Traffic could be the single most challenging issue facing the Elementary School Building Committee, with members acknowledging the need for more detailed analysis and communication with the public. At Tuesday’s meeting, the committee reviewed the various possible...
Susan Gonsalves
Residents share traffic concerns at ESBC forum
About 20 people attended Tuesday’s forum for the Elementary School Building Committee, with a few neighbors of potential sites voicing concerns that existing traffic problems will get worse. Before a question-and-answer period, Project Manager Jeff D’Amico explained...
School Committee approves $60 million proposed budget
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnGKoPiDFd8&list=PL8WekT6kxX1B3xlP6fIr3QmhJButK4GkU&index=1 The School Committee on Thursday voted 4-1 to approve a fiscal year 2024 budget totaling $60,172,752, a slight change from the proposal members had been working with...
Site, floor plan options reviewed by Elmwood replacement committee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksTQEpNN05E Members of the Elementary School Building Committee on Tuesday saw a number of possible site and floor plan designs and also heard about potential mechanical design options. Perkins Eastman Senior Project Architect Dawn...
School Committee listening session evokes questions on grade configurations, budget
The Hopkinton School Committee’s Listening Session via Zoom on Sunday night was intended to focus on possible grade configurations related to the Elmwood School project. However, comments related to the overall budget as well as the restoration of therapy service...
School Committee restores SPED hours to budget following protests
Following sometimes tearful presentations from parents and educators, the School Committee instructed Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh to eliminate a proposed cut in occupational therapy services. The original plan for reductions had speech and physical therapy services...
Study: Work on existing schools expected to cost at least $280 million to accommodate student growth
Whether the Hopkinton School Committee chooses to make the proposed Elmwood School house Grades 2-3 or Grades 2-3-4, it would cost between $280 million and $302 million for work on the other schools to handle population growth — so says a system-wide study conducted...
Some therapy reductions restored in revised school budget proposal
During a budget discussion on Thursday, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh notified the Hopkinton School Committee that proposed cuts to physical, occupational and speech therapy services had been revised. The initial plan to cut 0.8 of a staff position from physical...
School Committee roundup: Grant funding could offset capital costs, cover SPED roles
Continued discussion about the proposed fiscal year 2024 budget and a presentation about a climate action strategy were topics at the School Committee’s last meeting of 2022 on Thursday. Director of Finance Susan Rothermich talked once again about a proposed FY24 net...
Elementary School Building Committee ponders space concepts, energy options
Elementary School Building Committee members on Tuesday looked at planning concepts for possible Grades 2-3 and Grades 2-3-4 buildings on Elm Street and Hayden Rowe as part of their work related to a potential replacement for Elmwood School. Robert Bell, the principal...
HHS composting program boosts awareness for town-wide options
This fall, a trio of students at Hopkinton High School launched a composting program to address the problem of food waste in the school cafeteria. Now others are hoping it could be the impetus toward more town-wide awareness. Interest in the idea by Alice Potapov,...
School Committee meeting centers on FY24 budget, capital requests
The proposed fiscal year 2024 budget and capital plan dominated Thursday’s School Committee meeting, held jointly with the Select Board and Appropriation Committee. Director of Finance Susan Rothermich led a presentation about a proposed $60 million school operating...
`Disconnect’ continues regarding proposed therapy services cuts at schools
Once again, Thursday’s School Committee meeting featured a public comment period when several speakers expressed concern about proposed reductions in occupational, physical and speech and language therapies. It was followed by a presentation in which Superintendent...
Grade configurations, budget requests among School Committee topics
One of the pending decisions by the School Committee is whether to have a new Elmwood School cover Grades 2-3 or Grades 2-4. A presentation on Thursday included diagrams showing configurations until 2032. Projected enrollment for a two-grade facility is 774 students,...
School budget plans include requests for personnel
Budget presentations from building and administrative leaders were on the Hopkinton School Committee meeting agenda on Thursday. High school On behalf of the high school, Principal Evan Bishop outlined some of the areas contributing to a proposed 5.6 percent increase...
School Committee discusses solar panels, mental health days
The School Committee on Thursday accepted a power purchase agreement with Solect Energy Development previously passed by the Select Board. The 20-year pact is for the installation of rooftop photovoltaic projects at Hopkins School, the middle school and the high...
HHS Habitat for Humanity club builds playhouse for veteran’s children
One day, 2-year-old Natalie and 1-year-old Jailson Lucien will learn that a group of Hopkinton High School students helped to build their Mickey and Minnie Mouse-themed playhouse to honor their father Vincllor, an Army veteran. The high school’s Habitat for Humanity...
Capital plan, summer programs top School Committee agenda
The bulk of Thursday night’s three-hour School Committee meeting was devoted to looking at a potential fiscal year 2024 capital plan and needs for the long-term over 10 years as well. Director of Finance Susan Rothermich outlined the following items and their proposed...
Joint meeting outlines school budget process, challenges
During a joint meeting with the School Committee and Appropriation Committee on Thursday, the Select Board adopted a budget message with an option for a 5.1 percent capping increase. That adoption occurred following a presentation by Town Manager Norman Khumalo and...
Elmwood forum offers details on school replacement project
About 18 participants joined an online kickoff meeting Monday night to learn more about the process going forward for the Elmwood School replacement project. In addition to introducing the key players from Vertex and Perkins Eastman, who will plan and design the...