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One-to-one devices lease plan approved

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The manner in which Chromebook purchases were included in the level-service fiscal 2019 school budget was the subject of terse discussion during a review of one-to-one devices in the region’s schools by the district’s IT Director Chad Peters during the Wednesday, June 6 meeting.

“As you know, money was put in the budget to begin a plan to add one-to-one devices to the school system,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner said in introducing Peters’ report.

Peters said about 600 more Chromebooks have been added over the course of the school year, bringing the total number to about 1,760 devices district-wide. He requested a $140,760 four-year lease for 600 more devices, which the School Committee approved by an 8-1 vote. Member Fred Small voted no based on how he felt the program’s inclusion in the FY ’19 budget was presented. Member Rob O’Brien was absent.

“We looked at a one-to-one, where every student got one, or going to a cart-based system,” he said, noting the cart-based approach was preferred to ensure that no teachers were left scrambling if a student forgot their device or forgot to charge it. The goal is to provide a cart of 25 devices for every classroom.

“In order to fully get to that one cart in every classroom, it’s going to take about 4,000, so we do have a little ways to go,” Peters said. “But because we had the money put into our budget this year — $40,000 to start this initiative to little by little increase the number of devices — we were able to get 600 new devices for next year.”

That point raised questions for Whitman School Committee members Small and Dan Cullity. Both said their understanding was that the one-to-one initiative had been part of the “extras” above a level-service budget that had been cut to bring the assessment increase down to 9.5 percent, and that they had “sold” it that way at Town Meeting.

“It was my understanding that we were doing only level services,” Small said. “I know we go up on Town Hall floor and we stated that we were asking for exact level services.”

Cullity said that had been his understanding, as well.

“Service does not include this,” he said of the one-to-one device initiative. “We went and sold [the budget] to the town … we told them we were taking this out.”

Gilbert-Whitner said that would have meant selling students short and was never stated by the district. She said the only cuts that were made were a plan to add two special ed liaisons at Whitman Middle School and no-cost full-day kindergarten.

“We said the things that we took out to get to the [9.5 percent] increase in the assessment were the exact positions we said that would be, but we never once said we were taking the [computers] out,” Gilbert-Whitner countered. “We felt that they were instructional supplies that are needed absolutely to provide level services as we move to testing that has to be done online.”

The 600 new devices were divided between the middle schools in support of the math and science curriculum and the high school, where standardized testing is going to be exclusively online in coming years.

Duval’s fundraising has put that school “three or four carts away” from having a Chromebook for every student, Peters said.

“In my thinking, these are supplies that our students need,” she said. “What used to be a textbook that we would have put into a budget, can’t be a textbook anymore.”

The middle school math and science program, for example, is “absolutely dependent” on the use of Chromebooks. Pulling the devices would have put students behind.

“There was no intent by anyone — the leadership team, the administrative team — to say that those had been cut,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “We were extremely clear in what we said. … There was no intent to try and fool somebody or to say we’re not doing what we’re doing. I think we’re very transparent — maybe we need to be more so in the future.”

NEW PRINCIPALS

In other business, W-H Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak, who becomes superintendent in July, introduced the new principals hired at district schools.

Succeeding Szymaniak at WHRHS will be Dr. Christopher Jones, who had been principal of Seekonk High School. He was introduced to the staff June 6.

Whitman Middle School’s current Assistant Principal Michael Grable will take the helm as principal when Principal George Ferro assumes his new position as assistant superintendent of schools in July.

Jill Cotreau will be the new principal at Indian Head School in Hanson. She was introduced to the staff last week. A new Duval School principal was expected to be hired by Friday, June 8. There are still vacancies for assistant principals at Indian Head and Whitman Middle School to fill.

Indian Head Principal Dr. Elizabeth Wilcox is taking a new job in Hingham and Duval Principal Julie McKillop is taking a position in Scituate.

“We had several search committees,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “We had wonderful people helping us with those.”

Szymaniak also lauded the search process.

“I think we have fantastic people in place right now,” he said. “The staff reaction to the folks that are here has been extremely positive, they were accessible and answered questions.”

Cotreau thanked the search committees for the opportunity.

“I’m so excited to be part of Indian Head and part of your school district,” she said. “I’m excited to jump right in and get started and for the opportunity to show you what we can do.”

“I hear great things about W-H and I really look forward to stepping into this position and taking it to even greater heights than it already is,” Jones said. “Thanks for the opportunity.”

Grable joked about the famously casual nature of Ferro’s attire — generally featuring cargo shorts and, occasionally sandals — at some past School Committee meetings.

“I just want to apologize for the way I’m dressed,” he said of his khaki slacks and black polo shirt. “I just found out I was going to be introduced tonight. I think George was a little excited to go on [the eighth-grade trip to New York] and he forgot to tell me.”

“I am very excited about my new position,” Grable said. “I can’t wait.”

“He didn’t forget,” Small joked.

“He’s got pants on,” Cullity quipped about Grable.

Special Education Parent Advisory Council co-chairman Tina Sidstone and co-chairman Jim Fitzgerald reviewed the SEPAC’s past year and plans for the 2018-19 school year.

Sidstone said they had taken a relatively inactive PAC and revitalized it, holding eight meetings and doubling participation to about 24 parent members. A representative from each school has also attended and SEPAC has also surveyed members about potential programs.

“We are very excited for the next school year,” Fitzgerald said. “Back in September I didn’t know what the SEPAC was and now I’m the co-chair.”

