HANOVER – The South Shore Tech Regional School Committee, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, was updated on the Capital Subcommittee’s work.

Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey said the subcommittee, along with its architect and engineering firm, had reviewed feedback and ideas about a potential new construction project on campus, intending to bring back some revised ideas to the subcommittee by the end of November.

The proposal is for a 9,000-square-foot structure to be placed at the front of the school in a grassy area between the two entrances, potentially allowing space for up to two programs. 

Hickey explained that the strategy is, by opening up some space, the school can relocate one shop while renovating some of the shop spaces in the 1962 wing of the building. Shops such as automotive, HVAC and electrical would then have more space to meet demand.

That doesn’t mean more students would be admitted – at least not in the short-run – Hickey said.

“But only 9,000 square feet might allow for a small increase,” he said. “I almost don’t want to promise that, but my theory is if we’re able to open up more space in higher-demand programs, then through the exploratory program … we might be able to take more kids, who we’ve already accepted, to major in those programs.” 

More “mundane” concerns such as the size of the school’s cafeteria and science labs are more likely to hinder any effort to accept new students right now, according to Hickey. If shop space renovation and expansion helps free up some space for science labs, he suggested that the 2023-24 school year might be the year they could see some success there, but it really needs to be part of a broader renovation project.

SST is really looking to the MSBA to open up more of the $100 million that the Legislature is discussing focusing on vocational schools.

“If we can tap into additional funds, then we can talk about the additional renovation that we all want,” he said.

In the meantime, the subcommittee is planning what it can do now.

“My hope would be that we would bring the scope of the idea to the full committee by our December School Committee meeting,” Hickey said.

All eight member communities had passed debt authorization approval at town meetings this spring, Hickey reminded the committee, a portion of which is intended to fund opportunities to renovate and/or expand shops. The disrict is still waiting on MSBA, as it has been on various projects for several years. Some interest-only borrowing would be done for the first few years.

“We went to our communities and said we need to make some adjustments, we have programs that need more space,” he said. “The communities responded, which is fantastic, so we’re taking the next step as quickly as possible.”

The project manager and engineer would work on revising the scope of planned projects. Subcommittee members have offered feedback on points and construction materials and Hickey said he would be meeting with Hanover officials about septic capacity.

The district plans to go out to bid on the building and shop renovation with an eye toward having two projects going on this summer – the shell of the new building and roof repairs to the 1992 wing of the school. It would also allow all construction planned for next school year to be to work on the interior of the new building, possibly with students working on it, with renovation of the shops planned for summer 2023.

“The beauty of the model that we see is that it would have no impact on the kids in the building,” Hickey said.

In the last few years, there have been scores of books written about healing the political divide in the United States – including “Uncivil Agreement,” by Lilliana Mason, “Why We’re Polarized,” by Ezra Klien and, notably “Trust: America’s Best Chance,” by 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg.

Most of these volumes focused on the national political picture, but as Buttigieg was known to point out, the presidency is not the only office that matters. We are also divided at the state and local level, he says and one former state official agrees.

Enter former state Rep. Kathleen Teahan, who’s new book – “For the People, Against the Tide: A Democratic Woman’s Ten Years in the Massachusetts Legislature – seeks to address that.

What’s one way to help build that bridge?

It takes everyone mending fences and working together, as Teahan puts it.

“I didn’t write it to make a profit,” she said with a laugh. “I wrote it as a gift and I self-published it. I just hope it makes a difference in the future.”

The self-published book is available on Amazon. She also has a website KathleenTeahan.com to further her mission of fostering a more civil political discourse while encouraging more women to seek office.

“I started it in 2009,” Teahan said in a phone interview last week from her Harwich home. “One reason is I want to leave the world a better place for my children and all children, and seeing the dysfunction of our government, on the federal level – and somewhat on the state level – and seeing the condition our country was in with the racism and divisiveness, lack of respect and honesty – I just had to get out what my experiences were, hoping to inspire courageous and caring candidates for political office and to get everybody to pay attention and vote.”

In 1995 Teahan lost her first campaign for state representative by 75 votes because many voters wondered if she was “too nice” for politics. Her memoir shows that “Nice” and “Courageous” are not mutually exclusive qualities. One of the 219 women compared to the over 20,000 men who, to date, has served in the Massachusetts State Legislature, Teahan, won her subsequent five elections with persistence and hard work. She loved every day working for the people of Abington, Whitman, and East Bridgewater and being a “voice for the voiceless.”

