By Carol Britton Meyer

The school department is another step closer to finalizing an employment agreement with its new leader, as the school committee discussed contract terms in a closed session Monday night.

In addition to the new school superintendent’s contract, a vote on whether to approve Phase 2 of the Hull Public Schools reconfiguration plan, a proposed memorandum of understanding with the town for the use of Memorial School once the consolidation is complete, and a public comment period were topics discussed this week.

MICHAEL JETTE IS STILL NEGOTIATING HIS CONTRACT WITH THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The committee is moving forward with the hiring of new Hull Public Schools Superintendent Michael Jette, Chair David Twombly said Monday night.

“We’re still working on his contract and hope to wrap it up by Wednesday [Jan. 24],” he said. “We had a good interview process, with three very strong candidates.”

The school committee held an executive session following the meeting to discuss the terms of the employment contract for Jette, who came out on top following interviews with the top three candidates on Jan. 10. He is taking over the role of current Superintendent Judith Kuehn, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Jette is the current superintendent of the Litchfield, N.H., school district, with 32 years of educational experience, including time as superintendent in Bedford, N.H.

Twombly expressed appreciation to Kyle Conley, who was the lead school committee member for the process and who also chaired the search committee, and to school department Executive Secretary/Office Manager Maggie Ollerhead, who also played a large role in hiring process.

In other business…

⦁ The school committee approved the second and final phase of the Best Educational Use of School Facilities reconfiguration plan to change the Jacobs School configuration to PreK through grade 7 and the high school configuration to grades 8 to 12, beginning with the 2024-25 school year. This was a formality, as planning is well underway for Phase 2. This will leave Memorial School available for other purposes.

Phase 1, which has already been implemented, is housing Pre-K through grade 6 at Jacobs Elementary School, grades 7 and 8 at the Memorial School, and grades 9 through 12 at the high school for the current school year.

“The school committee approved Phase 1 a year ago, and now they need to take an official vote on the record, even though the project is [already] moving along,” Kuehn explained before the vote.

⦁ In the meantime, a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, with the town is in the works regarding the potential use of Memorial School once the reconfiguration process is complete. An agreement is required if the decision is made to move some town services there, as the school department will maintain the building for educational purposes.

Kuehn, school committee representatives, Town Counsel James Lampke, Town Manager Jennifer Constable, Town Accountant Buckley, and School Business Administrator Diane Saniuk have met four times, with another meeting scheduled in two weeks.

“We’re getting close with the MOU,” Kuehn said.

The committee also talked about the possibility of hosting some kind of event to honor the history of Memorial School closer to the time.

“This is the oldest school building in Hull,” Twombly said of the structure, which was constructed in the 1940s and was named to honor war veterans.

⦁ Saniuk reported that the fencing around the front of Memorial School is down and that the temporary stabilization of the front of the building is complete. This work allowed the reopening of both front entrances. Voters at this year’s annual town meeting will be asked to appropriate the funds for the permanent reconstruction project. The cost involved will be available by town meeting.

“We really appreciate the staff’s patience throughout this time,” Kuehn said.

⦁ Starting with the next school committee meeting, an item entitled “Public Speak” to formalize public participation at school committee meetings, a policy adopted by the school committee last September, will be included at the beginning of each agenda.

Those who wish to speak during this 15-minute period about topics within the scope of the school committee’s authority – such as the budget, educational goals and policies, and the performance of the superintendent – will be required to sign up prior to the start of the meeting and to conduct themselves in a “peaceable and orderly manner” through the chair, Kuehn explained. “The committee will listen, but doesn’t have to respond [at that time].”

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