February 14, 2025
Dear SAU 90 Staff and Families,
Happy Valentine’s Day! The best part of my week are the days when I have the pleasure of being in schools, and I can see all the wonderful lessons, learning, students, and staff engaged in teaching. This week, I had the opportunity to spend time at Hampton Academy. I marveled at their integrated lessons, listened intently as students worked in cooperative groups, celebrated a special birthday, and stood in awe of the engaged learners and happy faces. Additionally, I noticed the connections that had been made with students and staff. It was evident that this was a community of learners that seemed engaged and content to be in school learning. Please be sure to check out the district Facebook post to enjoy these delightful moments featuring our Hampton Academy Sharks!
This past week, Business Administrator, Mariah Curtis and I met with the PTA and the Beach Precinct to review our warrant articles that will be on the ballot on March 11. We are happy to answer questions you may have regarding our budget which includes a 1.04% increase over our default budget. More information can be found on our website. Additionally, Article 2 reflects a three-year collective bargaining agreement for our teachers, and Article 3 reflects a four-year collective bargaining agreement for our support staff or paraprofessionals. These agreements help align our staff salaries with those in surrounding districts. Attracting, securing, and maintaining quality staff is our greatest priority. The most significant impact on our students’ success are the educators in the school. Finally, Article 4 is our long-term maintenance plan which has not increased in the past twenty-five years. Please remember to vote on Tuesday, March 11!
We are still looking to add some additional substitutes to our pool. If you enjoy working with children and are looking for a flexible opportunity, we would love to have you join our substitute pool. We offer flexible schedules and a terrific work environment. We were pleased to see former alumni return to their alma mater over their winter break. Yes, we welcome college students too and are willing to work around their schedules, when they are home between terms or when they return in May. The current daily rate for substitutes in our district is $110/day for teachers and $95/day for para educators. Our application can be found here.
Over my years in the district, there have been many Teacher of the Year candidates honored by the New Hampshire Department of Education. Most recently, Mr. Brian Gray and Mr. Jason Schrack were among the top ten finalist in 2024. Other finalists in our district included: Bonnie Heath, Michele Croteau, Elizabeth Henderson, Sean Tierney, and Gus Carlson. We are pleased to let you know that four of our staff from our schools have been nominated for this prestigious award this year! Stay tuned for more details…
Patrice Baker, Early Intervention Outreach Specialist for SAU 90 and SAU 21, will be offering a family night out for Hampton parents/caregivers and children ages 8 and under on next Thursday, February 20 from 6-7:30 PM. As part of this evening, dinner will be provided and strategies for helping your child identify, label, and express emotions will be shared. Additionally, a free calming box toolkit will be provided for use at home. We kindly ask that you register in advance for this event. Please see the flyer attached for more information.
Wishing you a lovely winter weekend ahead!
Warmly,
Dr. Lois B. Costa
Superintendent of SAU 90
Cook Center Calendar of Events: February Calendar
Cook Center Newsletter: February 2025
Flyer for February 20: Family Night Out at Centre School