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Schedule, diploma changes Ok’s at W-H

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Next school year will mark the beginning of a change in class schedules under the program of studies and how some diplomas are earned at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School.

The School Committee has approved the proposals by Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak, which change the high school schedule from a trimester to a full-year semester system and implements a “Diploma B” program for approved students struggling academically.

“It’s a solid program,” he told the committee on March 16 about the schedule change. “But it’s a change in our program of studies this year that directly affects the Class of 2020, indirectly affects the Class of 2017 for next year, and ’18 and ’19 — and there’s a grandfather clause.”

Students sign up for seven or eight classes, but only five meet each day. The full complement of classes meets within seven-day rotations. Seminar returns to the schedule every afternoon, as does the senior’s end-of-day period for Community Service Learning internships and senior privileges.

He explained that students in the latter two classes have already earned up to 36 credits.

“It’s just a little bit of a tweak, not taking away any rigor in our classes, giving kids the opportunity to have one teacher in a core subject for the entire year,” Szymaniak said.

Courses will no longer be valued at two credits per trimester, they will be four credits per full-year course and two credits per semester, Szymaniak explained to the School Committee. The current trimester system requires106 credits for graduation, but that will change to 96 credits for the class of 2020.

“Balancing that out, looking at all the other schools in the area — and I look at Duxbury, Silver Lake, East Bridgewater, Scituate — keeping in line with them, we’ve moved to four credits for a full-year course and two credits for a semester and 96 credits to graduate,” he said. “If I’m a diligent student and I take seven classes … I can even fail a class here and there and still make our graduation requirements.”

The schedule change has had its critics among some students and parents. Two underclassmen, requesting their names be withheld, recently contacted the Express about their concerns, including the number of classes required, confusion about a rotating class schedule and weekend AP classes. The latter has been a fact of life already, according to Szymaniak, who would like to see them return. He cited day-long AP seminars that have been attended by W-H students all over the South Shore, and expressed a wish to have the staffing to offer them here.

“We’re no different than anybody else as far as class time,” Szymaniak said. “Teachers have to instruct in a different way — they’re still going to cover content, but they’re not going to have as many hours in a day to do that.”

The class rotation thereby closely mirrors a college class schedule.

“Next year’s juniors and seniors will have experienced two schedule changes in the past two years,” one sophomore said. “There have been two petitions to have the schedule just stay how it is, both of which gained quite a lot of signatures, but the principal paid them absolutely no mind.”

Szymaniak said this week that the petitions had been withdrawn by student organizers after he met with them before he had a look at the documents, and he explained that the previous change, which suspended seminar period was necessary following the reduction of five teachers following budget cuts.

Another student pointed to the confusion from the class rotation as his main concern, and Szymaniak conceded there would be some confusion at the outset.

“I’ll concede they did some things right,” the student said. “My biggest concern would be that [classes rotate] every day, which would be fine if there weren’t two classes dropping throughout the week.”

“It’s going to be a little confusing at first,” Szymaniak said Monday. “But it’s something that’s familiar [in other schools] on the South Shore.”

He noted students have just registered for next year’s classes under the new schedule, so there has been no concrete feedback from them or parents as yet.

“I think parents want continuity,” he said. “They want their kids to have a teacher that they know for all year.”

Diploma B approved

The School Committee also approved a Diploma B designation for students who are approved for it.

“I’m an advocate for all kids in our school,” Szymaniak said, noting the district offers a Community Evening School, based on credits, with a separate graduation ceremony. “What I see now is a core group of kids — probably 15 to 20 per grade — that are not college-bound, that are not tech-bound, they want to go in the military, they want to work, they want to go to Massasoit. Our Diploma A has requirements that some of these students find really challenging to pass, foreign language in particular.”

He stressed that the Diploma B designation is in no way a form of tracking students, but is based on a program in Hull. Szymaniak altered the program for W-H, requiring 92 credits to graduate compared to the 82 to 86 credits Hull High School requires for a Diploma B. The additional credits W-H requires would be in elective courses.

Students would be no different from other WHRHS students at regular commencement ceremonies and all diplomas look alike, but transcripts would carry the Diploma B designation.

It is not meant as an easy out, however, Szymaniak cautioned. Four years of English, three years of math, science and social studies, and attempt at foreign language and other credits will be required.

“Every eighth-grader entering the high school is a Diploma A student,” he said. “At the end of freshman year — sometimes sophomore year — things happen.”

At that time, Szymaniak will meet with at-risk students and their parents to discuss goals and solutions. If, at the end of sophomore year a student is still in grade recovery, Diploma B will be discussed as an option.

“Everything’s fluid,” Szymaniak said, explaining that Diploma B   students could always switch back over to Diploma A. “Some of my students go to CES and then transfer back in.”

