HANSON - November 25 - The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee unanimously elected Ryan Tressel as chair and elected TJ Roffey as vice-chair in a 7-1 vote Tuesday evening in a mid-year reorganization following recent staff layoffs and the resignation of committee member Kara Moser. The brief meeting featured extended public comment, including two students directly confronting Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak’s absence from the meeting as the district grapples with a $1.43 million deficit that eliminated up to 30 positions.
The Full Story
The November 25 reorganization came at what outgoing Vice-Chair Hillary Kniffen described as a difficult moment for the district, with a “skeleton crew” of members present during holiday week. The meeting was a special meeting intended to give the public an extended period to speak, as opposed to a business meeting.
Tressel’s election as chair was unanimous with only Tressel nominated. The vice-chair position also drew two nominations, with both Kniffen and Roffey accepting. In the voice vote, Roffey prevailed 7-1, with only Stafford voting for Kniffen whom she had nominated. Roffey received support from remaining memebers Stephanie Blackman, Rosemary Hill, Chris Marks, Kniffen herself, Tressel, Roffey himself, and Steve Bois.
Before reorganizing, the committee took two significant actions. First, it voted unanimously to table a prepared public statement “under advisement from the school district’s attorney.” Stephanie Blackman made the motion to table, and Rosemary Hill relayed the concern that “undermining any action or process that we would choose to move forward with would be not advisable.”
Hill then successfully moved to add three audits to a future agenda: governance and internal controls, payroll and HR compliance, and procurement and regional agreement compliance. The motion was passed before reorganization, and Hill committed to relaying language to the next chair.
Public comment dominated the meeting and revealed widespread criticism of the committee’s financial oversight. Whitman Select Board member Shawn Kain attempted to ground the cross department critiques. “We don’t want to pit departments against each other. We don’t want to disrespect or undermine the needs of the vulnerable groups in our community, such as those struggling to pay their taxes. Doing so would make a difficult situation worse,” Kain said.
Kain warned “I’m worried that the committee, or maybe a few members of the committee, are moving in that direction. So I’d like to share some concerns and hopefully help promote an appreciation for the different sides of this financial dilemma. We need to understand and support each other.” His extended remarks prompted Hill to remind the chair that exceeding the three-minute limit for one speaker meant the rule couldn’t be enforced differently for others.
Frank Milisi, whose wife works as lunch staff at the high school, delivered particularly pointed criticism of budget oversight. “The budget is something for a $60 million department that needs to be reviewed every single meeting,” Milisi said, contrasting this with his experience reviewing a much smaller budget monthly when he chaired the Camp Kiwanee Commission. “Some would argue it’s actually more important than the student experience, because if you don’t have that budget, you have situations like we have right now, where the student experience is being severely impacted.”
Milisi also requested the committee add lunch staff pay increases to the next agenda, noting workers “make 30% sometimes less than what other towns make” compared to Pembroke and East Bridgewater, where positions start at $21 per hour. “Some of these kids have a tough day in the classroom. They get to go to lunch. They get to see the smiling faces of these lunch ladies. And sometimes that’s the best part of their day,” he said.
Representatives from the Whitman-Hanson Education Association, Kevin Kavka and Cindy McGann, raised concerns about contract negotiations and personnel decisions. A union representative clarified that curriculum coordinators are bargaining unit members whose positions are governed by contract. “Hiring, firing, all of that hours and working and teaching classes, that’s all impact bargaining,” McGann said.
The most emotional testimony came from two high school students at the meeting’s end. Ella Leach, who organized last week’s student walkout, expressed “anger and disgust” while directly addressing 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?” Leach asked. “Mr. Szymaniak, if you were here even now to listen to me, are you a coward or are you scared of your own students?”
Ava Gentile echoed the criticism, clarifying her remarks targeted “the superintendent and our financial advisors” rather than committee members, who she said “are in the same boat as us, wanting transparency.” She concluded bluntly: “Excuse my unsophisticated language, but Jeff, dude, man up or go home.”
Multiple speakers referenced legal constraints preventing fuller disclosure. WHEA President Kavka noted “some legal things out there as far as what you can say and what you can’t” and expressed hope the committee could “make some sort of a comment that’s optimistic” at the next business meeting.
New Chair Tressel announced the next meeting for Wednesday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the library, describing it as a business meeting where “more information” would be provided. Committee members agreed to add the eighth-grade trip and lunch staff request to future agendas.
The reorganization comes amid one of the most turbulent periods in recent district history. The mid-year layoffs included teachers, counselors, and paraprofessionals, resulting from a FY26 deficit that has strained relationships with students, staff, and the community.
Why It Matters
The new leadership takes charge during unprecedented turmoil. Tressel and Roffey walk in each having only been elected to the committee in May, however they bring experience as Tressel Chairs Whitman’s Community Preservation Committee and Roffey Chairs Hanson’s Conservation Commission. The proposed audits represent acknowledgment that fundamental changes are needed in how the district manages finances and operations. For residents, the passionate student testimony and widespread calls for transparency signal this crisis extends beyond numbers on a balance sheet—it affects the daily educational experience and emotional wellbeing of students who have lost trusted teachers and counselors. The committee faces the challenge of regaining the trust of staff, students, and both towns.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Table the public statement from the school committee (Blackman). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:14)
Motion: Place three audits on next agenda: governance and internal controls, payroll and HR compliance, procurement and regional agreement compliance (Hill). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 3:18)
Motion: Suspend Robert’s Rules of Order to reorganize (Hill). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 4:04)
Motion: Elect Ryan Tressel as chair (Hill, seconded by Marks). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous voice vote - Blackman (yes), Roffey (yes), Hill (yes), Marks (yes), Kniffen (yes), Tressel (yes), Stafford (yes), Bois (yes). (Timestamp: 4:55)
Motion: Elect vice-chair (Kniffen and Roffey nominated). Outcome: Roffey elected. Vote: 7-1 (For Roffey: Blackman, Roffey, Hill, Marks, Kniffen, Tressel, Bois; For Kniffen: Stafford). (Timestamp: 6:06)
Motion: Adjourn (Hill). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 52:58)
Public Comment
Public comment consumed most of the meeting and revealed deep community frustration. Speakers included Whitman Select Board member Shawn Kain, who praised the progress the district has made the last decade and called for a wider view of the challenges facing all municipal departments; Frank Milisi, who advocated for monthly budget reviews, greater document transparency, and lunch staff pay increases; WHEA representatives, who discussed contract negotiations and clarified that curriculum coordinators’ positions are governed by collective bargaining agreements; Deb Bonney, speaking for cafeteria staff working without a contract, called for the committee and administration to seek a new contract with the bargaining unit; and 5th grader Reese Chester, and high schoolers Ella Leach and Ava Gentile, who described the classroom changes they have faced this week, and delivered emotional testimony confronting Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak’s absence and demanding answers about layoffs and the budget deficit. Richard Rosen, Amy Gavin, Jen Roback, and Mark Ruggiero confronted the committee and administration for transparency and accountability.
What’s Next
The committee meets Wednesday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. back in the library for a business meeting where more information is expected. Future agenda items include the three proposed audits, the eighth-grade trip, and the lunch staff pay request. The committee faces ongoing challenges addressing the budget deficit and rebuilding community trust under new leadership.
Full meeting available via Whitman-Hanson Community Access Television.