He said the group will be producing informational brochures and he and Sidstone will sit down for an interview with the Whitman-Hanson Expressover the summer to help raise awareness of the group. There are 10 SEPAC meetings slated for the next school year, starting in September.

SEPAC is also planning what is intended to be an annual family picnic day as an opportunity to meet first responders and hopes to build on speaker programs with a resource fair in the early fall.

Small suggested School Committee members could find it beneficial to attend SEPAC meetings as well.

CES grads take different path

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The harder one has to fight for something, the more it generally means to achieve it.

For the 14 graduates of the W-H Community Evening School’s Class of 2018 that certainly seemed to be the case as they crossed the stage at the Dr. John F. McEwan Performing Arts Center Thursday, May 31 to receive their diplomas. Acknowledging the pride their families take in the accomplishment, many selected parents to hand them those diplomas. For others, CES Director William Glynn or English teacher Keryn Cordo did the honors and Charles Sampson-Williams asked his U.S. Air Force recruiter Sgt. David LaPlant to do the honors.

The evening was also a moment of proud passage for W-H Principl Jeffrey Szymaniak and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner.

Szymaniak, who will take the post of superintendent on July 1, got his start teaching alternative education students in Plymouth, moving on to teach five subjects in one classroom “to some angry freshmen in Abington” and U.S. history in a non-traditional day program in Scituate.

Gilbert-Whitner, who is retiring after 24 years with the W-H Regional School District has been dedicated to the “Every Child Every Day” mantra as superintendent.

“Evening School graduation is very special to me,” Szymaniak told he graduates. “In 2000 — the year many of you were born — my principal allowed me to create my own program.”

That full-time, non-traditional day program helped students who needed an alternative pathway to a diploma.

“I totally get it that traditional high school isn’t easy for some of you, and sometimes not a good fit for anyone,” he said. “That’s why you, the students on stage tonight, are very special to all of us and me.”

He said that, while the path to a diploma hasn’t always been easy for them, their parents or guardians, and each student’s grit got them through.

We are all very proud of you, each and every one of you,” Szymaniak said, taking the liberty to speak for their families and teachers. “You did it. You made it and no one can ever take that away from you.”

Gilbert-Whitner, who noted that her 50th class reunion would be held on Saturday, June 2 and added she would be 117 when the Class of 2018 celebrated their 50th reunion.

She said that, when she sat in their place and listened to graduation speakers, “It was very evident that I didn’t know what I didn’t know.”

That included becoming a school superintendent, or that any woman could achieve that and that she had learned that four key attributes become valuable as one goes through life. By using their head to ask questions, think things through and keep learning; their heart to show empathy and seek understanding; their heads to do the hard work required and their gut to trust their instincts and believe in themselves.

Then, as usual at CES graduations, Glynn stole the show, so to speak, with an irreverent take on graduation advice.

“I’m going to ramble about three things,” he said. “First thing, be you — be honest as you can about you, be the finest version of you as you can.”

Secondly, he advised them to work hard.

“The world is full of people who think avoiding hard work is the way to go. These people — wait for it — are fools,” he said. “Third thing: altruism.”

Glynn asked the graduates to live a life of doing things for other people, expecting nothing in return.

“How can we make our mark in the world? Altruism,” he said. “If you can do [all three] and do it with a little bit of style and flair, I think everything else will take care of itself.”

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes spoke to the class, as he did with the rest of the W-H graduates, the following night, about the importance of life-long learning — as well as putting down the smart phones once in awhile to interact directly with others.

“Every single day you need to learn something about life, it’s the most important thing you’ll do,” he said. “When you have discussions with other people, you learn many, many things and find the world is rich with experiences — but you have to ask for it.”

Graduates were: Justin E. Cole, Samuell A. Delgado, Alec J. Denver, Regan H. Goode, Lucas M. Goss, Laura A. Hardy, Zachary E. Hunter, Travis C. Lawrence, Brittaney A. Milley, Kyle R. Perkins, Amelia R. Quintero, Hailey M. Ralph, Charles A. Sampson-Williams and Matthew R. Wilson.

Circumstance amid pomp

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HANOVER — One might say that even the South Shore Vo-Tech National Honor Society members of the Class of 2018 went down in history … the school’s history book, that is.

It represented the largest graduating class in school history with 148 diplomas awarded on Friday, June 8 at Cohasset’s South Shore Music Circus. The venue was nearly filled to capacity with graduates and their proud family members.

More members of the Class of 2018 participated in cooperative education work outside the school than ever before and 14 juniors and seniors, accompanied by four faculty chaperones, exercised the school’s renewed dedication to community service in its first service trip over April vacation.

“They showed us that civic-mindedness means playing a role in our community, even one that is hundreds of miles away, and that is because ‘community’ and the common good are not limited by ZIP Codes,” Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey said in his address. “Our students told me that the service trip inspired them to be part of something bigger than themselves, to tackle something they had never done before.”

Valedictorian Rosa Gachia of Whitman has also made her mark in the SSVT history books. Born and raised in Kenya, Gachia told her fellow graduates that she spoke little to no English when she moved to the United States with her family. She also graduated as the school’s Outstanding Allied Health Technician student and a licensed CNA who will attend Bridgwater State University in the fall and hopes to become a surgeon.

She thanked her father for his influence in her life.

