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A galaxy of fun

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HANSON — A Star Wars Symposium was held at the Hanson Public library on Dec. 28 with several local families and Star Wars aficionados gathering for a visit over winter vacation.

Peter Struzziero, a “Star Wars” buff since childhood, brought his collection of toys dating back to the first trilogy, which began in 1977. He joked that the toys were out of the boxes, which may have disturbed a fanatical fan. The group was gifted with time and touch for each of the visitors. Exploring and handling the collection of toys in a form of a movable museum was all things “Star Wars.” Struzziero shared his knowledge with ages ranging from five to 55.

He presented memes and humorous videos in a short introduction poking fun at both himself and other enthusiasts that have every toy and collectors dream cabinet full with Star Wars-related memorabilia … but they never free any of it from its original packaging.

During the movie clips, the toys from Struzziero’s collection appeared to take on different shapes and colors as the lights were lowered. The children laughed hysterically over YouTube Lego  and cat related Star Wars humor.

Struzziero fired trivia at some of the teens, who could recite nearly entire portions of the epic space opera.

Their vast knowledge was impressive and they provided explanations that solved or at least debated the trivia answers.

Will Clements, 11, of Hanson donning an X Wing Star Fighter helmet and later was seen in a harmless lightsaber duel.  He attended with his father and they talked with other enthusiasts about which movies they saw and will be seeing in re-runs and new on demand releases.

Danny, 4, and Ryan, 6,  Delue of Hanson along with their three sisters all attended the symposium with their mom.

They were in costumes and played with each of the loose figurines along with the Skowyra brothers of Whitman.

Matthew, 5, was Darth Vador and his brother Zack, 7, was a storm trooper and with help from his mom tried on the matching helmet from Struzziero’s collection.

Matt Lawson, 12, of Hanson wore a Chewbacca mask as he watched the movie with John Goodrow, 15, also of Hanson.   The pair laughed at similar parts of the memes.  Richard Goodrow father of John said he didn’t really get in to the “Star Wars” phenomena until the movie Rogue one from 2016.

The pair now shares a common interest however John could easily play mind tricks on his father with his intense, endless facts on “Star Wars” characters, creatures, and galactic battles.

When this reporter confessed that she did not know anything about the “Star Wars” sagas there was a gasp and then silence fell over the room.

It was the perfect time to learn …and until next time “May the Force be with you!”

Animal control changes hands

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WHITMAN — Animal Control services will be taken over, as the initial responsibility for oversight by the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator in the new year.

The change will be in force until a “more suitable plan” can be developed, Town Administrator Frank Lynam informed Selectmen at the Tuesday, Dec. 17 meeting.

“The Board of Health has notified us that they wish to — can I use the word reneg? — on their acceptance of managing the Animal Control Department, as of Jan. 1,” Lynam said.

Animal control has traditionally been managed by the Police Department.

“We obviously have to do something fairly immediately,” Lynam said, noting there was not much of an option available for reassigning it.

“When we did this, there was a considerable increase, monetarily, to that department for this specific purpose,” Selectman Randy LaMattina noted about the Health Board’s oversight. “I would just like us to be aware of that and figure out a direction.”

Lynam said he would discuss the financial ramifications of the change with the Finance Committee.

“Since [the Board of Health] is an elected board, we really can’t direct them to do anything, but we’re recognizing their decision to — I’m looking for a word — to relieve themselves of the animal control process and that has some impacts,” Lynam said.

Selectman Brian Bezanson asked if the financial aspect was not something that was more properly up to the Health Board Chairman and Finance Committee to decide.

“There has to be some decision made somewhere,” Lynam said. “The Board of Health is the appointing authority for the health agent, the budget is voted annually at Town Meeting and there are certain responsibilities that we all have when we vote and adopt annual budgets, so that’s a discussion that has to happen.”

Lynam said the Board of Health maintains it needs a full-time health agent, animal control notwithstanding.

