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Governor Wentworth Regional School Board approves GWSSA addendum, allocates funds and directs legal action over SchoolCare assessment
Summary
At its Oct. 22 meeting the Governor Wentworth Regional School Board accepted an addendum to the GWRSD GWSSA collective bargaining agreement, authorized $150,000 to the Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund while applying reserves toward the 2025 SchoolCare assessment, and voted to pursue legal remedies to recover related funds.
The Governor Wentworth Regional School Board voted Oct. 22 to accept an addendum to the GWRSD GWSSA collective bargaining agreement, authorize use of district reserves toward the 2025 SchoolCare assessment while allocating $150,000 to the Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund, and pursue legal remedies to recover money related to the SchoolCare assessment.
Board Chair Brodie Deshaies called the meeting to order at 6:57 p.m. in the KRHS Plex. Superintendent Caroline Arakelian and Assistant Superintendent Katey Hills were listed as also present. Dr. Beth Sheckler moved to enter non-public session at 6:58 p.m. under RSA 91-A:3, II to discuss legal matters; the motion passed unanimously.
While in non-public session the board voted to "accept the suggested addendum to the GWRSD GWSSA collective bargaining agreement as presented." Dr. Sheckler moved the motion, Dr. James Manning seconded, and the board voted yes: Tom Bickford, Kirsten Burke, Dr. James Manning, Mary Schillereff, Dr. Beth Sheckler, Nate Williams and Brodie Deshaies.
The board also directed staff to "pursue all legal remedy to recover all money related to the SchoolCare assessment." The motion was made by Dr. Manning, seconded by Dr. Sheckler, and passed unanimously.
On funding, Kirsten Burke moved and Mary Schillereff seconded a motion authorizing the Superintendent to apply available carried-forward revenue and unreserved funds to the 2025 SchoolCare assessment and to allocate $150,000 to the Maintenance Capital Reserve Fund. The motion text states this would leave a remaining balance of $570,528.68 to be paid on July 1, 2026 under either a passed or default budget. The motion passed 6–1; Chair Brodie Deshaies was recorded as voting no.
At 8:30 p.m. the board voted to end the non-public session and then voted to adjourn. Minutes were signed by Kathy Lagace, School Board Secretary; the document notes the minutes were approved by the board on Nov. 3, 2025.
Why it matters: The board’s decisions combine an immediate budgeting choice—applying reserves and designating $150,000 to the maintenance reserve—with parallel legal action aimed at recouping assessment-related charges. That split approach reduces near-term pressure on the operating budget while reserving the district’s right to seek reimbursement if legal avenues succeed.
What’s next: The minutes record the actions and the July 1, 2026 payment date for the remaining SchoolCare assessment balance; any further public updates would depend on the outcomes of the board’s legal actions and future budget deliberations.
