Kearsarge Regional School Board — June 18, 2026
Votes were uncontested, public comment was limited to two speakers whose points received no board reply, and the meeting consisted of routine approvals plus an off-agenda interim superintendent nomination.
At its June 18 meeting the Kearsarge Regional School Board approved Michael Bessette as interim superintendent and authorized summer hiring power. Neither action appeared on the published agenda. The board also directed staff to write new rules restricting non-resident public comment after two residents raised concerns about gender ideology policies, facility access, and board leadership style. No substantive board response was given to those comments. The same meeting ended with a 6-0-1 vote to seal the non-public minutes for 30 years. All recorded votes passed with only conflict or absence abstentions.
Topics discussed
Board approved minutes from 4 June and 8 June 2026 meetings.
All three motions to approve carried 5-0-2.
Interim Superintendent and Business Administrator presented updates on budget, grants, graduation, and facilities work.
Information received; specific purchase and hiring items moved to action items.
Budget meetings with principals begin next week.
Two residents addressed leadership style and district policies on gender ideology and facility access.
Board exited public comment after motions; later clarified non-resident rules.
Board approved multiple technology, paving, and licensing purchases plus related fund transfers.
All presented purchases and transfers approved by 6-0-1 votes.
Board approved Michael Bessette as interim superintendent and authorized summer hiring authority.
All carried 6-0-1 with Ms. Mastin abstaining.
Contract negotiations to occur over summer.
Board entered non-public under RSA 91-A:3 II(c) and updated public-comment rules for non-residents.
Non-public minutes sealed 30 years; task assigned to draft notification rule.
Interim Superintendent to draft verbiage for public-comment protocol.
Controversy & dissent
Potentially controversial issues
Public comments on gender ideology, facility access, and leadership style
Public comment
Decisions logged
Action items
Member positions
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.”
Accountability flags
Agenda items not discussed
Topics discussed — not on agenda
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grok-4.3, grok-4-fast, grok-4.20-0309-reasoning · analyzed 2026-07-04.