Hanover Schools Propose Override Budget to Restore Positions and Services
Committee discusses $1.14 million plan to lower class sizes and improve offerings, while some members express concerns about long-term funding challenges
HANOVER - March 26 - The Hanover School Committee receives details about a proposed override budget that would add $1.14 million to restore positions and services cut in previous years, though some committee members express concerns that even with the override, the district will still face significant funding challenges.
Superintendent Matt Ferron presents the override budget proposal, explaining how it would build upon the base budget to improve educational services across the district.
"Tonight we want to talk about the potential override budget," Ferron says. "Last meeting we talked about what the base budget would accomplish in terms of improvements from where we are now. Tonight we're going to talk about a preliminary strategy for the proposed override funding."
The override budget focuses on several priority outcomes, including restoring elementary school class sizes to the low 20s, improving class sizes in core courses at the middle and high schools, and restoring specialist offerings and electives.
"At our elementary schools, we want to restore class size back to the low 20s," Ferron explains. "We want to get our class size back to when it's been at our preferred level, at our best level."
Under the override budget, the district plans to add five elementary classroom teachers, which would reduce class sizes to approximately 20 students in kindergarten and first grade, and below 20 in grades two through four.
The plan also includes adding middle school classroom and specialist teachers to eliminate study halls and provide more learning opportunities in areas such as art, music, engineering, and technology.
At the high school level, the override would fund five classroom positions to lower class sizes and provide greater flexibility for electives and AP courses.
Committee member Ryan Hall expresses concerns about positions that remain unfunded even with the override budget, including curriculum leadership, professional development support, and administrative positions.
"I'm concerned about not considering some of these more seriously given how long we may be in this position," Hall says. "If we bring in new teachers, we also have an evaluation cycle that they need to fulfill for the state. I know that's not necessarily common for people that work outside of schools, but that is a requirement."
Committee member Libby Corbo emphasizes that the override is not a complete solution to the district's funding challenges.
"I don't want there to be any, I don't want anyone to think that this is a magic solution, that this is a cure," Corbo says. "Hanover's really gonna still have some significant funding issues for education that it's gonna have to deal with going forward."
Corbo notes that Hanover schools rank in the bottom 15 percent for staffing ratios in fiscal year 2024, before the recent layoffs and cuts, and the override would not fully restore staffing to previous levels.
"The override does nothing to raise us out of the bottom fourth of state funding or closing that gap," she adds. "We're not funding curriculum support or oversight. We're not funding wellness programs."
Committee Chair Peter Miraglia expresses support for the Advisory Committee's budget recommendation, citing three reasons: the restoration is measurable and impactful, the budget is sustainable, and the override is affordable for taxpayers.
"It's about only double the 2.5 percent increase, just over double," Miraglia says. "In terms of making this possible for all the taxpayers this year, I think it's a good solution."
Ferron acknowledges that the plan will continue to evolve based on factors such as enrollment changes, course selections, and personnel changes.
"One thing I know for sure, this plan will change and evolve, but I don't know exactly when and how we will come back to you with changes," Ferron says. "But there will be changes and we will come back with them."
The district plans several community forums in April to discuss the override budget:
* State of the Town Breakfast on April 15 at 7:30 a.m.
* Council on Aging Luncheon on April 16 from noon to 2 p.m.
* Budget forum at the high school on April 16 in the evening
* Budget forum at Town Hall on April 28
"If you do nothing else regarding the rest of budget season, one or both of those events will be very important as we kind of ramp up towards the end of the road here," Ferron says of the budget forums.
The committee also approves June 17, 2025, as the last day of school, assuming no cancellations occur between now and the end of the school year.
In other business, the committee recognizes four Hanover High School students who received Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: Peter Kuniff (gold key in photography), Adrian Nickerson (honorable mention in mixed media), Bella Telepack (honorable mention in drawing and illustration), and Ludwig Hunder-Vesthaisen (honorable mention in ceramics and glass).