[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6265380,"mediaKeyId","3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755","parentId",3092094,"title","Salem School Board honors Woodbury eighth-grader Grady Smith for fundraising and community donations","audioSeconds",257,"startMs",387000,"endMs",644000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755&start=387&end=644","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755/thumbnail_387000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6265380/New-Hampshire/Salem-School-Board-honors-Woodbury-eighth-grader-Grady-Smith-for-fundraising-and-community-donations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265380-66336e0726161cc46edc10af2dc33c04/orig.mp4?Expires=1775528614&Signature=Zqhi~69GRPhZ-2rIALk6qdps76z5bA32jdlDuo5F3dgTT9JMpdOk7QDADd2TMS61k4ivdUfoszIbGFXTeRlZCGrQYgdDaXCY24eg7rnJmfB01Lm1Zjc2VCwk8Tm0-PaROxt~S03yhyOCTGJgcC8dNSf5xm2bdn0beAodmPjemX3wQ53a-sv7VeMGd8XSsU~0WsBEb~lL6suX-hcD0ubxEJ9wVoFDaiET6-ake7I6OqvTogorCG3PnfmrQkh~6gFXE9PG6c8TubwZLwoEFyt2ZbEdQfIdBSIfPC3UVbXsvG3U6Lp4RZO9cb8pN9bLPQgY215fAW0U7WiBJSljueCteg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Salem Schools District NH","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Salem School Board recognized Woodbury School eighth-grader Grady Smith at its April 22 meeting for his fundraising and donations to hospitalized children and local students.

Board Chair Pamela LaBarry introduced Grady and recounted that he was diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) in August 2018, underwent a bone marrow transplant shortly after diagnosis and has remained in treatment. LaBarry said Grady started “Grady’s Gift” to provide holiday gifts and incentive prizes to children on the bone marrow transplant floor at Boston Children’s Hospital and that he and his brother have donated anonymous BMX bikes to children in the Salem community with help from a generous donor.

Grady came forward to receive a plaque and his parents joined him for a photo. One parent said, “We just really appreciate it. It's a great honor. It's really important to Grady to do this every year, and he likes bringing it to the community. So we're really proud of him.” Superintendent Mara Palmer echoed board praise and thanked Grady for turning his challenges into positive action.

The board’s recognition cited Grady’s ongoing treatments at the Jimmy Fund Clinic and Boston Children’s Hospital and commended his “never give up” attitude and charitable work.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Salem School Board Regular Meeting 04/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board recognized Grady Smith, a Woodbury School eighth-grader who survived a serious illness and runs 'Grady's Gift,' which provides gifts and donated bicycles to children in treatment and local students.","taxTitle","Salem School District, School Districts, New Hampshire","taxId",59123,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6265385,"Salem School District reports steady enrollment; special-education ABC program to open at North Salem next year",320,2080000,2400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755&start=2080&end=2400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755/thumbnail_2080000.jpg","/articles/6265385/New-Hampshire/Salem-School-District-reports-steady-enrollment-special-education-ABC-program-to-open-at-North-Salem-next-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265385-b280cac2a1164f989051cbf4a499599f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775528614&Signature=Bmc7l5boubjztKRr~4BVWU1sPBAKNo5KELWpjdAoWlHdOAaZzlSigBiC1-Sjo6Q0Jddq6CBmzDaHJSDxrWXy1N5J4KUHSWegm5F9q5ET~OWNJJxoRttkNaqQPulXqt89B-cTprFLzhhhCt~epWiO1IBEoiaDajE8jXe6rs7cnBVcqPG-sZ1XTYSOQNZP6MrNCVrSsHAaAd0gxML2EL6nkAvLPGYX7Lk4TBVQ1pYCM8nITrUcfLdNCP8-bKu5Jq4UvaN-0LL2c-vr~Imf1aWiTmNanxd0OIlskEz3RnRXaKGJxq67MJjBSP5842fTci1TEWy3piCXvM~RBKVk3Wv8xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District leaders told the school board Tuesday that overall enrollment is essentially unchanged since March, with small shifts at a few schools and a plan to expand special-education capacity.

Superintendent Mara Palmer said elementary enrollment showed a net change of zero month‑to‑month; Woodbury has one fewer student and Seoul School gained one student. The high school’s enrollment remained unchanged. Palmer said the preschool population increased by three students and CTE plus junior ROTC showed three fewer students. Overall change districtwide was one student compared with last month.

Palmer also reviewed the district’s special-education program placements and said the ABC autism program currently housed at Fisk will open an additional section at North Salem next year. Board member Kelly Moss asked whether students would be split between Fisk and North Salem and whether the programs would serve the full K–5 span; Palmer replied both programs are currently planned as K–5 and students will be assigned based on home address and IEP needs.

Kindergarten registrations currently stand at 224 students districtwide; the district’s earlier projection was about 261, leaving the district about 37 registrations short of projection. Palmer said the district typically sees an additional 30 to 40 enrollments between May 1 and the start of the school year and that each child already has a home-school placement.

