HANSON — Selectmen approved a proposal for a one-day SARS2-coronavirus testing event on Friday, May 22 at the former Maquan School.

The price is $65 per person, for which insurance reimbursement is mandatory by order of Gov. Charlie Baker. To sign up, visit https://www.bedfordresearch.org/product/hanson.

Ann Kiessling, director of the Bedford Research Foundation, and Town Moderator Sean Kealy, who has been on the BRF board of directors since 2007, made the proposal at the Tuesday, May 19 Board of Selectmen meeting.

“We’re able to offer this because of the governor’s task force,” Kiessling said. “In early March [it] got very involved with any [Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments] CLIA-licensed lab that could possibly begin to pick up this testing. This is not something that we were doing.”

She said BRF has been doing that type of test for HIV, and other illnesses, so it was an easy transition.

“I think this is a great opportunity for the community as long as there is appropriate certifications and credentials and that we have the signoffs from the [police and fire] chiefs,” said Selectman Matt Dyer.

Selectman Jim Hickey asked if the tests would be used for tracking, and Kiessling said it would be used that way for positive results.

“It’s all about the testing,” Kiessling said.

“Let’s do it,” Selectman Wes Blauss said.

Kiessling has been conducting the tests in her hometown of Bedford and has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Mass. Department of Public Health, conducting tests for various hospitals and nursing homes.

“What she would like to do is expand her tests to individuals in towns to make sure people don’t have COVID-19 and, if they do and are asymptomatic, know to self-quarantine and stay away from people,” Kealy said.

He said the aim is to conduct a three- to three-and-a-half-hour event at the former Maquan School, and has spoken to Board of Health Chairman Arlene Dias about the proposal.

“We thought that, if we set up a tent outside of the Maquan School for a couple of hours people would register online ahead of time, get a number and a slot [for] when they could show up to be tested,” Kealy said. A nurse would be on site to order the tests and a BRF technician skilled at performing the tests.

The tests take only a few moments and people would wait in their vehicles until their number is called, the return to their vehicle after the test and depart.

“It’s remarkable how we can get people through,” Kiessling said. No paperwork is passed and there is nothing to sign.

Traffic should not be a problem due to the parking lot layout at Maquan and bathroom facilities would not be needed as people are given a time slot for the tests, which do not take very long, Kealy explained.

Kiessling said HIPPA privacy protocols are part of the federal CLIA licensing requirements to which BRF adheres.

“The only information that gets shared is with the DPH, they want to know everybody who tests positive,” Kiessling said. “As more and more testing sites open up, it’s possible that this sort of community approach may not be necessary … Bedford has discovered is once you start doing some kind of community and public testing, it raises awareness of the idea.”

More people then request tests, she said, revealing how many people may have it without knowing and can help flatten the curve of contagion.

Kiessling said that, at any given time, 1 to 2 percent of the population is infected and does not know it.

“This would be a great opportunity for our emergency responders to be tested, as well,” Kealy said, noting that it could become a weekly thing as is the case in Bedford.

Dias noted that first responders are currently sent to Foxboro for testing. She has spoke to Police Chief Michael Miksch about it, but Kealy said he has not had the opportunity to discuss it with Fire Chief Jerome Thompson Jr., as yet. Dias said Miksch indicated to her that he saw no potential traffic problems.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell initially questioned the need, pointing to testing sites in several area towns.

“The only way we’re going to get ahead of this thing is to get as many people tested as possible,” Kiessling said.

Dias added that physician referrals or employers — for essential employees — must make referrals for other testing sites.

Kealy said that BRF has a 24-hour turnaround on test results, followed up by a phone call for positive tests and a letter for people testing negative. Everyone is also mailed a follow-up letter with insurance forms.

WHITMAN — COVID-19’s effect on the annual Town Meeting and Election process, was discussed by the Board of Selectmen Tuesday, May 5.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam said a question has arisen concerning employees working on alternate schedules being brought back in to work together.

“So long as we could ensure social distancing in safe environments … we could bring more of the staff back to work on a regular work week basis,” Lynam said about a letter he sent to department managers, copied to the Board of Selectmen. “I have to see how that goes over the next few days [and] who is looking to make what adjustments.”

He said how the process works will not be clear until “more and more people return to the open market” over the next several weeks.

Coronavirus will also have an effect on how Town Meeting is operated as well as when it convenes. The board voted to schedule the annual Town Meeting on Monday, June 22, with the possibility that it could be pushed back again.

Should social distancing regulations force the spacing of Town Meeting participants to keep six feet from each other the entire seating area of the Town Hall auditorium would only fit 100 people, Lynam said. He has reached out to Superintendent of School Jeffrey Szymaniak about the possibility of holding Whitman’s Town Meeting at either the high school gym or the Performing Arts Center.

