[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6280426,"mediaKeyId","2615473-738575b38ce22063f7d56abcc168d053","parentId",2615473,"title","Votes at a glance: Hanover School Committee (Feb. 26) approves donations and a homeschool request; declines school choice participation","audioSeconds",136,"startMs",159000,"endMs",295000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615473-738575b38ce22063f7d56abcc168d053&start=159&end=295","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615473-738575b38ce22063f7d56abcc168d053/thumbnail_159000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6280426/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Hanover-School-Committee-Feb-26-approves-donations-and-a-homeschool-request-declines-school-choice-participation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280426-0d101576a8be40aa11b46ef28ec6e89e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162992&Signature=IpHKG4MoB68qTIiTxg1evPAg3MmGn42D2lnbmSbAP8MB7pbZh7bnK~WGa46h4as6iKdVvGb3u8pzXDk-zuj82irAqU6XcZEo6Hk87sS8CJPVVdHTrfHMWtLV2-MDRtxwnu1cfDfQ82Rue407eILsoXQNDGJLSXt3Mcl9qDpub6cniM~X03xsHPkk9KANw8V-35v14SEKATHALwokStfqw0~58BPxjO1xRbBkwHQZgcxMhoPCkiAV8PlpOODjd1Bb0nq~vKYR8PSFkFZyCC3j0VafVqYRFRxPtf8Hd0rgTUeZfgA5Suv~0I~KlRjBmB7xm0e98klgie4RhVqI-p53wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hanover Public Schools, MA","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","At its Feb. 26 meeting the Hanover School Committee recorded three formal actions:

FY25 donations accepted: The committee voted to accept $6,188.54 in donations received between Jan. 15 and Feb. 21. The donation total includes a contribution from the Hanover Friendly Fund for an art display and funds from Bay State Textiles for the district's textile recycling program. Mr. Rhodes reported the receipts and asked the committee to accept the donations; the motion to approve the donations carried unanimously with recorded ayes from Libby Korbel, Ryan Hall, Pete Moralia, Jackie Jorgensen and Rachel Hughes.

Homeschool request approved: The committee approved a new homeschool request for a family new to Hanover covering two students. Administration recommended approval after reviewing the submitted education plan; the motion carried with recorded ayes from Libby Korbel, Ryan Hall, Pete Moralia, Jackie Jorgensen and Rachel Hughes.

School choice: Committee votes not to participate in 2025'26: Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 76, \u0000Section 12B the committee voted that the Hanover Public Schools will not participate in the state's school choice program for the 2025'26 school year, citing enrollment and class-size limitations. The motion was read into the record pursuant to the statute and carried with recorded ayes from Libby Korbel, Ryan Hall, Pete Moralia, Jackie Jorgensen and Rachel Hughes.

Votes at a glance (tallies):
- Accept FY25 donations ($6,188.54): Yes 5 (Libby Korbel, Ryan Hall, Pete Moralia, Jackie Jorgensen, Rachel Hughes); outcome: approved.
- Approve homeschool request (2 students, new to Hanover): Yes 5 (Libby Korbel, Ryan Hall, Pete Moralia, Jackie Jorgensen, Rachel Hughes); outcome: approved.
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 76, \u0000Section 12B: choose not to participate in school choice for 2025-26: Yes 5 (Libby Korbel, Ryan Hall, Pete Moralia, Jackie Jorgensen, Rachel Hughes); outcome: approved.

Ending: The committee recorded these formal actions early in the meeting; other substantive agenda items that followed included budget restoration planning and a Chapter 70 analysis for full-day kindergarten.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hanover School Committee Meeting 2-26-25","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved FY25 donations totalling $6,188.54, approved a new homeschool request for two students, and voted under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 76, \u0000Section 12B to decline participation in the state school choice program for 2025-26.","taxTitle","Hanover Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",68733,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280431,"District says Chapter 70 data removes window for large state reimbursement; committee weighing no-fee full-day kindergarten options",2965,4655000,7620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615473-738575b38ce22063f7d56abcc168d053&start=4655&end=7620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615473-738575b38ce22063f7d56abcc168d053/thumbnail_4655000.jpg","/articles/6280431/Massachusetts/District-says-Chapter-70-data-removes-window-for-large-state-reimbursement-committee-weighing-no-fee-full-day-kindergarten-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280431-08c273cdad7b2feab4f3edc2086bea7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162992&Signature=KqJMuKsXjmnBRE5DcQJWzI60FLAwCCeyQzH0bFQzwDOeXXwGkn4OaavPLEg6O6Xg2meyYq635Ki06EkaQi5WNyosYIYtRv~qNQCd53C-iuhrt0GOV6QiyVvrRyGGf4e0fMhjI-jkAz322uiLnDIlrDj5gjWrryyNwkmjkvaSvWI6iu5yM0R7o0BE~r5wDtCyLnoVU1KLD26AL5G1rad-VcmpEF9boGkJgk7YiT6puMxQ9TOmsbeIe9xDCZ6jENepaslLGZW8zwmGJuKBH~1Re9Nw2YMbgKQgOAnrGtg1dkmB4~6sGQNu77Z7gV6eb9qDbEDKtixVPMwUXU7gFb1wmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 26 Hanover School Committee meeting, district finance staff presented updated Chapter 70 calculations and said preliminary data for fiscal 2026 make the town a \"minimum aid\" district for the next several years, removing an anticipated large state reimbursement that had made no-fee full-day kindergarten financially attractive.

The nut graf: Finance staff said a mix of factors'1. a smaller-than-expected foundation budget increase driven by a 25-student drop in district enrollment and fewer low-income students, and 2. a larger-than-projected rise in the town's required local contribution driven by increased estimated local receipts and equalized valuation'combined to shrink the Chapter 70 gap that had supported a large reimbursement for adding students to the formula.

