Superintendent's Letter

Dear School Board Members, Administrators, Staff Members, Students, Families, and Community Members,

This evening, I am announcing that the 2022-2023 school year will be my last year serving as Superintendent of the Lebanon School District.

Over the last eight years, I have strived to keep our schools student-centered and improve programs District-wide. When I have conversations with individuals or a large group to discuss the current systems in place or review a procedure or policy, my goal is to listen, problem-solve, understand how it impacts our students, and offer solutions to move forward from where we began- leaving the woodpile higher.

I am fortunate to work with such dedicated and caring staff members. Over the last eight years, working together, we have accomplished many great things. A few of the accomplishments that stand out to me are:

• Creation of the C.A.R.E.S. mission statement and Board Diversity and Inclusion statement
• Administration of Strategic Plan surveys and development of multiple three-year strategic plans
• Creation of a transparent District-wide budgeting process that is zero-based and fiscally responsible
• Development of a Technology replacement plan; a multi-year Facilities Improvement Plan, and updated Emergency Response Plans
• Recently approved multi-year AREA agreement between Plainfield, Grantham, and Lebanon
• Implementation of evaluation systems for the Superintendent, Administrators, Teachers, and Paraeducators
• Implementation of a valid curriculum cycle with the goal to publish the curriculum so it is readily available to all stakeholders
• Improvement in providing services that fall under Student Supports- ELL, Special Education, 504, mental health services, and our Preschool and Intensive Needs Program
• Support for Extended Learning Opportunities and STEM experiences including our partnership with Thetford Academy, Hypertherm, and Fuji Dynamix
• Collaboration with the Hartford Area Career and Technical Center
• Efforts focused on supporting students and families through the Bi-Annual Summit in collaboration with the Public Health Network bringing local Districts and social agencies together
• Approval of renovation projects at MLS, LHS, and HSS. It took us many years, but we finally succeeded and administrators, staff, students, and families will greatly benefit from these projects for years to come
• The incredible effort to remain creative, flexible, and resourceful throughout the COVID pandemic. Together, as a District and community, we overcame the challenges and kept our focus on each other, our students, and our families.

This is a pivotal moment for New Hampshire, and we need to gather together to support our public schools. We need to provide a voice for students who are underrepresented and those whose safety may be at risk. We need to provide a voice for LGBTQ+ students; for students of color; for students and families facing food and housing insecurities; for students receiving special education services whose funding sources continue to be decreased; for students and families facing mental health issues; for public school funding; for teachers who no longer teach course content because of unclear language in the divisive concepts legislation and fear potential revocation of their certifications… and the list goes on.

According to an article in The Journal of the American Medical Association, "Children and young people's reports of experiences of adverse childhood events have increased in recent years, and this trend has been associated with an elevated risk for suicide behaviors." [1]

From the CDC: "Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth and female youth reported greater levels of poor mental health; emotional abuse by a parent or caregiver; and having attempted suicide than their counterparts. In addition, over a third (36%) of students said they experienced racism before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest levels were reported among Asian students (64%) and Black students and students of multiple races (both 55%)."[2]

From the Dartmouth Health Suicide Prevention website, "Suicide is the second leading cause of death for New Hampshire kids and the ninth leading cause for people of all ages. Depression, substance abuse, and other mental health problems are involved in 9 out of 10 suicide deaths and attempts. Most of the deaths are preventable." [3]

Although these facts are well-known, there continue to be legislative actions to remove protections for students and penalties for school administrators and staff members who are trying to support them.

Moving forward, I will continue to advocate for a student and family-centered approach. In my ninth year, I will continue to communicate with stakeholders; put forward a fiscally responsible budget; move the renovation projects forward; negotiate with Lebanon Support Staff members; ensure the first year of the Three-Year Strategic Plan is in place, and work locally and at the state level to advocate for our public schools.

I am informing the Board about my decision now to provide adequate time to complete the Superintendent hiring process next year.

School Board members, school administrators, staff members, students, and families, thank you for your dedication and hard work. I am looking forward to seeing what we will accomplish next year.

With gratitude,

Dr. Joanne Roberts

[1] Angelakis I, Austin JL, Gooding P. Association of Childhood Maltreatment With Suicide Behaviors Among Young People: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(8):e2012563. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.12563

[2] CDC Newsroom New CDC data illuminate youth mental health threats during the COVID-19 pandemic https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2/p0331-youth-mental-health-covid-19.html

[3] Dartmouth Health Injury Prevention Center Suicide Prevention (https://www.chadkids.org/injury-prevention/suicide-prevention)

The Lebanon School District, in partnership with the community, is committed to providing a challenging, positive, and safe learning environment that CARES:

• Cultivates curiosity and collaboration
• Achieves academic excellence
• Respects and values diversity
• Encourages responsible citizenship
• Supports the needs of every learner

Upcoming School Board Meeting:

Lebanon School Board Retreat Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 6:30 pm LMS Cafeteria

Please visit the SAU #88 website for further information.

Link to Board Agendas and Minutes

Website: www.sau88.net
Location: 20 Seminary Hill Road, West Lebanon, NH, USA
Phone: 603-795-8500