South Shore News...letter: Graduation Requirements without MCAS
Battery Storage Battle, MCAS Transitions, and Tax Classification Week continues
Another week, another reminder that the MCAS graduation requirement is truly gone—and every South Shore district is trying to figure out what comes next. Meanwhile, fiscal pressures continue squeezing communities even as they set tax rates and grapple with school budgets, infrastructure projects, and staffing challenges.
The Post-MCAS Transition: Three Districts, Three Approaches
The elimination of MCAS as a graduation requirement is forcing districts across the region to create new competency determination policies, and the approaches vary.
Plymouth moved decisively, unanimously adopting a policy requiring students to pass specific courses with minimum 60% grades: two years of English, one year of math, one year of science, and beginning with the Class of 2027, one year of U.S. History. The policy includes a critical “look-back” provision allowing former students who completed all coursework but failed MCAS to request retroactive diploma review. Administrators emphasized the shift particularly benefits students with disabilities, English language learners, and those who struggle with standardized tests despite mastering content.
Hull’s school committee wrestled with thornier issues around retroactive application of final assessments. Chair Kyle Connelly expressed serious reservations about using tests taken years ago without knowing they’d become graduation requirements: “We have students who took a test years ago that was not designed, was potentially not standards-driven, and is potentially not an indicator of whether or not they have achieved those standards.” Approximately 54 of 56 current seniors have already met the new competency requirements, but the committee requested alternatives to final assessment requirements for the Class of 2026 before approving the policy.
East Bridgewater’s policy requires passing English 9-10, Algebra 1 and Geometry, one year of lab science, and U.S. History for the Class of 2027 forward. Students must demonstrate mastery through final exams or projects, with provisions for additional coursework if they don’t initially pass required assessments. The district will continue requiring all students to participate in MCAS for state compliance, scholarship eligibility, and data analysis.
All three districts are working within state guidance expected to be finalized by spring 2026, with Plymouth teacher Shelly Terry serving on the state committee developing permanent recommendations. South Shore News has seen a handful of these requirements settled in other districts recently.
School Budget Crises and Fiscal Pressures
The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District’s crisis deepened this week as the school committee elected new leadership amid the $1.43 million deficit that eliminated up to 30 positions. Ryan Tressel was unanimously elected chair, with TJ Roffey becoming vice-chair. The brief meeting featured extended public comment dominated by criticism of the committee’s financial oversight. Most striking was emotional testimony from high school students, with Ella Leach directly addressing Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak’s empty chair: “Where were you when I aired out my suicide attempt to the whole town? Where were you when there were children telling you that you did wrong?” The committee voted unanimously to add three audits to future agendas: governance and internal controls, payroll and HR compliance, and procurement and regional agreement compliance.
In Whitman, the select board voted to explore taking over borrowing for the new middle school construction project from the regional district. The district’s inability to complete required audits has already cost taxpayers an additional $191,793 in interest payments. Early on district sought $8 million at 4% but received zero bids and was forced to accept 5.875% from Oppenheimer Financial. A subsequent attempt in 2025 to borrow $30 million again received zero bids despite using the state’s credit rating, with the district instead accepting a 10 month Bond Anticipation Note at a higher rate. Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter expressed serious doubts the district could complete both the 2023 and 2024 audits and secure bond ratings by the March 18 BAN renewal date. Board member Shawn Kain advocated strongly for immediate action: “The downside of if this falls apart is catastrophic.”
Tax Classification: The Refrain of Limited Commercial Bases
South Shore communities continued annual tax classification hearings, with the same theme emerging across multiple towns: residential property makes up such a large percentage of the tax base that shifting burden to commercial properties makes little sense.
Plymouth maintained its unified classification and expects a $12.55 rate despite residential values surging 6% to $16.5 billion—adding nearly $1 billion in a single year. The average single-family home value rose to $615,944. With residential property comprising 86% of the total tax base and commercial just 8%, assessor Michael Hourahan demonstrated that a 24% tax shift sufficient to maintain fiscal 2025 residential bills would increase the average commercial tax bill by $5,598.
Kingston’s rate is expected to decrease to $12.83, down 14 cents from $12.97, despite the average home value rising to $679,727. With 88% residential and only 6.88% commercial property, shifting the burden was impractical.
Hanson’s uniform rate of $13.06 reflected similar math: 92% residential, only 7.7% commercial. A 25% shift would increase the average commercial bill from $9,157 to $11,446 while providing minimal residential relief.
