School board elects leaders, approves $139,448 e-rate contract and several policy actions; moves to nonpublic session

Matt Bacon was elected chair and Heather Smith was elected vice chair of the Oyster River Cooperative School District School Board at the board’s March 19 meeting. The board also approved a bid for network equipment, management software and firewall support under the federal E-rate program, advanced several revised policies on first reading, voted to delete a number of older policies, and voted to enter a nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3 II(e) for negotiation of pending legal claims.

The actions taken during the meeting included both routine governance items and contract approvals with budget implications. The e-rate award will fund replacement wireless equipment at elementary schools and recurring network subscriptions; the board said a portion of the cost is reimbursed through the federal E-rate program.

Votes at a glance

- Election of chair: Matt Bacon (chair). Nomination and second were recorded; the motion carried and the meeting was turned over to Bacon by the outgoing presiding member. (Vote tally: not specified in the public record of the roll call portion.)

- Election of vice chair: Heather Smith elected vice chair after nomination and second. The board recorded the outcome as "6 and 7 in favor" during the voice vote, and congratulated Smith. (Voice vote reported by meeting chair.)

- E-rate contract (Omada) — motion to approve: board approved the e-rate bid from Omada for network equipment, network management software subscription, and firewall software support in the amount of $139,448.20. (Recorded vocal vote: 7 in favor, student representative in favor.)

- Unanimous consent agenda: included approval of continuing contract professionals and acceptance of teacher resignations; approved by voice vote (7 in favor).

- Policies (first read): The board approved first reads for IIB, IIBA and JCA (change of class/school/assignment policy updates) as amended in discussion. (Vote: 7 in favor, student rep in favor.)

- Policy deletions: The board voted to delete a list of older policies and related procedures (IIBR class size procedure, JCA previous version, JEC manifest educational hardship, JEAB school district placement, JJ/JL gifts/solicitation, JLA student insurance, JO/JOR student records). (Vote: 7 in favor, student rep in favor.)

- Motion to enter nonpublic session: The board moved into a nonpublic session under RSA 91-A:3 II(e) for the consideration of pending legal claims or litigation. The roll call vote recorded the following votes: Renee Bennett — yes; Gianna Jelsey — yes; Matt Bacon — yes; Heather Smith — yes; Denise Day — yes; Kelly Aches — yes; Shawn Harrison — yes. The motion carried and the board entered nonpublic session.

Context and process notes

The e-rate award was presented by the district IT director during the meeting as purchasing to replace long-serving wireless infrastructure at the elementary schools; the district said prior e-rate awards funded high school wireless replacements and that recurring software and firewall costs are included in the upcoming budget. Several policy revisions were discussed at length during first-read consideration, including clarifying language about registration timelines, proximity criteria for elementary assignments, and the title and statutory linkage of the "change of class/school/assignment" policy. Board members and staff proposed wording edits during discussion before approving first reads.

The board used standard voice votes for most agenda items; the final motion to enter nonpublic was decided by roll call as required by RSA 91-A. The meeting packet and policies referenced during the discussion are publicly available on the district website, per board remarks.