WHRSD Faces $2 Million Budget Deficit, Potential Cuts

Superintendent presents contingency plan that would eliminate 24 positions if override votes fail in Whitman and Hanson

HANSON - April 9 - The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District is preparing for potential cuts of $2 million if override votes fail in both towns this May. Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak presented a contingency budget to the school committee on April 9 that would eliminate 24 full-time positions and significantly reduce programs across all schools.

"This will affect those students who are excelling and have the benefit of intervention," Szymaniak says. "Everything that we've tried to build to build the district to where we want to be is going to go back down."

The contingency plan comes as both Whitman and Hanson face difficult financial decisions. The school committee previously approved a fiscal year 2026 budget of $66.3 million, representing a 5.36% increase over the previous year's budget.

If overrides fail, the district would need to operate on approximately $64.3 million, a 2.19% increase that falls short of covering rising costs.

"$2.2 million is not easy to cut in this budget," Szymaniak explains. "I'm cutting curriculum, the stuff we worked diligently to get in, that the district didn't have curriculum since 2001."

The potential cuts would include two full-time administrators, eight paraprofessionals, and 14 teaching positions across all grade levels and buildings. Additional reductions would affect teacher leader stipends, district-wide curriculum, library support, art, band, physical education, health, and mental health services.

"This is setting us back 10 or more years," says committee member Kara Moser. "This is pre-COVID when we did not have adjustment counselors and mental health supports in schools, which pre-COVID when the libraries were closed and shuttered when my kids had music maybe every other week because we had a rotating music teacher."

The district would also need to cut $250,000 from its athletic budget, potentially raising sports fees from $250 to $500 per sport with no family cap. A three-sport athlete's family would pay $1,500 annually under this scenario.

Additionally, the district is considering implementing participation fees for after-school activities, which could generate approximately $50,000 in revenue.

Committee member Rosemary Hill expresses concern about the impact of these fees on families. "A lot of these cuts are just taxes on parents," she says. "Now, we're going to have kids that can't be on the football team, can't be on the baseball team, can't have access to basic socializing things that require you to normalize socially."

The contingency budget accounts for unemployment costs associated with staff reductions. As a reimbursable employer for unemployment insurance, the district must pay the state dollar for dollar for benefits paid to former employees, estimated at 40% per position.

"If I'm laying off three teachers, I'm really laying off four to cover those costs," Szymaniak explains.

The committee also discusses the timing of potential staff notifications. Chair Beth Stafford notes that the district must notify employees by May 31 if their positions might be eliminated, regardless of whether the committee stands by its original budget assessment.

"We have to give out pink slips," Stafford says. "Whether we like this cut down or not, we have to give those out, even if we stand by our assessment because it has not been agreed upon by the two towns."

The situation becomes even more dire if the district doesn't have an approved budget by July 1. In that scenario, the district would operate on a "1/12th budget," requiring even deeper cuts totaling approximately $3.375 million.

During the meeting, the committee also addresses a letter from the Hanson Select Board requesting reconsideration of the FY26 operating assessment. The committee votes to prepare a response declining the request.

Shawn Kain, a Whitman Selectman present at the meeting, acknowledges the difficult position of the school district but suggests a strategic approach.

"I do think that you don't have an educationally sound budget," Kain says. "I believe strongly that you need to continue to advocate for what you need. I also do believe that if we're going to ask the town people to sacrifice, it's important to show them how we're sacrificing."

Other significant items from the meeting include:

* The committee approves reimbursement of $5,042.02 in Medicare deductions taken in error from two employees hired before 1985

* A donation of track equipment valued at over $3,400 from former coach Kevin Black is accepted

* The superintendent addresses recent social media incidents at Hanson Middle School and the High School, noting that while there were no direct threats to the schools, the district works closely with local police to assess any potential threats

* Forums about the budget are scheduled in Whitman starting next week and in Hanson the following week

The school committee plans to continue advocating for the originally approved budget while preparing for potential outcomes of the override votes scheduled for May.

"I'm hoping before I retire, we don't have to do this again," Szymaniak says. "I'm hoping once that I'm not putting together a contingency."

Full meeting available via WHCA.