On record, more storage is needed

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WHITMAN — Say you needed an old file from Whitman Town Hall. Depending on its age and subject matter, it could either be close at hand or require a search of file cabinets or temporary file boxes in offices all over the building — if you are lucky.

A tour of file storage locations shows records filling old vaults, spaces under exterior and interior stairs, the two stories of former book stacks in the wing of the building that used to house the library, boiler and storage rooms, and the cells of the former police station.

They are also stored in a custodial closet containing an inaccessible, but working, toilet that must be flushed once a week lest the water evaporate and cause a buildup of sewer gases. More are kept on the landing and steps of the second floor behind the auditorium.

“What I’m seeking to do is install a record carriage system so that we can store a large quantity of records in compact spaces,” Town Administrator Frank Lynam said of a Tuesday, March 22 vote of the Board of Selectmen to authorize a warrant article for $53,000 to seek funding for the project. “It would enable us to place records that are very haphazardly placed everywhere in the Town Hall and kind of bring them together and organize them, inventory them and have them where they are accessible and reasonably secure. Right now they are in every nook and cranny of the building.”

One of the storage systems will be placed in the selectmen’s office, allowing access from two sides and will compress files to fit more into the space. Four more will be placed in a room behind the lower Town Hall meeting room that is temperature and humidity-controlled to adequately protect records.

“It’s a short-term solution,” Lynam said. “It’s a good solution for five years or so. At some point, we’ll have to have a more viable solution, and I think [the key] is actually getting the state to come into the 21st Century and accept the concept of electronic archiving.”

Lynam had also discussed the situation with the Buildings, Facilities and Capital Expenditures Committee on Thursday, March 3.

“One of our worst traits, or characteristics, is record storage,” he told the committee. “We’re not in compliance with state law in terms of how to preserve records and we’re not in compliance with good business practices on how to secure and protect those records.”

Lynam contacted the state storage system contractor, Delegate Systems, to conduct a site visit and provide a design and estimates on a solution. Their initial quote included $14,864.75 for rotating storage in the selectmen’s office, he said.

Among the problems the system would help solve is the long-term storage of personnel records, according to Lynam.

The state archivist has told town officials that some records, including minutes from meetings, which must be easily retrieved as hard copies, cannot be digitized. Under current state law, for example, e-mails exchanged between public officials must be printed out with hard copies kept on file.

About 20-to-30 percent of files can be stored electronically, but is an expensive project, Lynam cautioned.

“And it won’t replace the need for storage,” he said. “They (state archivists) had consistently rejected it because their concern was, if we create a file today, will we be able to read it 20 years from now. Paper is constant.”

During the five to seven years of secure, organized filing that the new system will buy for the town, Lynam suggested perhaps some method of long-term accessibility to digitized records could be developed. The problem, however, is here now.

“In the big picture, this is not a lot of money to address the issue we’re addressing,” he said.

“I think it’s way past due,” said Building Inspector Robert Curran, a member of the Buildings, Facilities and Capital Expenditures Committee.

Member Christopher Powers voiced support for a more long-term solution, such as electronic storage.

“We’re eventually going to end up there,” Lynam said. “This is something happening all around us and we’re going to be part of that movement.”

Override options opinion sought

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HANSON — Lawyers for the town and Whitman-Hanson Regional School District are expected to meet Thursday, March 31 — along with Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young and School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes — to review the legal options open to the town regarding the form and procedures for a Proposition 2½ override ballot question in a regional school district.

The meeting is aimed at providing the answers selectmen need to vote on placement of the override article on the Town Meeting warrant or directly to a ballot by the Tuesday, April 5 deadline.

Selectmen also voted 4-1, with Selectman Don Howard dissenting, to select Michael McCue as the new town administrator pending the completion of a background check and successful contract negotiation.

Young had consulted the Department of Revenue (DOR) website at mass.gov/dls to determine what options might be open to the town and suggested one of two multiple-question overrides might best suit Hanson as it approaches the WHRSD budget for fiscal 2017.

“Basically, [MGL Ch. 59 Section 21] for some reason, makes the Board of Selectmen the appropriating authority, not the Town Meeting, for the placement of ballot questions,” Young said. “It also gives the Board of Selectmen various options as to how those ballot questions may be placed.”

A “menu” override would break the Student Success budget’s 20 program segments, approved by the School Committee on March 16, into separate questions from which voters may choose the ones they are willing to support.

A “pyramid,” or “tiered” form breaks such issues down into two or more funding levels. The traditional contingency article would have Town Meeting vote on May 2 regarding placement of a single funding question on the ballot.

The question is would either option to a contingency article — written concerning local school districts — be legal for a regional district?

School district counsel James Toomey argues it is not legal and town counsel Jay Talerman had not yet offered an opinion, which Young has sought.

“We need a complete and accurate picture of what the selectmen can and can’t do in relationship to the proposed assessment and subsequent override,” Young said of his request to Talerman. Young indicated the tier, if not the menu option, may apply based on Talerman’s preliminary review.

