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How to celebrate graduation?

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Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said that, despite Gov. Charlie Baker’s announcement last week that schools would not reopen this year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has indicated that parents should not expect major changes to the home-learning plan.

There are 37 more school days’ of remote learning left on the school calendar.

He updated the School Committee at its Wednesday, April 22 meeting.

Summer learning and special education program plans have not been firmed up as yet, according to Szymaniak. Conley Camp and some other recreation-based programs have been halted for now with the ending of the school year.

“We don’t really know what it’s going to look like in the fall,” he said.

Graduation and end-of-the year events have been a big topic of discussion among superintendents.

“We have not canceled graduation,” Szymaniak said. “It’s not going to happen on the traditional graduation day at this point, but we’re looking at dates in July and August — the later, the better.”

He said he has receive emails from about a dozen people outlining various ideas for graduation ceremony alternatives and they have been forwarded to the seniors for feedback.

“The students really [have] appreciated what the teachers, what the administrators, what the community has done for them during this time,” Szymaniak said was the most important message coming out of the Superintendents’ Council’s conference call. “We’re still trying to be optimistic, although cautiously, of what we can do.”

One option is a drive-by parade so seniors can say goodbye and thank-you to teachers.

A plan has also not yet been devised by which students can retrieve belongings from school desks and lockers.

South Shore Tech’s Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey said Saturday, April 25 that, while nothing has been decided yet, school officials have been communicating with seniors and that the Class of 2020 seems to prefer doing “something face-to-face when it is appropriate.”

“If they had to choose between something virtual in June and something face-to-face in the fall, they’d prefer to actually walk across a stage somewhere in some fashion,” Hickey said, indicating that could even mean waiting as long as Thanksgiving when college students would be home from break.

Some colleges and universities are also discussing keeping students off campuses until January 2021.

The traditional congratulatory lawn signs, a project of the Parents’ Association, and Class of 2020 T-shirt distribution will go on as scheduled.

“We need to mark the occasion of what would have been the graduation with something,” Hickey said. The end of the school year paperwork will also go on as usual.

“For the most part its just an ongoing experiment,” he said of the remote learning situation.

W-H School Committee members stressed that the communities have to do something to celebrate thee Class of 2020.

“What about a parade?” said Committee member Fred Small. “Maybe the towns do something as well as the school district to acknowledge what these kids are actually missing.”

Szymaniak also suggested a recognition ceremony for W-H graduates who have earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from colleges and universities that have also canceled graduation ceremonies this spring in a local ceremony following the high school graduation when it happens.

“Once a Panther, always a Panther,” Szymaniak said. “The challenge for that is, we don’t have a timeline because of this virus.”

Small and member Dawn Byers lauded the idea of a local ceremony for college and university graduates.

Byers also raised questions middle school parents had asked about learning expectations and grading. Szymaniak said it is a challenge, but parents can reach out to school administrators for help in keeping students engaged.

He has also asked public safety personnel to do wellness checks on families that have not been connecting to the schools, to make sure there is no need for other services such as food for the family.

DESE is surveying school administrators about what technology needs they are facing, as well as expected federal stimulus funds for school cleaning and technology.

Still no school budget

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The School Committee on Wednesday, April 22, again failed to set a fiscal 2021 budget figure as the assessment formula impasse continues.

The committee voted 5 to 4 against setting a budget number of  $55,320,238. Committee members Steven Bois, Dawn Byers, Dan Cullity, Fred Small and Alexandria Taylor voted in favor of Byers’ motion for a $55,320,238 budget, including the return of four teachers cut last year. Christopher Howard, Michael Jones, Christopher Scriven and Chairman Bob Hayes voted no. Member Robert O’Brien Jr., was not present. Hayes said his no votes were because of expected information from the state by the end of the week.

“There’s no ‘win’ in this, this isn’t a game,” he said. “We’re trying to do the best we can and there’s 10 of us.’

Two-thirds of the full committee must vote in favor of a budget for it to pass.

In the fiscal 2020 budget, the bottom line was $52,425,738. The required budget without the added four teaching positions is $55,040,237 — a 5-percent increase equating to $2,614,499.

Small moved that the budget be set at $55,040,237, which was also rejected by a 5 to 4 vote. Bois, Cullity, Small and Taylor voted in favor of the lower number with Byers joining Howard, Jones Scriven and Hayes in voting no.

Taylor asked if she was correct in her conclusion that there was no number Hanson members would support unless they heard something different from the committee regarding an assessment compromise.