Cohasset’s single rate of $11.35 actually decreased 23 cents from $11.58, with commercial properties representing just 6% of the tax base. The town achieved record new growth of $1,020,237, but assessors warned this windfall from projects like Harbor condos was likely “one and done.”
The pattern is clear: South Shore communities have limited commercial development, making them heavily dependent on residential property taxes. Boards of Assessors and Select Boards are overwhelmingly seeking uniform classification with the hopes of growing the commercial share of the tax base.
Infrastructure and Public Safety Investments
Several communities moved forward with significant infrastructure projects this week.
Hingham’s select board unanimously endorsed a $1.5 million roundabout at the dangerous intersection of Main Street, Middle Street, and Short Street, where 20 accidents have occurred in four years including one fatality. Town Engineer JR Frey will pursue state grant funding through multiple programs, with construction potentially beginning summer 2026. The roundabout would reduce conflict points between vehicles and pedestrians from 32 to just eight.
Kingston approved a sweeping mental health initiative, authorizing up to $66,000 in opioid settlement funds for a modular office trailer and approving hiring of a co-response clinician fully funded by a state Department of Mental Health grant worth up to $70,000. The Family Services Unit addresses what officers estimate represents 40% of their call volume. The clinician will serve Kingston, Halifax, and Plympton, with cost-sharing for startup expenses using the Silver Lake Regional School District assessment formula.
East Bridgewater explored adopting Critical Response Group emergency mapping technology that would provide first responders with detailed, gridded floor plans of school buildings. The system, used by 25,000 schools across 46 states, averages $4,000 per building and integrates with 911 dispatch centers and first responder mobile data terminals.
Rockland secured over $1.2 million in grants, including $800,000 for sewer capacity feasibility studies, $350,000 for stormwater resilience work with Abington, $50,000 through the Vacant Storefront Program, and $25,000 for housing planning. The board also approved a three-year contract extension for Town Administrator Doug Lapp through June 2029 in a 4-1 vote.
The Pembroke Battery Storage Controversy
Pembroke’s Zoning Board of Appeals delayed a decision on appeals of a 24-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system after residents raised significant safety concerns. Over 60 residents, abutters, and business owners challenged the Planning Board’s site plan approval, citing EPA guidance recommending 330-foot hazard buffers for lithium-ion facilities. Several structures fall within this distance, including King Collision (approximately 120 feet) and homes on Shipyard Lane (250-300 feet). Town Counsel countered by citing recent case law suggesting battery facilities are protected under General Law Chapter 40A, Section 3, which exempts structures promoting solar energy from local zoning restrictions. The board continued the hearing to December 15 to receive additional safety documentation.
Staffing Challenges and Transitions
Municipal staffing issues emerged as a recurring theme across the region.
Cohasset’s select board debated whether to hire an outside search firm for its vacant finance director position as budget season approaches. The town has multiple vacancies including social worker at Elder Affairs, heavy equipment operator, and administrative assistant to the Select Board. The Board of Health received 33 applications for director of public health, while the social worker position attracted only two applicants.
Marshfield hired two experienced police officers—Matthew Stewart and Neil Kane—to address staffing shortages driving up overtime costs. Using a local register agreement with civil service, the department can bring both officers on board within weeks rather than the typical 12-18 month timeline for academy recruits.
Rockland added a regional social worker through a Public Health Excellence Grant, with Lorena Rocha speaking Portuguese and Spanish to serve Rockland, Hanover, Norwell, Pembroke, and Marshfield.
Halifax opened a Zoning Board of Appeals seat following Peter Parcellin’s resignation after years of service.
Miscellaneous Notes
Rockland’s Board of Health meeting collapsed after 16 minutes when technical difficulties prevented Chairman Robert Stephens from joining remotely and Vice Chair Tina Gallant’s absence left the board without quorum—the second consecutive meeting failure. Stephens is presently banned from Town Hall indefinitely following a town investigation.
Pembroke’s school committee advanced a mobile phone policy survey while preparing for a December 1 DESE compliance review. The committee approved numerous policy updates required by the state, with members expressing frustration at having to revise handbooks already distributed at the start of the school year.
Scituate conducted marathon budget hearings with 15 departments presenting fiscal year 2027 requests in a session lasting over two hours. Most departments requested level-funded budgets while facing increasing utility costs.
Looking Ahead: The post-MCAS transition will continue dominating school committee agendas through December as districts finalize policies by year-end deadlines. Budget season intensifies across the region with fiscal 2027 requests due and communities facing the familiar tension between service demands and taxpayer capacity. And watch for developments in Whitman-Hanson, where the school district crisis promises more revelations as audits proceed.