Hanover Middle School Cross Country Teams Dominate at State Level with Historic Championships
HANOVER - November 19 - In a historic achievement, the Hanover Middle School boys cross country team captured its first-ever state championship, while the girls team placed second, capping an undefeated season and cementing the program’s reputation as one of the strongest in Massachusetts. The boys went 50-0 over six seasons while the girls posted a 49-1 record, demonstrating sustained excellence in one of the district’s flagship athletic programs.
The Full Story
The Hanover School Committee meeting on November 19th opened with a celebration of athletic excellence as Coach Paul Economos and his cross country coaching staff brought representatives from both championship teams to receive recognition. The program, now in its 16th year under Coach Economos’s leadership, has grown to include 156 student athletes, making it what Principal Dan Birolini called “a cornerstone of the HMS community.”
The boys team’s victory was particularly noteworthy as the first state championship in program history. Five student representatives attended to accept recognition for their accomplishment at the state meet, which featured more than 20 competing teams. The girls team, placing second overall, was represented by four eighth-grade athletes, two of whom—Allie Jar and Maddie McLaughlin—were part of the program’s first girls state championship team just two years ago as sixth graders.
Allie Jar distinguished herself as an individual state champion, finishing first overall in the girls championship race. This marked the second consecutive year that a Hanover runner won the individual state title, demonstrating the program’s ability to develop elite athletes alongside strong team performance.
During the regular season, both teams completed undefeated 8-0 campaigns. The boys secured their sixth consecutive league title at the South Shore Middle School League Championships held at Forge Pond Park, while the girls placed second in a field of 16 teams. The league championship event, which Hanover hosts annually, has grown to include approximately 800 registered runners from across the South Shore.
Coach Economos credited the success to the dedicated work of his coaching staff, including Mr. Arena and Ms. Hurley, as well as the organizational efforts of Mrs. Buckley, who manages logistics for the large program. School Committee member Libby Corbo noted that the program has become “truly a community team kind of effort” that serves students from fifth through eighth grade.
The cross country presentation was just one of many positive updates delivered during the lengthy meeting, which also featured comprehensive MCAS results analysis and budget projections. Superintendent Matthew Ferron announced several other notable achievements, including the competitive cheer team earning D3 South champion honors with the highest score in school history, and all nine fall sports programs earning MIAA academic excellence awards. Eleven of 18 individual teams achieved gold-level academic honors, with the volleyball team posting a 4.14 grade point average.
Additional Meeting Highlights
The meeting introduced Avery Porro, a Hanover High School junior, as the new student representative to the school committee. Porro, who is actively involved in the school’s music and theater programs, led the Pledge of Allegiance while in costume for the upcoming musical production “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which opened November 20th.
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) completed a three-day comprehensive visit to Hanover High School as part of the school’s decennial accreditation review. Principal Mattos reported that the visiting team of eight educational professionals, led by former superintendent Pam Gould, provided “very positive comments” about the faculty, students, and school community. The team examined five priority growth areas identified in 2023: implementation of the vision of the graduate, written curriculum documents, varied learning strategies and assessments, student intervention strategies, and technology infrastructure.
Principal Mattos said the team was “very impressed with our curriculum documents” and “loved what was taking place with our classrooms.” They acknowledged that technology remains “a work in progress” but recognized the district has “a very solid plan” for improvement. A draft report is expected within a month, with final approval anticipated by spring.
The school committee voted unanimously to establish the Victor Diniak Award, recognizing a Hanover High School senior who demonstrates outstanding achievement in mathematics and engineering. The award honors the retiring Department of Public Works director who served the town for over 40 years. Diniak, a 1982 Hanover High School graduate and 1986 MIT graduate, was praised for his unwavering support of the schools throughout his career. Superintendent Ferron noted Diniak’s ability to explain “highly technical concepts in ways that were clear to the average resident” at town meetings.
The district’s F.A.C.E. (Family and Community Engagement) program presented an extensive update on its expanding operations. Director Kelly Lawrence reported that summer enrollment increased 4% while serving students from 18 surrounding communities. The program now serves 207 families with 308 students across before- and after-school programs, with the middle school program showing the greatest growth.
Lawrence announced several program enhancements, including the purchase of a district van to transport students to partner locations, a new partnership with the Spare Studio creative reuse center in Rockland, and expanded adult programming including a retirement planning series. The Hawks Nest school store has become “much more than that physical store,” serving as a community resource for apparel and accessories with quick turnaround times. The Hanover Performing Arts Company continues year-round productions across all grade levels.
The middle school presented comprehensive MCAS performance data showing consistent outperformance of state averages across all tested subjects. In ELA, Hanover students exceeded state performance by 11-18 percentage points across grades 5-8. Math results showed similar strength, with 65-66% of sixth and seventh graders meeting or exceeding expectations compared to the state’s 39-41%.
The data presentation included detailed analysis of specific content standards and writing performance. ELA teacher Rachael Brewin reported that student writing has improved dramatically over four years, from earning 40% of available points to 50%, now surpassing the state by 6-16 percentage points depending on grade level. She attributed the gains to implementation of WELL training and the “HMS Writes” professional development initiative focused on writing instruction.
Math teacher Andrea Hurley, participating remotely, explained that students are performing particularly well on “higher level application math” that requires conceptual understanding. She noted that foundational skills in fifth grade, such as numbers and operations in base 10, build directly into subsequent grade-level standards, with each year’s performance supporting the next.