“That is true,” Jones said. “Until Whitman makes a deal with our selectmen, we’re not going to vote yes.”

“Excuse me for being rude, but I think that’s extremely irresponsible,” Taylor said. “We need to set a number.”

“That’s your opinion,” Jones said. “You’re going to set a budget that Hanson’s going to oppose and [for] years and years, that’s going to have negative effects on our district. We’re looking at the bigger picture.”

Taylor said she is losing patience with the committee, even as she sympathizes with Hanson’s position. Howard has asked for the assessment discussion to be placed on this week’s agenda.

Byers opposed the lower figure as failing to address class size requirements before the schools reopen in the fall to students returning for the first time since mid-March.

“I believe setting this budget does meaningfully protect our students, because what it does is tell Commissioner Riley that we believe in what our students need,” Byers said in support if the $55,320,238. “We know what they need, we know what our teachers need, and that’s what we’re voting for.”

Cullity argued waiting another four or five weeks to set a budget would accomplish nothing, reminding the committee that its job is to set a budget that the towns are charged with voting on it.

“I’m not saying this is it, and it can’t change,” Cullity said about the budget number. “We shouldn’t be taking things away from the kids. We’ve got to throw it at the towns and see what the towns say.”

Small agreed, arguing that setting a budget now would not avoid a 1/12 budget, but towns need information.

“I firmly believe, based on the new information from the superintendent, the changing times, the $53 million and change as a budget is the bare-bones of what these kids need,” Small said. “To do anything else … would not be a responsible act. Let’s give the towns the number.”

Howard countered that he would like to see an agenda item next week that allows a vote on rescinding the statutory assessment formula, allowing Hanson officials to come up with a compromise. He argued that Whitman’s take-it-or-leave-it attitude would decimate the district.

“As a committee, we have to put forth that [budget number] to the towns to vote on it,” Cullity said. “But we can’t keep taking away from the school system. We have to set the goal and give them what we think the children of the region need.”

Whether both towns approve that budget number is not up to the School Committee, their job is to inform the tows as to what the schools need.

“We still need to get a budget out of committee,” he said, arguing a compromise is unlikely this year. “Then, if it’s denied, it’s brought back to us again to discuss, but hen we really have to take on a bigger role of what is going to happen to the future of this school district.”

While agreeing that the committee’s role is to support the district as much as possible, Scriven, like Small, Cullity and Byers, a Whitman resident, argued there has not been a concerted effort in good faith from Whitman to come up with a compromise.

Superintendent of Schools Jeff Szymaniak. “The challenge is … we’re getting conflicting guidance with COVID and the fact that town meetings are moving around … on how a 1/12 budget will look for regional schools.” Some towns within regional districts aren’t going to have town meetings until June or July, if they can have them, he related.

Because schools will not reopen for the rest of the year, Szymaniak is compiling cost estimates from facilities, athletics honorariums for spring varsity coaches who have been working to keep students engaged. But he expects to see savings in athletics, regular building cleaning costs and utilities.

“We just don’t know those savings yet,” he said.

Whitman Selectman Randy LaMattina had asked in a letter to Christine Lynch of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) about the problems in agreeing to a budget, specifically whether if, under a 1/12 budget, Whitman could end up providing more payments than last year, ultimately giving the distict more than level-funding in fiscal 2021.

Lynch responded that many, if not most, regional school districts will be operating under a 1/12 budget this yea, and that DESE would soon be issuing guidelines to help districts and member towns navigate the process.

The commissioner of education would set a budget that is, generally, not less than the previous fiscal year’s, but member assessments would change from the previous fiscal year due to changes in minimum local contributions, enrollment shares and potential changes in state aid.

Further guidance was expected to be issued Friday, April 24, prompting Hayes to schedule another School Committee meeting for Wednesday, April 29 (after the Express goes to press).

Szymaniak said he may be able to recoup costs of COVID-related expenses from cleaning and safety equipment, but it takes time to process state and federal paperwork. Because van drivers who work with North River Collaborative are furloughed, he also expects a 50-percent savings in special education transportation costs for the remainder of the school year. North River teachers are still working and paraprofessionals are either engaging with students or working on required professional development benchmarks and are being paid, even while the students are not being transported.

Cafeteria workers were being furloughed on Monday, April 27.

Now that school is out, the lack of preschool and kindergarten tuition will create a deficit in those programs.

Small asked if other school budget lines were being examined for potential cost savings.

“We’re going to look at everything, not that it’s official,” Szymaniak said about the decision to keep schools closed. “We will have some savings. I just don’t have those dollar figures now.”

