School Board Information 

THORNTON SCHOOL BOARD

SAU #48 

(603) 536-1254    (603) 536-3545 (F)

WELCOME!

On behalf of the School Board, welcome.  We appreciate visitors from the public and trust your attendance will be beneficial to both you and us.  We feel it is very important for interested persons to know about the workings of our school system and/or for us to be aware of what is important to the community.  You are invited to participate in the meeting in accordance with the policy and rules established by this Board.

BOARD MEMBERS

                    Tara Disalvo 2026 Chairperson              tdisalvo@pemibaker.org

                    Joanne Marcotte 2026 Member                jmarcotte@pemibaker.org 

                    Matt McDermott 2025  Co-Chair        mmcdermott@pemibaker.org               

                    Matt Hesser 2025   Member mhesser@pemibaker.org

Eben Gannett 2027 Member   egannett@pemibaker.org

 ADMINISTRATION

Kyla Welch                        Superintendent of Schools       kwelch@pemibaker.org

Pam Martin                      Assistant Superintendent          pmartin@pemibaker.org

                        Dana Andrews                 Assistant Superintendent          dandrews@pemibaker.org

                        Jonathan Bownes            Principal                                       jbownes@pemibaker.org

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Thornton School District shall not discriminate in its education programs, activities or employment practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion or handicap under the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1967, and Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Any person having inquiries concerning the School District’s compliance with the regulations implementing these laws may contact the Superintendent of Schools.

SAU #48 SCHOOL BOARD COMPLAINT POLICY/PROCEDURE

All parents, students, employees or other citizens initiating complaints or concerns regarding any aspect of the School District or an employee shall be encouraged to seek resolution at the lowest possible level (teacher, principal).  If the complaint cannot be resolved at any lower level, it may be appealed to the Superintendent’s level.  If the complaint cannot be resolved at the Superintendent’s level, a written request shall be submitted to the School Board, through the Superintendent, asking the Board to give consideration to the complaint.  The Board will determine if the complaint(s) will be heard.

SCHOOL BOARD DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

School Boards are charged with the responsibilities of selecting a Superintendent and providing him/her with authority and direction.  It is not the duty of the Board to operate the schools, but to see that they are well operated.

The Board concerns itself primarily with broad questions of policy rather than administrative details.  The application of policies is an administrative task to be performed by the Superintendent and his/her staff who shall be held responsible for the effective administration and supervision of the school system.

Members of the Board have authority only when acting as a Board legally in session.  The Board shall not be bound in any way by action or statement of an individual member except when such statement or action is in pursuance of specific instructions from the Board.

SUPERINTENDENT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The position of Superintendent of Schools is created by law to provide each School Board with the benefit of advice from a professional educator.  The statutes and rules give the Superintendent the necessary authority to carry out the responsibilities assigned to him/her in relation to the role assigned to School Boards.

BOARD MEETINGS

The Thornton School Board generally meets the 4th Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m.  Agendas are prepared by the Superintendent and School Board Chair.  They are posted at least 24 hours in advance of each meeting and are available at the Superintendent’s office, in the school and at the town office.

STANDARD BOARD AGENDA

                            1.      Call to order                                                   7.     Recognition and Awards

                          2.      Agenda Review and Disposition                  8.     Privilege of the Floor #2

                          3.      Approval of minutes                                      9.     Consent Items

                          4.      Principal’s Report                                           10.   Non-Public Session

                          5.      Privilege of the Floor #1                                11.   Adjournment

                          6.      Discussion Items                                                  

NONPUBLIC SESSION  

In accordance with the Freedom of Access (“Right to Know”) law, the Board meetings are held in public.  The Board may go into nonpublic session upon a roll call vote requiring an affirmative vote of the majority of the members present for the consideration of certain matters specified in RSA 91-A:3.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS 

The Board encourages citizens of the District to attend its sessions so that they may become better acquainted with the operation and programs of the school and that the Board may have the opportunity to hear the comments and suggestions of the public. All official meetings of the Board shall be open to the press and public. However, the Board reserves the right to meet and adjourn or recess a meeting, at any time, to discuss such matters as are properly considered in non-public session in accordance with RSA 91-A:3.

In order to assure that persons who wish to appear before the board may be heard and, at the same time, conduct its meeting properly and efficiently, the Board adopts as policy the following procedures and rules pertaining to public participation at Board meetings. 

1. The Chairperson shall designate a portion of each agenda for the purposes of providing public input.  

2. 30 (thirty) minutes of time will be provided in each meeting (split between two privileges of the floor) to allow for public comment during the meetings. 

3. Be mindful of time to allow others the opportunity to speak.

4. Any individual desiring to speak shall give his or her name, address, and the group, if any, that he/she represents.

5. All speakers are to conduct themselves in a civil, respectful manner. Treat each other courteously and refrain from personal attacks, even if you disagree with another's view.

6. Speakers will direct their comments to the Board and not each other.

7. Comments and statements may be made on matters directly related to the district's policies, programs, and operations. However, in the interest of time, we request you keep comments within the scope of agenda items.

8. If you have questions external to agenda items, we respectfully ask that you email them to the Board chair or the Superintendent so that we have adequate time to respond and/or research your questions and provide you with the most accurate answers we can.

9. Public comment periods are an opportunity to provide input into matters being considered by the Board.  All comments will be taken under advisement by the Board.

10. The Board will not hear complaints against any individual person connected with the school system. Other channels provide for Board consideration and disposition of legitimate complaints involving individuals.

The Board vests in its Chairperson or other presiding officer authority to terminate the remarks of any individual when they do not adhere to the rules established above.

Persons appearing before the Board are reminded, as a point of information, that members of the Board are without authority to act independently as individuals in official matters. With the approval of the Chairperson, questions may be directed to individual Board members.

Statutory Reference:

RSA 91-A:3, Public Records and Meetings: Non-Public Sessions

Revised August 2016 

Revised April 2023