“For as long as I can remember you have guided me and influenced me into making the right decisions,” Gachia said. “You helped me with every stage of my life, including the adjustment into a new country, but I don’t think I was quite ready for the changes high school brought.”

She added the same could be said for many of her classmates. But there were plenty of firsts.

“This was the first class to go on a service trip to New Jersey, the first class to have a rocking senior reception, and the first class to ask someone to prom through an email,” she said encouraging her fellow graduates to continue embracing life and taking risks.

Hickey also singled out the seniors who went to trip to Wall Township, N.J., to help in the continuing recovery effort after Hurricane Sandy for thanks: Grace Ciampa, Alixandra Elliot, Outstanding Metal Fab/Welding Student Cole Hoadley, Kelly Pienkos, Jackson Powers, Outstanding Automotive Mechanic and Vocational Student of the Year Mikaela Drake and Gachia.

“For four years we have told you that the workforce needs your skills and talents,” Hickey said. “Beyond that, the world needs you to share your time and talents with others. Invitations for service are all around you.”

He stressed that means more then building houses for the poor or dispossessed. It includes serving as youth sports coaches, Scout leaders, volunteers in local government and voting in elections or attending town meetings.

Service to country is also important and nine members of the Class of 2018 have enlisted to serve in the armed forces. Students going on to higher education from SSVT have been accepted to more than 50 colleges and universities.

Senior Class President Taylor McKinnon of Abington also spoke of the value in SSVT’s cooperative education program as part of the added responsibilities they found being seniors meant.

“We now had freshmen to watch over,” said McKinnon, who was also the Outstanding Culinary Artist for the Class of 2018. “We earned more and more trust as some of us went out on coop and got real-world experience, while some of us stayed to learn more from our shop teachers.”

She noted the bittersweet nature of graduation, but added SSVT seniors gradate “with two educations that have the power to change our futures.”

But McKinnon also basked in the goofy memories — the time she set off a fire alarm at a SkillsUSA competition or a classmate starting a minor fire in shop freshman year.

“It’s a mistake not to dedicate yourself to the things you are great at,” she concluded. “So, whether it be your trade, art, music or even basket weaving, dedicate yourself to it because your talents are like no other.”

FY ’20 budget work starts early

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WHITMAN — Residents will soon be asked to fill out questionnaires regarding the local government priorities they value — part of an effort, which will include financial work sessions with department heads, to start work on the fiscal 2020 town budget early.

“We’re approaching some pretty interesting times,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam said, noting that Selectmen Chairman Carl Kowalski had raised the proposal of a community assessment survey.

Kowalski and Selectman Brian Bezanson were absent from the Tuesday, June 12 meeting. Lynam met Monday with Dr. Melinda Tarsi from the Bridgewater State University Political Science Department to discuss work on the questionnaire and Lynam has invited her to the June 26 meeting to discuss it with the board in more detail.

“It’s probably essential to our planning for fiscal ’20,” he said. “Not probably — it is essential.”

Selectman Scott Lambiase requested a budget review also be included on the June 12 agenda, and suggested it should be a regular agenda item for the foreseeable future. He said the budget season has to start earlier to get a handle on what is needed and what the town can afford.

“As we’re trying to work with the Finance Committee and trying to get a budget together that we can get into Town Meeting next year, it would be nice to have the department heads present to us … showing cuts and, within that, a narrative on how that’s going to affect services,” Lambiase said. “We need to know, and we need to get it out there to everybody, what’s going to happen if we do have to cut this budget and what it’s going to mean to the level of service that the town’s going to receive.”

Additionally, he said they should also present a level-service or level-funded budget as much is practicable.

“I think we need to be more involved and I think we need to have them come in and present to us [with a certain level of detail] that shows us what they’ve been doing historically and what they’re looking to do in the future,” he said. “We have to let the town know that we are taking this seriously.”

Lynam said the Selectmen used to be more involved in the budget process, but has relegated it to the Finance Committee over the years.

“This is the executive board of the town,” he said. “We need to set direction.”

“We have to jump in and help them [the Finance Committee],” Lambiase agreed. “we have to help set a tone, especially with the larger departments — some of the smaller ones, there’s not much they can do.”

A handful of line-item transfers were approved to fund current shortfalls and a tense discussion centered on the discovery of a calculation error regarding use of the motor vehicle fine reserve for appropriation account and how the Police Department was notified. The error means that, unless another funding avenue can be found, the department can only buy one new cruiser instead of the two approved by Town Meeting in May.

CRUISER CALCULATION

“Unfortunately, at the time we voted, there was a $14,000 credit from the state to motor vehicles that actually belonged to the Complete Streets program,” Lynam explained. “At the time we voted, we believed we had the funds to support the lease-purchase of two vehicles.”

He said he has been looking for options to retain the second cruiser, but so far does not see any. Line item transfers are not a viable option because the purchase involves next year’s money.

“The law requires that you make your appropriation based on what’s available the day it’s voted,” Lynam said.

Police Chief Scott Benton, meanwhile, expressed his irritation about not learning about the agenda item until Monday, June 11.

Lynam countered that the interim accountant informed Benton’s office through Administrative Assistant Katrina Patton the week before.

“For three weeks you’ve known,” Benton said. “Why wouldn’t you inform me as the department head?”

“I knew last week when the accountant came to me and said we had an error in appropriations and she said, ‘Katrina was very upset when I told her about it,’” Lynam related. “At that point, it would have been reasonable to assume that you also would have known.”

Benton said Lynam should have called him directly, but Lynam said Patton was advised since Benton was away.