Byers suggested that, when the 450 Chromebooks out on loan to students are returned, the district would likely be faced with repair or replacement costs for damaged units.

“Not only repairs and replacement, but we’re going to have to clean them,” Hayes said. “It doesn’t sound like much, but the cleanliness of these buildings is all going to come into play before September.”

Assistant Superintendent George Ferro raised the question of what schools would have to do if student desks have to be placed six feet apart in September.

A 1/12 budget based on fiscal 2020, could result in the loss of 48 more people, including unemployment costs, with an impact on class size across the district, Szymaniak said.

“Coming off of a timeframe where kids haven’t been in a classroom since March, that’s a tremendous effect on student learning in this district,” he said.

“I think it’s best that we hold off and get as much information as we can,” said Scriven. “The more we educate ourselves, the better.”

Clean Up Green Up adjusts to realities of COVID-19

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This spring marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 25, 2020.  Let’s celebrate by joining Green Hanson’s annual Clean Up Green Up by cleaning up our town.  During Earth week, April 19-25 let’s all try and spend some time cleaning up trash along our streets.  The Hanson Highway Department has joined us in our efforts and will be helpful disposing the trash appropriately.

Where to participate?  Here’s some “hot spots” that have been pointed out:

County Road; Route 27 near the transfer station and towards Elm Street, as well as the top of Elm Street; pockets along Winter Street, especially near Brook Street;  pockets of all along Whitman Street, especially near King Street to Route 58;  pockets along West Washington Street; Maquan Street near the pond; and anything else you can find!

What to do?   Go prepared with garbage bags, boots, gloves (vinyl/plastic are best), brightly colored clothing with long sleeves and pants.  Be careful of your surroundings, and watch for ticks and sticker bushes.

When you are done collecting, you can notify the Hanson Highway department and you can drop the bags off at 797 Indian Head St.  Please notify them via email:  highway@hanson-ma.gov or call 781-293-2822 that you are leaving bags from Clean Up Green Up.  If the trash is too heavy, bulky, too much for your car, you can call or email as listed and a member of the Highway Department will come pick your hard work.

If you are on Facebook, post your work on a Hanson page, or on the Green Hanson page so we can see how much trash we have all picked up.  For more information on Green Hanson, please contact:  greenhanson@gmail.com.

Schools remain closed

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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.

Keeping ‘Whitman Strong’

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WHITMAN — On Sunday, April 19, a steady parade of vehicles stopped in front of the LaMattina house on River Birch Circle all morning. They stopped long enough for Selectman Randy LaMattina or his wife Michelle to load something in the back before driving away.

Residents were taking delivery of 18X24 Whitman Strong lawn signs, designed by 14-year-old Clare LaMattina to benefit the Whitman Food Pantry. She has raised $4,000 so far.

“Awesome! Great idea!” one woman said as the signs were loaded into her vehicle.

By afternoon, the signs were popping up on front lawns or windows of homes and businesses all over town — with photos posted on social media. The signs are intended to show solidarity and support of frontline essential workers and community spirit, as well.

A member of the Girls in Action Club at Thayer Academy, where she is an eighth-grader, Clare has sold about 220 of the signs at $15 each in four days. Of those, 80 were sold in the first two hours. Some residents have made “overwhelming” donations above the purchase price, and the extra cash will be used to purchase gift certificates to area restaurants, which will also be distributed through the food pantry.

“We’ve been thinking that people who can’t afford groceries, probably can’t afford to go out for a pizza, and how much would their kids love that?” Michelle said.

A second batch of signs was being ordered for delivery to the LaMattinas on Wednesday.

“We really focus on giving back to our community,” Clare said of the club. “I wanted to bring it back to my home community to support people who were less fortunate during this time and to help support them.”

Whitman Food Pantry President Bruce Perry stopped by the LaMattina’s to talk about the need in the community his organization serves.

“We have seen an increase [in demand], but only around 10 percent,” Perry said. “We were expecting a lot more. We have a lot of food at the food pantry and we’re just waiting for that surge.”

He noted news photos of lines of cars streaming to food pantries in other areas of the country.

“People may be afraid or embarrassed to come,” he said.

Normal pantry procedure has clients provide their income information for government statistics. But that is being waived during the pandemic.

“We’re not taking names, we’re not taking any information, the only thing we’re asking is that they show proof of Whitman residency,” Perry said. Residents are asked to call ahead at 781-447-8560 and leave a message that will be returned. When a time to stop at the pantry is provided, a box and a couple of bags of food items will be brought out to one’s vehicle at the 44 Blake St., loading dock. No one is allowed in the pantry at this time.

