Elizabeth Cannon

The session established the Rules of Order for the proceedings, including procedures for voting, speaking, and maintaining accurate records. Key warrant articles discussed included the Election of Officers (Article 1), the Operating Budget proposal of $22,599,250 with a default budget of $22,512,590 (Article 2), and funding for a Long Range Plan and Cost Review ($50,000) (Article 3). Additional articles involved appropriations to expendable trust funds: $325,000 for the School Maintenance Fund (Article 4), up to $100,000 for the Recreation Revolving Fund (Article 5), up to $50,000 for the Technology Capital Reserve Fund (Article 6), and up to $20,000 for the Vehicle Expendable Trust Fund (Article 7). The district also considered adopting an open enrollment school program (Article 8), which was conditional on Article 9 (a $200,000 tuition contingency fund) failing.

The meeting established the Moderator's Rules of Procedure for the session, which included limitations on speaker time and procedures for amendments. The SAU/School Board presented opening remarks, highlighting student performance metrics where Amherst exceeded state averages in ELA, Math, and Science. Discussion covered academic growth, whole-child development initiatives, and community-connected learning. A significant portion of the session involved reviewing proposed warrant articles, including Citizen Petition Bonds for Wilkins Elementary School renovation and reconstruction (Articles 12 and 13), the proposed operating budget (Article 15), funding for collective bargaining agreements with the Amherst Education Association (AEA) and Amherst Support Staff Association (ASSA) (Articles 16 and 18), ratification of the Tuition Agreement with Mont Vernon School District (Article 20), the purchase of a portable classroom at Clark/Wilkins Elementary School (Article 21), and various capital and trust fund appropriations (Articles 22 through 26).

The session included a presentation from the Mont Vernon Village School Principal. Key agenda items involved proposed warrant articles for the upcoming district vote on March 10, 2026. Discussions centered on Article 1 (Election of Officers), Article 2 regarding the adoption of an open enrollment program for the Mont Vernon Village School, and Article 3 concerning the proposed operating budget of $7,239,112 (with a default budget of $7,181,708). Further warrant articles addressed a four-year tuition agreement with the Amherst School District (Article 4), and appropriations to various funds: the Property Maintenance Fund ($50,000), the Special Education Capital Reserve Fund ($25,000), the Technology Expendable Trust Fund ($15,000), and the Post Employment Retirement Benefits Expendable Trust Fund ($15,000). The session also reviewed budget composition, revenue projections, and the long-term facilities funding plan.

The Joint Facilities Advisory Committee (JFAC) held a public forum to discuss the state of public school buildings in SAU 39, specifically focusing on Clark Wilkins Elementary School, Amherst Middle School, and Souhegan High School. The discussion included the recommendation for a new elementary school building and the renovation of the middle school. The forum aimed to inform the public and gather feedback on the proposed plans, addressing issues such as space constraints, aging systems, and educational needs.

The committee discussed updates on facility projects, including the construction manager RFP process and the impact of USDA recommendations. They also addressed the wetlands issue and the conceptual designs for the elementary school, considering factors like building scale, zoning, and potential field usage. The committee explored options for the location of the new building.