“The second section … explicitly provides a Town Meeting must act on the total budget and is prohibited from allocating from among accounts or placing any restrictions on the appropriated money,” Hayes read from an email from Toomey. “I think the vote has to be up or down, whether we like it or not. It’s a budget that has been voted upon by an elected body,” Hayes said.

Selectmen were referring to voting options on a Town Election ballot.

Former Selectmen James Egan agreed with Toomey.

“I’ve had a little bit of experience in this area,” Egan said. “The School Committee determines how to spend the money, it’s the role of he Board of Selectmen to determine how to get the money. You can’t do what [Selectman James McGahan] is saying about tiering and making choices … that is not the role of a Proposition 2 ½ override. … You don’t have the right to determine how monies are spent.”

Young said he agreed with that, and it’s why he questions the menu option.

McGahan favors a menu option because he said he does not believe an “all-or-nothing” ballot question would pass in Hanson.

“I personally don’t like the override approach,” McGahan said. “It’s too risky.”

He said on Wednesday morning that voters need to know in which of the towns additional teachers and security cameras included in the budget request will go, especially in view of declining enrollment in Hanson schools.

“If we’re going to support this, this, this, but not this and not that — it’s defeated,” Interim Town Administrator Richard LaCamera cautioned about voting in a different manner from Whitman, which would send the budget back to the School Committee. “A lot of those options that are in this 2½ ballot question only apply to local school districts. Most of the options having to do with the tier structure … doesn’t work in a regional school district, unless the School Committee accepts a lower amount.”

The W-H Regional School Committee unanimously voted on March 16 to transfer $750,000 from the excess and deficiency fund and to set a 20.15-percent increase to the towns’ assessments in support of a Student Success budget for fiscal 2017. With the assessment increase accompanying the Student Success budget, the total fiscal 2017 operating budget sought will be $49,714,344.

Hanson’s share of the operating assessment is $8,956,207 — with $1,241,141 subject to an override vote — based on student population and Whitman’s is $12,719,345 — with $1,762,588 subject to an override vote.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner stressed that the budget’s bottom line has increased only 1/10th of a percent and will actually fall short of level service without an override.

For Whitman voters, an override would mean an additional $1.24 per $1,000 in valuation [$336 per year on the average home value of  $270,940 to $558 on homes valued at $450,000], in Hanson, it would mean an additional $1.13 per $1,000 in valuation [$331 per year on the average home value of  $293,500 to $509 on homes valued at $450,000].

LaCamera said Hanson officials are proposing a 3.5-percent assessment increase, a figure, which would support the level-service school budget.

McCue chosen

Selectmen approved Michael McCue of Mansfield as its selection for the town’s next town administrator.

Young and McGahan reported they had each taken a finalist — Young checking McCue’s references and McGahan checking Sarah Smith of East Bridgewater — asking a dozen identical questions for each in conversations with all references.

Both said they received nothing but glowing responses for each candidate, but selectmen preferred McCue’s experience. He is currently town administrator Rochester, a post he has also held in Avon, and has served as an administrative assistant to selectmen in Mendon, as an Economic Development grants officer in Walpole and was a selectman in Mansfield for six years. McCue had been a finalist for Hanson’s former executive secretary position about 12 years ago when Michael Finglas was hired, and his parents have lived in town for about 20 years.

Young said he wanted “the best of the best” for the job.

“I lean, personally toward someone with more experience,” agreed Selectman Bill Scott.

McGahan said he struggled with his decision, and lauded Smith’s initiative in attending some selectmen’s meetings during the process.

“I liked her attitude, I like the way she conducted herself,” he said. “But I do think, if you’re looking at the résumé, if you’re looking at the experience, I would echo what Bill said.”

Selectman Kenny Mitchell concurred, but Howard voted for Smith.

“She’s new, she’s young and vibrant and I think she’d make a good candidate for the town of Hanson,” Howard said.

The board also voted to have a Norwell private investigation firm conduct a background check including a nationwide criminal,  civil and financial search; employment verification; academic degree confirmation and a nationwide media, news and public data search.

Rescue team frees man from trench

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HALIFAX — Members of the Plymouth County Technical Rescue team rescued a 51-year-old man from a trench after the land gave way around him Tuesday morning.

Paul Brown of Plymouth was approximately eight feet down in a yard on South Street in Halifax on Tuesday morning when the earth around him collapsed.

“He was conscious the whole time, “said Halifax Fire Chief Jason Viveiros.

It took rescuers two hours to free Brown.

“We were in constant communication with him and he was receiving advanced life support treatment as the team was working to free him,” Viveiros said.

Chief Viveiros along with Lt. Rob O’Brien of Hanson fire spoke to media following the intensive rescue effort. A long backboard with several pulley systems was secured to heavy ropes as the group slowly and methodically pulled  Brown up.