“I was away — I have my phone,” he said. “I have to answer my phone.”

Regardless of whether, or how, the message was relayed, Selectman Dan Salvucci asked Benton if he had any ideas on how to find the funds for a second cruiser.

“Legally, I don’t know what I can do,” Benton replied. I rely on the town administrator to help me with that stuff.”

He did ask if Lynam could look into the propriety of encumbering funds from this fiscal year to the next, for example $10,000 slated to be turned in out of all other services.

“Fair question,” Lynam said.

The transfers Selectmen approved involved: $2,700 from the removal of dead animals line to animal control expenses;  $165 from Town Meeting and elections line to Town Clerk expenses; $22,000 from Norfolk County Vocational Tuition line to street lighting to cover a recent rate increase; and $44,000 from Norfolk County Vocational Tuition line to the law account. Three students who had planned to attend Norfolk County Vocational, two of which were already budgeted for, will not be attending the school, freeing up the funds.

Selectmen also approved the sale of a $280,000 bond anticipation note dated June 20, 2018 and payable on May 20, 2019 with an interest rate of 2.05 percent to fund streetlight conversion to LED lights.

“When this was first proposed a lot of this was hinging on grants,” said Selectman Randy LaMattina. “I just want to know where we stand with those grants right now.”

Lynam said the town is awaiting a response from the state on two grants — the Metropolitan Area Planning Council grant and the Green Communities grant — which are being sought to pay the full conversion cost. Both are reimbursement grants.

Lynam noted, as he did at Town Meeting, that the borrowing would ensure that the lights can be bought and the debt is serviced even if the grants are not received. If Whitman fails to win the grants, the net cost would be no greater than the $86,000 the town now pays National Grid for maintenance costs and rental fees each year, he argued.

“If we’re successful in getting the grants, it’s pure return,” he said, followed by a $60,000 to $70,000 per year savings on rental and maintenance after that.

“I believe the net savings on the light rentals is $50,000 and I expect that the energy savings is going to be another $20,000,” Lynam said. Even receiving only the $50,000 MAPC grant, he noted, servicing the debt over five years would mean a principal payment of $46,000 per year with interest costs of $5,600.

“The money that we pay out [with no other grant money] would be equal to or less than what we’re paying right now to rent the lights,” he said. “And then we achieve the energy savings of LEDs.”

Assistant Town Administrator Lisa Green said comparable figures to other towns on maintenance contracts is difficult because the number of street lights is different from town to town.

“Right now the town is looking for ways of saving money any way we can because of the situation we’re in where we had to cut the budget drastically this year to make ends meet,” said Salvucci. “I think anything that we do that saves the town money in the long run, we need to plan ahead.”

LaMattina was concerned about the up-front installation costs as well as maintenance costs during the life of the bond.

“I don’t have any reason to believe that we would not receive the grants,” Green said. “We followed all deadlines and stayed up to date with all the requirements. … I’d be heart-broken if we didn’t receive the Green Communities, we’ve received it the last two years.”

Consultant costs for low-bidder Light Smart are $14,728, including the audit, lighting design and project management. The cost is part of the $280,000 total cost.

“There’s not many communities that fall into the timeline to apply for both of the grants,” Green said.

In other business, the board approved a three-step process for the application, evaluation and recommendation of those seeking appointment as constables. The police chief would be involved in investigating and evaluating applicants and make recommendations to Selectmen.

Hanson Selectmen to give voters say on cannabis

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen has approved the placement of a local-control retail marijuana bylaw, banning the sale of cannabis, before October’s special Town Meeting as well as a referendum ballot.

Discussing the issue only among themselves without accepting questions or comments from the public, the board agreed 5-0 that the state’s Chapter 94G provisions for the two-step process would best permit residents to have a say on the issue.

Selectmen also declined to share their own personal opinions on the issue as irrelevant.

“I’m not even going to share that because it doesn’t really matter,” said Selectmen Chairman Kenny Mitchell, supporting the Town Meeting warrant article. “I got voted in to make the right decision for the town of Hanson. I personally think that it should be left up to the voters.”

Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, who asked for the issue to be placed on the board’s agenda, agreed with Mitchell.

“We’re here to do the will of the people,” she said. “I don’t think it matters what each one of us individually think and I’m not here to argue for or against the moral merits because the state has decided that it’s legal.”

She said she did not anticipate, nor endorse “continually” bringing the issue back before the board.

“Move forward,” Selectman Wes Blauss said in support of the article.

“I believe the will of the people will really be voiced,” agreed Selectman Matt Dyer.

“It’s up to the people,” Selectman Jim Hickey said.

They rejected claims they had heard around town that it was a ploy to give proponents “a second bite of the apple.”

Selectmen plan to hold an informational forum on the issue before the special Town Meeting to permit residents to ask questions and/or comment on the issue.

 “This is on the agenda because the Board of Selectmen wanted to talk about this and make a decision whether or not we wanted to move forward regarding retail marijuana shops,” said Mitchell. “This started in November 2016 [when] we had a state-wide vote … whether or not we wanted to legalize marijuana. The town of Hanson said yes. It was a slim margin, but we said yes.”

The next year Town Meeting rejected a moratorium measure sought by the Planning Board, based on an East Bridgewater measure designed to provide towns more time to obtain more information before further action was taken.

