Hanover Faces Tough Decisions on School Budget and Override
Select Board and School Committee hear from residents at joint meeting
HANOVER - January 13 - Hanover officials are grappling with difficult budget decisions as they consider a potential override to address school funding shortfalls and restore positions lost in previous cuts.
During a joint meeting of the Select Board and School Committee on Jan. 13, discussions centered on balancing educational needs with taxpayer concerns. The proposed override budget of $3.5 million falls short of fully restoring all positions cut last year.
"We were enthused to hear that, you know, hopefully there was some consensus around the one, adding that 1.4 million in the base budget," said School Committee member Rachel Hughes. "Because the way that the schools, the idea that we would lose anything else from right now just didn't seem feasible."
However, Hughes noted that even with the proposed override, the district would still face challenges. "When you look at the ones, the types of positions that, you know, are on that line, the full restoration getting us over the 3.5, again, these are, you know, these are the ones that really build the strength of our district."
Select Board Chair Vanessa O'Connor emphasized the need to find a number that voters would support. "My goal to be completely transparent with everyone in this room and everyone in this town is to find a number that gets an override passed," she said. "Because to not have an override pass again this year would be, I think, catastrophic to some degree."
The proposed override would cost the average household approximately $690 annually, in addition to a $270 levy increase. This comes as residents face other rising costs, including a new $300 fee for trash disposal as the transfer station moves to an enterprise fund.
Edward Henderson, a Hanover resident, expressed concern about the cumulative impact on taxpayers. "It's just very difficult to swallow. It's a lot of money for a young family, young couple to take in," he said. "And if you need some input from the town, I'm willing to help."
School officials presented a plan to implement free full-day kindergarten starting in fiscal year 2026. The initiative would initially be funded by reallocating special education reserve funds, with the expectation that increased state Chapter 70 funding would cover the costs in subsequent years.
Superintendent Matt Ferron explained the potential benefits: "If we invest $400,000 in FY26, we're going to get back $600,000 in FY27 and 28 and 29 and 30 and forever. Once we raise that number as our base for Chapter 70, it stays there and goes up from there."
Some board members expressed reservations about using special education funds for this purpose. School Committee member Ryan Hall said, "I have significant reservations about using the special education reserve fund to the amount that is beyond more than half of it to fund this."
The meeting also touched on the upcoming Jan. 25 vote on a new South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School. Superintendent Thomas Hickey presented estimated tax impacts for Hanover residents, ranging from $183 to $242 annually at the highest point, depending on the borrowing model used.
As discussions continue, officials are working to balance necessary funding with affordability for residents. The Select Board is expected to finalize override proposals in the coming weeks, with voters likely facing a decision at the annual town meeting and subsequent ballot.
Seth Pritikin, a Hanover resident, urged officials to consider the long-term impact of their decisions. "I think it's really critical to say that restoring a growth path to education, where our students continue to receive those opportunities where people move back to town and become Select Board members, where people build businesses here, where people say, I'm proud that I grew up in Hanover and I that's a town I want to be in when I grew up."