“The only wrinkle in that is that the school is located in Hanson and state law requires that the meeting be held in Whitman,” Lynam said. “I would argue that the mailing address for the school is 600 Franklin St., Whitman.”

He asked for a legal opinion about it from Town Counsel, adding that Senate Bill 2680 was filed, which, if passed — and indications are that it will be, according to Lynam — would allow Whitman to hold Town Meeting at the school or other out-of-town facility.

Szymaniak said Whitman could use the high school if needed.

Finance Committee member John Galvin asked if, in view of Baker’s statement that limits on public gatherings could be increased on May 18 back to 50 from the 10 persons now permitted, raises the question of whether that allows for town meetings to be held.

“I believe not, because it involves voting rights,” Lynam said, noting that residents must be given 20 days’ notice for registering to vote at a town meeting. “The state is adamant about not depriving people of the opportunity to vote.”

He said the attendance limit may not apply to government meetings, either.

Selectmen also discussed a feasibility study for Whitman Middle School, with Selectman Brian Bzanson suggesting it be expanded to include the possibility of a junior-senior high school in case Hanson pushes to de-regionalize. Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said the same thought had occurred to him.

Lynam said bidding guidelines would require a separate study for such a scenario.

“I like the idea, I just don’t think it’s practical,” Lynam said.

De-regionalization, if it were to happen, would be a long process, selectmen noted.

HANSON — A mother of three lost her life in a house fire Monday night May 4.

Margaret O’Toole-Driscoll, 58, known as Peggy, perished along with the family’s dog in the fatal blaze. The home located at the end of a cal-du-sac is part of a small neighborhood off West Washington Street.   

Two of her three children are currently students at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School confirmed in a press release by Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak. Driscoll was employed as an instructional support aide for East Bridgewater schools, according to media reports.

The family has resided in the neighborhood for approximately 20 years, according to neighbors.

In a press release through Plymouth County District Attorney’s Timothy J. Cruz’s office, who confirmed the name of the victim, also said the cause of the fire was under investigation by the State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey.

Hanson Fire Chief Jerome Thompson released a written statement early on Tuesday morning and later confirmed by phone that the fire at 165 Pennsylvania Ave. had been fatal.

Thompson called the conditions untenable as heavy fire and heat caused deteriorating circumstances for the four initial firefighters who responded to the call.

He commended the efforts of the firefighters who performed a secondary search of the home along with continued fire suppression before locating Driscoll.

The flames took nearly an hour to get under control.

There were three other occupants living in the single family, cape-style log cabin home at the time of the fire and they were able to safely escape, according to the press release through the D.A’s Office.

Neighbor Alyssa Aghajanian and her family, who live with her parents, share a side yard with trees separating their home from the Driscoll’s. They could see the flames through the trees, she said

Aghajanian, 29, who babysat for many of the families on the street, was consoled by her young daughter and family as she became tearful and saddened talking about times she recalled as a youngster braiding her hair with Peggy. She estimated they have known the family at least 20 years.

They originally heard noise coming from the yard that sounded of people yelling, but they soon realized the home was engulfed.

“We had the window open … we went to look, and saw the fire from the front window,” said Aghajanian.

She said they were screaming “bloody murder, ‘Is everyone out of the house?’” from their front porch.

They had later learned that wasn’t the case.

All three of the Driscoll children were W-H students with two of them current students, according to Szymaniak, who released information on counseling services during the pandemic.

“Counseling services will be made available to all students by email or using Google voice/text,” he stated. “To schedule an appointment to speak with a counselor, please call one of the phone numbers listed on the district’s website:  https://www.whrsd.org/central_administration/district_departments/student_services.

“While we are not currently able to be in school, we will all be there to support the family with whatever they need and encourage other members of the school community to do so as well,” said Szymaniak.

Thompson commended the efforts of the firefighters although the outcome was not a positive one.

He said their thoughts were with the family and that losing a member of the small, Hanson community affects everyone.

Firefighters immediately conducted a primary search on arrival at the scene. After nearly an hour and the bulk of the fire being brought under control, firefighters were able to re-enter the building to complete a secondary search, which is when they discovered the deceased victim.

A neighbor had given the family refuge at the scene and they were there early Tuesday morning, according to Aghajanian.

The family is being assisted currently by the Red Cross, said Thompson. The home is uninhabitable due to the extensive damage. The fire is not considered suspicious and the cause is still undetermined as late Tuesday, said Thompson.

Hanson was assisted at the scene by Hanson police, Hanson water department, and the towns of Whitman, Pembroke, Halifax, and the Whitman CERT team.

Hanover fire also covered the Hanson headquarters.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday, April 28 that his emergency order requiring that all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential Services” close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public will be extended until May 18.

