By Jody Underwood
SPECIAL TO THE EAGLE TIMES
CROYDON, NH May 10, 2023—The May 2 meeting of the Croydon School Board, the second since the 2023 election, saw only eight people attend, with two leaving right after the first public comment session.
Croydon resident Jim Peschke suggested that part-time Superintendent Frank Perotti resign. He said Perotti created a conflict of interest when he also became superintendent in Lyme. The superintendent denied the second job created a conflict. No board member commented on the charge.
School board Chair Aaron McKeon reported that the board’s required annual joint public meeting with the Newport School Board will be May 25 at 5:30pm at Newport High School. Perotti said the boards would talk about tuition rates.
McKeon and Perotti reported having met with the Sunapee School District about becoming Croydon’s “anchor school.” An anchor school agrees to accept any Croydon student who wants to attend after 4th grade. Tuition paid by the town for students who make other choices is capped by the anchor school rate. Newport, with an annual tuition of about $19,000 per student, is Croydon’s current anchor school. Sunapee, they said, is interested and may work with Croydon on busing. The next step is talking with Sunapee School Board.
Perotti reported having received qualified applications for the open third grade teacher position, which went unfilled this year. They will also be hiring an administrative assistant. Perotti reported that Croydon’s high school seniors will participate in the Newport graduation on June 14 and that he was invited to attend. He also said that the Newport Montessori School, whose tuition is about half that of Newport’s has openings for a few students in grades 6 through 8 for next year. They will not have room for any 5th graders. Parents are responsible to pay the $30 fee for picking up their children late, not the district, he said.
The grade 3-4 state assessments and formative benchmark tests are coming up for Croydon Village School students. Principal Nicole Lackie said that the students are excited to be getting tested. Ms. Lackie will present the results at next month’s board meeting.
Business Administrator Beth Bierwirth will explain how adequacy grants get distributed at the next board meeting.
The Strategic Planning Committee has one opening for a Croydon resident who does not have children in schools. Those interested are asked to send their applications to the superintendent at [email protected]. The committee has draft vision and mission statements, which were not shared at the meeting, but there was a discussion about the purview of the vision – whether it covers all students or town children, including those who homeschool or attend private schools.
Dunbar Free Library in Grantham is holding a CVS student art show May 11 at 5pm.
The next Croydon school board meeting is Tuesday, June 6.
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