Whitman-Hanson School Committee Approves Budget Cuts Amid Funding Challenges

Teacher Contract Approved Despite Looming Staff Reductions

HANSON - June 4 - The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee votes to approve a $64.5 million budget for fiscal year 2026, representing a 2.6% increase over last year but requiring significant cuts from the original proposal. The decision comes after voters in both towns rejected override requests in May, forcing difficult choices to balance educational needs with financial constraints.

The committee also approves a new teacher contract that provides cost of living increases over the next three years, despite concern about funding the agreement while cutting positions.

"I believe we need to listen to what the taxpayers say, and lower the assessment," says Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak, who recommends the reduced budget figure. "I also believe we need an approved budget by July 1."

The approved budget requires cutting approximately $1.7 million from the district's original proposal. This translates to the elimination of about 23 positions district-wide, though only three staff members face actual layoffs. The remaining affected positions involve transfers to open positions through resignations, retirements, non-renewals, or positions currently filled by long-term substitutes.

Among the cuts are elementary interventionist paras, middle school interventionists, library aides at both middle schools, and curriculum funding. These reductions particularly concern several committee members.

"We have seen the improvements. We have seen what has been presented by our two assistant superintendents and the numbers have gone up for all our students because of the interventions," says Chair Beth Stafford. "It's very hard for me to see the improvement of our students and then not keep it that way."

The budget sets Whitman's assessment at $19.9 million (a 4.1% increase) and Hanson's at $15.8 million (a 5.3% increase). These figures represent significant reductions from the original assessments, which would have increased by approximately 9.7% for both towns.

If the district fails to have an approved budget from both communities by July 1, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education commissioner will place Whitman-Hanson on a 1/12th budget until approval. This would mean a potential cut of $3.7 million to the proposed operating budget and require at least 48 reduction in force notifications, assuming the 1/12th rate is set on FY25 numbers.

"I fear a 1/12th in the month of July and a month of August, and school will be drastically different in September if we are still on a 1/12th," Szymaniak says.

Earlier in the meeting, the committee, with municipal representative Hanson Town Administrator Lisa Green, votes 6-3 with two abstentions to approve a new teacher contract. The agreement includes a 2.5% salary increase for the coming year, followed by 3.25% and 3.5% increases in subsequent years.

Committee member Kara Moser supports the contract, noting the challenges teachers have faced in recent years.

"Teachers are not just teaching content. Teachers are guidance counselors. They are nurses. They are emotional and psychological support," Moser says. "To not support them getting a cost of living increase feels offensive and I think puts us at a significant competitive disadvantage relative to other districts."

Committee member Stephanie Blackman expresses concern about approving the contract before finalizing the budget.

"The increases for the following two years are in my opinion something that is going to prevent us from giving the students the education that we are supposed to be giving them," Blackman says. "If we change our budget and we lose 20-something teachers, we won't have any money to bring those teachers back."

Committee member Rosemary Hill argues that the district already has an approved budget based on what was originally sent to the towns, claiming they cannot legally make the budget contingent on an override. However, other committee members and town officials dispute this interpretation.

Whitman Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter outlines the impact of budget constraints on town departments, including reduced staffing in the police department, fire department, building department, and other municipal services.

"When I say there's nowhere else to cut and that these will be felt by all, it's terrible," Carter says. "I'm just hoping that you will support the recommendation of Jeff because anything more than that, this is drastic and anything more is just going to decimate the town."

Hanson Select Board Chair Laura Kemmett addresses concerns about town finances, particularly regarding its level of free cash.

"Last year, in anticipation, knowing that the override last year didn't pass and seeing where we were probably gonna be this year, our town accountant said, let's claw back every article that we've ever had that nobody spent money on," Kemmett says. "That got us a lot more free cash than we typically have had."

The committee schedules another meeting for June 18 to address remaining agenda items. Whitman has scheduled a town meeting for June 11 to consider the new assessment, while Hanson's Select Board plans to discuss scheduling a special town meeting at their June 10 meeting.

The district still needs to fill several critical positions for the upcoming school year, including an ASD program teacher, a PACES program teacher, multiple inclusion teachers, a school psychologist, and teachers for chemistry, math, and English.

"I cannot, in good faith, hire for critical vacancies" without an approved budget, Szymaniak says.

Disclosure: South Shore News founder Justin Evans is a current member of the Whitman Select Board.

Full meeting available via WHCA.