“We were very surprised that it did not pass, that people did not want to at least take some time to be thoughtful and study it,” said FitzGerald-Kemmett. “I think that a lot of people, when it was voted on at the state level, were voting on it conceptually. … ‘Am I OK with it in the state of Massachusetts?’ They weren’t necessarily aware … now you need a two-step process [to keep it out of town].”

In July 2017, Gov. Charlie Baker developed a process for towns that voted yes on the 2016 ballot to opt out of permitting retail shops within their borders.

“If a town voted no on marijuana [in 2016] all they had to do was go to a Town Meeting vote to ban retail shops,” Mitchell said. “If a town voted yes, then there is a two-step process.”

A local-control bylaw would have to go before Town Meeting, and if approved there, to a referendum.

“The two votes that we’ve had are totally different than we’re discussing tonight,” Mitchell said.

In other business, the board approved a request by the Education Committee to place information, as well as a request for donations, on the tax bill in an effort to spur donations.

“There’s a misconception bout what the Hanson Education Fund is and we’re hoping to alleviate some of that and have people understand what it is,” said Chairman Gary Banuk. The fund has been on the tax bill as a donation option since 1993.

Response has not been good of late, with last year averaging about $150 per quarter in total donations.

“That’s not really a lot to help the students of Hanson,” Banuk said, noting that funds had been donated to purchase Chromebooks for Hanson schools last year. It is not limited to primary or secondary school pupils. Residents of Hanson with educational expenses are welcome to apply for funding, including for college or other vocational education costs such as books.

Selectmen also discussed their goals for the year, most of which are ongoing projects. But Blauss requested the addition of a plastic bag ban and Dyer asked if polystyrene beverage cups could be added to that list.

“We can look around at the process that other towns have already worked at to do this,” Blauss said. “I also don’t want to scare our businesses, either, by going at it so fast that they don’t have time to adjust.”

Town Administrator Michael McCue said that issue, conceivably could go before the October Town Meeting, providing a grace period until the start of next fiscal year before implementation in order to give local businesses time to make accommodation.

A lot to cheer about

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On the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1968, the news has been ticking off that milestone in national and world events — the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, student strikes in Paris and Prague, assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy during his presidential campaign and the riots at the Chicago Democratic National Convention.

But for many young people who graduated high school in that tumultuous year, it was the beginning of a life dedicated to improving the lives of others.

The 275 members of the Class of 2018 have that in common with their predecessors.

It is a class that has been — and plans to continue to be — dedicated to public service as 15 members will join the military after high school or college, several have charted majors geared toward education, medicine or other related pursuits and at least one plans to join the Peace Corps.

“We have such an awesome class, one comprised of driven athletes, talented musicians and performers, brilliant artists, leaders, and humanitarians,” said Salutatorian Cameron Rogers in his address. “Thank you for being such a great group of friends to go to school with every day.”

He noted that the people they were as freshmen may have been far different than the seniors they have become — or the adults they can be.

“If you wished your journey through high school went differently, I encourage you to be active and involved wherever the next step in your life takes you,” he challenged. “That is the best way to discover yourself and what you love to do. Once you realize what you love to do, take it and run with it.”

One student, Hanson’s Aubrie Galinis will be studying bioinformatics aiming to get her bachelor’s degree and pursue a career in medical research. Galinis, who uses a wheelchair, said she was looking forward to graduating prior to the Friday, June 1 ceremony to “move on to the next chapter” of her life. The national Honor Society member and recipient of the Class of 1968 Scholarship will attend Wheaton College in Norton this fall.

Principal Jeffrey Szymniak reviewed some of the class’ accomplishments in service to others during his remarks during Friday’s ceremony before awarding 50th anniversary diplomas to members of the Class of 1968 present — and of an honorary 50th anniversary diploma from WHRHS to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner. She was traveling the next morning to celebrate her 50th reunion with classmates in Mercersburg, Pa.

She advised the graduates to recognize now, what she learned long after her own high school graduation — “As I sat through speeches like this one, it is now evident that I didn’t even know what I didn’t know,” she said. That included not knowing, as she began her college years majoring in biology, that she would retire 50 years later as a school superintendent or that a woman could ever hold that position.

By using their head to ask questions, think things through and keep learning; their heart to show empathy and seek understanding; their heads to do the hard work required and their gut to trust their instincts and believe in themselves.

“Whether you are graduating from high school today or walked across the stage 50 years ago, a balance of head, heart, hands, and gut will ensure that as the world changes, you will also grow, prosper, and change with it,” she said.

In addition to those planning to serve in uniform, Szymaniak lauded the 81 John and Abigail Adams Scholars in the class; 53 who participated in the Experiential Learning & Leadership internship program; honor society members who worked on projects to support food pantries, Habitat for Humanity, cancer fundraisers, the Brockton VA Hospital, hurricane relief in Puerto Rico and Texas and area homeless shelters as well as the school’s SADD chapter, which worked on the biannual pre-prom mock car crash.

Student speakers also alluded to the past dedication and future aims of their classmates.

“I am excited for everything that the future holds for every one of us,” said class President Kristina Woodward. “We all have the ability to change the world in our own way, despite time continuously working against us, and I am eager to see where everyone’s hands end up.

“Maybe I’ll run into Lexi Grazioso at 5 o’clock on some remote island in the tropics nursing a sea turtle back to health, or I’ll call up David Murphy around 3 p.m. to have him help me with my finances, or I’ll hear someone singing on the radio on my way to work at 6 and immediately know that its Grayce Brown’s new single …” Woodward said, comparing their school lives and future to a clock.

