board (via the Superintendent) stated that public comment is not a question-and-answer session and promised to email her the response regarding transportation costs.
The board did not provide an immediate answer during the meeting to maintain protocol, but committed to follow up via email to address the specific question.
Mag Francis
Addressed
She expressed appreciation for the Superintendent bringing data to the meeting. She also voiced support for the district's direction as it moves toward strategy sessions. Key concern
Support for data-driven decision making and upcoming strategic planning.
Board response
No specific response was recorded, as this was a statement of support/appreciation.
The speaker was providing positive feedback rather than a request, and the board acknowledged the presence of the comment in the minutes.

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
Alison Mastin elected Chair; Kristen Schultz elected Vice-Chair.
8-0-1 (Mastin abstained)
Appointment of District Officials
Appointed Debra Breault (Clerk), Doreen Salera (Deputy Clerk/Deputy Treasurer), Soule, Leslie, Kidder & Loughman (Legal), Roberge & Company (Auditor), Nancy Barthol (Treasurer), and Bar Harbor Bank/NH Public Deposit (Banks).
8-0-1 (Mastin abstained) for all individual motions
Approval of Minutes
Approved Feb 19 minutes (6-0-3); Approved Feb 5 minutes as amended (8-0-1); Approved Feb 19 non-public minutes (6-0-3).
Varies
Vendor Approval
Approved Compass Travel for the band trip to Disney.
5-0-1 (Mastin abstained)
Personnel Actions
Hired Chris Ryan and Cole Simon (Social Studies); accepted resignations of Melinda Robertson and Emily Corcoran; accepted retirements of Marcie Stockwell and Sara Scheuch.
8-0-1 (Mastin abstained) for all motions
IRS Payment Approval
Approved payment of $25,124.42 to the IRS.
8-0-1 (Mastin abstained)
Field Trip Approvals
Approved overnight robotics field trip to Burlington and overnight drone-team field trip to West Virginia.
8-0-1 (Mastin abstained) for both
Capturing Kids' Hearts Implementation
Voted to consider 'Option 3' to incorporate the program into the -1 budget cycle.
6-2-1 (Mastin abstained)
Building-Aid Applications
Approved submission of building-aid applications for Kearsarge Regional Middle School ($13,901,823.60) and Kearsarge Regional High School ($42,321,560).
8-0-1 (Mastin abstained) for both

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Split votes and ideological shifts
At the March 12 Kearsarge School Board meeting, the board voted 6-2-1 to consider incorporating the 'Capturing Kids' Hearts' program into the budget cycle. This social-emotional program change shows a clear division... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/kearsarge-regional/school-board/2026-03-12/ #MeetingWatch #KearsargeRegionalNH
325/280 chars
High-impact fiscal decisions
Kearsarge School Board is moving forward with massive building-aid applications: $13.9M for the Middle School and $42.3M for the High School. These decisions carry significant long-term implications for all district... https://meetingwatch.org/nh/kearsarge-regional/school-board/2026-03-12/ #MeetingWatch #KearsargeRegionalNH
325/280 chars
Community concerns regarding financial data integrity
During the 3/12 meeting, a resident challenged the accuracy of the district's per-student spending data, specifically questioning if transportation costs were included. The board deferred answering to an email follow-up. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/kearsarge-regional/school-board/2026-03-12/ #MeetingWatch #KearsargeRegionalNH
327/280 chars

X thread

1
What is happening with Kearsarge School District’s finances and curriculum? The March 12 Board meeting revealed significant split votes and unanswered questions about how taxpayer money is being tracked. 🧵 #MeetingWatch #KearsargeRegionalNH
240/280
2
First, the board is divided on 'Capturing Kids' Hearts.' A 6-2-1 vote was held to consider adding this social-emotional program to the budget cycle. This indicates the board is not in total agreement on new pedagogical shifts.
226/280
3
Second, fiscal transparency was tested. A resident questioned if 'cost-per-student' data was misleading by omitting transportation costs. Rather than addressing it on the floor, the board deferred the answer to an email follow-up.
230/280
4
Finally, the scale of upcoming projects is massive. The board approved building-aid applications totaling over $56 million for the Middle and High Schools. As these decisions move forward, residents need to stay vigilant about the long-term tax impact. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/kearsarge-regional/school-board/2026-03-12/
276/280

Facebook — long form

At the Kearsarge Regional School Board meeting on March 12, several decisions were made that directly impact both the district's curriculum and the community's wallet.

One of the most notable points of contention was the vote regarding 'Capturing Kids' Hearts,' a social-emotional/relational program. The board voted 6-2-1 to consider incorporating this program into the budget cycle. This split vote highlights an internal division regarding how the district approaches student programming and budget priorities.

Financial transparency was also a key theme. A community member raised concerns regarding the integrity of the district's financial presentations, specifically asking whether 'cost-per-student' metrics were being skewed by the omission of transportation costs. The board declined to provide an immediate answer during the meeting, opting instead to handle the inquiry via email.

Finally, the board approved building-aid applications for the Middle School ($13.9M) and High School ($42.3M). With over $56 million in applications on the table, the long-term fiscal impact on Kearsarge taxpayers is significant. Residents should continue to monitor how these large-scale projects are managed and funded. https://meetingwatch.org/nh/kearsarge-regional/school-board/2026-03-12/ #MeetingWatch #KearsargeRegionalNH

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Email Cathy Robjentt regarding whether cost-per-student data includes transportation.
Assigned: Superintendent Fortney
Email Chair Mastin if interested in joining the strategic-plan committee.
Assigned: Board Members

Member ⁠positions

8 issues · 9 explicit · 3 inferred · 3 unclear
A split vote in this meeting was recorded without naming the dissenter (e.g. a voice vote). Members whose individual vote could not be confirmed are marked UNCLEAR below — this is not the same as a “yes.” Named votes will be filled in if official minutes record them.
Present
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair ABSTAIN
Abstained from her own election.
Appointment of District Officials ABSTAIN
Abstained from appointments.
Vendor Approval ABSTAIN
Abstained from vendor approval.
Personnel Actions ABSTAIN
Abstained from personnel motions.
IRS Payment Approval ABSTAIN
Abstained from IRS payment.
Field Trip Approvals ABSTAIN
Abstained from field trip approvals.
Capturing Kids' Hearts Implementation ABSTAIN
Abstained from the program implementation vote.
Building-Aid Applications ABSTAIN
Abstained from building-aid applications.
Kristen Schultz
Vice Chair
Present
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair YES
Elected as Vice-Chair.
Eric Gregoire
Member
Present
Capturing Kids' Hearts Implementation UNCLEAR
Supported considering Option 3.
Present
Capturing Kids' Hearts Implementation UNCLEAR
Supported considering Option 3.
Present
Capturing Kids' Hearts Implementation UNCLEAR
Supported considering Option 3.

Positions marked ~ are inferred from context and may not reflect the member's explicitly stated position. UNCLEAR means the vote was split but the record did not name how this member voted — it is not a “yes.”

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Report composed by grok-4.3, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning, gemma-4-26b · analyzed 2026-06-01.