Businesses and organizations not on the list of essential services are encouraged to continue operations through remote means that do not require workers, customers, or the public to enter or appear at the brick-and-mortar premises closed by the order. This order also extends the existing ban on gatherings of more than 10 people until May 18.

Whitman and Hanson have expanded requirements for physical distancing to include boards of health orders to mandate the wearing of protective masks by all residents entering essential businesses.

“In the past 10 days, the number of residents testing positive for COVID-19 has doubled,” Whitman Town Administrator Frank Lynam advised residents in a weekend reverse-911 call. “It is this condition that prompted the Board of Health to issue the following order: effective immediately, all persons entering any essential business premise must wear a face mask for the protection of the public.”

Business failing to follow the order will be subject to a closure order by the Board of Health.

“On a personal level, Whitman residents are advised to avoid gathering in groups and to wear a mask anytime they are in a public setting exposed to other people,” Lynam said. He also said there was great concern about the number of people walking dogs in Whitman Park without cleaning up after their pets.

“If this continues, the town will have to consider closing the park to all dog walking,” Lynam said. “We sincerely hope this will not be necessary.”

Residents age 2 and older entering essential businesses, including but not limited to grocery stores, pharmacies, home improvement stores and the like must wear a cloth face covering, such as a fabric mask, scarf or bandana, over his or her nose and mouth. Face coverings can be made out of household fabrics and materials and should ideally have multiple layers.

An employee of the retailer shall be designated to ensure that members of the public ages 2 years of age and older are entering the establishment wearing a cloth face covering, according to Hanson’s Board of Health order. Whitman’s Board of Health issued the same order, effective at 6 a.m., Monday, April 27.

“By taking common-sense precautions — not going on unnecessary outings, wearing a mask in public and avoiding gatherings — we can get through this pandemic until it is safe t ease restrictions,” Lynam said.

The Department of Public Health’s stay-at-home advisory will remain in effect. Residents are strongly urged to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel and other unnecessary person-to person contact during this time period.

WHITMAN — After Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Tuesday afternoon, April 21 that schools would not reopen this school year, Whitman Selectmen voted to reschedule the annual Town Election to June 27.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam reported that there are now 73 Whitman residents with coronavirus, up from 52 last week.

“I don’t know where that big jump came from, but hopefully it’s not a sign of any future trend,” he said.

Two town employees have been quarantined, but no one has “come back active” with COVID-19. One Whitman resident, who had been living in a nursing home in another community has reportedly died from the virus.

Baker’s announcement also included an order that all non-emergency child care programs also remain closed until June 29. Residential special education programs are exempt from the order.

“It’s the right thing to do considering the facts on the ground associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Baker said during Tuesday’s announcement. “And at this point in time, there is no authoritative guidance or advisories with respect to how to operate schools safely and how to get kids to and from schools safely. We believe students therefore cannot safely return to school and avoid the risk of transmitting this virus to others.”

Teachers’ unions had been pushing for a decision on the matter, which continues the current online learning approach as the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) begins working on summer learning programs for students at risk of falling behind in their schoolwork. A remote learning initiative is also being finalized for students and teachers as they continue remote learning activities from home.

Whitman Selectmen also endorsed a proposal from Selectman Brian Bezanson and School Committee member Fred Small that the town organize some kind of celebration during the summer for the Class of 2020, who will miss out on senior year milestones of prom and graduation.

“It would be nice if the town could come through with something to lift spirits after this kind of ruined their senior year,” Bezanson said.

But the bulk of discussion between Selectmen and Town Clerk Dawn Varley Tuesday night centered on when — and for how long — polls should be opened to ensure voting rights as well as the safety of poll workers.

Town Election

While the postponement to June 27 was approved, the issue of polling hours is still pending. The election must take place before June 30.

“It looks like, no matter what we do, we have to hold an election this year,” Lynam said. “Dawn’s concern is bringing people into Town Hall to vote.”

Varley stressed that she is concerned about protecting the health of her election workers — many of whom are senior citizens — as well as the public.

“If somebody were to get sick because of an election and because of me it would be a terrible thing to live with, and I want to do everything I can to protect the voters and to protect the people that work the elections,” she said.

She suggested a four-hour voting period with the option of voting by mail in state-wide elections. Lynam said six hours is also an option. Six-foot boundaries would also be marked off.

In the last 10 town elections an average turnout was 931 voters out of 10,453. The state has encouraged a four-hour voting window, the minimum allowed by law.

Selectman Justin Evans expressed concern that voting hours should not be restricted without first exploring other options, including possibly rotating election workers’ shifts.

“I just don’t like the idea of limiting any opportunities to vote,” Evans said.

Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski’s concern came from a different direction.