“Like any department, a case has to be made for supporting the budget that you request,” he said.

As Hanson Selectmen have approved $30,000 for its share of the $60,000 cost for a joint town hiring of an independent auditor for the School District’s operating costs, Whitman Selectmen authorized planning for an expenditure not to exceed $30,000 for the town’s share.

“It’s a lot of money, but there’s a lot of questions,” Lynam said. “As we speak [Dec. 17], I don’t know where the money’s coming from.”

He has asked the town accountant to “look at all of our numbers” to figure out from where the $30,000 could be drawn.

The type of firm selected may hinge on what they are looking for — whether the numbers add up or where the money is spent, according to Lynam.

“Those are two different types of audit,” Lynam said. “We’re trying to understand what the basics for spending are and how we’re affected going forward.”

Lynam said the town has identified its costs and what its trends have been over the last five years, with the result being they are saying there is a structural deficit for fiscal 2021of at least $1.7 million.

“That’s without the numbers that were thrown out by the school [district Dec. 11],” he said. “We have to start somewhere.”

Bezanson said the audit could be viewed positively, especially if it verifies what the school district has been saying.

SSVT unveils FY 21 budget

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HANOVER — The South Shore Tech School Committee has been presented with a fiscal 2021 budget increase of 4.09 percent —$589,319 — increase that would also decrease the total assessments to member towns. An increase in non-resident tuition is expected to offset the budget increase, according to Superintendent-Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey.

State aid figures for Chapter 70 funds are not yet available, but the district assumes level funding will be continued. Regional transportation reimbursement, meanwhile, is being assumed at 80 percent — up from 70 percent in fiscal 2020 — and the budget total assumes that stabilization funds will remain at $37,280 to defray bus lease costs.

The committee heard Hickey’s annual budget presentation on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

“Whatever we value, that’s what we budget for,” Hickey said to open his presentation. “We build our budget from zero.”

A Jan. 22 public hearing on the budget is planned.

Supplies and technology costs, such as for steel or tools, will increase in some programs. There is also $89,644 in new personnel requests, such as moving a graphic communications instructor to full-time as well as adding English Learner and horticulture instructors and a horticulture aide.

Capital requests for 2021 total $782,414 — including septic and roof repairs on the building.

The project design cost included in the 2021 budget comes to $199,936 for the design and $69,978 for an owner’s project manager.

Hiring an owner’s project manager and design will be the first steps toward deciding what the district will go out for bid for planned capital projects. The work could be done separately, the roof one year and windows the next, or do it all at once. The original cost estimate from fiscal 2018 came in at $1,236,800 for the roof and $396,625 for the windows, and $1,777,425, including the cost of metal panels under the windows. For fiscal 2021 the 4-percent hike brings the total cost to $1,999,361 with a 6.5-percent contingency plan of $129,958 built in.

Cost increases anticipated at 4 percent per year, brought the combined projects cost to $1,848,522 in fiscal 2019 and to $1,922,63 in fiscal 2020.

Accomplishments for the past year include continuing strong growth in MCAS scores and student attainment of third-party vocational credentials. The school is also actively involved with area workforce development boards and the South Shore Chamber of Commerce and has implemented work-based adult education programs.

The district has also used skills capital grants to bring in $300,000 for capital purchases. It goes into the fiscal 2021 budget year owing only the final interest payment on the 2010 roof and window project debt.

Another roof and window project for the newer wing of the school is among the capital goals.

Other budgetary goals include expansion of the horticulture and landscape program, building a “clean room” with grant funds for the storing of metal fabrication and machining inspection equipment, expansion of adult education and workforce development partnerships and for analysis of school operations accountability as well as social-emotional learning initiatives.

Student attendance and expansion of the breakfast program participation are also planned.

Small plane crash-lands in area lake

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HALIFAX — A man is lucky to be alive after his plane crashed in the water behind Lake Street in Halifax Saturday afternoon around noon.

