Concord School Board approves purchase of 20 Conant Drive, adopts new ELA and math materials and confirms several hires

The Concord School Board on May 4 approved a purchase and sale agreement for 20 Conant Drive to serve as temporary administrative offices during the district’s middle‑school construction project, adopted new K–6 ELA and 7–11 math curriculum packages, and confirmed several central‑office and school‑level hires.

Board members moved quickly through a packed agenda after opening remarks and a student arts presentation from Beaver Meadow School. After staff described the Conant Drive opportunity — a house on a roughly 19,000‑square‑foot lot adjacent to the middle‑school site that the district would use temporarily to reduce trailer rentals and related recurring costs — the board held a roll‑call vote to ratify a purchase and sale agreement dated April 15, 2026. Miss Higgins moved the purchase; Miss Meeker seconded. The roll call returned a majority of yes votes with two board members excused and the motion carried.

Mister Dunn and facilities staff said the property would be paid from project funds, used during construction for administrative support and to cut trailer‑rental expenses; at project completion the board can sell the house, return it to the tax rolls, or incorporate it into site plans. Staff cautioned that a deed restriction requires residential use but said RSA procedures and coordination with city staff make the temporary administrative use permissible while the district manages permitting and planning.

On curriculum, the board approved a five‑year purchase of MyView/MyPerspectives ELA materials for K–6 and middle‑level equivalents. Instruction staff described a selection process that began with a 25‑member review committee, two pilot programs and a unanimous recommendation for MyView. The district presented a five‑year purchase price of $668,943 (split over two years) and noted approximately $110,900 of Title II professional development funds would support rollout. The motion to adopt the ELA materials passed by voice vote.

The board also approved a five‑year purchase of Carnegie Learning for secondary math (Algebra 1/2, Geometry) after presenters described teacher pilots, site‑based professional development, and unanimous committee support. The motion passed on a voice vote.

The board confirmed several personnel appointments: the recommendation of Chris (Kristin) Gallo as assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment; Kaylee Barocchi as district director of student services; James Corcoran as Concord High School principal; Andrea Hall as director of student services at the high school; and several teacher appointments and spring coaches. One abstention was recorded on a personnel item where a member noted a past working relationship.

A controversial procedural item at the meeting was whether to pursue formal LEED certification for the middle‑school project. One member questioned spending the approximately $14,000 application fee if the district will already implement efficiency measures; others argued certification provides public accountability and formal recognition of sustainability work. Speaker 16 said, “I don’t see the benefit of the certification itself,” while supporters said certification demonstrates that agreed‑upon sustainability standards were met. The board voted to table the certification decision and hear architects and contractors at a June 8 special meeting before taking final action.

Finance staff gave a preliminary snapshot of the unassigned fund balance and identified projected year‑end pressures, noting the figures will change as the year closes and some trust‑fund transfers are finalized. The board discussed field and track planning with city staff, asked for updated focused cost estimates for turf/grass options and considered short‑term repairs and temporary bleacher rentals.

The meeting opened for public comment but received no speakers. The board entered nonpublic session twice during the meeting — once earlier to brief members on property and personnel issues and again at the end of the night to discuss security measures — and sealed minutes on a personnel matter.

Votes at a glance (as recorded at the meeting): the board approved the purchase and sale agreement for 20 Conant Drive (motion carried on roll call with two members excused); approved the five‑year purchase of MyView/MyPerspectives ELA materials (voice vote); approved the five‑year purchase of Carnegie Learning math materials (voice vote); approved multiple hires and coach/teacher appointments (voice votes and roll calls as noted in the minutes).