The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District Transparency Project

■Hi there! Please see the email below from our Library Director Karen Stolfer. Thoughts on how best to avoid this in the future would be appreciated. Wondering if after school programming could be made available with the YMCA. Warmest Regards, Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett Hanson Select Board Chair Disclaimer: When writing or responding, please remember that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email is a public record. This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you have received this communication in error, please do not print, copy, retransmit, disseminate, or otherwise use the information. Also, please indicate to the sender that you have received this email in error, and delete the copy you received. Begin forwarded message: On Mon, Mar 25, 2024, 11:14 AM Karen Stolfer <kstolfer@hansonlibrary.org<mailto:kstolfer@hansonlibrary.org>> wrote: Hi Laura, I'm writing to you as our Select Board liaison regarding a community issue that is affecting the Library. On early release days, the Library has become a hang out location that middle school students walk to. Unfortunately many of these students are exhibiting inappropriate behavior. We first observed this last year and it has continued this year. I have been in touch with the police department as well as the Superintendent's office, which sent out a letter I wrote to parents asking them to speak with their children about appropriate Library behavior. I understand that several local businesses have also dealt with similar problems. Many of these students are not "bad" kids, but they lack places in Town for them to go. The sheer number of students is overwhelming to our small staff and small space. Although we have behavior policies in place, staff find they have to constantly monitor the students, which results in no regular work getting done. We have also observed other patrons' use of the library being disrupted. If you're available, you're welcome to stop by at one of the upcoming half days (Fri Mar 29th & Fri Apr 5th) around 1:00 pm to observe the situation firsthand. I am hoping to set up a meeting to discuss this issue with you and anyone else you feel it would be appropriate to include in the conversation. If you feel it would be a matter for the whole Board, I'm happy to attend a meeting to discuss. Thanks! Karen -- Karen Stolfer Library Director Hanson Public Library 132 Maquan Street Hanson, MA 02341 781-293-2151 kstolfer@hansonlibrary.org<mailto:kstolfer@hansonlibrary.org> When writing or responding, please remember that the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email is a public record. This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you have received this communication in error, please do not print, copy, re-transmit, disseminate, or otherwise use the information. Also, please indicate to the sender that you have received this email in error, and delete the copy you received. -- Jeff Szymaniak Superintendent Whitman-Hanson Regional School District @WH_Super Semper Ad Maiora Whitman Hanson Regional School District (WHRSD) has a commitment to maintaining a workplace and educational environment where discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, languages, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy and pregnancy-related medical conditions are not tolerated. WHRSD does not allow discrimination or harassment against students based on homelessness or limited English-speaking ability. The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has determined that email is a public record. This communication (including any attachments) is intended for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain information that is confidential, privileged, or legally protected. Any unauthorized use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail message and delete all copies of the original communication.