A portion of the Piper Archer 28-181, single propeller could be seen partially submerged near 78 Lake St., Halifax where first responders spent hours securing the oil spill from the plane with containment booms and awaited removal of the craft.

John Keegan of Hanson was helping his brother- in- law Aaron Sellers with a repair on the roof of his home when he saw the small plane skim the roof of the neighbors’ roof next door.

“His wings hit the ice then he popped back up and then crashed over there,” said Keegan pointing to the icy water moments after the incident.

Keegan, along with another man who heard the call from nearby  Cranland Airport in Hanson, were able to flip a canoe over that was at the bottom of the Sellers’ property, paddled through the ice to reach the pilot, and helped him to shore. The man was reportedly soaked but talking and said he was not hurt according to Keegan.  He was standing on the plane’s roof when the pair reached him.

According to the Halifax Fire Department, they began the process of launching their marine craft in an attempt to reach the plane and encountered thin layers of ice and cold weather which prohibited the rescue boat from initially reaching the airplane.  A mutual aid airboat from Middleborough was called to assist in reaching the aircraft.  Companies then began the process of securing the surroundings with inflatable booms to stop any fuel leaks.

Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Environmental Protection, National Transportation Safety Board, Sheriff’s department, and State police were called to assist in the aircraft recovery, according to the press release.

The pilot later returned to the scene.  He was seen walking with a police officer in dry clothing and shook hands with Sellers as he passed by his home where Keegan had assisted him earlier. The man declined to comment to this reporter.

Other hazardous materials units were called in from Kingston and Duxbury.  Andy’s Towing and other tow companies were called to standby the incident.  The Plymouth County Dive Team was also activated with members from Hanover, Hingham, Abington, and Plympton.  Hanson Fire provided coverage at Halifax fire station

The name of the pilot has not been released by authorities and the cause of the crash is currently under investigation, according to the press release.

Herren’s long journey back

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HANOVER — Chris Herren, who once wore a Celtics jersey, lost every dime he ever earned to his drug habits. As a former American national basketball player who also played on various teams overseas, he stood before the entire school last week at South Shore Tech to tell his story.

Herren described his longing to taste that “item” that had such an immense hold on his dad — he wondered how that little can of beer could be so powerful that it made his mother cry and was crumbling  the family life around him.

As a curious teen he tried beer behind the shed of his house where he got caught and promised his mother he would never do it again. But addiction took hold and rapidly escalated  until pills, and eventually heroin owned him.

In the clutches of the opioid epidemic Herren he was in a fight with  the devil as he tried over and over to detox and stay clean but it eventually took another downward spiral with overdoses and the continuous cycle ensued.

He was an open book for the students, sharing all the details of his recovery and sobriety, chronicling details of his lowest of lows.

He recounted the biggest moments in life when he still  purchased drugs only hours after his baby was born; his wife still in the hospital from her delivery. He returned to heroin to get high.

He described his behavior, his need to get a fix at all costs even playing in the NBA high on drugs, on which he was dependent on emotionally and physically.

Herren’s presentation began with a short film that  highlighted his career both the rise and fall with interviews from his coaches and how he over the years made his new mission to speak in his rawest form, to share his story with thousands in his 11 years in sobriety — to give hope to others that sobriety was possible.

He appeared to have so much but there was no way his confident façade could hide his inner demons, he said.

It became visible that his drug use was taking over and cost him his basketball career — he was labeled a “risk” for teams to sign. He had a few opportunities that brought him back to the game again, but he blew those chances with time, as well.

Herren spoke intentionally, confessing and evoking conversation on the same level in the room of an intensely focused audience.

Teachers and students became emotional, tears streaming down faces of those who listened to Herren. The obvious energy palpable as high schoolers fidgeted and tapped their feet lightly on the floor, nervously shifting in their seats. In expression of grief friends hugged one another in the gymnasium at the hour-long assembly.

