Exeter School District administrators and the PTO reported that the district opened the school year with new hires in special education and student supports, facilities upgrades across buildings and a well‑attended slate of summer learning programs.

Allison Bridal, assistant superintendent and superintendent designee, told the board the start of the year “has been a great start and, I’ve felt incredibly welcomed by the staff and administration and students and look forward to working more with you.” The PTO reported several summer events for incoming kindergarten families, a welcome breakfast for staff, and an upcoming PTO pizza social with childcare; at the time of the meeting the PTO had recorded 31 children registered for the pizza event.

New staff the board welcomed included Brenda Conley (BCBA for the EBD program), Alyssa Kavna (case manager, EBD program), Kristen Hill (grade 4 case manager), Megan Clutier (student support center teacher), Katie McKay (case manager for the global skills program), Kelly Brooks (assistant director of special education) and Kayla Dunn (shared BCBA). Administrators noted several hires fill previously contracted positions and were able to participate in summer programming to prepare for the fall.

Facility upgrades and projects highlighted by administrators included installation of enhanced door locks across the district, several bathroom upgrades at Main Street School, a new cafeteria mural funded by Wheelwright funds, and forthcoming installation of new digital marquees expected in the next couple of weeks.

Summer learning and special education programs drew participation: administrators reported about 70 students participated in special education summer programming; the district’s targeted reading and math summer slots numbered 97 slots taken by 69 students districtwide. The district also partnered with local providers for social‑emotional learning in summer programs and reported parent/teacher feedback on the summer sessions was “overwhelmingly positive.”

Administrators described academic priorities for the year including strengthening multi‑tiered systems of support, a focus on writing instruction and continued implementation of Benchmark Advance literacy work with adjustments to scope and sequence. Lincoln Street School also noted expanded after‑school enrichment, a second year of elementary strings, and targeted “win time” intervention blocks.

The board discussed the pilot of a social‑emotional learning program called Purposeful People; administrators said the program carries a small annual cost that the district can budget for and that the program is in a pilot phase in both buildings. The board also asked that acronyms be clarified for the public; administrators clarified EDP stands for Exeter Developmental Preschool and that BCBAs are behavior specialists who support students with behavioral needs.

Ending: Board members thanked the PTO and staff for summer programming and facilities work and said they look forward to seeing the digital marquees and receiving the district’s fall data report in October.