Whitman-Hanson committee pauses layoffs after superintendent discloses $1.13M shortfall

Whitman-Hanson, Mass. — The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee voted unanimously Oct. 30 to direct the superintendent to suspend pending reduction-in-force actions for 30 school days after district leaders disclosed a recently discovered FY2025 shortfall that has carried into FY2026.

The committee convened an emergency public meeting after Chair Beth Stafford said the session was called to inform the committee and the public about the deficit. "This is painful to me personally," Stafford said, identifying herself as chair of the Whitman-Hanson School Committee.

Superintendent Jeff Simonak told the committee the district uncovered a $1,130,000 FY2025 deficit that "has rolled into the FY26 deficit," and said administration proposes immediate cuts totaling $811,642 to avoid an appropriation deficit on June 30, 2026. Simonak said those immediate cuts would lead to 25 union and nonunion separations affecting roughly 30 district positions, including six teachers who will receive reduction-in-force letters, 13 paraprofessionals in Unit D, and six central-office or support staff positions; five…