Herren also touched on topics of self-harm and mental health, both he had experienced in hearing from teens who reached out to him in the past and understood that addiction begins somewhere else first in most situations.

After falling time and time again, he said he realized after telling his own story that many  youngsters  had stories of their own — critical for healing to both the younger generation and himself.

Herren acknowledged that a conversation such as his is a difficult one, but as he told his story he also reminded students and staff that — with no exception —they each had a hand in helping sometimes just listening was the beginning step.

Failure to address the epidemic and sweeping it under the rug was not an option. He encouraged communication and talk about the need for facilitation, services and helping one another.

In wrapping up his story Herren wondered aloud how many kids in the room knew a friend or family member who was struggling and didn’t know how to help. It was clear by the reactions that the drug and alcohol epidemic has spread far and wide in our communities.

Knowing beer is a driving force behind his father’s alcoholism he said he is aware that he will get a call someday that his dad has drank himself to his own death. He had already prepared in his mind that the day would come.

Answering a student’s question on what the one most regretful act during his drug use was Herren recalled not being able to keep his promises.

He was unable to keep his pledge of sobriety to his mother — she passed away before he gained a clean lifestyle. She never got to see him drug-free.

With question and answers at the culmination of the assembly Herren only received a few questions in front of the crowd — but the moment he turned off the microphone and stepped in to the rows of chairs he was hugged and tapped on the shoulder by dozens of students who approached him.

Murmurs and parts of conversations could be heard as he commended each student with a hug or high five just a moment of caring and he had a positive comment for each of them.

The students and staff had counselors available all day following the presentation.

Chris Herren has built a community around substance use prevention and recovery. He has shown us that even the best can falter, and even the most desperate can rise. An author, motivational speaker and wellness advocate, Herren has founded three organizations that provide programs and services with the goal of overcoming setbacks and navigating life’s challenges, according to his website. To read more about Chris Herren and his recovery, wellness programs and speaking engagements visit chrisherren.com.

Whitman reviews snow, ice budget

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WHITMAN — With winter beginning to take hold, Town Administrator Frank Lynam proposed a change to the budget process for snow and ice removal to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

“Obviously, we are going through some difficult mechanisms right now with the budget,” he said. “However, we start every year in the hole [for snow and ice removal] with the exception of two since 2007.”

The town appropriates $120,000 for snow and ice and the costs, when it hasn’t been able to pay for it have varied from $249,000 to $475,000. He argued that, if the starting budget was increased to $250,000 the town would have still seen nine deficit years out of the last 13; at $300,000 Whitman would have seen five deficit years.

He cautioned, however, that any increase must be looked at in view of how it might affect the current budget.

He urged the board to look at the issue toward deciding whether more money should be committed to snow and ice in order to get an even start to the year. Lynam also provided his cost analysis to the finance committee.

“I’m not looking for a vote, I’m just bringing it forward to say it’s something we need to look at as part of our overall revamp of our budget process,” he said.

Selectmen Vice Chairman Dan Salvucci said he had always been told by the DPW that, once the snow and ice budget was increased, it could never be decreased.

Lynam said that is not correct, but if a town increases the budget line and ends up with a surplus, it would be capped at what that budget is the following year.

“It’s just for the year following the reduction, you’re not permanently enjoined,” he said.

Lynam told the board that he was recently contacted by state officials about their work to update flood maps, including a change in procedures.

Once the maps are updated, the town must update them through its bylaws, according to Lynam.

Building Inspector Bob Currant will be the point person on the project.

Selectmen also heard a report on the Dec. 4 meeting of the New Regional Agreement Amendment Committee.

“What can I say? We met, we dissolved,” Lynam said.

“I will tell you the dissolution of the committee was definitely a … both towns agreed on it and just feel it’s the best way to handle things, the assessment being one of the major hurdles to get over,” said Selectman Randy LaMattina, who attended a Dec. 4 meeting of the committee with Lynam, Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski and their Hanson counterparts.

