Hanson Town Meeting to Decide Fate of School Budget

Committee warns of potential teacher layoffs, program cuts if $14.9 million assessment not approved; $8 million bond also approved for new Whitman Middle School

WHITMAN, MA - June 5 - Hanson residents will vote June 17 on whether to approve a $14.9 million school budget assessment that could determine if teachers are laid off and programs are cut for the upcoming school year.

The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee discussed potential impacts if Hanson fails to pass the budget at its June 5 meeting. Superintendent Jeffrey Szymaniak warned that without a budget by June 30, he would be forced to issue layoff notices to 26 teachers and eliminate all athletics and extracurricular activities to cover a $3.3 million deficit.

"If we don't have a budget on the 17th, we already spoke to [WHEA President] Kevin [Kavka], [Assistant Superintendent] George [Ferro] and I will be doing reduction-in-force letters for 26 people on Tuesday morning," Szymaniak said. "They are coming from classrooms. They're coming from relateds."

The superintendent emphasized these cuts would be a last resort if no budget is passed by late August. He expressed hope that Hanson voters will approve the assessment on June 17, avoiding the need for layoffs.

"I'm confident that we will in the town have a budget before August and not devastate the district with 32 vacancies and no sports or no extracurriculars," Szymaniak said.

If Hanson rejects the budget, the school committee would need to meet within 10 days to reassess. This could lead to a "super town meeting" of both Whitman and Hanson residents to vote on a revised budget.

"There is a budget deficit of $372,140 in the Whitman Hanson Regional School District's operating assessment to Hanson," said Kathleen Ottina, Whitman Finance Committee vice chair, during public comment. "There is $213,400 available in the Whitman Hanson Regional School District capital stabilization account that could be applied to capital expenditures, including the debt. That would leave a difference of $158,740 that Hanson would have to fund using free cash."

In other business, the committee approved an $8 million bond anticipation note for the new Whitman Middle School building project. The bond has a net interest cost of 5.51%.

The committee also recognized science teacher John Rosen with the annual Dr. John F. McEwan "Do What's Best for Kids" Award. Rosen was praised for his 29 years of innovative teaching and for creating the district's science summer camp program.

"He truly makes science fun, engaging, and it comes alive for kids of all ages," said Margaret McEwan, widow of the former superintendent for whom the award is named.

The superintendent also clarified that rumors of the district adding 31 new positions were inaccurate. He said 18 positions have been added since 2021 to meet legal requirements and student needs, but seven have also been eliminated for a net increase of 11.

"We massaged it enough that we could, but we knew we were going to come up with a deficit this year. We did. We made some modifications," Szymaniak said. "But this is the real number of positions."