Rawson Presents at Town Select Board
Sean Ricard / The Exonian
By JAYDEN OH, AARYAN PATEL, and MARVIN SHIM
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the town of Exeter’s select board met for their weekly business meeting. The event began with a non-public gathering of the five elected officials before they opened the session up to the public. The meeting consisted of a few presentations and conversations regarding some of the most prevalent issues and events in the town. One of these presentations was given by Principal Bill Rawson, who highlighted plans at the Academy as well as its long-lasting commitment to staying a part of and with the town of Exeter. This week, The Exonian attended the select board meeting to uncover the current state of the town as well as its relationship with the Academy.
Principal Rawson’s segment was focused on reassuring and informing the select board as well as the town’s public of the tight connection between the town and the Academy. Furthermore, Rawson provided some insight into recently completed projects and plans the Academy has in the near future with regard to construction and a few other initiatives.
“I think sometimes we’re a bit of a mystery to people in the town, and so while we’re not necessarily a mystery to you, I think it’s important for viewers to know some of the ways that we try to be strong contributors to the town of Exeter,” Rawson began. “The town’s been around a lot longer than the school, but together, it’s been over 200 years, and it’s a very important relationship and I think being here is an important way of showing, on behalf of Phillips Exeter Academy, the importance of the relationship.”
Over the years, Rawson has attended numerous of these board meetings, stating, “I enjoy coming and hearing the entire agenda. I learn really interesting things.”
After his opening remarks, Rawson dove into the topic of construction on campus. This included introducing the town to buildings such as the New Hall, New Dining Hall, and the ongoing construction of Davis Library. He also briefed the board on future projects like the Academy Building renovation, which will commence this summer and continue for at least two years. Another major talking point was the installation of geothermal wells in the Academy lawn a few years ago and the current installation at the Davis Library.
Rawson then took a deeper dive into the details of the Academy Building renovation and how the new facility will affect the Exeter townspeople. Firstly, Rawson explained, “We will have a new Design Lab maker space in the basement of the lower level facing the north.” Additionally, Rawson also included, “We’re going to expand our Assembly Hall, which currently seats a little over 1000, which will make it easier for us to have assemblies that are open to the public, which I think will be really nice.”
Rawson’s speech concluded by introducing a new initiative and goal the Academy has for climate action: “We have published now almost two years ago our first comprehensive sustainability and climate action plan in which we express three overarching goals: an education goal and some sustainability goals that include reducing our carbon emissions against a 2005 Baseline 75 percent by 2031, the 250th anniversary of the school. We’re now at just around 65 percent.”
One popular way the Academy is working towards a “greener” life is through their geothermal wells, Rawson mentioned earlier in the meeting, which will go into service after the completion of the Academy Building and Davis Library renovations.
The board then opened up for any comments, questions, or suggestions they had. Selectwoman Nancy Belanger began with an idea for better coordination of events between the school and the town, specifically shows or concerts: “You have such a great music department and arts department, and in the future, we could do something more with the town and the Academy, like an outdoor play or something. I would hope that we could work towards something like that in the future.”
Clerk Julie Gilman offered yet another opportunity for the two parties to collaborate, given her position as the chair of the committee planning an event for the 250th anniversary of the country. “We really want to have something with the Academy as part of it, not just the 4th of July but something sometime in the year.”
Selectman Daniel Chartrand added, “I just want to thank you for your partnership with the town. You’ve always been very forward-thinking and in being a great partner, and I thank you for your service.”
Rawson then took the opportunity to clarify the logistics of his retirement with the board and viewers, something that was referred to by some of the selectmen earlier in the meeting. “I will tell you this is not my last year, so I will be back. I think I should be here at least once a year, maybe more often, depending on what’s happening. Hopefully, my successor will come as often as I have and care just as much about the relationship between the Academy and the town as you and I do.”
Chair Niko Papakonstantis made some final remarks with his generosity for the experience he has built thus-far with Principal Rawson and the Academy. “On a personal level, we started working together during COVID when we talked on the phone, and that’s when we started this having [Principal Rawson] come in a couple times a year, and I think it’s so important for us to get updates on the work that you’re doing because we do have a partnership in town and we’re so appreciative of what the students bring to our downtown and vice versa. So I know that this will continue for the next year or so and hopefully with your successor as well so thank you very much for this collaboration. It’s very much appreciated.”
In an interview following the event, Rawson reiterated his views on the meeting and its outcome. He explained, “I attended first to express appreciation for the support we receive from the town in many ways, including police, fire and emergency personnel and snow removal.” Rawson also recalled, “I mentioned some of the ways we contribute to the Exeter community, including, for example, making our woods available to the public, participating in local events such as Exeter Litfest, and paying property taxes.”
The select board’s meeting also saw Chair of the Energy Committee Cliff Sinnot appear before the board to update the community on recent changes in electricity rates.
“Exactly every six months, the CPCNH (Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire) provides us the power the Exeter community uses. In January, the Coalition announced a new rate, 8.9 cents,” Sinnot explained. He commented on the fluctuating relationship between the CPCNH and Unitil.
“In April of 2023, Unitil was extremely high, about 25 cents per kilowatt-hour. At that time, the CPCNH rate came in at a little over 5 cents, so about a 40 percent lower rate. Subsequently, we’ve had 18 percent less, 24 percent less, and in August of 2024 18 percent less. Until now, and it’s now about 17 percent more than Unitil,” Sinnott continued. “This is due to an issue we had with a power contract, and a renewable power supplier in New Hampshire wasn’t able to complete the deal at the last minute. The history of CPCNH is that they’re generally below the utility, and I expect that after this five month period we are in now it will probably return to its original trend, but I cannot say for sure yet.”
“This is a good time to remember a couple of things. Over the long term, although we expect CPCNH to deliver the lowest cost of electricity for us and for community power, it won’t always be true. It is also a reminder that customers and residents in Exeter can switch out of community power and into utility if they prefer to do so. I caution them to look back and check the rates,” Sinnot expanded. “It’s easy to change on the Exeter community power website. It does take one to two months to change.”
Sinnot’s update on electricity rates and the ensuing discussion highlight the ongoing efforts to maintain the town’s connection with its residents. The select board meetings are open to the public and are recorded on ExeterTV. Indeed, as Sinnot stated, these meetings are a good source for the members of the Exeter community, including students of the Academy, to remember the importance of staying aware of the environment around them.
Although the majority of students at the Academy are not from Exeter, they become members of the town community the moment they arrive at the Academy. This select board meeting, including Rawson’s remarks, serves as a testament to the goal of forming a tight-knit bond between the town and the school. Rawson concluded, “The Academy is an important part of the Town of Exeter, and we definitely should keep up with town affairs and participate in town events as individual interest dictates.”
