District summer programs, Hewitt donations and two staff hires highlighted at Laconia meeting

Interim administrators reported a busy summer of programs and student activities across the district and the board accepted charitable donations staged for district technical programming. Summer learning: Elm Street elementary hosted about 180 kindergarten-through-5 students in a summer learning program focused on literacy, numeracy and enrichment; the middle school hosted about 50 students in grades 6–8 focused on the same core areas. High school credit recovery programs ran in June (42 students, 53 recovered credits) and July–August (44 students, 88 recovered credits). Students in grades 5–8 and program participants earned Leave No Trace credentials; the high school added career-exploration elements including ServSafe certification and tours of Laconia Country Club and Lakes Region Community College; students also attended the My Turn career program in Manchester. Programs were scheduled to conclude Aug. 7 with district exhibition events to showcase student work. Donations and Hewitt Technical Center: The board accepted a $4,000 donation from Charities Aid Foundation America in memory of Kevin Halligan and an annual anonymous $10,000 building-trades donation for the Hewitt Technical Center. Administration noted donations of $500 or greater require board approval and the board approved the two gifts during the meeting. Staffing and nominations: The board approved the nomination of a new Laconia Middle School nurse and an Elm Street special-education teacher; the superintendent reported the nurse had applied for and received the necessary DOE certification since the packet was prepared. The district reported about 22 job vacancies districtwide (combination of full- and part-time positions) and said recruiting activity had increased with several new applications received. Other items: The board approved a field-trip request for Oct. 25, 2025, for an out-of-state trip to Gillette Stadium for middle-school students; the request showed a travel group of 13 students, to be transported on the Hewitt Technical Center bus (capacity 13) and open to grades 6–8. The board confirmed the designation of two SROs to serve as truant officers for the coming year under policy JH.