[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6150950,"mediaKeyId","5505682-97fb872d1babb8788c9cbf13f3dd430f","parentId",5505682,"title","Two Rochester School Board members resign amid ethics complaint and police presence at meetings","audioSeconds",270,"startMs",353000,"endMs",623000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5505682-97fb872d1babb8788c9cbf13f3dd430f&start=353&end=623","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5505682-97fb872d1babb8788c9cbf13f3dd430f/thumbnail_353000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6150950/New-Hampshire/Two-Rochester-School-Board-members-resign-amid-ethics-complaint-and-police-presence-at-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6150950-898a116f1e0b95564c83df7ee59b5836/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114675&Signature=cR70qa2CzaI2eElUDRbBVKBVISzr0AmmPq-0gDS6wP4undRQvSCak6lXasMfJPOH6O7OTMY4r8LCRDoyjfWLBehkgj8mtTDcwNxHz5ateuspoHnRRpU2bNINzWzzHNt5-Rec0l09S1gLXe0l3rhNi4M70kyxkbrhb0ng1-bseBV~nwwYepShs~ssBULElua6Wfk4Wd2W~KkV2kyn-mbIJfv8mNhzl087-K2894QvSTJVweChU7K2y0LCbQxrHw1bVjoS4ZGxJm~wTU0dF398U81zXVJaTJ1osWLarvDByDbzKPn-TZd0-Hm~XgrhaZ12Kl-lr4SARHvHp80ByNDn5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Rochester, NH","date","2025-07-10T00:00:00Z","article","Karen Stokes and Finza Cormier resigned from the Rochester School Board during its July 10 meeting, and the board unanimously voted to accept both resignations and forward the vacancies to the city council for replacement.

Stokes, a sitting board member, read a prepared statement to the board saying she had filed a formal ethics complaint and would send it to the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office. In her remarks she said the board had become “power hungry” and that the district had spent more than half a million dollars of taxpayer money related to personnel departures; she concluded, “I hereby resign from the Rochester School Board effective immediately.”

The departure matters because it reduces the board’s membership and came amid a contentious period of public criticism, social-media accusations and at least one threat that prompted law-enforcement presence at meetings. Chair Shane Downs told the board at the start of the meeting that law enforcement would attend meetings “to ensure order and fairness for all” after “numerous communications via social media” containing accusations and a reported threat.

At the meeting Board member Boyer moved to accept Stokes’s resignation and to forward it to the city council for replacement; the motion passed on a voice vote. Later in the meeting Board member Bollier moved to accept Finza Cormier’s resignation; that motion also passed. The board did not vote on any replacement names during the July 10 session.

Several board members also discussed internal ethics and conduct policies during the meeting. One board member cited sections of the board’s policies — including language restricting individual authority and outlining the chair’s duties — while defending the chair’s actions and the board’s use of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that governs police involvement in discipline. The author of that defense said the MOU “does not allow the police to run our discipline in our schools.”

Tensions continued into public comment. Multiple members of the public praised Stokes and criticized the board; Tabitha Davis, Shari Crowder and Michelle Bernie each addressed the board during the comment period, urging transparency and questioning the use of taxpayer funds for security details. At least one public commenter asked how much the officer at the meeting was being paid and cited a figure of $63 per hour for police presence.

The board also handled two procedural items related to potential litigation and communications. Board member Cusimano moved that the district notify the Seacoast Media Group it would no longer work with reporter Karen Dandren; that motion passed on a voice vote with one recorded nay (Board member Bellows). Cusimano also moved that Susan Rice be required to pay legal fees if the board were found to have done no wrongdoing; board members discussed that proposal and later tabled it to allow the chair to consult with legal counsel. The board then passed a separate motion authorizing the chair to speak with the board’s attorney to get clarity on legal-fee options.

What happens next: the board will forward the two board vacancies to the Rochester City Council for appointment; the chair will consult with legal counsel about litigation and fee issues and report back to the full board. Several public commenters and at least two board members said they are considering running in upcoming elections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rochester NH, School Board - 7/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","Karen Stokes and Finza Cormier resigned from the Rochester School Board during its July 10 meeting, and the board unanimously voted to accept both resignations and forward the vacancies to the city council for replacement.","taxTitle","Rochester Boards & Committees, Rochester City , Strafford County, New Hampshire","taxId",76001,"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},6150940,"Board advances policy first readings, approves special-education job description and names new vice chair",183,2992000,3175000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5505682-97fb872d1babb8788c9cbf13f3dd430f&start=2992&end=3175","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5505682-97fb872d1babb8788c9cbf13f3dd430f/thumbnail_2992000.jpg","/articles/6150940/New-Hampshire/Board-advances-policy-first-readings-approves-special-education-job-description-and-names-new-vice-chair","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6150940-7a8dd281162c204340a9e9cd67660660/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114675&Signature=VwFD7TrtECup9z-gK0EBjnrSBqeSzRUkAFVDbuv9CwpPOvN8w51WAZDkB~tUyaAY23aT94TCO8ZwXQLmMJqpgPjwNFxbU~74pvS~pAxE0aIpMZkt1leR5nktXhmjgpSbceyZV420ABjBj78zVKrs0g9PJg7X8TEFs-HA~wDva-bAp6hZBJkD6FF0O8B~TUxibXq~ANBKRfPo2A7NTtHV1Dx796PnV7ZjXR5YrEqih5B75-iS6o0mcfR7hpp2EuFBy0NF0GxMJ7PJQ6ZVCeidITSZS3-12Z3L4c5qJab5PwEZgRFSwbyL~QXjMZy5vaH5kp6dgxN3w9vP1BmuGO5dYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rochester School Board on July 10 advanced several governance items for further consideration, approved an updated special-education coordinator job description, completed multiple staff nominations and hires, and selected a new vice chair and a new TLSS (teaching, learning and student services) chair.

