MANCHESTER, N.H. – A week after the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) officially expressed their concerns over Phase One of the Manchester School District facilities plan, the Manchester Board of School Committee (BOSC) responded at their meeting on Monday with frustration over a lack of collegiality and a hope that better relations between the two boards can be made moving forward.
A discussion on the matter was moved up on the agenda thanks to a motion from Ward 3 BOSC Member Karen Soule after several individuals referenced the BMA’s actions during public comment.
BOSC Vice Chair Jim O’Connell expressed regret at the BMA’s vote, which requested that the district “pause” all work on the replacement for Beech Street Elementary School until the BMA could receive a presentation from Manchester School District Superintendent Dr. Jenn Gillis. They are also requiring that any spending on the facilities plan be approved by the Joint School Buildings Committee, a combined board of BMA and BOSC members, moving forward.
O’Connell stated on Monday that BOSC members did not receive any notice of the action in response to an assertion from Ward 6 BOSC Member Dan Bergeron that relations between the two boards are largely congenial. The motion was not on the agenda, having been made during the new business section of last week’s BMA meeting by Ward 8 Alderman Ed Sapienza.
The fact that the motion was made during new business drew the ire of Ward 4 BOSC Member Leslie Want, who said that it was a non-transparent way to function and would not be possible under the BOSC’s rules.
Additionally, O’Connell stated that there was a significant amount of misinformation and disinformation during the BMA meeting and that combined with personal attacks against Gillis made by BMA members after the meeting, made it inappropriate for Gillis to give the presentation requested by the BMA at this time.
Ward 1 BOSC Member Julie Turner also expressed frustration with misinformation provided by a member of the public earlier in the night, noting that no new taxes would be levied as part of Phase 1, with all funding coming from bonding and state adequacy funding.
O’Connell also added that he has scheduled a meeting of the Joint School Buildings Committee on Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. for the sake of organization and answering any questions that the Aldermen may still have and achieve Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais’ goal of productive collaboration.
Ward 9 BOSC Member Bob Baines urged his fellow members to tone down the rhetoric, but also expressed his disdain regarding the attacks on Gillis.
“She deserves our respect and admiration, he said. “How many superintendents are we going to run out of the city? That’s got to stop.”
Ward 5 BOSC Member Jason Bonilla agreed with Baines’ assessment regarding Gillis but disagreed on his perspective regarding the BMA.
“Respect and collaboration goes both ways,” he said. “I won’t let these weapons of mass distraction get in the way of what’s important: our children.”
Another issue that was addressed was assertions by some members of the BMA that Wilson Elementary School, which is set to close this summer, could be renovated. O’Connell singled out Wilson as a reason why there would be no “pause” as the BMA requested, as any delays would require Wilson to remain open another year.
Several educators from Wilson returned to repeat comments made in recent months about the need to replace Wilson, citing malfunctioning toilets, heating problems and other issues.
Baines also shared those sentiments.
“That school is not fit to be inhabited by the school children of Manchester. It’s as simple as that. Anyone that doubts that should take a walk through that school.”
He also reiterated the need for a new Beech Street Elementary as well, despite the fact that he said that when you walk into it, “the love just hits you in the face.”
In that reiteration, Baines noted not just the need to incorporate the Wilson students into Beech, but also the fact that Beech is currently over 50 years old and was intended as an open-concept school, which led to walls in many areas that cut off natural sunlight, which have impacted student performance.