Valedictorian Kaitlyn Morrison said that, while educational lessons, friendships and athletic achievements of the class are memorable; the Class of 2018 has done much to improve their world already.

“We have participated in multiple Shanty Town fundraisers for Habitat for Humanity,” she said. “We have been a part of and organized a school walkout for the victims of the Parkland school shooting. These are just some of the incredible accomplishments and memories we have made here at Whitman-Hanson. Whitman-Hanson’s Class of 2018 has become a family whose home is this school.”

She also urged classmates to cherish the memories they have made.

“Maybe this was the place that you fell in love. Maybe this is where you lost someone. Maybe this was the place you met your best friend. Maybe it was a place where you went through hardship. Or maybe it was the place where you discovered your true self,” Morrison said. “Whatever your experience maybe, cherish these years. Don’t look back with despair or regret of the things that you didn’t do. Look back at the accomplishments you’ve made.”

Speaking for the Class of 2018, senior Riley MacDonald reminded her classmates that they were much more than their grade point average.

“I have a challenge for you,” she said. “I challenge you to strive for greatness and achieve all of your goals. For a chapter of our lives is coming to an end today but another one is waiting to be started.”

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes suggested a good place to start is to take it easy on social media and strive to interact more with people face-to-face.

“Cell phones are great but they do have a place and it’s not at the dinner table,” he said to cheers and applause from parents in the audience. “Our future is together.”

(Stephanie Spyropoulos contributed to this report.)

Families demand to be notified of rehab releases

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Former Hanson Selectman David Soper is fighting for an amendment to the state’s Section 35 involuntary commitment law that he and his family feel can save lives.

It’s too late for his nephew Stephen Berry, but Soper wants to help spare another family pain.

An oxycontin prescription for pain following a dirt bike injury lead to to Stephen Berry’s addiction to opiods and his commitment to a state treatment facility,

“It spirals out of control so fast,” Berry’s father Thomas told television reporters after testifying at a hearing on a bill filed through state Rep. Josh Cutler, D-Duxbury.

“This is a gap in the law that we’ve seen and, unfortunately, it led to a tragedy,” Cutler told Boston’s NBC affiliate last week. “We’re not talking about revealing any medical information, we’re just saying when someone is released, the petitioner — which is usually a loved one — should be notified.”

Plymouth County DA Timothy Cruz supports the bill, for which there was no opposing testimony offered at last week’s public hearing at the State House.

“I strongly support passage of this bill, which would close an important gap in Section 35 commitments and ensure that a family member/petitioner is notified of any release from the program,” Cruz said. “Every day, families in Plymouth County are waging their own battles against addiction, and sharing Stephen Berry’s tragic story and testifying on this bill was an extremely difficult task for Mr. Berry and Mr. Soper. I want to commend them both for their courage and determination in seeing this bill through and hopefully preventing this tragedy from happening to another family.”

Family members provided emotional testimony about the impact of the current shortfall in the law.

“This past year for me and my [family] has involved many meetings with state and local officials all the way up to Chief Justice of criminal courts in Massachusetts,” Soper said in his testimony, a copy of which he provided to the Express. “Our goal is plain and simple: help fix what went wrong with release of my nephew and how he was released from state facility at his most vulnerable point. This is about life and death for those struggling with addiction. As of today, it is against the law to notify a loved one, had my family been notified we feel Steve’s story would have ended much differently.”

Thomas Berry explained addiction runs in his family and all his son needed was “a couple of those puppies” to become addicted. Before long Stephen’s habit was deemed serious enough to have him involuntarily committed to the Bridgewater State Rehabilitation Center on April 3, 2017.

He was supposed to be there for 90 days, but was released after two weeks because he had a pending court date.

Soper said there was no professional guidance offered to his nephew, nor any notification to his family that he was being released.

“His release was based solely on Mass. Health and Human [policy which] does not supply rides to court hearings,” Soper testified at the public hearing. “He was put in a van, ridden to Lakeville Middleboro Commuter Line with train ticket to Brockton where he later called his father Tom. He was also given money in form of a check with a letter from the state saying this check is guaranteed by the state of Massachusetts. That money was placed in that account by his father for extra clothing and food if need during his stay in Bridgewater.”

Stephen bought fentanyl and his family was notified the next day that he had died of an overdose.

“What is strange about him being released, is that the sole reason for his release was that the BSDRC would not provide him transportation to the court hearing on a criminal matter involving his mother and the theft of some items from her home back in December 2016,” Soper testified.

Cruz testified that families making such a difficult decision in an effort to save their loved ones deserve greater peace of mind than the current law provides.

“Tom Berry, Stephen’s dad, did one of the hardest things a parent ever has to do: he civilly committed his son to try to save his life,” Cruz said. “He was released without a hearing in front of the judge who, just two weeks earlier, found that he was an imminent risk to himself.”

He said he was aware of a similar case in Rockland involving a 40-year-old man sectioned by his mother after he had battled substance abuse for 17 years. He was released after 21 days, and died two days after his release.

There were 1,900 overdose deaths in Massachusetts last year, Cruz said. This is down slightly from 2016 which saw 2,100 is way up compared to 2009, 2010, and 2011 when there were only about 600 deaths per year.  Plymouth County ranks in the highest category in Massachusetts for opioid overdose death rates per 100,000 people with 147 in 2017.