At the governance committee update, Board member Patrick Pappas said the committee recommended first reading of policy EEA (student transportation), GCI (transfer staff) and an updated GBEC (drug-free workplace and drug-free schools) to replace an earlier alcohol-and-drug policy. Pappas summarized the policies and noted the student-transportation item clarifies Salmon Falls School students’ eligibility to ride district buses. Those items were moved for first reading; no final action was taken July 10.

The TLSS committee recommended that the board approve an updated special-education coordinator job description. Board members approved that recommendation on a voice vote (motion by Mr. Pappas; second by Ms. Wigan). The committee also reviewed attendance data, the student code of conduct and spring testing results; committee members said some schools showed gains while others showed declines.

On operations, Director of Operations David Raiklich (reported to the committee) outlined ongoing capital work, including the start of an athletic field complex at Spalding High School and continued closure work at School Street and William Allen schools. A modular building at Chamberlain is scheduled for removal and repair in July, and work orders and meal pricing issues were passed to finance for follow-up.

The board approved multiple personnel actions during the meeting: resignations and nominations were accepted, stipend and position changes approved (including approvals for classroom and administrative hires listed in the meeting packet). Specific motions approved included appointing Jennifer Labicher as Climate Control Specialist for Gonic and approving Caroline Allen as assistant principal at Rochester Middle School; motions passed by voice vote.

The board also filled internal leadership roles. Following a ballot vote to fill the vacant vice-chair position, Member McGowan was elected vice chair by the board. The TLSS committee chair was named as Mr. White.

What happens next: Governance-policy items will return for subsequent readings as required; the operations committee will proceed with planned projects and report progress; staffing approvals take effect as listed in personnel documentation.","On July 10 the Rochester School Board moved several policy items to first reading, approved an updated special-education coordinator job description, completed staff nominations and hires, and selected a new vice chair and TLSS committee chair.",{"_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},6150945,"Superintendent says canceling unused software could free tens of thousands for Rochester schools",149,2240000,2389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5505682-97fb872d1babb8788c9cbf13f3dd430f&start=2240&end=2389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5505682-97fb872d1babb8788c9cbf13f3dd430f/thumbnail_2240000.jpg","/articles/6150945/New-Hampshire/Superintendent-says-canceling-unused-software-could-free-tens-of-thousands-for-Rochester-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6150945-55613f0bec2764c53d5e05e1a020e0f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771114676&Signature=Nuh16DPzRCC38Y89Ipju5Pzphgchch1vCrBh7Om4~KEWfHNFvvMhSrt7LoWvFM1QZfyPjfAtwPpi9mGx9pQEFxqAk-8LkJXrVT-GWT~GevAsDQ8ytSp5N6xYlXfX9y-HqNGufYTkyIHCzkPuBijUgJtv8XDxnvlZ734cpBB3IJvTWw9wC4fuLSEKog2EUQi63Xzote9HYuEW-KCeU6VQxLiYACUQ7WEVbXLQXthcsQlWgfeXYJbbVrTSDsDG74YRuP~hDdjkiZKpIS4wPKa-~27HZv~UY3mudOOe8Vlf9cIZzm8mS1T-fAPSJ8i0aqNKV8iKQpW5q5uTABxASBPQ0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim district leadership told the Rochester School Board on July 10 that staff have identified redundant or unused software subscriptions and programs that do not comply with state privacy rules or bullying regulations and that the district plans to cancel those contracts and reallocate savings to schools.

In a report to the full board the speaker, identifying work done with Doctor Nichols, said staff found “redundancy in software” and some programs “purchased but never actually implemented or being used.” The speaker added that some programs “don’t align with either state privacy laws or meet the regulations for bullying in the state,” and said those would be canceled.

The superintendent’s report framed the work as part of a broader effort to align resources with student needs. The speaker said the savings could be “money that we can then, in turn, directly put right back into the schools to meet the needs of students.” During the report the superintendent referenced subscription costs in the tens of thousands of dollars, citing examples phrased in the meeting as “$50, $60, even $70,000.”

The superintendent also described an initial effort to “calm the waters” and to focus the district on forward-looking priorities, noting meetings with principals, staff and city officials to identify immediate opportunities for reallocating resources. The report mentioned Salmon Falls School as an example of community pride and noted the district is examining grants and the budget to better match resources to need.

No formal board action was taken on the cancellations July 10; the superintendent said specific changes (contracts to cancel and amounts to be reallocated) are being identified and would be brought forward in future staff recommendations. Board members asked no substantive follow-up questions during the report period.

What happens next: district staff will continue reviewing contracts and subscriptions and will bring proposals for contract cancellations and budget reallocations to a future meeting for board approval.","Interim district leadership told the board July 10 staff have identified redundant or unused software subscriptions and programs that do not comply with state privacy or bullying regulations; the district plans cancellations and to reallocate funds to schools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Two Rochester School Board members resign amid ethics complaint and police presence at meetings

Board advances policy first readings, approves special-education job description and names new vice chair

Superintendent says canceling unused software could free tens of thousands for Rochester schools