Before moving to the Cape 13 years ago, Teahan had lived in Whitman all her life. She has volunteered in political and other organizations in both places. Her connection to Whitman families, classmates, and friends remains strong no matter where she lives. Both her books; The Cookie Loved ‘Round the World, the story of the Toll House chocolate chip cookie and For the People, Against the Tide will be available at the Whitman Mother’s Club Candy Cane Craft Fair, on Saturday, Dec. 4.

She said her personal views and experiences lead her to never give up hope things will get better because she has seen the progress made since women’s sufferage 100 years ago.

“There’s a lot of hope, and I think a lot of it comes from women,” she said. “Even as I finished this memoir this year, I was one of only 219 women ever to serve in the Massachusetts Legislature in the history of it and there have been over 20,000 men.”

The “next chapter,” if you will, of her life is an effort to encourage more women to seek public office.

“Women bring a different perspective needed to balance out things,” she said. “Just like when you have any group, you need to have everyone to have a seat at the table to have it be the best it can and get a lot of different ideas.”

Getting out the vote is a key aspect of realizing that kind of representation, according to Teahan.

“Every one of us needs to be involved to keep democracy alive and bring it closer to the dream it was meant to be – the way we’ve always thought of it,” she said.

Teahan said the book “reads like a story” because, when she started it in 2008 she had talked with a couple writing agents, one of whom said she needed to put more of herself in the book. The other agent said memoirs are not that popular. That person’s suggestion that Teahan concentrate on writing about the Toll House cookie led to her first book – a children’s book titled, “The Cookie Loved ‘Round the World: the Story of the Chocolate Chip Cookie.”

“Now they are popular,” Teahan said of memoirs. She has held a book launch for “For the People, Against the Tide” (the title comes from an award she received from Healthcare for All when she was working on children’s oral health issues) in Harwich, but touched base with the Express to reach the people in the Whitman area.

“They’re the ones who sent me to the State House and I loved every minute of it,” she said. “It was quite an honor and I know there are many young people, especially Gen Z, who are passionate about making a better world and they are working hard.”

Teahan said writing it was her small part in helping young people, especially, learn how to do it and what needs to be done to attain elective office. One group she has already been speaking to is ActOn, one of whose goals is more transparency in government as well as more equalized power in the legislature, so the Speaker’s Office wields less control.

“I’m going to do what it takes to bring changes about,” Teahan said.

She’s hoping to “hit the road” to make library appearances and the like, to support the book and it’s message.

Former governors, Michael Dukakis and Deval Patrick, former Mass. Commissioners of Public Health, David Mulligan and Dr. Howard Koh, and seven others she worked with provide endorsements for this political memoir.

For the People, Against the Tide is available in paperback to bookstores and libraries through the book vendor, Ingram Publishing, and is for sale online through Amazon.

HANSON — The Recreation Committee will be fine-tuning its policy for fundraisers — as well as its continuing amending of other policies — at Camp Kiwanee’s Needles Lodge after some issues had been raised about programs planned by the South Shore Children’s Museum — a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit —founded by former Recreation member Juvelyn Hartwig.

No vote was taken on the issue during the Monday, Nov. 15 meeting.

Initially, concerns had been raised about unpaid bills, which have since been paid, a point verified by the town’s treasurer/collector. For that reason, new Recreation Chairman Frank Milisi did not allow discussion on that point.

Member Brian Smith had expressed concern over a fundraiser apparently approved Sept. 29, but was not brought before the committee previously.

“I’d like to know who these folks spoke to,” he said, also asking why it was presented as a private party rather than a fundraiser, for which the Camp should have been paid 20 percent of receipts. The 7 p.m. To midnight schedule also requires late hours for staff doing cleanup. He also questioned the handling of the liquor license and deposit check for the comedy night set for Nov. 19.

“We’re in a financial hole,” he said. “What are we doing?”

The paperwork had been received Monday, Nov. 8, but Camp Kiwanee Administrative Assistant Dori Jameson said she had received a call months ago from a museum representative Leah Snowdale. Selectman Jim Hickey said he took the liquor license application and check over to Town Hall for Jameson to offer a hand because he was going there anyway.

Vice Chairman Audrey Flanagan said the event had been on the calendar for quite some time, but had originally been planned as a drag show – which was not planned as a fundraiser. It was later changed to a comedy night fundraiser.

A security deposit for the prior event was rolled over to the fundraiser.

Fundraisers held at Kiwanee are supposed to be charged a fee, according to Recreation policy.