“Every day in my office, we face an uphill battle to punish the traffickers and dealers of these poisons while identifying and finding treatment solutions for those whose criminality supports their substance use,” Cruz said. “But every day, families wage their own, less public and much more personal battles against addiction. The least we can do is to show those people, who know their loved ones best, that they matter enough to notify them when their loved one is released, in order to be prepared to wage their battle anew.”

Constable process reviewed

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WHITMAN – The process governing how constables are appointed is being reviewed by town officials. At issue is the discrepancy between state requirements under MGL Chapter 41 and a relatively informal process that is currently being followed. The Board is expected to revisit the process at a meeting in June.

Whitman resident James Fallon, who has already served as a town constable for six years, appeared before Selectmen prior to the May 7 Town meeting to request his re-appointment to another three-year term.

“I haven’t had any complaints or violations or anything against me,” Fallon told the board, adding he has also gone through the reserve officers academy, in-service requirements and obtained certifications and additional training.
Town Administrator Frank Lynam told the board at the time that Police Chief Scott Benton and Deputy Chief Timothy Hanlon had recommended against Fallon’s reappointment when he submitted his initial request. Neither of them were able to attend the May 7 selectmen’s meeting, held before Town Meeting.

Lynam also researched the process under which constables are appointed.
“There is a significant process involved in the application for constable,” Lynam said of state law governing the office. “The paperwork I have is simply a letter requesting your appointment in the past along with a notice that you have completed the reserve officer academy.”
The statute requires a written application to the appointing authority – in this case the Board of Selectmen – stating reasons desiring the appointment and such information as may be reasonably required by the authority regarding fitness for office.

Benton also pointed out that the Selectmen are the appointing authority.

“We have nothing to do with the process except to provide any professional interactions that we may have had with the applicant any that would be appropriate for the Board to consider in whether or not to appoint or reappoint,” Benton stated Tuesday, May 29.

An application must also include a statement about the moral character of the applicant signed by at least five reputable
citizens of the city or town of residence, at least one of which must be an attorney.

“We have never done that here,” Lynam said.
There are about a half-dozen constables serving the town of Whitman, which should be retaining 25 percent of what constable-generated revenue, Fallon added, saying he wants to pay that to the town.

Lynam told Selectmen there was a representation of a “questionable action” on Fallon’s part in displaying his badge and requiring a person to stay on the scene of a civil incident that “exceeded any authority [he] may hold as a constable.”
That incident – in August 2013 – involved a question about two women involved in a vehicle incident as well as an earlier incident involving a complaint from February at Diamond Fuels in which Fallon allegedly pulled up to a gas pump in the wrong direction. The station manager on duty shut the pump off for that reason and Fallon was said to have pulled out his badge and stated he wanted to refuel.
“That’s something that can be troubling,” Lynam said.

Fallon countered he had been out serving papers on the day of the February incident, and said he wears his badge on a lanyard around his neck on those occasions. The badge was mentioned by the manager of the station and he simply asked if the pump could be turned back on since there were no other customers at the time. He said when another person drove up, he just left.

“At no point did I whip out [the badge] and say, ‘Turn it on, I’m a
constable,’” Fallon said.

Lynam said the investigating officer noted at the time that the clerk had a video of the incident on a cell phone and he observed it noting Fallon “could be clearly seen taking the badge and showing it to her.” There are also incidents that may or may not be involved with Fallon’s actions at Marble Street, including his demand that the manager there give him an unlisted number for a person he wanted to contact, Lynam reported.

“Those things raise a concern,” he said.
Fallon said the Marble Street issue went to court when a harassment complaint was filed against him but argued the complaint stemmed from a single interaction in which he is alleged to have yelled at the person. A harassment complaint must involve three separate interactions, he said, noting a judge did not allow it to go further.

“I don’t even know who this person is,” Fallon told Selectmen he said to the investigating officer. “I’ve never seen this person, I have no knowledge of what she looks like. I could be standing right next to her and not even know it.”

The day the incident allegedly occurred, Fallon said, he and his son were at the White House for an event.

Fallon said the objections centering on incident in 2013 was not brought up when he was last re-appointed in 2015.

Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said that didn’t make sense.

“I think we need to clean up this arrangement,” Kowalski said. “I’m not comfortable voting one way or the other in the form the information is in.”

“That’s the reason I did the research on the constable appointment process, because it appears that we’ve taken a very informal approach,” Lynam said.

“It’s part of the weakness in the system, which prompted me to look at the appointment process.”

 

Panel tables land buy

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The School Committee on Tuesday, May 29 voted to indefinitely table the purchase of land to the rear of the WHRHS property now being sold by an abutter.

Committee members had indicated at a previous meeting they would like to negotiate a donation of the acreage — which includes some wetlands — but the owner has since advised them she would prefer to sell it. The asking price is currently $50,000.

“I’ve said before, we’re pretty strapped from a financial standpoint so I question that,” said member Christopher Howard, who also indicated he wanted to see more information on how the district could possibly use the land.

Chairman Bob Hayes said the real estate broker contacted the district when the land went on the market to suggest it might be something the district could use. The property is land-locked, he noted.

“I think the idea of a donation is probably not something that the sellers are interested in,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner. “If this is something you want to pursue more, things are always subject to negotiations, but that’s the cost of the land that we talked about at the last meeting.”

Member Fred Small made the motion to indefinitely table the issue.

“If there’s any interest in going after it [and negotiate] the price tag, at least that allows us to say we put it on the burner,” Small said, noting the only possible usefulness for it would be to swap the wetlands somewhere else.