“They used small army-type shovels to move the dirt as any heavy machinery could jeopardize the victim; dumping more dirt on him,” said O’Brien who is part of the Plymouth County Technical Rescue team.

After securing the trench for members to enter, buckets were moved by rotating firefighters who were taking turns in the hole lifting dirt out. Fire chiefs as well as their fire department members who are specially trained in technical rescues represented many towns on the South Shore.

A portable heating unit was placed with flexible tubes in the ground while the man was trapped as he began to show signs of hypothermia.   

It appeared Brown suffered from possible lower extremity injuries, said Viveiros.

Brown who works for Evergreen Landscaping was in the trench working when the area collapsed around him. Another person who was not injured had operated an excavator.

They continuously talked with him letting him know that there were specialists to help get him out, the ‘best of the best’ who constantly train for these rescues, said Viveiros in an effort to keep the victim calm.

The homeowner said Brown was speaking to her and expressed that he didn’t think he could get out when she called 911 after 9 a.m. Tuesday.   She said she could see him moving the dirt with his hands but he could not free himself.

The repair was involving a septic system unit and was on private property, said Viveiros.

“I just can’t say enough for the support and what they did here – the technical team and the individuals who were here today,” Viveiros said.

The incident’s positive outcome and rescue was very fortunate, he said.

Brown was flown via Med Flight to a Boston Hospital.

OSHA and several state inspectors were on scene throughout the day as part of the investigation, according to Viveiros.

Whitman nearing sewer settlement

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WHITMAN — The town  might finally be able to sort out issues regarding their shared sewage situation with the city of Brockton.

Last year, Brockton mayor Bill Carpenter hit Whitman with a termination notice for outstanding payments due dating back to 2013. But at the Whitman town selectman meeting on Tuesday, the board worked on straightening out the issues and explained the situation in detail.

Brockton wanted Whitman to be a common user of their shared sewage system and for the town to share the cost of any repair expenses. While Whitman is willing to pay a share of it, they do not want to be responsible for the neighboring city’s issues when just 160 feet of the town’s pipeline extends into Brockton, Town Administrator Frank Lynam argued.

Recently, Whitman sent Brockton a check for $300,000 to take care of an audited 2013 payment and currently, they have $900,000 set aside to make the payments for 2014 and 2015. They will need to obtain another $600,000 from the Finance Committee to catch up on those payments.

Lynam said that it was not that the town was avoiding the payments. He said that there were errors in the original bill Brockton sent and the town would be more than compliant to pay when Brockton sent a correct bill based off of flow – the method which the town agreed to pay upon originally.

In the past few years, the town has spent $8,000 in audits trying to figure out why they were charged the amount they were instead of what they believed they would be charged, Lynam noted.

Unhappy with the inconsistencies, Selectman Daniel Salvucci suggested that the neighboring town may be hurting for money – which is why the rates could be higher than expected.

The board approved new procedure for issuing liquor licenses in town. From now on, they will send their rules, regulations and enforcement policies along with the license to establishments in town so that everyone is aware of the rule. The final page of the document will require the business’ signature and it appears as though they will either send it back to the town or keep it at their establishment. That part has yet to be determined.

Liquor licenses became an issue when an establishment in town violated theirs on several occasions and the town came to a conclusion – they did not have any way to strictly penalize an establishment for violating the rules.

With space lacking at the town hall, the board agreed that the archives room needed to be expanded in order to store more files.

“It’s a short term solution,” Lynam argued. “It’ll probably work for the next five to seven years. But then we’ll probably have to go digital at some point.”

Deficit spending was approved, at Lynam’s request, in order to demolish the barn on 215 South Avenue. It was damaged during winter storms and he said it was about to fall apart. While the town might not have had the funding at the moment, he argued that they will recoup the funds and then some when they sell the property.

While spending money may have been an issue, the town did receive a sizable sum from the state — $167,000 to be exact for being what the state of Massachusetts considers a “Green Community”.

Whitman and Hanson have shared a building inspector’s vehicle in recent times and in order to keep the deal in place, the board argued that the costs should be split equally – specifically gas and depreciation.

Using $3,200 from the World War II Memorial Fund, the Whitman Recreation Commission’s request to replace a fence around the basketball and pickleball court, which is located behind the police station, was approved. Pickleball is a game similar to tennis with a racket more similar to a table tennis racket and a ball more similar to a whiffle ball.

Ridder Farm’s request for a 12 General On-Premises Wine and Malt License was approved and takes effect specifically on holes four, 12, 13, 14 and 16.

Rickard D’Ambrosio’s Auctioneer License for DBA Gallery on 605 Bedford Street was approved.

The board set their April meeting schedule and their first meeting of the month will be Tuesday, April 5.

The case for school social workers

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Why does the W-H Regional School District need social workers?

School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes said it’s a question he frequently hears.