“We just felt that the towns really needed to happen in a smaller group and tackle that issue rather than take on a whole regional agreement at this time,” LaMattina said.

Lynam reminded the board that informal discussions had been held on the issue previously and he said he was sure that could happen again.

While he said his goal is to ultimately get to the statutory assessment method, but LaMattina said without hard numbers or a measure of voter preference in Whitman, he said Kowalski had recommended a center-lane approach that is neither statutory nor alternative/agreement method. LaMattina, however, argued that the statutory method is the most equitable. Whitman also voted to support the statutory method.

“I know it’s uphill for Hanson,” he said. “It self-corrects. You don’t get into a situation that you go 31 years under an agreement that has really shifted.”

Hanson stands by audit request

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HANSON — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, Dec. 17 discussed updated information and concerns surrounding the ongoing school differences with Whitman surrounding  assessment formula for W-H Regional Schools.

Selectmen Chairman Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett and Selectmen Matt Dyer were slated to meet Wednesday, Dec. 18 with Whitman counterparts and town administrators to further discuss a proposed compromise assessment approach for the W-H Regional Schools.

The board’s agenda Dec. 17 included discussion on the costs of de-regionalizing and of the assessment issue with Town Counsel and possible next steps.

FitzGerald-Kemmett said the Dec. 4 meeting of the new Regional Agreement Committee concluded with a vote to temporarily disband [see related story] the panel to permit discussions on a smaller scale to facilitate negotiation. She said whatever is discussed in the smaller sessions would “absolutely be brought back” for discussion by Hanson Selectmen.

“The discussion was how we should move forward with the regional agreement and it was made abundantly clear at that meeting that Whitman was going to go statutory this year,” she said. “The way the composition of the School Committee [stands], with the 6-4 — six Whitman votes to four Hanson — the fact that we’ve had DESE weigh in and all … more than likely, regardless what the School Committee voted, ultimately we would end up with the statutory formula.

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.

FitzGerald-Kemmett reported that Whitman Selectman Randy LaMattina would be willing to enter into an agreement calling for a statutory formula for fiscal 2021, after which the towns would discuss a transition to a full statutory assessment system.

Going forward, Whitman Selectmen Chairman Dr. Carl Kowalski said he favored opening the agreement to something of a hybrid formula that would not be fully statutory nor alternative.

“I don’t know what that looks like,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “Part of that is the school audit that both towns have agreed to fund.”

She sought to clarify that the audit is to provide information the towns need.

“If we’re being asked to write a check, we need to know what that check is for, pure and simple,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “It is not a value judgment, it is not an indictment of anybody. We have a fiduciary responsibility to have transparency into the way the money is being spent.”

She pointed out that, were the schools not part of a region, that transparency — as with all other town departments — would be easier to achieve.

Dyer said the audit had no connection to any suspicions about school finances.

Every year, we choose a department to audit,” he said. “This is just regular business.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett agreed, but admitted the impetus was also a need for more information. She described the towns’ relationship as currently siloed where the schools are concerned, and that the audit could lead to help the towns get onto the same page.

“They’d be sitting at our department head meetings on a weekly basis and they’d be talking to one another,” she said. “We’re trying to level that playing field and get that level of information we’ve got from the other departments in town.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett said the board has also been receiving a lot of questions about whether de-regionalization has been considered. It will not be figured out by the May Town Meeting, she said, stressing that people want to know what the structure and cost would be and the whether or not the town would benefit from it.

“I don’t have any of those answers right now,” she said. “My sense is that de-regionalization is probably not a viable — and certainly not a short-term viable — solution right now, but it’s something everyone deserves to have us look into, so we will look into it.”

FitzGerald-Kemmett asked Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Sullivan at what point his board should be looped in.

“Ultimately, FinCom has to play the hand we’re dealt, based on what the schools provide in their budget,” he said. “It’s a little bit discouraging to me that they’ve shown such a high increase already in December.”