Palmer also provided a one-page summary requested by the board on the LEAP program at Lancaster School and a list of other special-education programs and their locations: the Choice program at Seoul School; the ABC program at Fisk (and expanded to North Salem and Woodbury); the LEAP program at Lancaster and Woodbury; and the LIFE program at Salem High School.

Board members asked staff to track changes and report back; no policy action was taken at the meeting.

","Superintendent Mara Palmer reported near-flat overall enrollment with kindergarten registrations below projections and announced that the district will add an ABC autism program at North Salem next year in addition to existing sites.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6265389,"Parent urges Salem School District to curb elementary Chromebook screen time",163,691000,854000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755&start=691&end=854","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755/thumbnail_691000.jpg","/articles/6265389/New-Hampshire/Parent-urges-Salem-School-District-to-curb-elementary-Chromebook-screen-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265389-8b354ab1653d8dc6bceb8ca870f9dcef/orig.mp4?Expires=1775528614&Signature=Chq8vyDcrCyELH~X~ZVRsQFr~C6o11MBAMwPot9iNoJQRLKwH6Utj~MO-1IGG20yYVdtmvzsyErNCejxQtp4Ch2xmzSlst3gAeWGcd-jinKEao4vmezH6QIzvHulsw36vS1she8lb~OREDexiDgPWPKsHCng-T1KLLAjk4EZRAwg9Whx4fmtT4uv1rJ9QVPBvJkEqI1DX9uuTTzKMcoKBkW8NV7gqf5x-QLwpMn09blgzuuryJhyqfQPTe7aTdCGYCRwbfLL0k4gzizf-i8Yn3XmuJhOE9EAr8tjwrfUddVZ-JSt2ckxKafkWK7LTzRseCNFjxQNPT6auT8h8~e-xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Salem parent told the school board Tuesday that the district should minimize elementary students’ screen time and consider delaying Chromebook assignments until later in elementary school or middle school.

Ron Massey, who said he has a child entering Lancaster Elementary and two younger children in the district pipeline, thanked the board for its recent restrictions on student cell phone use and said Chromebooks are currently assigned starting in kindergarten in some schools. “I’m here tonight to see if we can minimize that usage and perhaps delay assigning Chromebooks until later in elementary school or middle school,” Massey said.

Massey told the board he had discussed the issue with Assistant Superintendent Angela Markley by phone earlier in the day and that he and other parents had received mixed answers about how extensively Chromebooks are used by kindergarten and elementary classrooms. “We have heard that some kids use it up to half the time,” he said, and added that some students “have to log at home every night.”

Massey cited national commentary and studies he said show downsides to too much screen time, including attention and social-skill concerns, and said that while technology has benefits, he believes “the negative aspects of too much screen time outweigh the positives.” He asked the board to reconsider district practice and to prioritize face-to-face instruction, pencil-and-paper tasks, and a later start for assigned Chromebooks.

Superintendent Mara Palmer and Assistant Superintendent Angela Markley were present for the public session and the board left the public comment period open for additional speakers until 7:35 p.m.; the board did not take immediate policy action on Mr. Massey’s request during the meeting.

","A parent urged the board to reduce in-school Chromebook use and consider delaying device assignments for younger students, citing studies and personal concerns about screen time.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6265393,"Votes at a glance: Salem School Board meeting, April 22, 2025",1863,335000,2198000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755&start=335&end=2198","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755/thumbnail_335000.jpg","/articles/6265393/New-Hampshire/Votes-at-a-glance-Salem-School-Board-meeting-April-22-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265393-9c79bccf60bbdb3df0bb93c6c04709c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775528614&Signature=S6n8tYyEbH6qD8IID4XzlZL0DFcXm5AvEFcfeOO5ATbaSkbaZkVBlxkvwHnvkku3xcl~QFjKRiqsF7i5N1OOqOU-cC6V~ix82~6sZDnUD~aeXRFxgsuHuGlDbqY8yMbgXpivzjwPV0-E93-llHXue-TZsvpQwbPvIUARjGcj-34ZT3Hu1wCsQTi~~14aVRBT6LAP-oMktUMSA3AVGV0D5-AOQA8fIQJwu4wvRsDLsTMtbYNPUgeW1ntDpM3lda~8-MEp8poO5DCrA3iIUHGB3XJG6IQfsg6qhOtnPZovFavDp8Lam5aUjXcjHex-g2tOkr40FppVvIpKaFpKmy3EKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 22 meeting the Salem School Board took several procedural and procurement votes. All recorded motions below passed by voice vote or raised hands with a recorded tally of 5-0.

Votes and key details

- Approval of minutes: The board approved minutes for the April 8 regular meeting, the April 15 planning session and the April 15 nonpublic session. Tally: 5-0.

- Consent agenda: The board accepted the consent agenda, which included the resignation of a Grade 1 teacher (effective end of the 2024–25 school year) and multiple professional nominations and hires across Woodbury Middle School, Salem High School and Lancaster Elementary. Tally: 5-0.

- Copier lease financing (summary): The board approved a tax-exempt lease with MST Government Leasing LLC for copier equipment with principal not to exceed $359,894.68, interest at 5.19% per year (motion cited a total of $407,716.40 over the period). Tally: 5-0. (Detailed coverage in separate article.)