“We have seen over time an increase in the number of low-income students and students who qualify for free and reduced lunch,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner. “We’ve seen increased numbers of students from families that are not functioning in ways that really support students. Students are coming to school with issues and problems that 20 to 25 years ago we would have never thought possible.”

Principals from all seven W-H schools gave emotional testimony to the pain they see among children and adolescents in all economic levels in their schools whose needs are not being met.

They have had to find help for middle schoolers who cut themselves, suicidal students, children in custody of grandparents and students on the autism spectrum or who are dealing with crippling anxiety and depression ­­­­­— all while providing a quality education.

North River Collaborative has funded “very part-time” social workers for the elementary schools to share — and those principals lauded their work and dedication — but Gilbert-Whitner said more needs to be done.

Duval Principal Julie McKillop said her school has 16 pupils who have changed custody since June.

“Those children need to be supported throughout their day,” McKillop said. “That doesn’t shut off for those kids at 9 o’clock when the school day starts, and then start back up at 3 o’clock.”

School psychologists — there is one per school — are busy special ed testing, adjustment counseling and helping with social work, she said.

Conleey Principal Karen Downey noted her school is “into double digits with children who are DCF-involved” and counseling cases are increasing.

“I know you hear a lot about the opioid crisis,” Downey said. “That starts with these kids we can’t reach.”

At Hanson Middle School, Principal William Tranta said the problem goes beyond kids involved with DCF or the free and reduced lunch program.

“This is about all kids,” he said. “We’re seeing, in the middle schools, the results of the elementary schools not having the mental health support. … It’s about the social-emotional health of our students, not about what their income level is.”

Whitman Middle School Principal George Ferro agreed, but said the situation presents an opportunity to take action rather than being reactive.

“We’re taking kids from every walk of life, from every piece of life, from every socio-economic group, but it’s incumbent upon us as educators to take them where they’re at, give them the skills that they need to succeed not only in first grade, fifth grade, ninth grade, but for the rest off their life,” he said.

Unaddressed  problems grow bigger as students move to higher grades, educators said.

“I’m the end game,” said High School Principal Jeffrey Szymaniak. “I see the results of what we haven’t supported.”

After six years at WHRHS, he said he can see there is a gap of students who hadn’t had basic needs met in the elementary and middle schools.

“I know last year we spent a lot of time talking about the transition room we built [at WHRHS] specifically for students coming out of hospitals and psychiatric hospitals back into the building,” said Administrator of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services Dr. John Quealy. “I just wonder how many of those kids would have been prevented [from needing that] if we had social workers at the elementary level.”

School committee member Susan McSweeney said social workers allow teachers to focus on teaching.

Indian Head Principal Elaine White said depression and anxiety is a problem for a lot of kids, some needing hospitalization.

“All of those services we lost, I think we’re reaping the problems now, because here we have kids in high school who are unable to function,” she said.

School Success Plan Approved

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The W-H Regional School Committee has unanimously voted to transfer $750,000 from the excess and deficiency fund and to set a 20.15-percent increase to the towns’ assessments in support of a Student Success budget for fiscal 2017.

Assessments are apportioned based on student enrollment.

The 9-0 votes — member Steven Bois was absent — on Wednesday, March 16, came after a lengthy discussion on educational needs and financial challenges facing the regional school district.

“To recap where we are, we have a $1.4 million deficit for a level-service budget,” said School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes. “We also have a Student Success budget, which is a $3 million budget.”

With the assessment increase accompanying the Student Success budget, the total fiscal 2017 operating budget sought will be $49,714,324.

He stressed that the school committee could not put forth a Proposition 2 1/2 override, as that is a decision for the towns to make.   

For Whitman voters, an override would mean an additional $1.24 per $1,000 in valuation [$336 per year on the average home value of  $270,940 to $558 on homes valued at $450,000], in Hanson, it would mean an additional $1.13 per $1,000 in valuation [$331 per year on the average home value of  $293,500 to $509 on homes valued at $450,000].

A level-service budget means librarians, computer teachers, language classes and other programs and positions previously cut would not be returned. It does add some special education services mandated by law. School committee members estimated that a level-service budget would require at least a 3.5-percent to 5-percent assessment increase.

“Basically, it means we stand still,” said Superintendent of  Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner. “We do not move forward, but we don’t move back. Lately, we’ve been moving back. … We cannot move back — we can’t even stand still. We’ve got to move forward.”

The “three pillars” of the Student Success budget — healthy bodies/healthy minds, a cohesive pre-kindergarten to grade 12 system and safe/secure schools — include budgeting $500,000 toward reducing elementary class size, $400,000 to implement free all-day kindergarten, $320,000 to restore the library program, $240,000 to replace the grant funding the elementary science curriculum, $140,000 for two social workers, $70,000 for middle school foreign language programs and about $170,000 for music and art, among other line items.