Finance staffer Mike Oates told the committee, \"I must report that the opportunity to receive significant increase in our Chapter 70 reimbursement by transitioning to a no fee full day kindergarten is no longer available to us, or at least for the time being.\" The presentation noted the town's free cash for FY24 came in at $3,299,283.

Administrators laid out two primary options for the committee: 1) eliminate the tuition for full-day kindergarten using a combination of one-time reserves (including consideration of the special-education reserve/free cash) and incremental Chapter 70 growth as a temporary bridge while developing a sustainable FY27+ funding plan; or 2) maintain the current tuition-based structure for full-day kindergarten and delay any no-fee change until a stable, ongoing funding source is identified. The district also plans to collect a standard $500 deposit from registered kindergarten families to secure placements; the committee was told deposits would be refunded if a no-fee decision is enacted.

Committee members expressed concern about creating a multi-year funding obligation without a clear, sustainable revenue source. One member said that using reserve funds now would require a written legal opinion from town counsel and coordination with the Select Board. Administrators said they will follow up with town counsel and the town manager's office and bring a recommended funding strategy to the next meeting; the committee agreed it will need a decision by the next meeting to inform registration and planning.

Ending: The committee asked administrators to return with more concrete funding scenarios, legal guidance on reserve use, and a recommended timeline; administrators will collect kindergarten deposits next week to secure placements while the committee finalizes the policy decision.","Finance staff reported that preliminary Chapter 70 calculations made Hanover a \"minimum aid\" district for FY26, reducing the expected state reimbursement from adding full-day kindergarten; the committee discussed funding options and agreed to seek a decision by the next meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6280436,"Hanover administrators lay out priorities for restoring staff and programs if override passes",1275,1339000,2614000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2615473-738575b38ce22063f7d56abcc168d053&start=1339&end=2614","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2615473-738575b38ce22063f7d56abcc168d053/thumbnail_1339000.jpg","/articles/6280436/Massachusetts/Hanover-administrators-lay-out-priorities-for-restoring-staff-and-programs-if-override-passes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6280436-800e344222f19ea237cc9ef25b65803f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162992&Signature=hRspfgLIOIFFfeUh8-40LzN2ogRvPYe~HahW9ko~R89oT8hoz5RxpeQN5ZPvNqGNoWjL74dr9f3GA0ix~yLOf4tw4ov7OeKzBclauWf1bXKNRYXhAhkqJfklw-Gq-msEHuGGFNQDNyvt18bpVmm0Acn31paVrU72Zzevz6x5JuTVrTCJUD-finkmXo3P4jDCRUhfD0s3ciYufR4Wolz6LjLzgTq0ddDBRFeoeSz-OtCOHEAQNi3MQO7jftdVobQSdtCny6wurC8iCHJoh0GfVmM2c5uTx5zIHExb9mw4~4twD36QJxmiiRSFXyo1E72y6wMF6jq7-p3oMtlMksO0tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 26 Hanover School Committee meeting, Superintendent Mr. Farren and district leaders presented a multi-tiered restoration plan that would guide how the district spends additional revenue if a proposed override passes and how it would operate under the town manager's proposed base budget.

The presentation, led by district leadership, grouped potential restorations into five general focus areas: lowering elementary class sizes and restoring special-education supports under the base budget; restoring core middle- and high-school course offerings and electives; further reducing elementary class size and adding reading/art/music staff; rebuilding curriculum leadership and administrative supports; and restoring arts and wellness offerings.

The nut graf: Committee members pressed administrators for specifics about how many positions each funding tier would restore and emphasized that any restoration will not be a simple one-for-one replacement of prior staffing. Mr. Farren said the district has prioritized classroom-facing needs but also must balance administrative support needed for systemwide planning and safety.

Superintendent Mr. Farren said the town manager's base school budget submission of $38,702,869 gives the district about $500,000 over level services and \"would provide some opportunity to restore some additional positions over level services if the override is unsuccessful.\" He outlined that 3'4 elementary classroom positions would bring class sizes down toward the low 20s and that the district needs an additional BCBA and a special-education teacher to meet student needs. \"If we had to make this decision today we would basically... do this,\" Farren said of the base-budget priorities.

Administrators emphasized the many variables that will shape a final restoration plan: the override outcome, retirements and resignations, evolving special-education needs, costs tied to new hires, private tuition obligations, transportation and unforeseen expenses, and the availability of state and federal grant funding such as IDEA and Title I. The presentation reiterated that the district is building multiple plans (A, B and C) so it can hire key specialized staff early if candidates are available.

Committee members repeatedly framed the trade-offs: one member said parents and voters typically prioritize classroom-facing positions, while others argued administrative and curriculum leadership positions are necessary to make any restored staffing effective. As one committee member put it, without adequate administrative support \"you need the oversight and support at the administrative level to have a team that can handle those decisions and those conversations.\"

Administrators told the committee they will prepare more detailed options by April vacation so voters can see what specific staffing or program restorations an override would fund. They also said some specialized positions (for example, a BCBA) will be posted soon so the district is competitive in hiring regardless of the override outcome.

Ending: Committee members praised the transparency of the restoration menu while stressing they expect administration to return with clear, prioritized options before voters are asked to approve an override.","At the Feb. 26 Hanover School Committee meeting, administrators presented a tiered plan for restoring staff and programs if the town override succeeds, and outlined what the district can maintain under the town manager's proposed base budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Hanover School Committee (Feb. 26) approves donations and a homeschool request; declines school choice participation

District says Chapter 70 data removes window for large state reimbursement; committee weighing no-fee full-day kindergarten options

Hanover administrators lay out priorities for restoring staff and programs if override passes