Board member resigns; student who said she feels unsafe prompts promise of further review

Board member Janice David told the RSU 9 board she has submitted her resignation and will attend one more meeting before leaving, offering brief remarks thanking fellow board members and praising their work. The announcement came early in the meeting under communications.

During the public-comment period, a student identified only as Kinsley from New Vineyard said she recently left Cascade Brook School to be homeschooled because she "doesn't feel safe" there. Kinsley said the school has experienced numerous "hold in place" incidents and that students who cause holds should not be allowed to return until issues are resolved. The board chair thanked Kinsley for speaking and said the board would discuss her concerns at a future meeting.

Board response and follow-up
Board members acknowledged the comment and the superintendent said the board would hold a budget workshop with administrators (scheduled in a future meeting) to give the board a fuller picture of needs and to discuss safety and staffing concerns raised by public comment. The superintendent emphasized the board cannot make immediate policy changes in the meeting but would bring the issue for fuller consideration.

Ending
The board closed public comment and moved into routine administrative reports. The resignation and the safety-related public comment were recorded as items the board will follow up on in future meetings.