“This wasn’t a pie-in-the-sky figure, it wasn’t a wish list,” Hayes said. “It was a well-thought-out list of what we need.”

budget online

The full list, as well as other budget information, is available online at whrsd.org. Hayes also said residents of both towns with budget concerns or questions may call him on his cell phone at 617-538-0189.

“Unanswered questions become problematic,” he said.

Whitman Finance Committee member Michael Minchello — a  former school committee member — rose to correct an incorrect statement made at the March 9 meeting about the tax impact of any override in Whitman.

A resident had said that, with the one-time computer virtualization debt exclusion going off the books this year, the average Whitman taxpayer would see a net reduction of $158 in taxes on a $250,000 house if an override passes.

“That’s how it was voted,” Minchello said. “Then we got some unexpected money from National Grid [being used for capital projects], and they ended up funding what would have been the override with National Grid money. So, our taxes didn’t increase, they actually decreased by I think a penny per $1,000.”

A few residents spoke at the meeting, supporting the Student Success budget before the vote, which received a standing ovation.

“We should reach for the stars,” said retired teacher Margaret Westfield of Hanson.

“The key is in the support,” Hayes said.

“There’s an ethical obligation to support education and to support the community,” agreed school committee member Fred Small.

“Support is definitely important, but I also think research is key,” said Whitman resident Shawn Kain. He noted average tax bills in both Whitman and Hanson are below average while median incomes are above average and cited economic statistics supporting increased investment in education.

Pre-kindergarten returns $3 for every $1 a community invests, Kain said quoting economic surveys pointing to a lower dropout rate and less need for remediation. Property values also benefit by $20 for every $1 invested, he argued. Adequate educational and support programs, such as social workers [see related story] increase the odds of equal opportunity for economic success as adults, Kain concluded.

“I think everyone’s basically on the same page and I feel energized,” Hayes said. “It’s the beginning of moving forward again if we get this voted in the positive. … This is not the end of this, this is the beginning.”

Hanson Selectmen choose TA finalists

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HANSON — Now there are two.

After interviews with the four final candidates — Greg Enos of Brockton, Michael McCue of Mansfield, Chawner Hurd of Lakeville and Sarah Smith of East Bridgewater — recommended by the Town Administrator Search Committee, Selectmen narrowed the field to McCue and Smith Tuesday, March 22.

It came down to experience, enthusiasm, longevity considerations, personality and opposition to using overrides to balance school operating budgets. Enos, Whitman’s assistant town administrator, also received high marks for his experience, particularly in grant writing and familiarity with the regional schools.

“I thought they were all good,” said Selectmen Chairman Bruce Young. “They all had various strengths.”

All four candidates had expressed an aversion to micro-managing and concern for the ethical use of social media, key areas of concern for selectmen.

“I think they’re all great candidates,” said Selectman James McGahan. “I thank the board for getting us some really highly qualified people. I think we’ve got some great talent.”

“I think we can take all four of them and flip a coin, they’re so close,” Selectman Don Howard said. “I’m having a difficult time because I’ve been through this twice before.”

While there was wide agreement on McCue, with Howard voting for Hurd (a businessman and former selectman), another 4-1 consensus vote selected Smith, with Selectman Bill Scott favoring Enos, following some discussion.

“I’m an experience guy,” Scott said. “We have two candidates [McCue and Enos] that bring experience to the job. … I don’t think we can afford the time to train another town administrator, with all due respect to the candidates — they were all impressive — but my feeling is it should go to someone … that can hit the ground running.”

McGahan agreed Smith is not familiar with regional schools, but noted she is friends with W-H Director of Business Services Christine Suckow, and can gain information from that relationship.

“But she made it a point in her letter that she understands there has to be a balance between the two (town and school budgets),” he said. Smith is currently business manager for West Bridgewater schools and has worked in private business as a financial officer.

Selectman Kenny Mitchell said he liked all four, but that Hurd’s résumé bordered on inscrutable.

“I’m not quite sure what he does now,” Mitchell said. He and McGahan agreed Smith’s enthusiasm for the position outweighed her lack of experience.

“I think she’s hungry for the job,” McGahan said.

The board will meet Tuesday, March 29 to make its final selection following reference checks.

Vote factors

McCue was favored for his experience and Hanson ties. He is currently town administrator in Rochester, a post he has also held in Avon, and has served as an administrative assistant to selectmen in Mendon, as an Economic Development grants officer in Walpole and was a selectman in Mansfield for six years. McCue had been a finalist for Hanson’s former executive secretary position about 12 years ago when Michael Finglas was hired, and his parents have lived in town for about 20 years.

Each candidate was allotted 45 minutes, with all but McCue taking less time to exhaust selectmen’s prepared questions and follow-ups. All four interviews were recorded for later broadcast by Whitman-Hanson Community Access Television.

Questions ranged from familiarity with the Town Administrator Act and the role of the office to management style, relations with selectmen and the regional school district and use of social media.