He pointed to the $2.5 million in recommendations are an indication that an even higher budget increase than in previous years.

“We’re throwing things like full-day kindergarten right on top,” Sullivan said. “Is this the best time to do that? If they eased into this a little bit more, I feel we could make this work. … But I feel like we’re hammering it down now.”

He argued it could motivate some residents to dig in and refuse to support any budget.

“I’ve gotten some very strong and loud feedback about the fact that, not only are we looking at the struggle of how the assessment will play out, but now we’re  tacking on pretty large increase on top of that,” FitzGerald-Kemmett said. “They’re doing what they think they need to do.”

In other business, the board discussed a “No Knock Policy” against door-to-door solicitations, in which a list is drawn up and disseminated.

Police Chief Michael Miksch has noted a problem with such a policy concerning maintaining the list when people move or property is sold and the First Amendment considerations of group such as religious or political canvassers. He also noted the 2020 Census will be sending people door-to-door.

Miksch recommends that those who do not want solicitors knocking on their doors should post “No Trespassing” or “No Soliciation” signs, which the police can enforce.

Financial literacy is now a graduation requirement at W – H

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W-H principal Dr. Christopher Jones received the go-ahead from School Committee members on Wednesday, Dec. 11 to use a grant from NextGen, a personal finance firm, to fund a financial literacy program of studies with an eye toward including it as a graduation requirement beginning in 2024.

“We thought it would add up, seeing that we ran a pilot this year,” Jones said. “We were already looking to make it a graduation requirement.”

The $10,000 grant would help implement the program, however the Committee’s support in a vote, reflected in a vote recorded in the minutes to require financial literacy as a graduation criteria. No additional personnel is required with the rolling of a computer application course into the financial literacy program. An $11,500 state grant will fund professional development for the program.

“I’m glad to see we’re doing something on this,” said School Committee member Dan Cullity. “I do believe our students do not — over the last four or five years — come out of here knowing how to do anything for life. [They’re] basement dwellers because they don’t know how to get a house.”

He said there is such an emphasis on college, when only a certain amount go to college while the rest “have to get out there and do the blue-collar work.”

School Committee member Alexandra Taylor, who works in a bank, agreed.

“It’s not just younger people,” she added. “It’s adults my age who have no clue how to do any of it.”

Jones said the course goes beyond that, noting how students cover APR, buying a house, credit scores, interest rates and the like. Jones also outlined a policy approach to vaping and its potential for addiction, including consequences, recently classifying  it as a “suspension event.”

“We want to put in an educational component,” Jones said, noting that suspensions alone proved initially successful, but vaping use is on the increase again. A Saturday program is being looked at, including informational videos and reports as well as discussions with counselors, administrators or the school resource officer. Whitman resident Shawn Kain, of the recovery high school in Brockton, reiterated his request that the possibility of a student’s being diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder.

“I think it’s a whole lot more important or serious than we’re discussing,” Kain said. “I think addiction is a disability and I think it should be treated as a disability.”

He has been advocating for its inclusion in the student handbook as a disability just as any emotional disability.

The School Committee also approved Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak’s request to form a Superintendent’s Council of students with the aim of the students to meet three or four times a year with the committee.

Szymaniak proposed leaning on student leaders for membership on the council, but School Committee member Robert O’Brien Jr., said he would prefer hearing from a  cross-section of students.

“I want to hear from others, quite honestly,” O’Brien said. “I don’t always want to hear from the student leaders … I want to hear from all walks of life.”

Pantry donations

In other business, the students of the WHRHS National Honor Society presented checks for $908 each to the Whitman and Hanson food pantries during the meeting.

NHS members raised a total of $1,817 during the annual Miles for Meals 5K fun run and one-mile walk on Sept. 28, according to adviser Kelly Tanis, a language teacher.

Christine Cameron of the Hanson Food Pantry and Bruce Perry of the Whitman Food Pantry attended the meeting to accept the donations from NHS member Chloe Wilson.