Those ordering signs are asked to drive around the cul de sac and stop in front of the house at 6 River Birch Circle, where they give their name for Clare to check off her list while one of her parents loads the signs.

Physical distancing is observed in that way, and the LaMattinas wear masks and/or gloves while handling the signs. Buyers were asked to post a photo of their sign on Facebook, once placed.

Some people asked for the signs to be delivered.

“We’re thinking once they are out in circulation, it’s going to boost it again,” Michelle said.

At first the sale was only posted on Michelle LaMattina’s Facebook page, but it was later posted to the Whitman Connection page, which helped sell another 100.

“We knew we had to put Whitman Strong on it,” Clare said. “Then a heart, because we’re supporting everybody and we want to spread the love and the paw, because we’re the Panthers.”

She said the Whitman Food Pantry was selected as a beneficiary because it’s harder for people to afford food when they lose their jobs.

“We’ve helped with the food pantry before, whether it’s through school or town committees, but we said we don’t want people to feel embarrassed to go to the food pantry, that’s why it’s there,” Michelle said. “This is a trying time. It’s a great thing in the community that people put a lot of effort into.”

Right now, food donations are not being accepted at the pantry because the virus can live on surfaces for a couple of days. Donations like Clare’s allows the Whitman pantry to purchase from the Greater Boston Food Bank for 29 cents per pound, where items are cleaned and have been sitting for the requisite time.

“We want people to call,” Perry said. “You can take the money you saved and pay a bill or something. Please call. … We have tons of volunteers that want to help.”

Perry also said the gift card donations help, because the pantry is not permitted to write a check to businesses for them due to federal regulations.

Businessman Richard Rosen has also made a donation to the project.

“I just think what she’s doing is so admirable,” Rosen said of Clare LaMattina’s project. “For a young person to take on a challenge like that is just amazing.”

He said it showed a sense of moral resoponsibility as well as a shot in the arm for the pantry.

“The food pantry desperately needs funds all the time,” he said. “That’s why we donate half of what we make on every year’s road race. There’s need, and this year, more than ever, there’s more need. … And you really need to support something like that. It’s great for the community.”

The McGuiggan’s 5K Road Race is being postponed at least until September, Rosen said.

Regional pact panel convenes

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A committee reviewing the regional school agreement has agreed, in principle, that a statutory assessment to the towns is the likely result of its work, has begun the task of negotiating a compromise path by which to get there.

The W-H Regional Agreement Amendment Committee, a subcommittee of the W-H School Committee, met remotely for it’s first session via Zoom Meeting Wednesday, April 15.

School Committee Vice Chairman Christopher Scriven, of Whitman was elected as chairman, as subcommittees are generally chaired by a member of the School Committee.

Scriven opened the meeting by seeking for suggestions within the charge of amending the regional agreement that could help resolve the current impasse on the school budget.

“If we look at the exiting regional agreement, the language around the apportionment of operating costs … presently spells out the agreement methodology that I think everyone on this call is fully ware of,” said Hanson School Committee member Christopher Howard.

He suggested a phased approach of specific language within the agreement to create a framework that would enable the two communities to move past this year after focus only on that issue until the budget is settled.

“Then, after the budget cycle, or concurrently, we work toward fully working through the agreement itself,” he said.

Howard said just tweaking the last revision is not enough, but that the new committee must look at too many issues to re-examine them all at once.

“What I would propose is a phased approach,” he said.

Whitman Finance Committee Chairman Richard Anderson, also a member of the RAAC, said he was unable to adequately convey his disgust at the School Committee’s inability to agree on a budget yet. He reminded the panel that the Whitman FinCom has stated publicly before that it will not support any assessment calculated by any formula other than the statutory method.

“I’ve been tasked further by the full committee to publically state that this Finance Committee will not recommend any phased implementation or any other financial consideration that causes us to pay Hanson’s bills,” Anderson said. “I would say I am opposed to any recommendation for changes to the regional agreement that would effect that type of a change.”

Hanson Citizen At-Large member of the committee Bruce Young said it was his impression that, in order to be on the panel, that he should be willing to compromise to help reach an agreement.

He agreed to keep an open mind on the issue.

“If you take a hard-ball approach and say, basically, this is going to be statutory or nothing, or basically this is going to be a percentage of pupils or nothing, then … there would be no way in the world that I would want to be on that committee,” Young said. “I’m looking for a fair compromise.”

