There are no major negative state budget changes to adequacy and building aid – both are fully funded at current levels. Catastrophic Aid was funded at approximately 60%. 

The Legislature changed the composition of the Retirement Board of Trustees effective July 1, 2011. This is the board that will set the employer’s and the employees’ rates. The Legislature tenure reform bill passed which will increase the number of years from three to five and  will require each district to have a teacher performance evaluation policy. 

The new $28,000,000 Keene Middle School opened as scheduled on Tuesday, September 6th. The building includes a high level of natural light, an energy efficient wood chip heating system, and interactive Smart Boards in each classroom. 

Our new SAU 29 building opened on August 15th. The building will also be heated by the energy efficient wood chip heating system that is scheduled to provide heat to the new Keene Middle School as well as Jonathan Daniels Elementary School.   

Our member districts hired a total of 35 new employees over the summer. These employees were selected from 2,105 applications.  We hired one new SAU administrator. Mustafa Zwebti began serving as the new SAU 29 Director of Technology on Monday, August 15th. Mustafa came to us with more than 15 years experience managing a multi-function IT operation, including technology planning and integration, building and maintaining voice/data infrastructures, staff supervision and development. He has a proven track record of initiating change in an organization and we are excited to welcome him to our team.          

Upcoming SAU Meetings:

October 17 - 7:00 p.m. Central Office Conference Room 100 & Tour of New Keene Middle School (A.R.E.A. Committee Meeting)

November 21 - 7:00 p.m. LGIA Keene High School (SAU Board Meeting)

December 19 - 7:00 p.m. LGIA Keene High School (SAU Board Meeting and Public Hearing)