Dear fellow Hanoverians:
Last night’s Hanover School Committee (SC) meeting featured one of
the largest turnouts in this writer’s memory. Teachers and parents
filled the multi-purpose room of the new high school to standing-room
only. Even given that the discussion surrounded the sobering subject
of the proposed budget cuts to the schools in the Town of Hanover, as
one person said to me, and I am paraphrasing, “regardless, these are
good times”. She was of course referring to the number of people in
the room who were showing an interest in the education of Hanover’s
children and the state of the budget in the Town of Hanover.
The School Committee read a statement at the start of the budget
discussion that was both unusual for the town’s normal course of
business, but that also opened the door for what “Around Town on the
Web” hopes will be continued supportive discussions between teachers
and parents and the School Committee regarding the current teacher
contract negotiations and the town’s overall budget.
The statement read by chair Les Hayward essentially said that the
School Committee had offered the teachers a one year “no step
raises” and “no cost of living increase” contract that also
guaranteed no teacher layoffs. This contract was not accepted by the
teacher’s union negotiating team. The teachers made a counter offer
for a three year deal that was off the record, but according to the
SC, the teachers’ counter offer was not accepted by the SC’s
negotiating team because it was anticipated that by the SC’s
calculations, in year 2 of that three-year deal, the pay raises would
amount to approximately $650,000, and in year 3 of that deal the pay
raises would be in excess of $800,000. According to members of the SC
last night, the town cannot afford those costs.
Further, the School Committee was presented with four budget scenarios
by Dr. Nash that had various requests for potential new revenue from
the town (the source of those funds was debated) and that proffered
undesired cuts to existing services provided today to Hanover’s
students. All four budgets included the cost of step raises but no
cost of living increase. Members of the audience offered suggestions
and impassioned pleas for how to meet the gap between existing revenue
and anticipated costs.
Since “Around Town on the Web” tries to remain politically
neutral, I will refrain from subjective comment on the current state
of budget negotiations. Suffice it to say, however, that the open
dialog and well attended open meetings will surely move us forward
toward Town Meeting in May with less smoke and fewer mirrors and more
honest and frank discussions between everyone in town. Let’s
collectively make sure it continues to be in the best interests of our
children, the teachers who teach them, and the entire town of Hanover.
For “Around Town on the Web”,
Cathy H-B
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