He noted that Hanson would like to continue to operate the assessment split the same way as has been done for the past 60 years, and he recognized why Whitman would favor the statutory method, which benefits Whitman by about $1.5 million. Young agreed with Howard that an average of the two methods — which puts the towns at only $500,000 to $600,000 apart — is a better place to start.

The statutory method takes into account a town’s minimum per pupil expenditure designated by DESE — the minimum local contribution — which fluctuates based on inflation, wage adjustment, town’s total earned income, property values and municipal revenue growth. Anything in a budget over the minimum local contribution goes to the regional agreement, based on pupil population, for any other operating expense.

There is no requirement for unanimous agreement by both communities to use the statutory method.

The agreement/alternative method uses strict per-pupil representation to assess the communities, the method currently used by the district. Both communities have to pass the assessment methodology prior to the budget distribution or at town meeting in order to use this method. If one town does not vote the budget forward and the other does, it does not constitute unanimous agreement for the method to be used.

Hanson Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said that, while she can appreciate where Anderson is coming from, he is one member of the RAAC.

“If the majority of the committee is willing to work on some type of compromise … we’ve got to start someplace,” she said. “Without compromise, I don’t even see why we’re meeting.”

Whitman Citizen At-Large member Christopher George said any compromise must be carefully drafted, assuming a compromise is possible.

George presented the argument that a statutory assessment was the likely end result, and that the work of a compromise would involve how the towns arrive at that point. Howard, FitzGerald-Kemmett and Young all agreed that the argument had merit.

Local assessments are not permitted to go down, he noted.

“We should outline the goals of this committee before we get too far into this conversation,” said Whitman Selectman Justin Evans, also a member of the RAAC. “Even if we were able to send something to DESE tomorrow, they’ve got a lot going on right now. They’re probably not going to be able to approve anything for the next two months.”

He cautioned that any compromise agreement reached for this budget cycle would have to fall under the current regional agreement and Chapter 70 rules.

“To be honest, my objective was to get past our [budget] impasse, and however we need to do that legally,” Scriven said. “We can meet as often as we need to.”

After the subcommittee reaches an agreement, it must be approved by the full School Committee and sent to DESE for approval and ratification by the towns. Anderson likened it to an “exercise in futility,” as he did not think it likely that either town would accept any type of compromise that includes its town departments supplementing their budgets with budgets of a member town.

If an average for compromise were to be used, he advocated going back over the past six years that Whitman has overpaid — a figure he put at closer to $4.2 million — as a starting point.

“In my estimation, the compromise has already taken place and [Whitman is] still on the losing side,” Anderson said.

Howard argued both towns have benefitted financially from the regional agreement.

Young asked for an explanation of “retroactive overpay” and stressed that if someone actually believed in it, the committee was not going to get anywhere.

Anderson said that was not the term he used, but that he could provide documentation to the committee on the amount Whitman overpaid in assessments after the state shifted to the statutory agreement.

Scriven stressed the benefits of the region above financial consideration and that he hoped the committee would keep that in mind. Anderson agreed, but noted Whitman also faces the financial challenges of a new or renovated middle school and a DPW facility where conditions could accurately be described as hazardous — in the coming years.

Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said the committee’s charge is also to review the regional agreement in its entirety, but the first task if getting out a school budget that the towns can vote on in June.

Winds hit Hanson hard, cause power outages, damage homes

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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.

Hanson May tax bills deadline extended to June 1

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HANSON — Residents will receive an extra month to pay tax bills due May 1, as the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, April 14  votes to extend tax bill payment deadlines to June 1.

Meeting remotely via the Go To Meeting teleconferencing app, Town Administrator John Stanbrook told the board he has met to discuss the issue with Tax Collector Jean Sullivan several times over the past week to go over a new law passed last week with the Department of Revenue.

Hardship appeals, as advocated by Selectman Matt Dyer last week, are not allowed under the new law which only permits towns to either change the due date or not.

Bills can’t be limited to real estate or personal property, either. Penalties and interest must be waived on all bills — motor vehicle excise, real estate and personal property taxes and water bills issued after March 10.

“It’s either all or nothing,” Stanbrook said. “We can’t set a due date in between May 1 and June 30 to start charging interest. It’s either we set the date at May 1 or we set the date at June 30 … there’s no gray area in between.”

The three options open to Selectmen were to move the due date of all the bills from May 1 to June 1 with interest or penalties kicking in after June 1; keep the May 1 due date with no interest or fees applied until June 30; or make no changes at all.