Science results showed 58% of fifth graders and 53% of eighth graders meeting or exceeding expectations, both significantly above state averages. Civics, a newer assessment, showed 42% of eighth graders meeting expectations compared to 39% statewide, though teachers are still analyzing data from this relatively new test.
Principal Dan Birolini emphasized that teachers conduct extensive item analysis of MCAS results, examining individual essays and questions to identify instructional priorities. He noted that while celebrating strengths, the team focuses equally on areas for growth, such as improving geometry instruction and enhancing civic questioning skills.
Director of Finance Mike Oates presented the second iteration of the fiscal year 2027 operating budget, projecting total operational expenses of $45,178,092, a 4.51% increase over the current year. The budget assumes a conservative 2.75% increase in town appropriation to $41,211,198, with the gap filled by supplemental funding sources totaling $3,766,894.
The largest driver of expense growth is the proposed addition of New England Center for Children (NECC) programs at both elementary and high school levels, specialized programming for students with significant needs. Without the NECC programs, the expense increase would be less than 1%.
In a departure from previous presentations, Oates provided multi-year projections for fiscal years 2028 and 2029, revealing a structural funding challenge on the horizon. Assuming operational costs grow at the historical average of 3.5% annually while town appropriations increase at 2.75%, the district faces a funding deficit of approximately $117,000 in fiscal year 2028 and $676,000 in fiscal year 2029.
Oates emphasized that “much can and will change” between now and then, noting that economic conditions, state aid, and potential revenue sources remain variable. He presented the projections to provide “the time we need to plan thoughtfully and keep our community informed.” The fiscal year 2027 budget maintains a healthy capacity with $917,114 set aside for unanticipated expenses or to roll forward into future years.
A key component of the budget strategy involves maximizing supplemental funding sources, particularly the Special Education Circuit Breaker reimbursement program. Oates projected circuit breaker reimbursements will increase 74% from $1.2 million in fiscal year 2026 to over $2 million in fiscal year 2027. He explained that this state program reimburses districts for high-cost special education services, typically one year after expenses are incurred, and districts have two years to spend the funds.
The federal IDEA grant (240 grant) provides additional supplemental funding in the “high six-figure range” annually for special education excess costs. The district also maintains a $750,000 Special Education Reserve Fund, established through town meeting vote and funded from certified free cash, which serves as a safety net for unanticipated expenses. Oates noted the district does not expect to need reserve funds in fiscal year 2027.
School committee member Ryan Hall praised the multi-year projections as “a healthy thing for us to show and sort of discuss,” noting they provide time to strategize responses to future challenges. Chair Pete Miraglia asked whether a 3.5% appropriation increase would eliminate the projected deficit. Oates confirmed that such an increase would essentially balance the budget, acknowledging the tension between district needs and townwide fiscal pressures on fixed costs.
Committee member Libby Corbo raised concerns about curriculum resources, suggesting the district should prioritize investments while still in a strong financial position rather than waiting until deficits emerge. She referenced the NEASC visit and noted that curriculum has been “something we’ve had to cut and put on the back burner” during previous budget constraints, advocating for “micro moves at certain levels” to ensure teachers have necessary materials.
Other Business
Superintendent Ferron reported that Officer Dan Salvucci retired on November 7th after 41 years with the Hanover Police Department, during which he was a constant presence at school events. Ferron also described an emotional visit by COPS for Kids with Cancer organization to Cedar School, where first graders gathered to support a classmate battling cancer as the organization presented the family with a $5,000 check. The Hanover Police Department participated with a motorcade that included every patrol car.
In a memo to the committee, Oates outlined Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) timelines for future capital projects. The district cannot apply for accelerated repair projects (for roofs and infrastructure) until 2027, though it could apply annually for new construction funding. The information was provided to support long-term capital planning discussions.
The committee unanimously approved the October 29th meeting minutes with no discussion.
Why It Matters
The cross country program’s success demonstrates how sustained investment in co-curricular activities creates opportunities for student achievement beyond academics. With 156 participants, the program engages nearly one-quarter of the middle school’s student body in a healthy, community-building activity that teaches perseverance, teamwork, and goal-setting. The program’s inclusive nature—welcoming all skill levels while developing elite performers—reflects the district’s commitment to providing enriching experiences for all students. The strong academic performance alongside athletic success, with students maintaining high grade point averages while competing at championship levels, shows that well-run programs support rather than detract from classroom learning.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve Victor Diniak Award honoring the retiring DPW director, recognizing a senior demonstrating outstanding achievement in mathematics and engineering. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (Chris Tracy, aye; Ryan Hall, aye; Pete Miraglia, aye). (Timestamp: 22:08)
Motion: Approve October 29th open session meeting minutes. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 18:33)
Motion: Adjourn meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:54:10)
Public Comment
No members of the public provided comment during either public comment period.
What’s Next
The school committee will hold a public budget hearing on December 10, 2025, followed by a vote on the fiscal year 2027 operating budget. The NEASC chair will provide a draft accreditation report within one month, with final approval expected by spring 2025. The district will continue analyzing MCAS data with teachers to refine instructional strategies. The National Honor Society induction ceremony is scheduled for Monday, November 24th at 5 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The middle school will host its annual Turkey Trot fundraiser in the coming week.