The School Committee heard presentations on the Hopkins addition project and proposed budgets for various schools, the central office and the Building & Grounds Department at Thursday’s three-hour meeting. Dan Colli, project manager at architect Perkins Eastman,...
Susan Gonsalves
Sandy Beach Subcommittee outlines safety, other concerns
During its meeting Wednesday, the Parks & Recreation Sandy Beach Subcommittee discussed needs at Lake Maspenock and filled in new Parks & Rec Director Jon Lewitus about ongoing issues such as lack of oversight at the gate, equipment needing repairs, signage...
ESBC talks timeline for new school, potential permitting issue
Jon Graziano, chair of the Elementary School Building Committee, credited “extensive analysis, constant communication, different methods of public engagement and the ability to answer questions” as factors leading to a successful property tax override vote regarding...
School Committee reacts to vote, continues budget talks
Reflecting on a positive Town Meeting vote to approve a proposed new Elmwood School, School Committee chair Nancy Cavanaugh described herself as “very thrilled” by the results. But she reminded residents that a majority vote will be needed at the Nov. 28 election to...
Last forum on proposed new school focuses on costs, enrollment issues
During a nearly two-hour public forum, members of the Elementary School Building Committee fielded questions from Zoom and in-person participants regarding the proposed Elmwood School replacement. Like last week’s session, the first half of the meeting was comprised...
School Committee hears more department budget requests, talks Hopkins addition
Budget presentations before the School Committee continued Thursday, with student services and technology taking center stage. Director of Student Services Abigail Hanscom spoke about the fiscal year 2025 preliminary budget for that department, noting the $15,319,189...
Jump in MSBA reimbursement lowers cost to taxpayers for proposed new school
Hopkinton voters will decide whether to approve the Elmwood Elementary School replacement project at a Special Town Meeting on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Hopkinton Middle School auditorium, followed by a town election on Nov. 28. Last week, the financial picture...
Costs, traffic among residents’ concerns about proposed Elmwood School replacement
Traffic and the cost of a proposed new Elmwood School were among the concerns of residents attending Tuesday’s public forum with the Elementary School Building Committee. Special Town Meeting voters on Nov. 13 will be deciding whether to go ahead with construction of...
MCAS scores show Hopkinton students meet or exceed targets
Most students in the Hopkinton school district met or exceeded targets on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests, and most grade levels bounced back to pre-pandemic scores higher than the state’s averages. The state, therefore, said the schools...
ESBC discusses review process for new school, implications of ‘no’ vote
The importance of the review process and implications of a ‘no’ vote on the proposed Elmwood School replacement building were among the issues discussed during Wednesday’s Elementary School Building Committee meeting. Chris Eberly, senior project manager at Vertex,...
Hopkins addition takes center stage at School Committee meeting
An overview of the proposed Hopkins School addition on Thursday brought the School Committee up to date on the design work done so far to expand the 78,000-square-foot building originally intended for 628 students. Dawn Guarriello, principal designer from...
Hay relishes role with schools, community band
Educator Craig Hay said that he feels fortunate to be doing exactly what he wanted from the time he was a kid — teaching music. Hay has been the band director at Hopkinton High School for about a decade. Previously, he worked at the elementary level in town for...
Consultant’s report on HMS special education program dominates School Committee agenda
A report that audited the middle school’s special education program was at the core of several discussions during Thursday night’s School Committee meeting. AthenaK12 Educational Consulting studied SPED services in Grades 6-8 in the fall of 2022, the findings of which...
Select Board hears initial school budget data
The Select Board on Tuesday heard preliminary data from Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh ahead of the budget process, outlining some expected needs and including information about special education in fiscal year 2025. Town Manager Norman Khumalo said the annual budget...
Additional reimbursement likely for new school project
During a brief meeting on Tuesday, the Elementary School Building Committee learned that the proposed Elmwood School project is likely to receive an additional $1.3 million in reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The range previously cited...
School Committee talks revised capital plan, Hopkins project
During a three-hour meeting Thursday, the School Committee heard updates on the district’s capital plan, solar panel installations and the Marathon School addition. The committee also chose the construction manager at risk delivery method for the Hopkins School...
ESBC discusses permits, public outreach plans
At Tuesday night’s Elementary School Building Committee meeting, members talked about permitting matters with the Zoning Board of Appeals and Conservation Commission as well as plans to start outreach about the proposed Elmwood School replacement. The committee...
ESBC moves $158 million budget forward with School Committee endorsement
The Elementary School Building Committee voted 6-0 on Tuesday to approve a budget not to exceed $158,427,494 for a proposed Elmwood School replacement. The figure is inclusive of the $1 million feasibility study previously approved by Town Meeting. This total will be...
ESBC weighs ‘alternates’ to proposed new school budget
The Elementary School Building Committee will vote on a budget for the proposed new Elmwood School on Aug. 22, the same date the School Committee is expected to endorse it. Currently, the ESBC is looking at a total cost of $158,894,578 and discussed an estimated...
Residents raise questions to ESBC about chosen school site, HVAC system
Hopkinton residents had questions about site selection, the choice of geothermal systems and traffic for a proposed new elementary school during a public forum on Thursday. Their participation followed nearly two hours of presentations by representatives from project...