“If you’re trying to avoid people crowding into a place, the more you restrict the hours, the more you increase the opportunities for lots of people to show up at the same time,” Kowalski said.

Varley noted that people have asked if, as grocery stores are doing, certain hours could be set aside for seniors to vote or even holding the election outside.

“We’ve all thought of a lot of different things,” she said. “You can’t do any of that.”

Face masks cannot be required, either, she argued. Lynam said Selectmen could require it, but for an election, Varley said the town may be required to provide them, which Bezanson said the town could do.

Lynam expressed concern about that expense.

Drive-up dropboxes for depositing completed ballots were also discussed.

Since the hours do not have to be set right now, Varley said she will track the number of early ballots she receives as well as follow-up guidance from the state and surveying what other communities are doing, before the board decides that issue.

In other business, Selectmen voted to keep Town bill due dates as is, with interest or penalties waived for the period of March 10 to June 29.

HANSON — With the wind howling at more than 50 miles per hour, according to reports — and some areas recorded close to 80 MPH — the South Shore was one of the hardest hit areas during Monday’s rain storm.

Hanson homeowner Jen Durant was left shaken and scared, but had luck on her side after a tree fell over her during the peak of the storm. She was unharmed.

She had run outside to check the latch on their chicken coop during the wind and rain on Monday when she heard a terrifying crack and a pine tree fell as she stood just feet from its landing.

Durant who is a nurse at Brockton Hospital is on the front lines during the Covid-19 pandemic. She has had a busy work schedule, and is balancing home life with five teens at their East Washington Street home. The family was outside Tuesday cleaning up after the aftermath of the enormous pine tree, which spared their mother’s life and sheered the metal car port completely off the house.

Durant’s brother, David Towle, and  their father, also David Towle,  were breaking apart and towing sections of the large pine to release the trapped vehicles that were left inside and  under the twisted metal.  Durant said she could hear and see other pine trees falling in the grove behind her home as she made her way to safety.

Kerry Krup was home with her two teens at around 5:15 p.m. on Bowker Avenue a small side street in Hanson.

“I was downstairs and heard a horrific noise that was very loud and shook the whole house — so sort of in a panic — I ran upstairs where my two boys were,” said Krup.

Luckily the family was unharmed but shaken as the shattered glass and tree limbs entered one of the sons’ rooms who are aged 13 and 14.

It was a scary few minutes and a relief that everyone was OK, she said.

The limbs had gone through the roof but some of the attic was pierced were she accumulates her storage and sentimental keepsakes.

Rain poured in the kitchen where the limbs had pierced the roof like daggers as the fire department and building inspector, as well as her landlord, all came to assess the damages.

Remnants of the pine were left on the front yard Tuesday and just feet away some portions of the tree were like splintered blades vertically standing in the ground proving the force of the storm.

Having to consider social distancing during the pandemic, Krup who was calm and composed, said they are relieved to able to stay at the home (deemed safe by the building inspector) another positive in the frightening circumstances.

She said she was happy that nobody was hurt and considering the craziness during this time of pandemic it was a trigger of some anxiety having to let people in the house, she said.

“We tried to isolate ourselves and having to let people in to help also caused a bit of stress,” she said.

She commended the fire department for their quick response during such a hectic afternoon.

The Hanson Fire Department responded to 30 storm-related calls with two homes being struck by trees. Both were still habitable, according to Deputy Fire Chief Rob O’Brien. On Tuesday afternoon 50 percent of power was still out in the town of Hanson.

In Whitman, the hardest hit areas with tree limbs and wires down was in the area of Indian Trail and Arrow Drive, according to Whitman Fire Chief Timothy Grenno.

They had calls for storm related issues, however no reports of injuries or trees through homes, he added.

It took two tries, but the School Committee — meeting via Zoom conference call on Wednesday, April 1 — set the fiscal 2021 budget at $55,040,238 — the amount for the required budget to maintain level services without returning the four teachers cut from last year’s budget.

The budget number can still be changed but not the assessment method.

“We need to set a budget,” said School Committee member Fred Small in making the motion. “I cannot see any way, shape or form, or in any world, how we would set a budget that would be cutting anything that’s required. If our administration tells us that is the bare bones of what they need … then I think that’s what we need to support and that’s what we need to send to the towns.”

Whitman committee member Dawn Byers said she felt it was important to return the four teachers in order to reduce class sizes in elementary grades. She noted that the Whitman Finance Committee, meeting met Tuesday, March 31 and has a placeholder through which they are able to afford the assessment which incudes the four additional teachers.

Byers sought to amend the budget total to $55,320,238 — including the four teachers — but there was no second to her motion. The original $55,040,238 was voted down 5-4 [Hanson members Christopher Howard, Michael Jones and Robert O’Brien Jr. and Byers voted no]. Whitman’s Alexandria Taylor was not able to call into the meeting in time for the first vote. Two-thirds of all committee members, whether all are present or not are required to approve budgets.

