Committee approves Unit B and C contracts; superintendent reports on PD and bus staffing; audit subcommittee charge approved

The Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee voted April 29 to approve proposed contracts for Unit B and Unit C after members confirmed a corrected salary scale page and discussed a minor mathematical error in one packet. The motions passed after discussion and at least one abstention was recorded during the process.

Superintendent Dr. Marcus gave a brief update: a staff professional-development survey received 64 responses and the district will form a PD committee of administrators, teachers and specialists to recommend next year’s program. Marcus also reported operational problems with contractor First Student, saying the company informed the district it had about “5 drivers who are out on FMLA, and then there’s another 3 or 4 who are out for sickness,” which has caused late buses and some double runs; he said the district has pressed the contractor for a timeline and will notify families.

The committee heard subcommittee reports. The warrant subcommittee presented warrants for disbursement — including a Whitman Middle School building-project warrant for $3,972,244 and accounts-payable and payroll warrants — and the committee approved those disbursements. The audit exploratory subcommittee was charged to research third-party review options, including possible forensic or inspector-general involvement to examine financial policies and past fiscal concerns; the committee voted to approve the subcommittee’s charge.

Building-committee members also reported the Whitman Middle School project is about 50% complete; FF&E bid packages were finalized and a site visit or presentation will be scheduled for committee members.

What’s next: The district will ask First Student for a short-term staffing timeline, post the PD-committee membership and schedule the audit exploratory subcommittee to prepare options for third-party review methods and possible engagement of state oversight as appropriate.