Sullivan recommended the first option, which would mean the loss of only one month’s interest, according to Stanbrook.

In 2019 interest and fees revenue for May was $19,329 — $9,700 for motor vehicle excise; $7,900 for real estate and personal property and $1,640 for water bills in rounded figures. June interest and fees were $12,890 — $5,800 for motor vehicle excise; $6,200 for real estate and personal property and $800 for water bills in rounded figures. The total for both months was about $32,200.

Dyer asked if postponing payments would be detrimental to the town’s financial health. Stanbrook said he did not think so.

“It’s significant money, but it’s not break-the-bank, there’s-no-way-we-can-recover money,” Stanbrook said. He agreed with Dyer that the amounts owed are not forgiven, the due dates are just being pushed back.

“I think we have to look out for the little guy that may not be able to afford that bill because they were laid off from their job this time, and help them out where we can,” Dyer said. “We’re here to serve the public.”

Selectmen also voted to declare Recreation Department employees as non-essential during the corona virus emergency, and to establish an official town Facebook page.

Stanbrook had made his initial designation of essential and non-essential personnel in accordance with Gov. Baker’s March 12 emergency declaration. Town Counsel, however, has determined it is up to the Board of Selectmen to make such designations.

The recreation director, administrative assistant — both working from home — and caretaker are being paid, but the caretakers are not working, Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said, adding there are maintenance tasks that could be done while observing physical distancing.

Town Counsel Kate Feodoroff has told Stanbrook that caretakers can be considered essential if their work is needed to ensure safety and sanitation at Camp Kiwanee or if the lack of maintenance could have long-term impacts.

Dyer said that, with little to nothing scheduled at the camp, there is no need for staff there, but recommended that the director inspect the camp at least once a week to make sure there is no vandalism in addition to police patrols.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell said he was “on the fence” and that, either all staff should be working or they should all stay at home. Selectmen James Hickey and Wes Blauss agreed that, while office staff can work at home on bookings for functions next year, there is no pressing need for caretakers to be there right now.

“We’ve been discussing social media or engaging citizens for three years, now,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said on the official town Facebook page issue, noting that Stanbrook picked up on work begun by former Town Administrator Michael McCue. “This is another way to reach people.”

IT Director Ryan McGonniagle has been working to link town websites to permit updates to post to the town’s Facebook page if officials choose, including agendas, Town Meeting warrants, voting information and other similar information that only Stanbrook or Executive Assistant Greer Getzen would be permitted to post. The comment section on the page would be closed to the public at the strong recommendation of Town Counsel, but contact information would be included.

Dyer added a provision that a two-person citizen at-large committee be appointed to assist in running the page.

The vote was 3-2 with Hickey and Blauss voting against the proposal. Blauss was concerned about people without Facebook missing important information.

“I feel it’s going to make for an uneven playing field,” Blauss said, favoring a single town website and worrying about the fake news aspect of the social media platform. “Somewhere down the road it’s going to bite us when, for a hearing or something, someone says ‘Well, I don’t have Facebook, so I was never notified.”

Hickey expressed concern about the time it would take Stanbrook and Getzen when there are so many other more pressing matters before them, advocating putting the change on hold for now.

Re-vote delays school budget

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The School Committee, meeting via Zoom conference call on Wednesday, April 8, learned the reconsideration vote which approved setting the budget at $55,040,238 by a 7-2 vote was improper.

It failed to set a budget on a re-vote 7-3 with only Whitman’s Steve Bois, Dan Cullity and Fred Small voting in favor.

An amendment to set the budget at $55,320,328 including the return of the four teachers failed 6-4 with only Whitman members Bois, Cullity, Dawn Byers, and Alexandria Taylor voting for it.

“We do not have a budget number yet,” said Chairman Bob Hayes.

The committee also voted to forego April vacation — with the full support of the WHEA — to enable setting June 15 as the last day off the school year,

Hayes admitted his error in stating the affirmative votes in the 5-4 vote to set the budget on the first try was the side to move for reconsideration. In fact, it was the prevailing side — the four votes preventing a two-thirds majority to pass the motion — that was to have the opportunity to move for reconsideration. The committee also did not re-vote on the number.

School Committee member Christopher Scriven of Whitman suggested that, since Whitman has postponed its Town Meeting until at least June 3, the committee is not faced with a need to submit a budget at this point.

“We don’t need to set a budget at this point. I think we should think about that before we go ahead and vote something,” Scriven said, after speaking to legal counsel. Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said he also spoke with the School Department’s legal counsel, who concurred that a budget need not be set yet.