The reconsideration was approved 7-3, with Taylor and Byers joining the affirmative votes.

Small then moved to have the original vote reconsidered. Reconsideration votes are permitted so long as they are moved by one of the yes voters on the same night as the original vote, School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes explained.

Committee member Christopher Scriven of Whitman suggested they “kick it to the no’s” to determine what it would take to pass a budget.

Howard said he was trying to make sure education is put first, but that if a budget is “slammed through” without working out an assessment compromise, it will fail. In Hanson, an override would be necessary for even a level-service budget.

Howard asked Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak to give the committee an idea what cuts would look like and that the 1/12 budget — which looks like a certainty for many districts across the state [see story opposite] — presents an opportunity to bring the towns together to work it our now.

Scriven said the ball really is in the towns’ court.

“If I vote no on this required budget, then that means I’m going to be voting at some point on a budget that’s less than what’s required, and I don’t want to do that right now,” he said.

O’Brien said he agreed with the $55,040,238 but cautioned that Hanson is not going to agree to an override, especially now that some people are finding their jobs and incomes threatened by the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Even before everything went on in the world, it was going to be a hard pill to swallow to get Hanson residents to vote an override — where, now, I don’t think they’re going to,” O’Brien said.

Jones agreed.

“At no point are we saying what you are presenting us is not correct, and we are not looking for you to make any cuts, or I am not,” Jones said to Szymaniak. “We just want to be able to sell to the town of Hanson, something that they’re going to vote yes on.”

Cullity reminded the committee a 1/12 budget would mean 48 staff cuts to Whitman-Hanson schools, mostly teachers.

“It’s up to the towns to figure out whether they are going to support the school system or not,” Cullity said, arguing for setting a budget. “I understand you’re looking for a compromise, a compromise isn’t going to happen.”

He said an override is almost certain.

Cullity said, without a budget figure to work with, the towns will not be able to reach a compromise.

O’Brien suggested changing the assessment method back to the alternative formula, based on pupil population, that night. Hayes said that was not possible.

Szymaniak said, traditionally, the committee passes a budget and the towns determine what they can afford.

Hayes said he voted yes because, while the assessment method can’t be changed right now, the committee can change the budget’s number right up to the date of town meeting votes. The state is also reviewing the statutory formula.

“I would implore everyone to find it in your hearts to be able to send a budget,” Small said. “The agreement, or whatever the two towns do, that’s separate from whatever we’re sending for a budget.”

He argued that he could not see decimating the school system.

“It was bad enough, what happened last year,” Small said. “I’m begging everyone. Please.”

Byers maintained that the four teachers are needed now, more than ever.

“Students are having a loss of learning right now, and it’s unacceptable to have class sizes of those sizes — especially in first and second grade, those early learners, learning to read,” she said.

Small said he was basing his motion on the budget administrators presented as what was absolutely required.

“I have to side on the fact that they’re the experts,” he said, characterizing this as an absolute need budget year. “I feel very strongly about class size and people doing the best we can for the kids.”

Byers reminded the committee that the four teachers had been included in the fiscal 2020 budget as necessary, but were cut anyway.

“What we’re doing today is horrible, and the position we put our great teachers in, having to teach behind the eight-ball, is not right,” Small agreed. “It’s not fair, but it’s life, and that’s what we have to deal with.”

He reminded the committee that one town can afford things, but the other town is struggling.

Byers replied that, while she respects the superintendent and the decisions made in the budget preparation, she reminded the panel that it sets district policy and she feels an obligation to students and teachers who will return in the fall after losing four months of learning.

“I want it all, if we’re talking what we really need … but I’m trying to be realistic, too,” Szymaniak said. “I just need a budget, because my teachers are anxious. We’re all anxious right now, that we’ve been talking about a number for three months … and the first vote of this committee was a no budget.”

He said that, based on the first vote, he and Assistant Superintendent George Ferro “are cutting right now” and were looking for a budget number to come out of the meeting to direct that work.

“Let’s set a budget,” Cullity said.

Howard said the intent of the budget process is to give the towns the ability to plan for what is coming from the school districts.

“I do think we’ve had sufficient discussions with the towns in terms of providing them with the numbers so they understand what needs to be done,” Howard said. “I think the larger issue right now is there is so much fluidity, as to what’s going on, I’m not sure the towns — even with the numbers we provided them — have a good understanding of what their revenues are going to look like and even what some of their expenses are going to look like.”

With people facing job loss before being asked to absorb a “massive [budget] swing” in Hanson and to vote on an override, Howard said he does not think the current budget is one the committee should be looking at before having some sense of what a compromise between the towns would look like.