“Thank you to both food pantries for all you do for the community,” Wilson said.

“Year in-year out these kids do this — it used to be under the direction of Ms. Galambos, but now Ms. Tanis — and they do a great job,” Perry said. “The students always come through for us and we really appreciate it. I really want to commend them for that.”

Whitman gets holiday spirit

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WHITMAN — Getting down to the wire with wrapping and rushing to meet the holiday deadlines, many families took a break this weekend to slow down and share in free events offered by Whitman Recreation and to give back at the Whitman Police, through the annual Stuff-A-Cruiser event.

The Recreation party was a family friendly experience with crafts, face painting and other activities held at the Town Hall on Saturday with a visit from the big guy himself.

Photos were welcomed with Santa who read many lists from all the children.

A family movie night was also held with snacks and a showing of the movie “Polar Express” in the Town Hall Auditorium later in the day.

The week before Christmas is full of activity for Whitman Area Toy Drive as the group planned to assist local families — aiding some 500 families by season’s end.

Co-organizers Donnie Westhaver and Jane Plasse, who started Whitman Area Toy Drive to aid those in need 19 years ago said they  have seen an increase in need from years past.

Paul Colgate also a partner of the Whitman Area Toy Drive now in his fourth year came aboard with the organization after seeing the difference the collaboration was creating for people in hardship.

“I thought what they were doing is incredible and I have stayed ever since,” said Colgate who was accepting boxed toys.

With an influx of traffic through the parking lot, many families were pulling up to drop bags off and helpers were placing them in the backs of the two Whitman cruisers. At the end of the event the collection filled six cruisers to the roof.

Families who dropped in to also meet Santa were treated to light refreshments, cocoa and coffee served with a stuffed animal gift, which was given to the littlest ones in return for their kindheartedness. It was cold and breezy but thoughtfulness warmed the air.

Officers Dave Hickey and Kevin Harrington who along with other officers also had their families along to assist said during the event that it was going “awesome.”

Tillman the dog tried to assist with the toy donations with his owner Officer Hickey but he was too distracted by the crumbs from the sweets – he did, however, give plenty of kisses to everyone who greeted him as a thank you for the donations.

Julia Harrington, a senior at Whitman Hanson who is planning on majoring in forensic biology next fall, has attended the event for the last three years and volunteers with her father.

She said she is happy to see the difference the event makes and plans to return from college next year to attend.

“Giving kids the toys they may not be able to afford on Christmas… it means a lot,” she said.

In collaboration with the food pantry Westhaver said

They are planning to assist 500 families total from this event with a holiday meal and gifts.

The requests for toys this year included an increase in craft items and science-themed games and toys. Plasse posted a thank you message on social media on behalf of the Whitman Area Toy Drive.

Plasse extended her gratitude for the Sunday event, which was held at the Whitman police department parking lot.

“I would like to say thank you for everyone’s generosity … to our community,” she said. “With everyone’s help, we filled six cruisers with new unwrapped toys and gift cards for the older kids. These donations will help many families have a nice Christmas this year. I would also like to say a special Thank You to Kevin Harrington and Dave Hickey for putting on this annual event for the past four years to benefit the Whitman Area Toy Drive. Without this event many families would not be having a nice Christmas. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Statutory assessment formula approved for FY 2021

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The School Committee — divided along community lines — voted 6-4 on Wednesday, Dec. 11 to use the statutory formula for calculating the towns’ assessments for the fiscal 2021 school budget.

The six Whitman members supported the move and the four Hanson members voted against it.

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes outlined a Dec. 4 meeting of the new Regional Agreement Committee, including him and Vice Chairman Christopher Scriven, two members of each board of selectmen and school district and town administrators.

“It was a very lively discussion about the statutory method vs. the alternative method,” Hayes said. “It was all very valuable information with everybody sort of on the same page and working at it.”

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.