“We don’t have to set a budget today,” Szymaniak said. “We’re within the 45 days and new legislation that came out today … about, if we don’t have a budget by July 1, what that means to us.”

Whitman Committee member Steve Bois said he would not vote for a budget that does not include the four teachers because he has heard from several residents how critical that is.

Two Whitman residents also sent emails to the committee decrying the budget vote that did not include the four teachers cut from the budget last year, citing concerns over equity since Whitman schools have higher class sizes and number of low-income families.

“There are a lot of unknowns right now,” said committee member Christopher Howard of Hanson. “We know that state revenue is going to change, we know revenues for the town of Whitman are going to change, we know revenues for the town of Hanson are going to change, and it’s likely — depending on what happens to the rest of the school year — that the school budget is going to change and that’s going to impact us, as well.”

Howard said the committee has not yet reached the point where it can responsibly set a budget. He is “all in” for returning teachers for the benefit of students, but has an issue with the extraordinary time both communities are facing.

Whitman committee member Fred Small noted that the panel has the ability to change its budget numbers right up to town meeting. He said the district is likely to see cuts to regional transportation reimbursement, and that the state is likely to impose 9C cuts for fiscal 2020 before the committee even sets the 2021 budget.

“I agree that we need four teachers, I just don’t know how to pay for them,” Small said.

Szymaniak said teachers could be moved around in-district, within their certification if necessary, to ease class sizes.

“I recognize that life as we know it has changed with coronavirus,” said Whitman committee member Dawn Byers, in urging the committee to maintain its focus. “Coronavirus is impacting the entire world, but still, for the purposes of this committee and the policy we need to set, which is a budget, I still feel we need to focus on our goals — and I know we have a district goal of class sizes, no more than 20 in K-three, no more than 25 in fourth and fifth grade. It’s really frustrating for everyone at this point.”

She said, the revenue problems are not new and were something she heard about for years, but had turned out to be an assessment problem, an excess levy problem.

She then moved to set the budget at $55,320,328 to include the return of the four teachers.

“When I look at this budget I think about what it doesn’t have,” she said.

Scriven countered that it would be in the best interests of the district in the long run to delay a decision until the regional agreement committee can start to work on determining an assessment method. That committee is tentatively slated to meet on Wednesday, April 15.

Hanson committee member Michael Jones agreed.

Committee member Alexandria Taylor of Whitman urged a vote as the committee had “kicked the can down the road” for weeks while knowing the needs of the schools and district.

Howard, who works for a bank where he has seen thousands of deferments on auto loans already, said he wants to see that the committee sets the right budget that the towns will support to take care of the district’s children.

“This is nothing I’ve ever seen before in terms of impact,” he said.

Whitman committee member Dan Cullity said that, while there are revenue concerns, the School Committee has to focus on setting a budget for the schools so Finance Committees can begin working with the numbers.

“Tonight we should be setting something, even though we know, in our hearts that we’re going to take a major hit somewhere down the line over the next few months because the money just won’t be there,” he said.

Cleanup slows

In other business, Szymaniak said that due to a positive COVID-19 by the significant other of a facilities employee has led to a slow-down in school building cleaning. Most SJ employees who were cleaning buildings are now under quarantine as of Monday, April 6.

Most district staff were already working from home, Szymaniak said.

COVID-19 changes holidays

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This weekend, families celebrated Passover and Easter in markedly different ways than in past years.

Easter egg hunts were all canceled this year, however spotted this week in the Whitman Park, in the place of eggs, were colored kindness rocks.

Social media postings on several Whitman sites showed the colorful finds and encouraged others to hide their own kindness rocks.

(The idea as a craft can also be helpful for art class during the home school day).

In an eggstra-extraordinary way a local business owner Monica Cole of Jan’s Towing and Recovery Service of Whitman put in more than just a full day of delivering Easter baskets.

Along with family and co-workers the group decorated and stuffed more than 150 Easter baskets to deliver and ready for curbside pickup in Whitman in hopping good fun.

“Easter was getting passed over,” Cole said. “We were brainstorming and came up with the baskets as a way to ease financial stress and anxiety for parents -out of the recent social isolation status and create joy and smiles for all.”

They made 100 baskets and, within three hours of posting it to the Whitman page, 90 baskets were already reserved. They increased the number to 175 baskets to make sure everyone who needed a basket could be included.

“I was excited that families in need were reaching out to us to accept the help for the free baskets,” said Cole. “During such a hard time with uncertainly families can depend on the local businesses to support them as they support us.”

