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...
Susan Gonsalves
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...
Budget process, school proposal addressed by School Committee
Overviews of the budgeting process and issues associated with the Elmwood School replacement project were among the topics at Thursday’s School Committee meeting. Presented by Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh and Assistant Superintendents Susan Rothermich and Jeff...
Snowball effect of capital needs highlighted by School Committee
The Hopkinton School Committee on Thursday reviewed updates to the district’s capital plan and talked about enrollment in conjunction with the proposed new Elmwood School and Hopkins School addition. Assistant Superintendent of Finance/Operations Susan Rothermich...
State reimbursement, traffic on ESBC’s agenda
A review of changes to the Massachusetts School Building Authority reimbursement process and another look at a traffic study dominated Tuesday’s Elementary School Building Committee meeting. The MSBA reacted to changes in the Massachusetts Energy Code involving its...
Proposed new school design, features highlighted at ESBC public forum
The Elementary School Building Committee still has major decisions to make before finalizing its schematic design phase for a proposed new Elmwood School on Hayden Rowe Street. These decisions concern traffic and particularly recommendations for a turning lane...
Murphy named state’s Science Fair Teacher of the Year
Hopkinton High School chemistry teacher Kristen Murphy said that she was not “a tinkering, robotics type of kid.” Skip ahead to this May when Murphy was honored as Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair High School Teacher of the Year. The award, sponsored by...
Elder retires with warm memories of HHS
Although she will miss working with Hopkinton High School students, their families and her colleagues, retiring guidance counselor Cheryl Elder is excited about moving on and enjoying a home on Cape Cod and “creating nice memories.” Elder, who began working in...
Cotter takes over as principal at Hopkins School
Matt Cotter, new principal of Hopkins School, said he learned from his predecessor, Vanessa Bilello, that in order to be successful, a leader must be “selfless and make hard decisions,” always keeping in mind what is best for students and staff. Cotter served as...
School Committee roundup: Designer chosen for Hopkins addition; Marathon to have therapy dog
The School Committee on Thursday approved a designer contract with architectural firm Perkins Eastman for an addition to Hopkins School. According to Susan Rothermich, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, the $2.1 million pact falls within the $3...
Brauninger set to start as Elmwood principal
David Brauninger was not actively seeking to move from his position as principal at Lt. Peter M. Hansen Elementary School in Canton when he heard about the administrative opening at Elmwood School. But after researching the Hopkinton district and its focus areas,...
ESBC chooses design-bid-build delivery method for proposed school
On Tuesday, the Elementary School Building Committee voted to use a design-bid-build (DBB) delivery method for its proposed new Elmwood School replacement project. Committee members heard various pros and cons from Jeff D’Amico, Vertex’s project director, and...
School committee completes reorganization, picks liaison roles
After much discussion, the Hopkinton School Committee on Thursday named Amanda Fargiano vice chair. Member Holly Morand also expressed interest in assuming that role. The board waited until all five members were present to complete its reorganization process. One...
ESBC ponders proposed school’s future, building materials
The Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) reviewed last week’s public forum, viewed tweaks to outdoor learning spaces and discussed exterior and interior design materials at Tuesday’s meeting. Committee members said the recent forum highlighted the need to get...