HANSON - February 10, 2026 - The Hanson Select Board took a decisive stand on Tuesday night, voting unanimously to request a formal audit from the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General (OIG) into the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District. Citing a profound “lack of trust” and a massive budget gap that has left the town’s finances in a precarious state, board members expressed years of frustration over alleged misinformation and a lack of transparency from district leadership.
The Full Story
The meeting was dominated by a confrontation with the school district’s financial legacy. Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett detailed a recent meeting with new district leadership, noting that while the new administration is providing more clarity, significant damage remains from previous years. She described a “perpetual fiscal crisis” and pushed back against narratives claiming the town was “hiding money” from schools, clarifying that budget guesses must be conservative when state numbers are delayed [40:48].
“We have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers to tell them how their tax dollars were spent, and I can’t do that right now. Fresh air and sunshine—get it out there. Don’t try to hide it.” [01:07:05] — Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, Chair
Resident Joe Campbell, drawing on his experience with similar municipal budget failures on the South Shore, urged the board to bypass internal “spot checks” and bring in the OIG. Campbell warned that the district appeared to have ignored early indicators of financial struggle, leading to consecutive years of overspending, November layoffs, and projections for FY27 that look to include more staff reductions [53:30]. The board ultimately voted to have the Chair work with Whitman officials to pursue a formal state investigation [01:10:31].
Beyond the school crisis, the board addressed several key town projects:
Maquan Street Improvements: A decade-long project may finally move forward after a “SUE” process (Subsurface Utility Engineering) confirmed that a water pipe from 1885 is still structurally sound, potentially saving the town from a costly replacement required by MassDOT [04:00].
Library Expansion: Library Director Karen Stolfer reported that the state approved the library’s design with a score of 247/288. However, the town is still grappling with parking layouts to maximize the use of the Maquan School property [10:12].
Veterans Services: Interim VSO Terrence O’Keeffe presented an energetic plan for a shared-services agreement with Hanover. He emphasized “face-to-face” outreach and introduced “Sarge,” a comfort dog intended to support the town’s 519 veterans [01:17:50, 01:33:02].
Why It Matters
For Hanson residents, the school budget consumes nearly 50% of all town spending. An independent state audit may be the best way to ensure that future increases are based on genuine educational needs. Additionally, the progress on the Maquan Street project and the Library expansion signals a major push for long-delayed infrastructure improvements that affect property values and community safety.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To have the Chair work with Whitman to pursue the possibility of the Inspector General auditing the Whitman-Hanson School District.
Vote: Unanimous [01:10:31]
Motion: To appoint Dennis Grow as Heavy Equipment Operator for the Highway Department effective February 23.
Vote: Unanimous [01:21:18]
Motion: To approve an all-liquor restaurant license for Southern Eats LLC (DBA Fetch).
Vote: Unanimous [01:17:18]
Motion: To request information regarding the former superintendent’s current employment status.
Vote: Unanimous [01:09:10]
Public Comment
Resident Joe Campbell provided extensive information regarding the “six results” of the Brockton OIG audit, suggesting Whitman-Hanson’s school district likely shares the same systemic failures, including vacant key staffing positions and a failure by the School Committee to act on early warnings [56:23].
What’s Next
Library Project: A final cost estimate is expected by the end of February, with a grant award announcement on March 5 [01:12:07].
Town Meeting: The board will review the Annual Town Meeting warrant at the next meeting on February 24 [01:56:30].
Community Events: “Clean Up Green Up Day” is scheduled for April 25, and “Hanson Day” is set for September 19 [23:45].
Source Video: Hanson Government TV