Cullity said he understood Howard’s concern but that the committee’s jurisdiction is to provide a budget to the towns.

“They have to have figures to work with,” he said. “We don’t have to push an assessment on them now.”

“I think if there was a compromise, they would have come forward already, and shared any information they had,” said School Byers. “I haven’t heard that. Right now, we owe it to the teachers, who are working their tails off, and to the students, who are doing their best to participate.”

She said nothing short of level services — which, she added, isn’t enough — was acceptable.

Szymaniak was charged with meeting with town administrators John Stanbrook of Hanson and Whitman’s Frank Lynam between School Committee meetings, but Stanbrook was ill so the meeting did not occur.

Deciding how to instruct students at home — and salvaging what is left of the milestones for the Class of 2020 when, and if, school returns — is the challenge facing school superintendents right now.

Gov. Charlie Baker and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced last week that schools would not reopen before May 4.

“So far, we’ve been doing a deep-clean in the district, which will be completed on April 4, the original return date from the closure,” W-H Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak told the School Committee on Wednesday, March 25. Conley, Indian Head, Hanson Middle and Whitman Middle schools have been cleaned and closed down, with Duval and the High School set to be cleaned and shuttered by April 4. Access will be limited to Facilities Department personnel after each school is closed.

The cleaning cost the district $100,000, which Szymaniak expects may have to come from the district’s excess and deficiency account, which is intended for emergency expenses. [See budget story, this page]

District employees are being paid as if they are working through April 7, but Szymaniak said that could change for come employees depending on DESE’s directive. He stressed that he is following teachers and the inventive ways the are serving students at home through several social media pages.

“Our teachers are really working diligently at home, I see them, what they’re doing, on social media,” he said. “I’m seeing a lot of engagement with kids — creative ideas.”

Teachers are leaning on the project-based learning that DESE has been advocating.

School Committee member Dan Cullity asked how the closure will affect student learning, to which Szymaniak replied that he was looking for direction from DESE, since the original instructions on March 13 was for enrichment and connection with students, but no new learning or grading through April 7.

Home learning

Remote learning recommendations, released by DESE [doe.mass.edu] on March 25, include four guiding principals: the safety and well-being of students and staff is the top priority; the COVID-19 crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable students; the need to maintain connections between students and staff is paramount.; and that remote learning is not synonymous with online learning.

“I have MCAS, I have graduation still on the table,” Szymaniak said. “That hasn’t been voted out by the Legislature yet.”

Szymaniak said the district still plans on holding a graduation ceremony and work out proms and other end-of-the-year activities so that students now struggling at home have something to look forward to when and if school is returns to session.

“Whenever it is, we’re going to hold a graduation ceremony,” he said. “I don’t know what the graduation ceremony will look like if we still can’t meet with more than 25 people in a room … but we’re going to figure it our for those kids because we need positive and we need something to look forward to.”

South Shore Tech Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey also expressed the hope that schools would be able to lift the restrictions on size of gatherings.

“Our prom is late this year,” Hickey said. “It just happens to be in late May within a week of graduation. … All of those signature senior events are just all up in the air.”

For most schools, a May 4 return to school is within two weeks of the slated graduation date, Hickey added.

Eighth-grade trip cancellations were due to decisions made by national tour companies, Szymaniak stressed.

Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley’s revised guidance on remote learning is focusing on what is required vs. what is voluntary, or enrichment learning projects.

“What I think is going to become apparent by the middle of next week, is you will probably begin to see school districts come out with revised guidance and expectations on what they want kids to actually do,” Hickey said on Saturday. “I kids … or families think right now that this logging in and doing work remotely is voluntary, is that going to change?”

The teachers’ unions and school committee associations have both signed off on documents stating that while kids’ mental heath and safety are paramount, there is also a need to figure out ways at the local level concerning what remote learning looks like, Hickey said.

“It’s an important conversation, but it is complicated in terms of you’ve got to design a system … we’ve just got to make accomodations for families,” he said. “It’s one thing to say you’ve got a functioning computer at home, but if you’ve got three kids all of whom need to log in, now the question is are there enough devices?”    

Hickey said educators are creating a new normal.

“As of right now, [the W-H technology department] has fielded 4,000 calls to their help desk since we went out of school — for service, for Chromebooks, for kids, with parents asking for help and with teachers asking for help,” Szymaniak said. There have been 150 requests for student Chromebooks, which he was issuing Friday, March 27.

The process for that involved a “drive-by pickup” in the high school’s bus loop to ensure social distancing for community members and staff.

Hickey said SST, too, is loaning out devices for students to use at home when the need arises.

The next step is to check in with administrators and teachers to determine that students are logging in or contacting teachers. There is a plan for SST guidance staff to reach out to families if there is a concern.

