Super News

April Showers

Dear Panther Families-

Just a week before April Break. Always a busy time at each building with special events, MCAS and course assessments, and a shift in weather that brings hope of warmer days ahead. I'm seeing upper 70's for most of this week!

One important event is coming up on Tuesday, and I hope to see many folks come check out the Family Food Festival in the HS Cafeteria. If it's anything like last year's experience, you won't want to miss it! See the flyer below.

We've heard of more families dealing with food insecurity lately. Whitman Food Pantry (781-447-8560) at 44 Blake St, and the Hanson Food Pantry (781-293-1400) at 228 High St. Individual schools have also set up donation areas so check their newsletters as well.

Just a reminder that this Friday is a REGULAR, FULL Day.

Have a great week and a safe April break!

Dr. Marcus

Budget

The FY27 budget will be presented as four articles at Whitman and Hanson's Town Meetings on May 4th in the late afternoon. It is critical that ALL townsfolk go and vote. As mentioned in other correspondence, the WHRSD proposed budget was developed starting in January with the mission of ending mistakes of the past, presenting a budget that is incredibly honest and detailed, and reduces spending both to respect the difficult economic times we are in but also to help WHRSD re-stabilize. Next year's budget is just 3.4% higher than this year, which has taken over $2M of staffing and materials cuts to get to. Between this year and next, we will have eliminated 65 positions from Paras to Administrators to Interventionists to Support Staff to Teachers. Our hope is to hold on to what we have, strengthen our financial standing, and begin to rebuild next year.

While there was discussion of closing the Whitman library, cost cutting measures turned to busing for kids who live closest to the schools (under 1.5 miles). It is important to understand the facts around "non-mandated" busing, and I urge everyone to do the research necessary to make an informed decision on May 4th.

More information can be found HERE on our website.

What's New?

Barr Grant: Dr. Semas-Schneeweis applied for and received this important grant that we are beginning now which, like the next bullet, is helping us strengthen our leadership of and focus on what makes great teaching and learning. We will share more updates in the coming months.
Accelerating Achievement Partnership: WHRSD has been invited into a DESE-led partnership to improve instruction and ultimately student achievement through a series of reflection, analysis, and instructional shifts over the next year. The support provided by DESE and our new focus on strengthening teaching and learning go hand-in-hand, and should benefit all WH students.
Cyber Security Event: As Mrs. Downey, Conley Principal, and our wonderful WPD and HPD partners have done in the past, Mrs. Salamone, new AP at Duval, has put together an evening for parents to learn more about life online for kids these days, for ALL 3 elementary schools. See flyer below.
Active Minds: Kudos to the Active Minds Team at the HS who do important work in promoting student mental health. Students won the video competition at a recent gathering of teams.