The SAU school districts are committed to working together to achieve common standards and values that will result in graduates who are caring, productive, and contributing members of society.
A: Richard Wendell (School Buildings and Operations) shovels
out his truck sometime after 3:00 a.m. and drives some area roads.
Police reports and input from the bus company broaden his picture. He
then calls the Superintendent who makes the decision: cancel, 2 hour
delay, or school as usual. Then a phone tree is started to contact
all administration, teachers, staff and
media.
Q: How is
the School Year Calendar determined?
A: The SAU #16
Joint Board (the combined school boards of the seven districts in
SAU #16) agrees on the calendar by December. The N.H. Dept. of Education distributes a suggested calendar, with the
understanding that individual districts may adjust it to meet local priorities.
A particular challenge for our SAU is to coordinate the calendar with those of
area high schools participating in the Seacoast School of Technology (SST):
Epping, Newmarket, Raymond, Sanborn (Kingston), and Winnacunnet (Hampton). The
calendars are posted as soon as they are approved on this website under
Calendars.
Q: What is An
SAU?
A: For purposes of administration and accountability, the
State has created several “School Administrative Units.” Each SAU is
directed by a superintendent of schools (technically a State employee)
and one or more school boards. In SAU #16, the towns of Brentwood, East
Kingston, Exeter, Kensington, Newfields, and Stratham each elect a
school board to oversee that town’s public education up through grade 5.
The Exeter Region Cooperative School Board, responsible for grades 6-12
and Adult Education in all six towns, is elected by the combined voters
of all six communities. The Exeter Region Cooperative School District is
a legal entity, responsible for education in grades 6-12 as well as
adult education, in the same manner that each town school district is
responsible for education up through grade 5 in that town. For a chart
of SAU 16 organization, click here.
Q: What are the
advantages of a combined SAU?
A: Our SAU consolidates all business functions such as bookkeeping, accounts
payable, receivable, payroll, etc. It also consolidates all of the human resource functions such as
fingerprinting, FICA, annuities, retirement, health benefits, etc.
Combining roles into a single office places emphasis on efficiencies by centralizing business operations,
human resources, technology and administration.
A: Exeter Region Cooperative School Board - 9 members: 3 elected from
Exeter, 2 from Stratham, 1 each from the towns of Brentwood, East
Kingston, Kensington, and Newfields. In March during elections,
regardless of the town a school board member represents, everyone voting
has the right to choose the person they want for representation from any
of the 6 Cooperative Districts. Example: John Doe is seeking election to
the Cooperative School Board and lives in East Kingston. Voters from not
only East Kingston could vote for John, but voters from Kensington,
Brentwood, Newfields, Stratham and Exeter could also vote for him. For
more information on the COOP Board, click
here.
Q: What is the Joint School Board?
A: The Joint School Board consist of individual members of the
7 school boards in SAU 16. It meets three times annually, September, December and May.
It is responsible for overseeing the SAU Administration and support staff.
It also has budget responsibilities for SAU activities, i.e., technology,
staff development, administration, etc. For Joint Board Policies,
click here.
For meeting minutes and agendas, click
here.
Q: What is the SAU 16 Chairs Meetings?
A: The SAU Chairs is the meeting of all school board
chairpersons. They meet on a monthly basis to discuss goals, concerns,
activities, etc. of the SAU. They have prime responsibility for the evaluation of the superintendent.
Regular meetings enable Board Chairs to keep their respective boards informed on SAU
activities.
Q: What do the individual school districts do versus the SAU
Administration?
A: Individual School Districts set policy, determine the budget, approve
staff hirings & have facilities oversight responsibilities.
The SAU Administration recommends budgets, policies, facility
improvements, purchasing, and the hiring of staff, etc. to the
individual boards.
The SAU Administration coordinates school curriculums, staff
evaluations, business functions, selected policies, professional
development activities, human resource functions, etc.
Q: How can I find out when the next School Board Meeting is?
A: All Board Meetings are listed on the
SAU 16 Event
Calendar.
Agendas are
usually available a few days before the meeting.
Do you have a question for SAU 16 administration? Please let us
know what you would like more information about by
contacting us.
This red flag by a web address
indicates that you are leaving this website and SAU 16
Fax
(603) 775-8673
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