Member Michael Jones said he walked the property about a week after the issue first came before the committee and found it was not all wetlands.

He wondered if a counter-offer of $20,000 might be acceptable to the seller. Member Dan Cullity suggested the issue was more suitable work for the facilities subcommittee to pursue. Gilbert-Whitner said she would place it on that subcommittee’s agenda.

Member Robert O’Brien asked if the land was useful to the district.

“I don’t think we’ve even looked at that,” Gilbert-Whitner said. “My understanding is that someone said it could maybe be used for parking or something, but these are wetlands around us so you really have to be careful.”

The Committee voted to ratify the unit A collective bargaining contract by a 6-0-4 vote.

Members Howard, Christopher Scriven, Robert Trotta and Chairman Bob Hayes abstained because they have family members who teach in the school district. Hanson Town Administrator Michael McCue, represented the two towns’ boards of selectmen. Member Michael Jones was able to vote because his wife is a substitute school nurse and not covered by Unit A. Alexandra Taylor was not present.

The committee was advised that Hanson’s 200th anniversary celebration committee is seeking the district’s support and involvement in events being planned for 2020.

In other business, the committee reorganized following the May 19 annual town elections in which incumbents Hayes and Small were re-elected and Whitman resident Scriven was elected to fill the vacancy left when Kevin Lynam opted not to run again.

Gilbert-Whitner opened the meeting, presiding until a chairman was selected and leading a moment of silence on the day after Memorial Day to “remember those who have given up their lives so that we may live as we do in this country.”

Hayes was then unanimously voted to return to the post of chairman in his 16th year on the committee. Trotta was elected vice chairman, by a 5-4 vote over Small, who was the vice chair last year. Trotta, Scriven, Howard, Jones and Robert O’Brien Jr., supported Trotta while Small, Hayes, Dan Cullity and Steven Bois voted for Small. Small was unanimously voted in as secretary/clerk.

Cullity was elected treasurer with Howard selected as assistant treasurer.

Subcommittee assignments are:

• Negotiations — for unit B, C and D contracts: Hayes, Small, Cullity, Trotta and Scriven;

• Facilities — Small, O’Brien, Jones, Scriven and Cullity;

• Policy — Trotta, Howard, Small and Scriven;

• Warrants — Cullity, O’Brien, Trotta, Howard and Jones;

• Pilgrim Area Collaborative — Bois; and

• Legislative — Small and Jones.

Incoming Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak, who starts July 1, was appointed to the North River Collaborative and PCC boards of directors.

Bois was named the MASC/MASS Joint Conference delegate with Trotta named an alternate.

SSVT celebrates student excellence

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HANOVER — Whitman senior Rosa Gachia has big plans for her future, but the Allied Health student who intends to become a surgeon has already compiled an impressive résumé at South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School — and just added the biggest achievement of all.

The SSVT School Committee on Wednesday, May 16 announced that Gachia, daughter of Kenneth Njuguna and Teresia Kariuki, is valedictorian for the Class of 2018.

She will attend Bridgewater State University in the fall and was also accepted at Simmons College and Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Gachia is also a member of the National Honor Society, a SkillsUSA participant, a peer mentor, student body president and student representative to the School Committee.

Hanover seniors Cole Hoadley, Mikaela Drake and Gachia, were also honored as students of the month for February, April and May respectively. Drake was also honored as the school’s Vocational Student of the Year.

“It’s an honor to have students such as this at South Shore Vo-Tech,” School Committee Chairman Robert Molla said, adding the committee’s congratulations.

“These are truly three of our finest students,” said Assistant Principal Sandra Baldner. “The students of the month are always spectacular. She asked each student to talk about what they consider to be the highlight of their SSVT experience.

“She really is the face of South Shore,” Baldner said of Gachia. “She represents a work ethic, a spirit and a kindness that we would like all students to embody.”

Gachia singled out meeting new friends from the eight member towns at SSVT as her highlight of attending the school.

“I never would have gotten to meet Mikaela or Cole if I went to Whitman-Hanson,” she said.

“She worked hard while having all that fun,” Baldner added.

Automotive student Drake, who Baldner described as a “dynamic, talented and gifted academic student” has also been named the school’s Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year.

“I think the most memorable moment was getting accepted into Automotive Technology Shop because I remember that, in freshman year, there were a lot of people that wanted it and I wasn’t sure if I would get my first choice of shop,” she said.

Drake will attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute in September.

A Metal Fabrication/Welding student, Hoadley was selected for his exemplary work ethic and for his efforts on behalf of the student ambassador’s program.

“Without Cole, there really wouldn’t be a student ambassador’s program,” Baldner said.

While Hoadley said there had been many highlights for him over the past four years, he found the SkillsUSA program especially rewarding.

“I’ve been part of tons of different conferences for them to leaderships to three district competitions and two state competitions,” he said. “It’s an unbelievable experience.”

He plans to attend Massasoit Community College while staying in his trade and working full time.

In other business, Superintendent-Director Thomas Hickey announced that Assistant Principal Mark Aubrey has been hired to be the next school principal. Principal Margaret Dutch is retiring at the end of the school year.

Horticulture teacher at Upper Cape Tech Keith Boyle has been hired as one of two vocational coordinators at SSVT. Interviews are still being conducted for the second position.

Non-resident tuition rate of $17,266 for fiscal 2019 was accepted by the School Committee.