“So we just have a sense for how everybody is doing, that’s really the foundation to it all.” Hickey said of the plans.

Szymaniak said the social-emotional well-being of students and their parents is paramount at this point.

Pre-K, kindergarten tuition

The Committee approved Szymaniak’s recommendation to suspend pre-K and kindergarten tuition payments for full-day pupils, and allocate for some prorated reimbursements for the time students are out, based on the closures since March 16. Three of those days are being calculated as snow days. The district is not paying for transportation during the closure.

“I don’t necessarily feel it’s equitable for parents to be paying for service for preschool or kindergarten when their teachers aren’t there,” Szymaniak said. “That will directly affect our budget, and I’m crossing my fingers that we wouldn’t have to go to excess and deficiency to balance our budget because we will be saving some money in either transportation or utilities … but that’s unknown to me.”

Additionally, through a new partnership between DESE and WGBH, educational resources will be posted on the department’s website, and middle and high school students can access WGBH and WGBY educational programming on WGBH and WGBY on the WORLD channel from noon to 5 p.m.

“Food service has been outstanding over the past two weeks,” he said. “We are delivering our meals [via deliveries of boxes of food to the homes of students on free and reduced lunch plans] at a two-week interval.” There are 46 families — with a total of 93 students among them — receiving that assistance.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved DESE’s request to waive the requirement that school meal sites must be located in areas where at least 50 percent of school lunch program participants are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Therefore, all school districts that are distributing meals during school closures related to COVID-19 and are focusing the distribution of these meals to children and teens in need of them are now eligible for USDA reimbursement. Further details will be released later this week.

Teachers have been directed to contact their students to maintain connection and communicate enrichment activities for the students to do at home. Speaking before Riley’s March 26 directives, Szymaniak anticipated more directives for teachers and parents.

“I’m very wary of overwhelming an already-overwhelmed household,” said Szymaniak, who has two elementary-grade children at home himself. “Speaking from experience, this is new. … My wife and I are educators and we’re both still struggling to get them on a routine of school work and academics.”

He said he could only imagine how other parents, working from home, or who have lost their job are trying to accomplish that task with material that may be new to their children.

“I have a concern about equity as far as delivery of services to our special education students and for our ELL (English Language Learner) students [are concerned],” he said, asking for patience from parents as teachers and administrators confront a new situation.

Hickey also noted students with IEPs are being given particular attention at his school, as well. He said paraprofessionals, as well as staff teachers, will be deployed to support students who need that extra assistance or direct instruction.

Among the issues they are looking at is the potential strain on device accessibility of parents and more than one child trying to use computers at home.

“If students are in that situation, they can still get a device from us,” Szymaniak said.

WHITMAN — The Board of Selectmen Tuesday, March 24, opted to delay any decision on whether the May 4 annual Town Meeting would be rescheduled until it meets again, via Zoom online conferencing app, on Tuesday, April 7 or April 21.

All other town boards are already using Zoom to conduct meetings. Hanson boards have moved to teleconferencing as well. WHCA TV will continue to broadcast recordings of the public meetings.

Town Administrator Frank Lynam and Selectmen Vice Chairman Daniel Salvucci were the only officials attending the meeting in person, with Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski and Selectmen Brian Bezanson, Justin Evans and Randy LaMattina attending via telephone.

The town by-laws call for the annual Town Meeting to be held on the first Monday in May and the Town Election on the third Saturday in May.

Lynam noted that Hanson Selectmen have vote to change their Town Meeting to June 15.

“I have discussed our schedule with the chair of the Finance Committee and, individually, with a couple of selectmen as well as some department heads,” Lynam said. “I believe that the town of Whitman is able to meet the May 4 schedule.”

He said the board’s decision would have to be based, in part, on whether they felt it was necessary since Hanson changed its schedule.

“I would think the only thing that would get in the way of a May 4 meeting or a May 16 election is the coronavirus pandemic,” Kowalski said.

Lynam noted that the town of Southwick held it’s Town Meeting that very night — in a parking lot, suggesting that residents car-pool, park behind a school and meet in an athletic field.

“And so, flash the lights once for yea and twice for nay?” Kowalski quipped.

“I guess there’s options other than the usual Town Meeting, but we don’t know now what’s going to happen on May 4,” Lynam said. “We don’t know that we’ll be ready from the social standpoint to meet of not, but one of the features that are being offered … is the ability of the Board of Selectmen to reduce quorum in order to hold meetings.”

The quorum for an annual Town Meeting is 50, but a quorum of 150 is needed for a special Town Meeting, Lynam said, advocating that some articles, that would take effect in the current fiscal year, be shifted from the special to the annual warrant to permit votes on them. Lynam said he is awaiting an opinion from Town Counsel on the proposal.

