Click on one of the links below for more information about the Hanover School Building Needs Committee.  Or click on the logo above to go to the Hanover Schools  website.

History & Progress to Date

History & Progress to Date

The School Building Needs Committee (SBNC) established at the 2002 Town Meeting worked rigorously to attain input from the community. Funds were not voted for this SBNC. Members of this committee were Chris Martin, Brian Connelly, Suzanne Brady, Don Buckley, and Brian Barthelmes. The SBNC conducted a survey and held public forums soliciting comments, ideas, input, and direction. This SBNC was charged with interacting and listening to the public after a proposal for a new high school failed by eighteen votes and a proposal to consolidate Center and Sylvester Schools failed by four hundred twenty-one hundred votes. A recount verified the lack of sufficient votes to move ahead with projects at a time when the state contemplated and finally did put a moratorium on School Building Assistance.

Another School Building Needs Committee (SBNC), the third since the renovations and additions to the Middle, Cedar, and Center Schools were completed for the opening of the school in September 2000, was established at May 2003 Annual Town Meeting. for the purpose of examining all existing data including enrollment projections and educational programming, assessing the school building sites, and ultimately determining how facility needs should be addressed. Members of this current committee are Chris Martin, Les Molyneaux, Don Buckley, Neil Buckley, and Stephen Devine. The assistance of an architectural firm was sought and a report was provided at the 2004 Annual Town Meeting. The actual date for the State School Building Assistance Reimbursement to begin to the Town of Hanover for the Cedar, Center, and Middle Schools is based on the schools’ positions on List B for Projects approved under the provision of Chapter 159 of the Acts of 2000. Cedar School is number 11, Center is number 24, and the Middle School is number 37 on the reimbursement list. The number of schools, which begin receiving reimbursement each year is based on the amount of State funding that is allocated for SBA reimbursement during that particular fiscal year. Up to this time, it is not possible to state an exact year in which reimbursement would begin. As of September 2004, as reported by John Robertson for The Beacon, a three-bill legislative package signed by Governor Mitt Romney in July 2004 restructures and brings financial stability to the State’s School Building Assistance program. The package proposes that by using a combination of long-term, state-level borrowing and a dedicated portion of the sales tax, the revitalized School Building Assistance Program (SBA) will meet its obligations in full for projects already receiving payments as well as current waiting list projects. For projects approved after a moratorium on new projects expires in July 2007, the State’s share has been reduced by ten percentage points. The main reform legislations (Chapter 208) rewrites the SBA statute, Chapter 70B, to change how the program is administered and financed. Chapter 210 provided for dedication of roughly twenty percent of State sales tax revenues to a new special trust fund to finance the state’s share of school projects. It also provide for the transfer of $150 million from the fiscal 2004 surplus to the new fund. The Chapter 201 supplemental budget bill, authorizes $1 billion in the twenty year state borrowing to help finance the new SBA program.

The SBNC with the services of the architectural firm, HMFH Architects, Inc. presented the results of a Hanover Schools Facilities Master Planning Study at the May 5, 2004 Town Meeting. The architects began working with the SBNC in January 2004. Review of the previous facility studies and population/enrollment projections is reflected in the report, as well as assessments of the educational and physical status of the facilities, and scenarios for how the Hanover Schools may proceed to provide a high-quality education to all in a safe, healthy, comfortable, and programmatically appropriate environment. The Town Meeting established a fourth School Building Needs Committee and voted to appropriate $150,000 for the next phase of planning. Members of the SBNC established at the May 2004 meeting are Chris Martin, Les Molyneaux, Don Buckley, Neil Buckley, and Stephen Devine. Paul Nimeskern replaced Neil Buckley and is a current member.

The SBNC with the services of the architectural firm, HMFH Architects, Inc. presented the results of a Hanover Schools Facilities Master Planning Study at the May 5, 2004 Town Meeting. The architects began working with the SBNC in January 2004. Review of the previous facility studies and population/enrollment projections is reflected in the report, as well as assessments of the educational and physical status of the facilities, and scenarios for how the Hanover Schools may proceed to provide a high-quality education to all in a safe, healthy, comfortable, and programmatically appropriate environment. The Town Meeting established a fourth School Building Needs Committee and voted to appropriate $150,000 for the next phase of planning.

The SBNC held several community forums, at the Council on Aging, schools, and Town Hall to present the Master Planning Study and encourage discussion and public input. HMFH architects met with High School students and staff, and Center/Sylvester School staff to obtain their suggestions.

A peer review of HMFH work to date was completed by Finegold Alexander & Associates, and following the successful review, the contract with HMFH was extended. The Department of Public Works has completed GIS mapping of the Town which will be shared with the SBNC, reducing costs. A wetlands survey of the High School site was completed by Carr Research Laboratory, and Merrill Engineering conducted a ground survey mapping the site. The data developed was used to formalize the wetlands lines at a Conservation Commission hearing.

Garcia, Galuska & DeSousa collected data and completed an application to present to Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in search of a variance from requirements to construct a sewage treatment plant serving the High School, Middle School, and Cedar School. These schools are on one contiguous lot, with total effluent in excess of the limits for individual septic systems. A variance was granted by DEP.

A mailer was produced and sent to all Hanover residents outlining the conceptual plans for the High School site and Center School site. The mailer included a return postcard soliciting resident opinions. Based upon the feedback received from all sources, a new high school was favored over a renovated high school. Due to the uncertainty of funding guidelines yet to be developed by the Massachusetts School Building Assistance Program, no decision will be made until they are available in early 2006.

Article 37 of the 2005 Town Meeting sought $3.1 million for design and management fees for a new or renovated High School, and an addition to Center School which would house students currently in Sylvester School. The Article was approved and ratified at the polls. No more than $150,000 may be spent prior to issuance of SBA guidelines.

The School Building Needs Committee was increased from five to seven members by vote of the October 24th Special Town Meeting. Town Moderator Doug Thomson would very much like to hear from residents interested in being members of this committee. Over the next year, the committee has a great deal of work to do as it prepares to present one or more major school building projects to the town for vote and to the state School Building Assistance program for funding. If you are unsure of your full availability to support this effort, please also contact the Town Moderator as “unofficial associates” are also needed to help gather information and support planning. Please contact Doug at moderator@hanover-ma.gov