November 2026

With the turn of the calendar comes the turning of the clocks as November 1st marks the day we move our clocks back an hour. As a gentle reminder, with the shifting of time, comes the shifting of daylight, so please be mindful during the morning and afternoon commutes of our students heading to and from school. Your caution is greatly appreciated in keeping everyone safe.

Last month, we shared THIS VIDEO on school district budgets. We also held THIS PUBLIC FORUM to help people understand an important question on this year's general election ballot, Question 2, which reads (Keene Ward 5 language used for example purposes):

"Shall the City of KEENE - Ward 5 limit property tax growth for KEENE SCHOOL DISTRICT (SAU #29) under RSA 32:5-i? If adopted for a two-year period: (1) the local property tax levy may not grow beyond the prior year’s amount, adjusted for inflation and new construction; (2) SAU central office spending may not exceed 6 percent of total school district appropriations; and (3) bonded capital costs are excluded from both limits. These caps apply only to administrative operations of the SAU central office and do not affect classroom instruction, school-based services, or other municipal expenditures. These limits may be overridden as provided in RSA 32:5- i. Adoption requires a three-fifths (3/5) majority vote."

Our goal with both of those efforts was to help ensure voters truly understood both the question and what the outcomes would mean. By NO stretch of the imagination were we trying to sway anyone to vote one way or the other. If you are still confused by the question, using the above links may be helpful in understanding what your vote will mean. I have also included links to the sample ballots for the November 3rd General Election below in all of the towns whose students we educate. Please take the time to make your vote count!

And as we continue with the month of November, there are a couple of important opportunities for reflection and expression of gratitude. I would like to first start by saying THANK YOU to all of the folks that have served (and those that are currently serving) in the U.S. Armed Services as we honor you on Veterans Day on November 11th. Your commitment to protecting our freedoms and keeping us safe extends far beyond a single day and is greatly appreciated.

That brings us to Thanksgiving on November 26th. Quick reminder: there will be no school Nov. 25-28 with classes resuming on Monday, November 30th. There are far too many people to list individually that I am personally thankful to have in my life, both personally and professionally. Near and far, young and not as young. But the impact and importance you have played is real and for that I am eternally grateful.

There is a lot of great information below that we believe you will find of value. Have a great November and happy reading!

RM

Chesterfield School wrapped up a number of local field trips associated with our school-wide Watershed project. Student work from their experiences was on display at our Open House night. Members of our Chesterfield School Board were present as well! Our "Buddy" groups are in full swing, where older students are paired up with younger students to build strong community connections throughout the school.

Fuller held their annual Harvest Festival in October. Lots of engaging activities for families and kids, as well as staff members to engage in and enjoy!

The Harrisville Wells Memorial School participated in a whole school hike at the Harris Center. This has become a valued and cherished tradition at the school and includes great learning opportunities outside of the building!

On October 22, KHS National Honors Society Inducted 31 new members. National Honor Society membership is determined by a student's academic scholarship, service, leadership and character. Members of the KHS National Honor Society continue to model these high qualities during their time at KHS by providing tutors, leading the recycling program, maintaining the clothes closet and regularly participate as a group in local events. We are very proud of these students. Congratulations to the inductees and their families. Thank you to the staff who support them along the way.

The KHS Fall Musical "Alice by Heart" will run November 13 and 14. Tickets are on sale now.

The Cardinal Caregivers, the KMS parent group, hosted their annual Family Game Night at KMS on the evening of 10/22. It was a nice way for students and their parents to gather together to have some fun!

The Spanish teachers developed a school-wide Hispanic Heritage Month bingo. Biographies were hung up along the hallway of the first floor. The bingo cards contained clues in English and students needed to find a famous Hispanic American from the biographies that fit that clue, which was written in Spanish.

Jay Mankita spent the day at Symonds, presenting his program, Playful Engineer. First through fifth grades worked (or played!) under Jay’s guidance for one hour each, using a vast variety of materials to create Rube Goldberg Machines. Following demonstrations from Jay and a tutorial on the various simple machines, students took full charge of their learning, engaging in teamwork and problem solving. So many amazing moments and so much fun!