LaMattina advised a delay in deciding the Town Meeting date until the board’s next meeting to “see how this situation is playing out.”

Lynam said he wasn’t sure it was a decision that had to be made now, but wanted to raise the question for Selectmen to consider and to let everyone know that Hanson had changed it’s schedule. He said a decision on the Town Meeting date could be delayed until mid- to late April. The town needs to provide 20 days’ notice for a Town Election and seven days’ notice to post a Town Meeting date.

“Normally, we don’t utilize that time, but this is an extraordinary time,” Lynam said.

Evans raised a question about absentee voting, noting that current rules permit it only if one will be absent from the town on election day, has a religious obligation or an illness or disability that prevents them from going to the polls that day.

“Is there any movement on the state level to allow us to open that up?” Evans asked.

Lynam said there is also a provision already that people concerned about their health may cast an absentee ballot.

“I expect we’re going to see an extraordinary number of absentee ballots for the election,” Lynam said.

Transitions

In other business, Lynam announced the retirement plans of Council on Aging Director Barbara Garvey and Assistant Collector/Treasurer Michelle Hayes. Replacing Hayes, who retires April 30, is a priority hire, but the coronavirus could complicate the hiring process, Lynam said.

“The position she holds is critical, she is the assistant treasurer/collector,” he said, noting that Treasurer Mary Beth Carter wants to immediately begin to seek a replacement. “I’m a little concerned about trying to develop applicants with what’s going on today, but I also want to make sure we are responsive to Mary Beth’s concerns.”

Lynam plans to work with Carter over the next week or two in an effort to develop a process for beginning that search.

  

HANSON — Meeting an hour before the W-H School Committee on Thursday, March 12, a quorum of the Hanson Selectmen — Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett, Vice Chairman Kenny Mitchell and Jim Hickey — met with Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan for a discussion of the school budget.

“They’ve decided on the methodology of the budget, which thus far has been voted into by statutory [assessment], and tonight, they will be lowering the boom on the budget,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. The School Committee, instead, put off that decision at least until this week.[See related story, page 1]

“This isn’t just a Hanson problem, it’s a school problem, it’s a district problem, it’s a Whitman problem and it’s a Hanson problem,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “This can’t be just Hanson solving this problem.”

She told School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes that, in the spirit of partnership, Hanson officials would appreciate the schools bringing their budget “as far down as you can.”

One question FitzGerald-Kemmett had centered on why $117,000 for technology upgrades that Hanson, as did Whitman, budget as a capital expense was also included in the school budget.

Town Administrator John Stanbrook broke the school budget options into three scenarios — the first, simply the required budget increases Hanson’s assessment by 21.49 percent; the second, which also adds $280,000 to return four elementary teachers cut last year, increases it by 22.58 percent or $2.3 million; if the town also had a level-service budget is a 3.5 percent increase on the town or $1.83 million.

Based on FY ’20 assessment values of $1.29 per thousand, the average annual tax increase for a single-family home [$334,368] would have been $457 if an override had been done last year. Scenario 2 would put the increase at between $630 and $640.

Sullivan said his committee has been working under the idea that the required budget, aimed at providing level-service spending to the schools for fiscal 2021, would be the number with which it would have to contend. Hanson would have to come up with $1.87 million under a statutory assessment formula.

The town is already about $300,000 in the hole with a 4.5 percent budget increase for the town.

“We’ve earmarked some places, already, where we believe the first round of cuts ought to go,” Sullivan said. “We’re looking at every and all options that are on the table.”

Among the scenarios the Finance Committee is considering is a 10-percent reduction across all town departments. With the exception of the library, the town had added back all the positions cut 10 years ago during the recession.

“Our goal is to get this number down to a reasonable level where we would have to present an override to the town,” Sullivan said. “No one likes that override word, but it’s a matter of how much can we cut out of the budget to get it down to a reasonable level?”

Mitchell agreed that the town needs to start thinking that way.

“The only way to get by this [next year] is to increase the tax rate,” Sullivan said.

A Finance Committee member since 2012, Sullivan said he has not seen a deficit close to being this large that the town has had to overcome.

Mitchell also suggested a mediator might help resolve the issue between the two towns.

“Well that is a controversial little theory, there, Mr. Mitchell, and I like it,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said she was hoping the School Committee would recognize that the situation is not Hanson’s problem alone to solve. She said she personally does not favor an override, but that is a question for voters to decide.

The coronavirus may also have an impact, as FitzGerald-Kemmett said there has been some discussion of postponing town meetings. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has already waived the 180-day school year requirement.

“The School Committee meeting tonight, if it wasn’t an important meeting, I probably would have canceled,” said Hayes, who attended the Selectmen’s meeting.