South Shore Tech Approves $454,731 Transfer to Stabilization Fund
School committee also learns of potential $100 million state funding for vocational education expansion and continues discussions about Pembroke joining the district.
HANOVER - June 18 - The South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School Committee voted unanimously to transfer $454,731.75 from fiscal year 2025 surplus revenue to a stabilization fund for transportation and equipment needs during its meeting June 18.
The transfer represents part of approximately $800,000 in identified savings this year and aims to prepare for future expenses without burdening taxpayers with unexpected costs, according to Treasurer Jim Coughlin.
"Every year, based upon state law, we're allowed to transfer up to 5% of our town's assessments into stabilization," Coughlin said. "Right now, we have other future equipment needs as well as transportation needs as well."
The committee also approved a separate $370,000 transfer from surplus revenue to fund vehicle replacement for non-bus vehicles that are aging and require replacement.
Superintendent Tom Hickey announced that a proposed state supplemental budget includes $100 million to expand access to vocational education statewide. Of this amount, $65 million would be available specifically for vocational schools, with no more than $35 million devoted to comprehensive high schools.
"My hope is that this will be a program that even though we have an MSBA project approved on the books, it would be a great relief to the taxpayers in our district if we could compete for those dollars to help offset costs," Hickey said.
The funding addresses a statewide shortage of seats in vocational programs and would require the design of a grant program, though details remain to be determined.
Hickey also provided updates on the district's potential expansion to include Pembroke. He plans to meet with Pembroke's Superintendent to begin detailed conversations about the town joining the regional district.
The Superintendent is waiting for feedback from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on draft language for the regional agreement. Once approved, the regional planning committee will reconvene to review the terms.
If the process moves forward, Pembroke would hold a special town meeting in fall 2025 to vote on three items: agreeing to the regional agreement terms, an override for potential operating costs, and a debt exclusion for future cost sharing of the district's building project.
Should Pembroke approve all three measures, the district's six current member towns would vote on the expansion during their spring 2026 town meetings, requiring approval from a majority of communities.
Committee member Dustin Reardon asked about timing for Pembroke students potentially joining the school, given current enrollment of 685 students in a building designed for fewer.
Hickey outlined three options: Pembroke joining with a proportional share of seats as soon as possible in the 2027-28 school year, joining with a reduced number of seats that year, or waiting until the new building opens in 2028-29.
"That is a conversation that I've asked the planning committee and then the school committee to fully engage on," Hickey said.
The committee also received updates on the ongoing building project from Owner's Project Manager Kevin of LeftField. The design development submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority has been pushed from June 26 to July 17 to address site challenges that have emerged.
"Having spoken with the consultant team and the MSBA, we decided to push the submission to MSPA a couple of weeks to July 17th," Kevin said. "That will not impact our overall schedule."
The delay allows the team to finalize solutions for site issues and ensure all parties are comfortable with layout changes and budget impacts before submitting to the state.
A cost reconciliation meeting involving 20 to 30 people, including subconsultants, Suffolk Construction workers, and LeftField staff, was scheduled for Thursday to review design development costs.
The committee approved invoices totaling $1,110,480 for the building project, including payments to LeftField as owner's project manager, DRA Architects as the design firm, and Suffolk Construction for preconstruction services.
Carl Franceschi of DRA Architects noted that between 30 and 40 people total are working on the project across all consultant firms and specialties, with his firm alone having six to seven people dedicated to the school design.
In other business, the committee approved the 2025-26 student handbook and a competency determination policy for first reading. The policy establishes local standards for graduation requirements in the absence of MCAS testing as the statewide standard.
Students must pass English, math and science classes in grades nine and 10, with history classes added starting with the class of 2027, to meet competency determination requirements.
The committee also approved an out-of-state field trip for horticulture students to attend the Future Farmers of America National Competition in Indianapolis from Oct. 28-31.
Hickey announced he is exploring holding next year's graduation at the South Shore Music Circus in the first week of June, potentially on a weeknight rather than Friday evening, to avoid weather-related complications.
The committee approved Hickey's 2024-25 evaluation with proficient ratings in all categories and a 3.5% salary increase for the coming year.
All member towns have approved the district's fiscal year 2026 budget following second town meetings in Whitman on June 11 and Marshfield on June 2.