Hanover committee previews budget, plans Jan. 29 public hearing and considers $400K–$450K technology warrant

School leaders told the Hanover School Committee on Jan. 17 that they will present a final FY2025 budget proposal at a special meeting on Jan. 29 and that the meeting will include a public hearing before any vote.

The superintendent warned the committee that budget work will likely move from general planning to specific categories of potential reductions and reorganizations. “We have been reluctant...but before, you know, unfortunately, it's time to start having those conversations,” he said, urging constructive public discussion and asking the community to be patient as staff refine recommended “cut lists” and priorities.

Administration also described updated five- and six-year projections that incorporate planned specialized programming beginning in 2027–28. For the coming year, the district has identified near-term needs it expects to reflect in the FY2025 proposal: additional elementary reading teachers to support Tier 2 reading interventions, expanded speech and language related services, more special-education teachers to meet service requirements, and additional high-school mental-health supports. Staff noted the district was not asking to raise the bottom-line budget at the time of the presentation but will show projected staffing and service impacts if a level-services budget is not achieved.

Separately, the townwide information-technology study committee is drafting a warrant article that would request approximately $400,000–$450,000 to begin a strategic hardware renewal cycle for Hanover Schools and town offices. Administration said the town manager has granted extra time to finalize quotes and language; the administration will share the final amount and article wording with the committee and seek an endorsement before submitting to the select board.

Resident Rob Powers asked whether Jan. 29 would serve as the required public hearing and whether documents would be posted 48 hours in advance if a vote might occur that night; administration confirmed the intent to post materials in advance and to structure the Jan. 29 workshop as the public hearing before a vote if needed.

Next steps: committee will meet Jan. 29 for the budget presentation and likely vote; administration will circulate refined warrant article language and the updated projection documents prior to that meeting.