Hartwig stated to the Express, the fundraisers are vital to finding a new location for the museum.

“I’m not at all thinking there is anything deceptive about this, but it is completely unorganized,” said former Chairman Diane Cohen. “As far as the pricing, we need to raise our rates [and] I believe that is something the commission is going to be working on.”

Milisi said the rate discussion is “absolutely valid.”

“That’s something that needs to be addressed in the future so that, when a situation like this comes up, there’s a proper policy to protect both parties involved,” Cohen said.

Hartwig did contact The Express, after the meeting – and had spoken to the Committee, about the timing of the discussion. The meeting had been moved up to 6 p.m., despite her explaining to some members in advance, that she could not attend until 6:30 p.m., because of work commitments.

Their reign continues. 

For the 28th straight season — between fall and winter — the Whitman-Hanson Regional High cheerleaders are Patriot League champions. 

“A lot of our message this season has been a focus on having the team compete against themselves instead of others,” said head coach Alyssa Pietrasik. “We want to focus on beating our own last best record and continue to improve. We definitely did that in the league championship which I am insanely proud of.”

The Panthers topped their competition last Sunday, Nov. 7 on their home mats. 

“This is definitely one of our sweetest,” Pietrasik said. “The league championship is so important at Whitman-Hanson. It’s something we take pride in. Before results were in I let them know that either way, after their performance I was extremely proud of them. But I do have to say, it was great to win in our house on our mats with alumni, fans, families, and other W-H sports teams surrounding us.”

The Panthers have a quick turnaround time before their back on the mat. They’ll travel to Marshfield for the South regional championship this Sunday, Nov. 14. 

“Our goal is to continue to solidify this routine and master it,” Pietrasik said. “There’s potential to add a skill or two as well.”

The Panthers are captioned by seniors Jazzy Gomes, Tiffany Joyce and Samantha Sicuranza.

Make it two straight for the Whitman-Hanson Regional High cheerleaders. 

A week after capturing the Duxbury Invitational — their first live completion in two years — the Panthers took first place at Bridgewater-Raynham last Saturday, Oct. 30. 

“Another great day with these Panthers,” tweeted the team. “After a week of sicknesses and weather cancellations these athletes pulled it off. Now begins the journey to leagues.” 

And the Panthers will host that Patriot League championship this Saturday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m.

HANOVER — Supply chain issues are delaying the replacement of exterior windows in the 1992 wing of South Shore Tech until spring, its School Committee was told at the Wednesday, Oct. 20 meeting.

“We are not immune to these issues,” Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey said, adding that the delay would not involve any additional cost to the school. “The contractor will continue to work on the premise that they’ll do the work on the second shift or it won’t involve the displacement of students, but they can’t install what they don’t have.”

Hickey also reported that the school is beginning to work with engineering firm DRA and the district’s project manager regarding two projects that would lead to some construction being done next summer, if they stay on SST’s desired schedule.

Those projects are replacement of the roof on the 1992 wing and a the use of a portion of funds from the recent debt authorization approval to add some square footage.

The Capital Projects Subcommittee will hopefully begin meeting with a DRA representative by the end of October, but certainly before the committee’s mid-November meeting to hear a report on some “potential ideas,” Hickey said.

“We’ve talked for years about a lot of ‘what-ifs’ and we have operated under the premise that we’ve got to move some things around in order to make certain footprints better,” he said. He said the project would not only add space, but would also reorganize some existing space at the school.

One example would be the consolidation of automotive programs in order to allow them to share one space instead of two. The HVAC program could be moved to a slightly larger space and horticulture could be moved closer to a bay where it could access the use of some heavy equipment.

“We would expand the space of our electrical program, which consistently, we are unable to satisfy the annual needs of the students who want it,” he said.

The engineers would be assessing what the cost of the expansion project would be.

The construction, seen as the first step in the project, would likely be done in summer 2022, with students “to the greatest extent possible,” do the interior work during the 2022-23 school year, according to Hickey. 

He said that an estimate within the debt service portion of the budget, should be ready for examination in December.

The MSBA recommendation process has also been delayed because of COVID.

“We already have the funds available to engage feasibility … just give us the [MSBA] invitation and we’ll jump into the HOV lane for the MSBA and move this forward,” he said. “Hopefully, the seventh time’s the charm.”

In other business, three parents spoke during the Public Comment period regarding questions and concern about mask and potential vaccine mandates regarding COVID-19. The questions included whether the school could or would challenge state mandates and how students were disciplined for improper mask wearing. The Committee does not respond to issues raised during public comment because they may not be reflected in the posted agenda.