Thanks to the leadership of Danielle Beland-Allard, the Westmoreland PTA, families, staff and kids - this year's Westmoreland School Read-a-Thon brought in over $2100 in profits to support school programming. The two top readers and two top fundraisers from Middle School and Elementary School each were awarded gift certificates to Toadstool Bookshop for their efforts.

Elementary- Most minutes read and money raised: Talita Crouse (not pictured) and Dalia Kacik

Middle School- Most minutes read and money raised: Olivia Allen and Jayce Cray

The NHDOE held a 2 day conference in early October to learn about best practices happening around the state. Principal Gallagher (KHS), Principal Smith (KMS) and Superintendent Malay were all asked by the NHDOE to be presenters at this conference. A true reflection of the good work taking place throughout our organization!

Our English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies committees are bringing educators from Keene and our town schools together to make shared decisions about curriculum and instruction. In this first year, the work is heavily focused on K–5. Middle and high school educators provide an initial connection to the secondary grades, with that representation expanding incrementally in the years ahead. This will extend the work vertically through K–12, strengthening how each grade prepares students for the next.

October has focused on gathering a complete picture of our current curriculum. Members of all four committees have been working within their buildings to collect available curriculum, assessments, pacing guides, instructional materials, and teacher-developed resources. In November, the committees will begin reviewing this information to identify strengths, gaps, overlaps, and differences in learning expectations. That review will inform decisions about what should be retained, strengthened, revised, shared, or replaced. Members will also examine content-area competencies to clarify what students should know and be able to do across the grades. These decisions will guide curriculum resources, assessment practices, and professional learning. Committee-reviewed materials and guidance will become part of our shared Curriculum Hub, giving teachers a dependable place to access resources, contribute their work, and provide feedback.

Our CBE & Data Committee is also advancing our work toward Competency-Based Education certification through Cognia. We recently interviewed approximately 35 learners across grades 3–12, with every school in SAU 29 represented. Beginning with students is an intentional part of our approach: we want their experiences to help shape our understanding of how learning expectations, assessment, feedback, and support are working in practice.

Stakeholder feedback will remain central as we broaden these conversations to staff and families. Please watch for a stakeholder survey in the near future. Your perspectives, alongside classroom observations and evidence of student learning, will help us identify what is working well and where we need to improve.

The official release of this information is anticipated in early November. We will report the outcomes for all of our schools in the December Report.

Current Certified Vacancies November 2026

October 6, 2026: COLT

October 13, 2026: COLT

October 15, 2026: Central Office Staff Meeting

October 20, 2026: COLT

October 27, 2026: COLT (Led by Assistant Superintendent White)

On October 21st, we hosted the NHSBA Staff Attorney and Director of Policy Services, Will Phillips to conduct a training, "Making a Difference in the Board Room: Building Bridges, Not Bonfires" for Board Members throughout our SAU. The presentation focused on:

• Basics of District Governance, Management & Decision Making
• Foundations for Board Members
• Making Your Point
• Majority Rules vs Minority Voice
• Traits of Effective Board Members
• Warning Signs

October 5, 2026: Nelson

October 7, 2026: SAU Advisory

October 12, 2026: Westmoreland/Chesterfield

October 13, 2026: KBE Personnel/KBE

October 14, 2026: Marlow/A.R.E.A.

October 19, 2026: Harrisville/Marlborough

October 21, 2026: NHSBA Board Member Presentation

The DOE25 has been submitted, and the first budget meeting was held on October 23rd. We will be meeting for the second budget meeting on November 9th.

The DOE25 has been submitted, the first budget meeting was held on October 15th, and the second budget meeting was held on October 26th.

The DOE25 has been submitted, the initial cost center budget meetings are all scheduled for the week of October 26th. Managers have begun meeting with Student Services while the business office is working to gather personnel data for this year and next to budget for the slaries and benefits for FY28.

The DOE25 has been signed and submitted, and the first budget meeting was held on October 23rd. The second budget meeting will be held on November 4th.

The DOE25 has been submitted, the first budget meeting was held on October 15th, and the second budget meeting was held on October 26th.

The DOE25 has been submitted, the first budget meeting was held on October 15th, and the second budget meeting was held on October 26th.

The DOE25 has been submitted, and the first budget meeting was held on October 26th. The second budget meeting will be held on November 4th.

