A community meeting was held May 7th, 2026, at 6:30 PM. This is our third community meeting thus far. 9 people attended.
There was a review of Audrey’s meetings with the superintendent of SAU 4 and the Danbury Elementary School Principal. Both meetings were very collaborative and positive, all parties want Danbury students to have the best options possible. The Superintendent wrote a letter of support for the charter school to submit with our application.
We received letters of support from Senator Daniel Innis, Chris Bartlett (Proctor Academy) the Danbury Country Store, Myrl Phelps Woodworking, The Blazing Star Grange, the Hinton Farm and Bakery, Erik Piper (Bridgewater/Hebron), Ed Crowley, Donald and Marilyn Godfrey, Jane Hamor, Ruby Hill and Lauren Moran. It was an excellent representation of businesses, political, schools, and community members. All will be included in the Charter application.
An update was given on the $20 alumni drive, thus far it has raised over $3,000. Camden Bank was contacted by Joan Laplante and they then called Audrey Pellegrino and said they were applying for ten thousand dollars on our behalf, and we may get some of that or all of that, we just wait and see. Mascoma Bank’s application was completed for the same amounts.
Other fundraising ideas were shared, Donna Sprague discussed bringing back the community calendars, which could net around $3,000. Phil Sprague suggested I support the Danbury Charter School Stickers that people could buy. Brenda Haynes separated her giant aloe era into 22 pots and they are being sold at the Danbury Country Store with the proceeds of $200 already earned for the Charter School Initiative.
The charter application is almost complete, thanks to the very dedicated work of everyone. It will be submitted to the state around the 13th of May. The state head of charter schools will review and if he feels we have everything we need it will then go to legal, and that could take up to two months. There was a discussion related to the defending of the Charter and what that entailed. Luckily Tim Carney and Katelyn Setterlund (both who have been involved in the Charter School Initiative) have been through the process before and where able to share what it will look/ be like when we do have to defend it.
There was some discussion about the school building and there are no final answers yet, as to what the Newfound School Board plans. If they decide to sell it, it must be offered for sale to a charter school first. Ruby Hill informed us that if HB 1374 goes through this week- it’s deemed “ought to pass”-it says when a district closes a school, the municipality has the right to operate it as a school. We will wait and see what happens there.
Reminder that the Blazing Star Grange very generously offered to host a dinner Saturday, May 16th and the proceeds go towards the charter school initiative. Request for cakes and other items were shared with those present and via social media. Please support them as they support us.