No votes were taken at what Hayes described as a largely organizational meeting until assessments were discussed. But by the end of that session the group agreed to ask the School Committee to temporarily disband the Regional Agreement Committee until the towns are ready to work on all aspects of the agreement.

The School Committee approved that motion unanimously. The Regional Agreement Committee had also asked the School Committee for its vote on the assessment method to be used in the fiscal 2021 budget. That required only a majority vote of the School Committee.

“What they didn’t want to do was violate any laws by having quorums and discussions that they could be having with each other,” Hayes said.

Scriven said he thought it was a “pretty positive dialog.”

Assistant Superintendent George Ferro characterized the request as an effort to formulate a budget this year and then come back to examine how the whole plan looks from a language, process and building perspective and look as long-term impact.

Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Szymaniak said the assessment debates have taken up the bulk of attention over the past five months and that he was “struggling” with requests from both towns for an independent audit of their schools’ operating costs — and a town administrator’s suggestion that the school district needed to “tighten its belt.”

“I’ve been superintendent for a year and a half and I worked really hard last year to do what’s best for the kids,” Szymaniak said. “So, if you want to do an audit of what we do, bring it forth … but to question the integrity of both George and I — and this committee, who put forth a budget last year that cut $1.8 million — I’m offended by that.”

He said the cost of an audit could be better spent on Chromebooks for the high school.

School Committee member Christopher Howard of Hanson said he was concerned that none of the community representatives on the Regional Agreement Committee were present to offer their thoughts about the Dec. 4 session.

“All I can say is they specifically asked us to vote on this in and effort to kind of move forward,” Scriven said.

Whitman member Dawn Beyers expressed concern that disbanding the Regional Agreement Committee “allows them to have sub, sub, subgroups” and she would prefer to see open conversations.

Discussion of the assessment formula revealed that the two towns are still far apart on financing the school budget.

“It was implemented, really, to benefit all the children,” Byers also said of the statutory assessment formula. “As a committee, I’ll hope we’ll recognize our charge — it’s student achievement, it’s continuous student achievement, and we need to talk about how the availability of the statutory assessment does help our budget. It does help our students.”

She said that, as tighter budgets narrow what the district can offer, students will go elsewhere and it will ultimately cost W-H more.

Howard said it is the budget itself that is key, rather than the assessment method.

“The assessment is just how we’re charging the affected towns the cost,” he said.

Hayes said unfunded mandates have a huge impact, as well.

But Whitman member Dan Cullity was more blunt as discussion moved onto the next budget projections.

“To turn around and tell you to tighten the school budget belt — we’re the only department that’s cut, laid off, dropped services — I don’t think we can be tightening the belt any more than we have,” he said. “That really ticked me off, not only as a School Committee member, but as a citizen in the town of Whitman.”

He stressed that assessments to the towns do not necessarily reflect an increase in the school budget. He said either legislation to free up some of the state surplus to fund unfunded mandates, or tax increases would be needed to close the budget gap.

Cullity noted education is the only service required by the state constitution.

“I’m sorry, I’m here for the children — that’s why I was elected,” he said. “I don’t want to pay more taxes, [but] that’s the only way this is ever going to be resolved.”

Byers said W-H is not alone in dealing with unfunded mandates.

“It goes back to our towns and how they choose to support education,” she said.

Szymaniak said the preliminary fiscal 2021 budget is $57,492,938 — an increase of 9.66 percent or $5.9 million.

“That’s giving you what we need to move forward,” he told the committee. That figure includes full-day kindergarten, changing start times, reducing class size in elementary schools and other things that have been “talked about for years and years” that have been cut.

Required expenses total $2,291,200 — including salary increases. Special education transportation costs are up $275,000; special education tuition is up $110,000 and facilities costs are up.

Curriculum upgrades the district needs are also factored into the recommended budget.

“We’ve tightened our belts as much as we can,” Szymaniak said. “This committee has always supported kids and I ask them to continue to support kids. I know you are responsible to your local communities as well.”