- Superintendent authorization: The board authorized the superintendent to execute the lease with MST Government Leasing LLC and to execute required documents for the contract with Specialized Purchasing Consultants, Inc. Tally: 5-0.

- Chromebook replacement contract: The board awarded a contract to YNS Technologies of Brooklyn, N.Y., for 630 Chromebooks and 630 related Google licenses for a total price of $268,304.40. The purchase will come from the 2025–26 budget year. Tally: 5-0.

- Administrator nominations: The board nominated and approved a list of administrators for the 2025–26 school year at the salaries specified in the provided document dated 04/21/2025. Tally: 5-0.

How the votes were recorded

Most motions were moved by board officers or members (Kelly Moss and Bernard Campbell frequently led motions in the meeting transcript) and seconded; when a specific second was not clearly named in the transcript, the minutes record the motion as having been seconded. Each of the items above was approved unanimously by the five board members present.

The board made no binding change to district policy on Chromebooks during the meeting; the Chromebook contract is a procurement action to replace aging devices.

","Board approved routine minutes, personnel actions, administrator nominations, copier lease financing and a Chromebook purchase; all recorded motions carried unanimously.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6265397,"Salem School Board approves $359,894.68 copier lease; total cost cited as $407,716.40",749,1104000,1853000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755&start=1104&end=1853","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3092094-b7d2f57c965d061465adff3519b4b755/thumbnail_1104000.jpg","/articles/6265397/New-Hampshire/Salem-School-Board-approves-35989468-copier-lease-total-cost-cited-as-40771640","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265397-a593aedb29e18a245e2282c3ad33f3be/orig.mp4?Expires=1775528614&Signature=RPG64LJumbwIc0EOG6WyXGUWrlK8E-rAXJ3KtVB0TkbCvGQZxa9tkaoCRzAHuKr4lxXYslRCaCp~RahI3-wGx6lEGZDFZl8nKoPlcL32~v~RYXq32srD8En9MglxNxu0sZ992uQiTT-CuZu-6ka0QCLipwk0PzeTCKtx8IAoQO82Qc1o9EmQ1lWhi082QxgjSG4dapmPjT3lfF-L1eoRfneQujwlYmTPiNiFaqtMj6d3SOpBs0wqkb2LcVYzuQTNGSo3BL5BU~uK~s4PtxnzPS1jL8LkF9mLsSmq0QSr9nUGpQ63QMybjiB1kolrX6K8OkSfIystgjmdMjXwTqXREg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem School Board voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve a tax-exempt lease to replace district copiers, selecting Ricoh as the low bidder and authorizing financing through MST Government Leasing LLC.

Board members approved a motion that set a principal not to exceed $359,894.68 and an interest rate of 5.19% per year, with the motion citing a total expenditure over the lease period of $407,716.40. The board also approved a separate motion authorizing the superintendent to execute the lease and related contracts with Specialized Purchasing Consultants, Inc., by a 5-0 vote.

Board members and staff said the district currently operates about 112 printing and copying units and the proposed lease would reduce that number to 111. Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations Debbie Payne told the board the recommendation followed a competitive process run through Specialized Purchasing Consultants (SPC), which aggregates bids for districts across Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. Payne said Ricoh — the district’s incumbent vendor — returned the lowest bid based on the district’s historical print volumes.

Payne said the contract is a four-year schedule and that the district expects a fixed annual payment for budgeting purposes. She described two budget lines tied to the arrangement: one for the equipment lease (fixed) and one for maintenance and supplies (variable depending on usage). The bid includes a more expensive “production” copier used at Salem High School for large-format printing and course catalogs.

Board discussion focused on clarifying the amounts and timeline. Vice Chair Bernard Campbell asked whether the motion language reflected the principal only or the full financing; staff confirmed the $359,894.68 figure is the principal and interest will be paid over the life of the agreement. Payne also told the board the district’s current lease finishes with a final payment in August 2025 and that the new lease payments would begin in 2026 under the district materials, while the motion specifically referenced interest through Aug. 1, 2029.

Campbell moved the initial lease approval; the motion passed 5-0. He then moved the authorization for the superintendent to execute the lease and related documents; that motion also passed 5-0.

The board’s materials show an amortization schedule and per-copy pricing; Payne said the bid’s per-copy prices are lower than current rates and that a modest annual adjustment tied to CPI is possible during the five-year pricing window that was included in the proposal documents.

The board will now proceed with the financing and contract execution steps authorized in the vote.

","The Salem School Board voted 5-0 to approve a four-year tax-exempt lease to replace district copiers, selecting Ricoh as the low bidder; board discussion clarified principal, interest rate and timing of payments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Salem School Board honors Woodbury eighth-grader Grady Smith for fundraising and community donations

Salem School District reports steady enrollment; special-education ABC program to open at North Salem next year

Parent urges Salem School District to curb elementary Chromebook screen time

Votes at a glance: Salem School Board meeting, April 22, 2025

Salem School Board approves $359,894.68 copier lease; total cost cited as $407,716.40