Cole has been in business since 2016 in her Whitman location and in Boston prior to that. She is also a resident and raising a family here so seeing the community come together is rewarding to her and those around her on a personal level. Earlier this week she thanked the community via the Whitman Facebook page for the positive responses and expressed her full heart with the celebration of the Easter holiday.

Also shared via social media were local families who left decorated eggs at the ends of one another’s neighborhood driveways. Special sidewalk chalk messages of encouragement and Happy Easter greetings were left for morning sunrise surprises. Several prizes were left anonymously, but there were rumors that the Easter Bunny had been seen hopping down several Whitman streets.

Shopping for preparations for holiday meals is also more challenging as precautions against coronavirus are imposed.

In keeping with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, local grocery stores, such as Shaw’s on Liberty Street, are allowing a maximum of 60 people in the store at one time. Social distancing is aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus and grocery shopping in smaller groups can ease the minds and hopefully protect others as we all avoid groups in any capacity.

The Stop & Shop at Bedford Street in Whitman has also begun limiting their shoppers.

Responding to an inquiry through social media, Stop & Shop stated “that all of their stores are limiting shoppers however each state varies in capacity.”

In their online Covid19 statement they also posted general update to shoppers.

“We know that Stop & Shop plays a critical role in our communities during situations like this, and we remain committed to doing our very best to support customers and associates.”

There are also guidelines posted in how each store is handling and creating an environment conducive to the CDC guidelines.

Personal milestones are different, too, during a pandemic.

Among recent birthday celebrations Jackson Manoli of Whitman turned 2 years old. His parents held a drive-by-and-honk birthday in which family and friends could say hi. The doorway was decorated with balloons and signs and even a Whitman police officer stopped momentarily to whirl his siren a high point for Jackson. Parents Matthew and Devon Manoli said the birthday was “unique” in the sense of guests standing separated on the lawn or staying in their cars. It was not what you would expect for a child’s birthday celebration however they were all smiles over seeing family and friends showing love for  Jackson who was thrilled to have “big boy chips” as he took his photo from a distance. The year they celebrated his Coronavirus birthday will be in their memories and photo albums. He had plenty of colorful balloons lining the fence to show all who drove by that he was indeed now a two year old.

With the stay at home orders and social distancing requirements to slow the spread of Covid-19  in a more noticeable form homeowners and families are spending  additional time in their yards, both playing  in and cleaning them up.

Dan Delprete of Dandel’s Construction in Hanson has seen an uptick of landscape projects as they began their season nearly six weeks earlier than their typical spring routine.

Samantha Murphy of Landscape Supply Yard which is also located at 1 Liberty St., Hanson said that they have seen a boost mostly on mulch and loam sales early lawn prep products.

The company supplies to landscapers so the increase in sales of these items and the movement is reassuring that yards are being spruced up daily by local landscaper businesses.

The physical activity of yard work in the fresh air and sun can be rewarding and a great project for people. They may be currently homebound but they are clearing out their yards and enjoying the exterior of those “four walls” as they practice social distancing.

“Finding the good in all the bad,” said Delprete has kept him in a positive perspective.

The weather and the days the sun is shining they are seeing more people looking at patios and taking brochures, he added.

Wyman’s Nursery in Hanson was open Easter weekend with several families buying flowers and looking for grave flower baskets.

Deb Seele of Whitman and her husband Michael who is Whitman’s town moderator were planning to clean up and decorate her dad’s grave. This year is unlike years past as she couldn’t be together with her elderly mother who is in quarantine at American Living of Hanson, she said.

Having her in the residential setting has been unsettling for now as they create a new normal like so many other families only talking through the phone. She planned to update her mom on the Easter flowers and their visit to her beloved late husband.

Heather Weydt and her daughter Jessica, 13, of Hanson purchased flowers to top off baskets they planned to construct and drop off at doorsteps for their loved ones. They planned to add a sweet Easter surprise of candies since they could not physically be with one another, she said.

Phil Wyman of Wyman’s garden center expressed his thanks and gratitude as a small business to be open in these difficult times.  He had simple gardening tips for families who aspired to create a garden or plant project. The least complicated, beginner gardener could plant Pansies which he called a more “durable” flower that quickly adds color and tolerates spring temperatures.

Preparing a garden indoors with peas, lettuce, and cabbage is an easy way to get kids involved in the planting kits and seeding process.

Reaping the rewards as the blossoms flourish the project can easily get everyone involved in most age groups.

“With a little bit of love and fertilizer you will get it all back and more,” Wyman said.