Silver Lake Regionalization Study Kicks Off Amid Budget Pressure and Leadership Shifts
Final Report Expected June 2027
KINGSTON — January 21, 2026 — The Silver Lake Regionalization Study Committee formally launched its 18-month investigation into the potential full regionalization of the school district on Wednesday evening. The meeting, marked by significant leadership transitions across all three member towns, established a roadmap for a project intended to identify financial efficiencies and educational improvements by June 2027, even as local officials warned of impending “difficult decisions” and potential overrides in the upcoming budget season.
The Full Story
The meeting served as an introductory “read of the room” for the Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management, which is conducting the study funded by a $130,000 state grant. Michael Ward, Director of the Collins Center, took over as the project’s lead following internal staffing shifts at the Center. He outlined a two-phase approach: a comprehensive assessment of the current operating and financial environment due by December 2026, followed by a modeling phase to project the implications of full regionalization, concluding with a final report in June 2027.
“Things like [this study] have more teeth when they’re from an independent party... there’s no accusations of favoritism or one town trying to pull the wool over another town’s eyes.” [25:41] — Jonathan Selig, Committee Chair
The study arrives at a volatile moment for Halifax, Kingston, and Plympton. Committee Chair Jonathan Selig, who also chairs the Halifax Select Board, noted that Halifax is preparing for a new full-time Town Administrator, Steven Solbo, to start next week. Selig also cautioned that Halifax may be facing a Proposition 2 ½ override as they struggle to reconcile department budgets and negotiate five of the town’s six union contracts.
Kingston is experiencing similar administrative churn. New Town Administrator Scott Lambiase, only two weeks into the role, reported that Kingston is still in “preliminary budget season” while waiting for state aid numbers. Plympton School Committee member Jon Wilhelmsen described his town’s budget process as “less dramatic” than previous years but warned that “there isn’t lots of money sitting on the trees” and difficult choices remain.
A critical concern raised during the meeting was the “data mining” required to fuel the Collins Center’s financial modeling. The district is currently facing a transition in its own finance office, as Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Hickey is slated to depart next month. Committee member Missy Bateman and others discussed the possibility of hiring an outside consultant to assist the district in gathering the necessary financial data to prevent a project “bottleneck.”
The timeline for state aid remains a major wildcard. Sarah Hickey informed the committee that a scheduled Department of Education webinar to review the Governor’s budget was abruptly pushed from tomorrow to February 11th. Jon Wilhelmsen added that signals from the statehouse suggest a tightening of federal and state funds, which may further squeeze local school budgets.
Why It Matters
For residents of Halifax, Kingston, and Plympton, this study represents the first step in a process that could fundamentally alter how their local schools are governed and funded. If the study identifies significant “redundancies and inefficiencies,” as suggested by member Jeanne Coleman, full regionalization could lead to streamlined operations and tax savings. However, with the final report not due until mid-2027, the towns must navigate the current “override” climate and leadership transitions without the immediate relief or clarity regionalization might provide.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To adjourn the meeting of the Silver Lake Regionalization Study Committee. [28:30]
Vote: Unanimous roll call vote [28:40]
Public Comment
No members of the public expressed a desire to comment or record the meeting when prompted by Chair Selig at the start of the session. [01:21]
What’s Next
The Collins Center will begin receiving its first data sets on the “non-financial side” shortly. The educational team will also begin reaching out to the district to schedule interviews and focus groups with staff, carefully sequenced to avoid overwhelming personnel during the busy budget season. The next meeting date was not set but will follow continued data collection efforts.
Source Video: Kingston Meetings: Local Seen Streaming Channel