March 27, 2024
Dear NSD Families and Staff,
I am writing to let you know that I anticipate the Nashua Board of Education will be making decisions this spring about the school district’s operating budget that will be impacting staffing and programming for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Please know that my recommendations to the Board will keep teaching and learning at the forefront of budget decision-making. The initial meeting of the Board’s Budget Committee will be Wednesday, April 3.
Right now, my budget development team and I are in the final steps of developing a budget that is shaped by the following prevailing factors:
- · student achievement data,
- · need to support ELL instruction,
- · need to support special education instruction,
- · a continuing drop in enrollment,
- · the loss of federal funding for added positions, facility upgrades, and programming provided under ESSER (The federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief issued during COVID-19.),
- · Mayor Donchess’ guideline to all divisions, including the school district, to submit proposed budgets with no more than 4% increase over last year’s operating budgets.
Many school districts are facing similar challenging budget conditions we are facing this year, making this year a particularly difficult one for not just our school district but others across the country.
We will be making decisions based on practical review and sound counsel, keeping in mind the purpose of our work is to be sure each student learns. I am committed to doing the best I can to assess District needs, to identify key resources, and to deliver on our mission to provide the best for our students. I appreciate your patience as we work through the process. Please know I will be reporting back to you as we work through the budget development process with the Board, to keep you informed and up to date.
Thank you.
Mario Andrade, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Nashua School District
Nashua Board of Education
The Nashua Board of Education members spent considerable time asking questions about the proposed McCarthy Alternative Program at the McCarthy Middle School. Board members discussed the purpose and philosophy of the program as a "stand-alone school." According to the submitted plan, the McCarthy Alternative Program would "create an alternative setting for students with disabilities who require substantial behavioral and therapeutic supports." Ultimately the Board approved the school district to submit an application to the NH Department of Education for the proposed program and for administrators to return to the Board to advise on the implementation plan.
Committee on Human Resources: The Board approved two personnel action items, and approved the hiring of Helayne Talbott as the new Director of Career and Technical Education, leading the Nashua Technology Center, which is housed at both Nashua HS North and Nashua HS South. Ms. Talbott is the current Principal at New Searles Elementary School. For more information, see article below.
Committee on Policy: The Board approved two policies, and reviewed one under first reading.
J. Students
- JKAA Restraint and Seclusion*
- JKAA-R Procedures for the Use of Child Restraint and Seclusion*
*approved, and effective as of and will be published on July 1, 2024
First Reading
- JFABD Education of Homeless Children & Unaccompanied Youth
New Business: The Nashua Board of Aldermen requested the Board of Education, in order for the City of Nashua to proceed with the filing of an RFP to sell the site, that the Board confirm..."Elm Street Middle School is no longer needed for public school purposes after the end of the current school year and will transfer the care and custody of the property to the City..."
The next Nashua Board of Education meeting is scheduled to take place Monday, April 8, 2024 at Nashua High School North.
New Director of CTE Announced
Nashua Board of Education approved Dr. Andrade's recommendation to hire Helayne Talbott as the new Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) to lead the Nashua Technology Center at both Nashua HS North and Nashua HS South. Her new role begins July 1, allowing her to complete the school year as Principal of New Searles Elementary School.
Ms. Talbott is well known and well regarded among NSD staff districtwide, having worked at both the elementary and secondary levels. She arrived in Nashua more than 20 years ago as an early childhood education teacher in the Careers in Education program at Nashua HS South. From there, she served in several administrative roles at Nashua HS South and then as an Assistant Principal at Fairgrounds Middle School, until moving to lead New Searles Elementary School in 2018.
Ms. Talbott earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary/Child and Family Studies from Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, and then a Masters in Education in Educational Leadership and also a Principal Certification from Rivier University, Nashua.
Dr. Andrade has begun the search for a new principal at New Searles Elementary and will be back in touch as soon as a replacement has been hired.
Stay Safe with Certified Glasses During Solar Eclipse
A rare, total solar eclipse is scheduled to take place mid-afternoon on Monday, April 8.
Safety during the eclipse is important. NSD schools will be in session, as scheduled, and with elementary schools dismissing about the same time as the eclipse; consequently, elementary school students and staffs will be supplied with certified solar eclipse safety glasses.
The path of the eclipse will travel over New Hampshire, with northern New Hampshire in direct line of the Path to Totality. During totality, for three minutes and 15 seconds, skies will dim and temperatures will drop as the Moon passes over the light of the sun, completely blocking its light. Nashua is expected to experience the eclipse but not to the extent as those in the Path to Totality.
According to NASA, it is not safe to view the eclipse without specialized eye protection.
NASA also warns against viewing any part of the eclipse through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics; severe eye injury will result otherwise.
The 21st Century Extended Day Program is hosting a family engagement event for the upcoming solar eclipse from 3-4 pm, Monday, April 8 at five elementary schools that are 21C program sites:
- Amherst Street Elementary School
- Dr. Norman W. Crisp Elementary School
- Fairgrounds Elementary School
- Ledge Street Elementary School
- Mount Pleasant Elementary School
If interested in learning more about the 21st Century Extended Day Program Solar Spectacular, please contact Janail Archer, 21C Program Coordinator, at archerj@nashua.edu.
Elm Street Teacher to Attend TII at the Smithsonian
Congratulations to Denise Rock-O'Hara, grade 7 Science Teacher at Elm Street Middle School, for being accepted to the Teacher Innovator Institute at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Ms. Rock-O'Hara is the first teacher from New Hampshire to be selected since the program began in 2017.
She will be at the Institute for two weeks this summer to explore how to make better connections between STEAM education…the study of science, technology engineering, arts, and math…and authentic learning. Only 32 new teachers from across the country were selected this year to participate. Again, congratulations to Ms. Rock-O'Hara!