Hickey did say the school is reporting to parents about the status of active COVID cases on a weekly basis. As of, Oct. 20, there were no active cases among the school population.

Hickey reported that the entire school population — including students, staff, and coaches, both on and outside of faculty — vaccination rate is at 60.5 percent. Students are vaccinated at a rate of 55 percent and faculty and staff is about 80 percent, when calculated separately.

The current state guideline for concluding a mask requirement is 80 percent of school population, but local communities could decide to retain the mask back to the optional/strongly recommended level even at that point.

“We have to see what the guidance is,” Hickey said. “If [DESE] removes the mask mandate, then it becomes a local matter.”

The school’s MCAS results reflected the reduced number on in-school instruction days, Principal Mark Aubrey said in his report to the School Committee.

“They also reflect the year before, when they were not in school for three months,” he said. “Overall the students and staff did an incredible job. Do we have places we need to work on? Of course we do, we would never say we don’t.”

Just under 80 percent of students received a score of advanced or proficient in science, which is what the state requires, 17 percent need improvement and a small percentage (six students total) did not make the grade yet, according to Aubrey. There were 163 freshmen, 162 sophomores and 23 juniors taking the exams (for Adams scholarships).

In English, 15 percent of sophomores and juniors exceeded and 60 percent met state goals, with 2 percent not passing. Math scores showed the need for teacher/student interaction, Aubrey said.

Teachers are made available to help students who need remediation on the subjects they did not pass.

Assistant Principal Sandra Baldner reported that the Allied Health program has received a $2506,000 skills capital grant, which will fund a doctor’s office, industry standard oil immersion microscopes, AEDs and CPR mannequins. A $100,000 Mass Life Sciences grant will allow construction of a biotech lab inside a classroom space.

HANOVER — South Shore Tech school administrators reported a “little bit complicated, but normal” start to the school year during the region’s School Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

Principal Mark Aubrey said there are challenges to be handled, but officials are working through them, including trying to handle traffic layouts to improve the time involved at the start and end of school days.

“We’re also working inside to keep the children as safe in learning as possible,” he said.

Some traditions are also returning, including the annual Ken Thayer Classic Car Show, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 3. The Parent’s Association will host its fundraising craft fair from 9 a.m. To 3 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 16. Open House for grade eight students interested in possibly attending SST is being planned for Saturday, Nov. 6.

“School spirit has taken a hit during COVID,” Aubrey said. “We haven’t had fans at games, there hasn’t been a lot going on, so I’m going to focus this year on school culture and making sure that people are happy to be here and excited to be here.”

From a welcoming façade to ensuring that the school works in a way that makes both students and staff feel they belong and are valued.

Banners, a small business alumni Hall of Fame, a showcase of achievement – both sports and SkillsUSA trophies and awards — student-created murals in hallways are planned, as well as an outdoor fall dance with a harvest theme so that masks will not be an issue.

“We are forming an Equity Committee … having an equitable school culture for everybody involved,” Aubrey said. “This is an organization that’s going to talk about reality and education and promotion of equality throughout the school to make sure everybody’s voice is being heard.”

A recent day when the football and soccer teams joined the crowd to cheer on the volleyball team, was an example of that, said Aubrey, noting he has lauded the students for supporting each other.

Assistant Principal Sandra Baldner thanked the committee for a “school year that feels mostly normal.”

She reported that students and teachers alike are settling in well.

“It’s great to see students back in the building,” said Superintendent/Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey. “We were in school a lot last year, but it’s great to be back every single day — and under these very challenging circumstances, people are doing their best every day.”

The school’s window replacement project has been interrupted by supply chain delays, but any work to be done once materials are delivered will be done after school to avoid interfering with instruction at no added cost.

The estimate is that the project will take about 24 workdays to complete, Hickey noted, saying he is hopeful that work would begin by Sept. 30.

A walk-through of the building for the next slate of projects was expected to take place soon — that work includes roof replacement on the 1992 side of the building as well as beginning conversations about a targeted building addition, Hickey added.

“I would like to be in a position that, as we prepare the fiscal 2023 budget, we will have an educated estimate of costs for both of those projects so as to make estimates on the debt service,” he said. The district has a debt service approval behind them and now must begin the process of planning out the projects.

“Between now and December, there will be a lot of work to be done,” Hickey said. That includes going out to bid and hiring contractors in the spring for work to be done next summer.

