HANOVER – With budget season heating up on both the municipal and school committee sides of the ledger, South Shore Tech is scheduling meetings with an eye on the calendar.
The SST budget must be certified 45 days before the first town scheduled to hold Town Meeting, which takes place April 1. But a simultaneous process involving the new school project, may be on the same track.
The next public forum on the building proposal is slated for 7 p.m., Jan. 25 at Abington Town Hall. The School Committee/Building Committee also meets on that date at 5 p.m.
Regarding the fiscal 2025, budget, Superintendent/Director Dr. Thomas J. Hickey said the district is at the point where they are waiting for Gov. Maura Healey’s budget numbers to be released, which is anticipated to be just before the Jan. 25 meeting. The public hearing on the budget is also scheduled for that meeting agenda.
Hickey said he would consult with the committee chair to determine if a budget certification vote.
“It might be in our best interests to certify – to go on record – essentially, setting a [budget] ceiling,” Hickey said. “A budget certification does not mean anything more than [that] we’re not going to increase it from this point foreward. It can always go lower.”
If the budget is not certified at the Jan. 25 meeting, a remote meeting can be convened in early February to do that, he said.
The Committee also, on Wednesday, Jan. 17, voted to approve a revised educational plan, which had already been approved by the committee.
Vice Chair Thomas A. Petruzelli of Abington chaired the meeting in the absence of Chair Robert Heywood of Hanover.
According to Hickey, the revision is part of the MSBA’s normal process after the authority provides feedback on educational plan.
“They asked a series of questions that we provided clarification to … and we must embed those answers in [the original educational plan] document,” he said. “These edits don’t substantially change anything. They just clarify [points], which will make this process easier when our project eventually comes before the [Massachusetts School Building Authority].”
Hickey did not ask the committee to vote on a five-year bus lease that had been listed as an agenda item. Instead, it will be back before the committee for a vote on Thursday, Jan. 25.
The district initially leased propane-fueled buses in 2017. Hickey is planning to replace that fleet in fiscal 2025 or ‘26 with a newer fleet of buses.
“We have an opportunity to do this with a statewide contract with propane buses,” he said. “We would be trading in our existing propane buses, with equity, so that we can then replace them.”
The upcoming vote would encompass a longer-term lease-purchase contract, which triggers the need for a vote. At the end of the lease the district would own the buses. A dollar amount for the buses will also be included in the vote.
Ordering the buses in January increases the chances of getting the new buses in time for the new school year. Hickey said he was thinking of purchasing 13 buses and trading in 12 to increase the size of the fleet by one.
“That should give us enough capacity for at least the next two, possibly into the third fiscal year,” he said. “I think we’re projecting that, if we couldn’t afford it, we could get away with [using the current buses] for another year,” he said.
Whitman member Dan Salvucci noted that, should the new school, be approved, the district would be seeing an increase in demand for the bus as more students are expected to attend SST.
“I think it’s a waste of money to lease them.” he said.
In other business. Principal Sandra Baldner introduced Student of the Month Stella Glykis of Hanover, a culinary arts senior doing her co-op assignment at Scarlet Oak Tavern in Hingam, where she is works the line, but is fully trained to take on any station in the restaurant.
“I know from personal experience that South Shore Tech staff members seek out her culinary expertise when they go and dine there,” Baldner said. “She’s surrounded by industry professionals who share her drive and creative nature.”
“Her job has not only taught her how to cook, but how to be an asset at the restaurant,” Baldner quoted Glykis’ teacher Charles Doucet as saying.
Glykis is described by the restaurant’s executive chef as a “great team player” who performs at an advanced level and will do great at culinary school.
“She has an open mind and is willing to try new things,” the chef said. “We have seen tremendous growth in Stella and we are glad to have her here.”
Glykis is “laser-focused on her career” and plans to attend the Culinary
Institute of America.
“I would also like to showcase Stella as an outstanding student who represents us well,” Baldner said, adding that the previous week, she was among students asked questions by the South Shore Leadership Group with the South Shore Chamber of Commerce during a luncheon program.
Baldner also shone the Staff Spotlight on the Metal Fabrication/Welding program.