“I see myself as generally providing oversight to all departments, making sure all departments work cohesively, without being invasive,” McCue said of the role of town administrator. “My chief role would be shepherd of the budget.”

“Facilitating your visions and goals for the town” is job one, Smith said. “The residents elected you. I just want to make sure that we fulfill what you want to do legally, ethically and make the town better that way.”

She added that she advocates an open-door policy, listens to all sides and doesn’t take things personally.

“The town administrator doesn’t run the town, you people do,” she said.

Both McCue and Smith were conversant that Hanson’s current budget is $22 million. Neither favors overrides as a method of balancing the school district’s operational budget.

“I am aware your growth has been down this year and that you do have some debt exclusions out there,” Smith said. “Overrides for balancing budgets, I’m just not a fan of.”

While appropriate in some circumstances, she said a “major discussion” must happen before it comes to that.

“I believe that is the last resort,” McCue said. The law allows us to do it. I think that, in extreme circumstances, it can be warranted. I can safely say that I have not been party to an operational override. … It is the option of last resort, I believe.”

McCue also said his role would also be to investigate and foster economic expansion for the town, while serving as spokesman and go-between for the Board of Selectmen. The commuter rail station area is one he sees as a prime area for that type of expansion.

“Having served on a board of selectmen for six years, I do think I bring to the position an understanding of what you all deal with and need to work through on a daily basis,” McCue said.

Like all four candidates, McCue said communication was key to avoiding or resolving conflicts between subordinates, peers and board members.

“I don’t stand over people’s shoulders,” McCue said. “I expect people, who get paid very well and who are professionals, to do their job. That being said, there are occasions where I need to get involved and I try to keep those lines of communication open on a regular basis so I can nip problems in the bud.”

Smith agreed.

“I’m definitely a team player,” she said. “I’m not a micro-manager. I understand that sometimes you need to be firm, but you can always do that in a respectful way.”

One question outlined a hypothetical situation in which selectmen approach a town administrator for help setting up a social media page in support of a multi-million dollar project, requiring a debt exclusion, on which only favorable posts are permitted. All candidates said they could not ethically do that, nor would they use social media to advocate for extension of their contract.

“I cannot ethically do that,” Smith said of the project scenario. “I feel that social media, for a town, is to get information out to the people. … I’m not one to air my political views or anything like that.”

“There are constraints in terms of what one can do in terms of political function,” McCue said. “I would do my best to get the information out there, to deal with any questions that people might have … I’d hold public meetings — and they wouldn’t necessarily be here in Town Hall.

“One needs to be a little careful with social media because you can lose that person-to-person contact that I think a lot of people still want,” McCue said.

Whitman Springs into new trash service

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WHITMAN — With the beginning of spring, the town of Whitman will begin a new automated trash pickup system through Waste Management.

Homeowners have already begun receiving informational flyers from the hauling company about the switch, according to DPW Superintendent Bruce Martin.

“The program is what most municipalities are going to nowadays,” Martin said.

The cart manufacturer will be working with the DPW and Waste Management to distribute two 64-gallon, wheeled barrels to every house in town — single-family to three-family dwellings — on Wednesday March 23 with pickup service to begin Monday, April 4. The pickup schedule has changed for some residents, as 300 on the schedule for Friday were distributed between Mondays and Wednesday to even out the workload. Notifications of that change have already been made via mail or robocall.

Multi-family buildings with dumpsters are not part of the town’s trash program.

“The rules for that haven’t changed,” Martin said.

The black barrels will be used for trash and the blue for recycling.

Panther colors were attempted, as many communities go with their town’s school colors, but red is not in the manufacturer’s color inventory and would have incurred added cost.

Every barrel will be marked with a serial number assigned to the address. Barrels are to remain with the property when a house is sold.

Once the program is up and running, new construction will be signed up through the assessor’s office. New subdivisions now under construction have already been included.

“The truck pulls up and the guy doesn’t even get out of the truck,” Martin said. “The [mechanized] arm reaches, out, grabs the trash barrel, empties it and puts it back. The days of trash guys hanging off the back of the truck when its 2 degrees out or 95 degrees out are over.”

Only items inside the barrels will be picked up.

While some seniors have expressed concern about the size, weight and maneuverability of the 64-gallon barrels, Martin said the new barrels should be easier to handle than older trash cans because they have big handles and wheels, and are wider so they have more stability.

Right now, Whitman has a three-barrel limit but the new ones are the size of two barrels, according to Martin, who noted that it may mean going down a barrel on trash, but the recycle volume is much greater.

“The whole idea is to have people recycle more,” he said, noting barrel volume has been one of the most frequently voiced concerns. “The state DEP is pushing everybody to this system, because you can’t keep putting this stuff in the ground.”

Mailers from Waste Management include tips on set-out times, placement of barrels and how to clear a space for them in snowy weather, as well as instructions on what to recycle and how. A holiday schedule and contact information was also included.