Enrollment totals as of October 26, 2026

Windows are expected to arrive by the end of Novemeber and install is expected to occur durring the month of December.

Dick Cate Pavillion Project

Symonds School will receive a generous donation of a new pavillion near the existing playground. The pavillion has been ordered and expected to be delivered on October 27. The District is working to secure a contractor by sending the plans and specs to multiple companies. The goal remains to complete the project this calendar year.

Fuller HVAC/ Safety Renovation

Phase four of the project is substanially completed with a few punch list items still remaining after much of the list being comleted on Monday, October 12. The final phase, phase 5 is being designed by working with the Banwell Architecture firm and our construction partner EEI. As these plans are finalized we will gain quotes from subcontractors and put together a project budget.

Enrollment totals as of October 27, 2026

Looking for the breakfast or lunch menu? Simply click on the menu icon to the left and open the document for the specific location you are looking for.

At the MINIMUM, the following emergency response drills must be conducted at each building site in accordance with this schedule. Additionally, our schools complete an extensive report for documentation (see button below). The report also provides schools with data on areas that may need attention as we practice the different types of responses.

The completed safety drills by school as of 10/28/26:

We continue to resolve tech support tickets and repairs. To improve your browsing experience, we’ve launched a Website Task Force made up of administrators, school representatives, and everyday users. Our goal is to streamline navigation, clean up outdated content, and organize information so you can find what you need faster.

By analyzing site search data, we’ll use real metrics to guide our redesign and make the layout more intuitive. Stay tuned for updates!

November Cybersecurity Awareness Spotlight: Shop & Work Safely This Season

As we head into November and the holiday season, online activity spikes—and so do cyber threats. With Critical Infrastructure Security & Resilience Month underway and Black Friday/Cyber Monday right around the corner, scammers rely on holiday urgency, fake deals, and delivery notifications to trick users into revealing sensitive credentials or payment information.

1. Spotting Holiday Phishing & Fake Shipping Scams

During November, watch out for the following common holiday-themed scams:

• Fake Delivery Updates: Fraudulent texts or emails claiming your package is on hold or requiring shipping fee confirmation.

• Unbelievable Deals & Counterfeit Stores: Ads or emails offering extreme discounts on hard-to-find items leading to phishing pages.

• Fraudulent Gift Cards & E-Cards: Malicious emails claiming you have received a holiday e-card or digital gift card.

2. Core Security Best Practices for November

Implement these key security practices across both your work and personal accounts to keep your data safe:

Focus Area

Password Hygiene

Software Updates

Safe Wi-Fi Connections

3. Quick Security Rule: "Stop, Think, Verify"

• Check the Sender & URL: Hover over links before clicking to confirm they lead to legitimate domain names.

• Never Rush: Cybercriminals intentionally construct false urgency (e.g., "Account suspended within 24 hours!") to force hasty decisions.

• Report Suspicious Activity: Use the internal "Report Phish" button immediately if you receive a suspicious email in your organization.

• Disclaimer: AI assistance from Google Gemini was used in the research and drafting of this article, November Cyber Security.

To view the KHS monthly newsletter, please click on the photo to the right.

Statewide Meetings:

October 2, 2026: NHSAA Executive Board

October 5-6, 2026: NHDOE Assessment & Accountability Conference

October 8, 2026: State Board of Education

October 14, 2026: Legislative Oversight Committee for Education Improvement & Assessment

October 16, 2026: Southwest Regional Superintendents

October 19, 2026: Monthly DOE Updates for Public School Leaders (virtual)

Community Engagement:

October 13, 2026: Ipswich (MA) NEASC Visit Prep Meetings

October 16, 2026: Keene Kids Collaborative Annual Breakfast

October 17, 2026: Keene Pumpkin Festival

October 22, 2026: KMS Extensions Class Visit

October 23, 2026: MOCO Rehearsal

October 24, 2026: MOCO- Lights, Camera, Keene!

October 26, 2026: Superintendent Cohort Meeting

October 27-28, 2026: Ipswich (MA) High School Collaborative Conference Visit

October 29, 2026: KMS Fall Band Concert

Here is the monthly report from the Public Information Coordinator.