Whitman-Hanson School Committee Approves Body Cameras for Hanson Resource Officer

HANSON, MA - October 9 - The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee voted to approve the use of body cameras by school resource officers from the Hanson Police Department during their recent meeting. The decision came after a presentation by Hanson Police Chief Mike Miksch and Deputy Chief Mike Casey, who outlined the department's policy and addressed concerns about student privacy and civil rights.

Chief Miksch explained that the cameras are part of a broader police reform initiative. "Going back to the reform law, one of the things that came out of that was a push for body cams, body cameras," Miksch said. He noted that initial skepticism has given way to recognition of the cameras as a valuable tool.

The cameras will not be constantly recording. Deputy Chief Casey clarified, "The camera isn't always on. This tool is meant for the protection of the staff, students, the public, and the officer."

According to the policy, cameras will be activated during police actions and investigations. Officers will have discretion in sensitive situations, such as medical responses or interactions with students who may have difficulty understanding the circumstances.

Committee members raised questions about student privacy, particularly for those with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or learning disabilities. Casey assured the committee that officers are trained to be conscientious and will not record in guidance counseling sessions or similar private conversations.

The vote was unanimous, with Whitman member Rosemary Hill abstaining. The approval modifies the district's memorandum of understanding allowing the Hanson Police Department to wear body-worn cameras in the schools.

Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak will inform parents about the new policy and work with the police department to implement it as soon as possible.

In other business, Szymaniak presented a comprehensive set of two-year goals for the district, focusing on four key areas: instructional leadership, management operations, community engagement, and professional culture.

"We decided, again, as an office, that I've been working on goals every year, and we never seem to be able to establish what we wanna get done in a year. So we looked at, and are asking for approval to look at it over two years," Szymaniak explained.

The goals include developing a standardized rubric for classroom walkthroughs, overseeing the new Whitman Middle School building project, creating a multifaceted plan to share student growth and success, and improving staff recruitment and retention practices.

Szymaniak emphasized the district's commitment to diversity and inclusion in hiring. "The goal of this, my goal in this is to try to bring the best candidate forward to Whitman-Hanson, but make us a diverse community where people who are of diverse backgrounds apply," he said.

Committee members expressed support for the two-year timeline and the focus on student needs. Kara Moser commented, "I think we're so data driven, especially post COVID, that my worry sometimes is that we lose nuance around the like human children in front of us."

The committee unanimously approved the superintendent's goals.

The meeting also included discussions about the upcoming budget process for fiscal year 2026. Szymaniak outlined the timeline, which includes presentations to finance committees, a public hearing Feburary 5, and eventual certification of the budget by March 19, 2025.

Committee Chair Beth Stafford emphasized the importance of the school committee's role in setting the budget assessment. "That is our job. That is one of the few jobs that we have," Stafford said, addressing past criticisms about the process.

Several committee members expressed frustration with what they perceived as a lack of transparency and collaboration from town officials during previous budget discussions. They called for more open dialogue and involvement in future conversations about school funding.

The committee also approved a student trip to Greece in April 2025 and accepted a $2,500 donation from the Hanson Badminton Club for the Hanson Middle School Physical Education Department.