For more information, call Waste Management at 800-972-4545, the DPW at 781-447-7630 or visit whitman-ma.gov.

“I just want people to be patient with the new program, give it a try,” Martin said. “I think it’s just going to be a learning curve for people.”

Funding decision for school budget nears

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When the W-H Regional School Committee votes to set the fiscal 2017 assessments — as they were slated to do on Thursday, March 17 — there may be no budget cuts recommended.

The committee continued its conversation about funding the budget Wednesday, March 9 and, while no votes were taken that night, the mood of members was evident from discussion: cuts and large transfers from the $1,365,310 in excess and deficiency are not popular choices.

There is a $1.4 million shortfall in a level-services budget proposed for fiscal 2017, and committee members are concerned about the wisdom of using too much from that one-time money.

“We need it all,” said School Committee Chairman Bob Hayes of the Student Success plan. “I don’t think anybody on this committee wants to take anything out of that Student Success budget.”

No one disagreed with him.

“We need every single item,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Gilbert-Whitner said. “It’s hard to say which piece you could cut and then the other piece doesn’t fall apart. Truth be told, we need more than $3 million.”

She noted the Student Success plan was the product of a lot of work by staff, leadership and parents.

“I’m not in favor of cutting a penny from the Student Success budget,” said committee member Fred Small, who had cautioned against tapping into excess and deficiency. “We need that and everything that’s in there. … What our needs are — those are our needs and those aren’t changing, no matter what the dollar amounts are.”

The district is allowed to put up to 5 percent of its operating budget into the excess and deficiency line to cover emergency expenses for which a regional district is responsible. It currently has 2.88 percent in the account.

Every year, transfers are made from excess and deficiency to help balance the budget, but officials said it is getting harder to replenish what is taken out. In fiscal 2016, $750,000 in excess and deficiency funds were used to fund the budget. Over the course of the school year $643,000 was replenished largely due to insurance and energy savings. A new budgeting software also limits over-budgeting.

School committee and district representatives have already met with finance committees in both towns where it was indicated a 3-perecent assessment increase was manageable, but probably not more, reported Hayes.

“They [Whitman] are not sure if it could be 4 or 5 percent, but they’re pretty sure they could handle 3,” he said. “At this particular point they don’t have any idea, either,  because they’re [still crunching numbers].”

Hayes said Hanson painted a similar picture.

If $750,000 were transferred from excess and deficiency to return school librarians and help close the budget gap, there would still be a $1 million shortfall that would take a 5-percent assessment increase to close, Hayes said of the level-service budget. It would take an additional 15 percent to raise the additional $3 million involved in the Student Success plan.

“Both towns are saying it’s probably going to have to go to an override” to fund the Student Success proposal, according to Hayes. “Neither town has the amount of funding to fund it without going to an override.”

He also said the presence of concerned residents at the meeting with Whitman’s Finance Committee did not go unnoticed.

“They were thrilled to have some people come, because finance committees are often  in meeting rooms where nobody shows up,” he said.

Whitman resident Shawn Kain again spoke in favor of the Student Success plan at the school committee.

“I think the override is just,” Kain said. “I think when we go to the people of the towns I think we can, in a very fair and honest way say, ‘It’s reasonable for us to support the override.’”

He argued that, with the one-time virtualization debt exclusion going off the books this year, the average Whitman taxpayer would see a net effect of $250 tax increase on a $300,000 house if an override passes.

“The challenge is we still have to balance the budget, which is why we are where we are today,” said Gilbert-Whitner.

Hanson resident Christopher Howard reminded the committee that there were more items of concern in the Student Success plan than just returning the library program.

Teacher honored

In other business, the school committee congratulated high school faculty member Julie Giglia on receiving the Business Educator of the Year Award.

“This is a tremendous honor and we feel so pleased that it’s a W-H person who’s receiving this,” Gilbert-Whitner said.

Giglia outlined the “extensive” application process, noting the award wouldn’t be possible without support from her fellow business educators and school administrators.

She also gave a plug for the school’s inaugural Credit For Life Fair from 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, April 1. During the event, each senior is provided with a career and income scenario and must budget life expenses to balance out by the end of the session.

Computer update

The committee was also updated on the progress of the district’s computer virtualization project.

Funded by town meetings last year, virtualization project is on pace for completion sometime in June.

Virtualization replaces the individual hard drives of classroom computers by linking the monitor, keyboard and mouse to remotely accessible server. It also extends the life of desktop units with the best performance possible.

“It doesn’t get tired, it doesn’t get bogged down,” said district IT Director Chad Peters. “Every time someone logs in, it creates a virtual desktop for them.”

The network infrastructure and software was replaced last summer, followed by the upgrade of existing classroom computers in late fall and trained the first two groups of teachers by this month. The remaining teachers will be trained as upgrades continue through May. Upgrades of old computers will continue into June.