In other business, the committee approved an interim public comment policy, being worked on by the policy subcommittee since 2020, provides the committee chairman with some guidelines on the public comment process, including time limits, according to Hickey.

Frank Molla was welcomed as Hanson’s new representative to the committee.

HANSON — Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding’s effect on the town’s assessment change was involved  in a heated discussion about school assments at the Monday, Sept. 13 meeting of the Hanson Board of Selectmen.

Former Selectman Bruce Young challenged the way a $1.85 million override was voted at the annual Town Meeting this spring — $1.55 million for general government and about $305,000 for the school district whether the override passed or failed. He also questioned how the $304,885 was dropped from the Hanson assessment.

“You need to consider going back to Town Meeting and changing line 54 of Article 5 of Town Meeting to read $12,646,000,” Young said in urging support of his article requesting that change. “If you don’t do that, before Sept. 20, what you’re going to end up with is that $305,000 that everybody knows is never going back to the School District in fiscal ’22.”

Like Whitman resident John Galvin at the Sept. 15 School Committee meeting, Hanson Town Administrator Lisa Green noted that the committee voted to lower the assessment by the amount of the grant on April 14.

“That had been in the original budget all along, so it’s not like he added it to the budget, but what he did was say, OK, I’m no longer going to charge this to Whitman and Hanson, I’m going to pay for it out of our ESSER III funds,” Galvin said of his question about school interventionists funded by the Whitman assessment this week.

Green explained this Monday that, when the budget lines were called out at this year’s Town Meeting, Young held that several line items for question and explained his concern to voters and proposed a motion to lower the lines he questioned in an attempt to lower the budget. He also challenged the override in an effort to change the assessment. The Town Meeting voted to accept the line items anyway.

“You cannot go back and undo a Town Meeting vote unless you follow the right procedure,” Green said. “Mr. Young did not do that.”

The $305,000 may still be used by the schools for capital needs during FY ’22, Green said.

“The money is there for the schools if they need it,” Green said. “At the end of the year [the unused portion] goes back to the Dept. of Revenue and it’s certified as free cash.”

Young has challenged the Town Meeting vote with several state agencies, Green noted.

She said there has not been a single state agency, including senior managers for education and municipal associations alike, that has come to the district to say the budgeting process has been invalid.

“Believe me if the [attorney general’s office] catches an error on procedure or anything, they are the first to reach out to you,” Green told Seletmen, Thursday, Sept. 16. They then provide the procedures and steps to correct it.

“We have not done anything wrong,” she said, adding that the impact on taxpayers would be “pennies on a tax bill … but that’s beyond the point,” Green said emphasizing there is no wrongdoing involved.”

One Selectman saw Young’s point during the Town Meeting debate.

“I was a constituent at the time, and I had some issues with this and brought it up to a couple of people, but it’s all said and done at this point,” Selectman Joe Weeks said of his Town Meeting vote. “We were trying to save jobs, quite frankly, and were trying to fund schools. … But I definitely, as a concerned citizen brought up the same issue [as Young].”

“When I became aware after Town Meeting, that there was that discrepancy, we definitely reached out to town counsel,” Selectman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “We did not take these accusations and allegations with a grain of salt. …This was a matter or timing of when the vote came down and the ballot had to be printed.”

She explained it was not the original intent to put the $305,000 into free cash. Selectmen Chairman Matt Dyer said the money might still be used for a schools capital need, if not, it would go to free cash.

FitzGerald-Kemmett suggested the whole board be involved in strategizing on how the matter would be handled.

“We all should have been made aware that there was a $305,000 difference and we all should have been part of a conversation about how that was going to be handled,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “I would hope we’ve learned from this.”

At a special Sept. 16 Selectmen’s meeting, she indicated an understanding of where the concern is coming from — “It doesn’t feel like that was really transparent,” she said. “But to question the credibility or the integrity of the process…”

But the problem really stemmed from poor timing.

The School Committee originally had an assessment of $12,251,003. On April 14, the committee learned that the district had received a grant for the school’s food services department, according to Green.

“At that committee meeting, they lowered the assessment by that amount,” she said. The annual Town Meeting was two weeks later.

An article submitted by Young to reduce the amount approved at the annual Town Meeting to $12,646,118 — which had been rejected at the Town Meeting — failed to attain a second.

“You made an appropriation to the schools,” Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff said. “I think the reality is it’s acceptable at this point.”

The assessment in question was to the schools and the town did not find out until it was too late to react.

“It’s not uncommon to overbudget,” she said.