It’s all about reaching out to the community.

The School Board held a retreat to gauge progress on its goals from last year and focus on the future. The message that came out of the Wednesday, May 14, meeting is clear – the board is making communication with the public a top priority for the coming year.

Terry Wolf, vice chairman, said the board is committed to providing the public with the information it needs and knows it is accountable to voters at the ballot box.

She said board members discussed the fact that some people in town do not have the time to research election issues on their own and groups do not have easy access to information about what the School Board is doing.

“They’re just so busy that they don’t have time to understand all the issues or investigate all the issues,” Wolf said.

Some residents, such as the parents of young school children like herself, do not have the time to watch School Board meetings, she said. Other people, such as senior citizens, are not savvy with the Internet and may not be able to access all background information, documents, agendas and meeting minutes – all of which are posted online at www.sau25.net.

The potential lack of communication became apparent with the School Board’s proposal to improve the intersection of Route 101 and Nashua Road for the safety of high school drivers.

The issue was discussed at several School Board meetings, a special public meeting, the annual budget hearing and the school district deliberative session – and yet, according to Wolf, there were still some people who did not understand the proposal.

“I’ve heard people saying they didn’t (know) what it was, where it was going to go,” she said. “There’s a definite gap and that’s what we’re looking to fill.”

The School Board chose Wolf and former chairman Cindy Chagnon to spearhead this new communications effort. Wolf said the two will look at new ways to get information to voters, and will begin by simply asking them.

Wolf said she and Chagnon will hold a public meeting to solicit input on how to improve communication. The meeting date and location will soon be posted online and in local newspapers.

Overall, David Sacks, the current School Board chairman, said the retreat was productive.

Other goals include maintaining high quality education and exercising fiscal restraint, Sacks said, adding the board is especially mindful of how the slumping economy is affecting taxpayers.

“We continue to be very aware of that as we go forward this year,” Sacks said.