EF Nashua
| Children’s
reas Home
April 16, 2019
Enriching the lives of children
and families since 1903...
Alderman June M. Caron
24 Montgomery Avenue
Nashua, NH 03060
Dear Alderman Caron:
A former President of the Nashua Children’s Home Board of Directors, now a New Hampshire Supreme
Court justice advised me long ago that false or erroneous testimony left standing absent a response,
becomes the recard. It is in this spirit that | write to you. | have been able to review the transcript of
the 4.8.19 Public Hearing held by the Aldermanic Human Affairs Committee, and am offering
clarification relative to the commentary on Nashua Children’s Home by Fred Teeboom of 24 Cheyenne
Drive.
*Mr. Teeboom stated, rather incessantly, his belief that Nashua Children’s Home provides services for
“12 kids.” You correctly pointed out the application in question was for a project at our Concord Street
Girls’ Home which does house 12 girls, but that we have other facilities as well. In fact, Nashua
Children’s Home, between our Concord Street site and our Amherst Street campus provides residential
programming for up to 46 New Hampshire boys and girls, provides special education services for 30 area
students, and transitional living housing and associated support for up to nine young people who have
“aged out” of our state’s child-protective of juvenile justice system and must confront the challenges of
adult living, as 18-year-olds, absent any financial support from their families of origin.
*Mr. Teeboom made several references to “S4 million dollars’ worth of salaries.” The application that
we submitted, contains a salary line for this year, and a projected salary line for next year. Neither
figure reaches $3 million dollars, much less $4 million dollars. To offer further context, both the current
and projected salary expenses are based on an anticipated full-time staffing of over 70 employees.
Lastly, I’ll repeat the testimony that | have consistently offered Aldermanic committees over the years.
Typically, half of the boys and girls within our Residential Program are City of Nashua residents.
Typically, 830% of those youngsters are identified with special education needs. Most often, those young
people maintain their enrollment in the City’s public schools. If Nashua Children’s Home did not exist,
and those boys and girls were placed in other residential/educational facilities, via court order, that
decision being beyond the purview of the Nashua School District, the taxpayers of this City are on the
hook for $47,411.64...per student!! (Re: Court Ordered Payment Chapter 402).
Nashua Children’s Home remains appreciative of the support and advocacy provided over the years by
City government. Hopefully, the paragraphs above serve to set the record straight.
Sincerely,
Executive Director
CC: Board of Aldermen
Mayor Donchess
125 Amherst St., Nashua, NH 03064 ¢ (603) 883-3851 * BAX (603) 883-5925
86 Concord St., Nashua, NH 03064 * (603) 595-8868
