Laconia School Board unanimously adopts foster‑care plan, phone policy and $400,000 in transfers; hires speech pathologist

The Laconia School Board on Aug. 19 unanimously approved a series of measures aimed at meeting federal requirements, tightening student‑device rules and funding facilities repairs.

In a series of 6‑0 votes, the board adopted a district foster‑care plan required as part of ESSA program monitoring, adopted the New Hampshire Parental Bill of Rights (policy AB) and a revised unauthorized communication devices policy (JICJ), approved revisions to the strategic plan’s staff‑wellness goals, authorized two transfers totaling $400,000 from the 2025 fund balance and hired a part‑time speech pathologist for Woodland Heights.

Why it matters: The foster‑care plan consolidates existing procedures on immediate enrollment, transportation and interagency collaboration for students in foster care; the JICJ policy implements rules that are tied to state requirements and will change when and how students may use phones at school. The transfers fund capital needs, including stadium repairs and the school construction capital reserve fund, while the wellness‑goal changes set…