Good morning, Hopkinton! Welcome to the daily update we call Hopkinton Today — a quick recap of yesterday’s news, highlights of what’s on tap, and a photo of the day.

Move from TVL to Bay State Conference not in works for now

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO

Hopkinton High School, which has been a member of the Tri-Valley League since the TVL’s inception in 1966, has had discussions about changing its conference affiliation, but the issue is “on hold,” according to the school’s athletic director.

There have been rumors about a potential move for more than a year, with speculation this fall that it was a done deal, but HHS athletic director Ricky Andrade clarified that this is not the case.

“We have not received any formal invitation to join the Bay State Conference,” he shared Wednesday. “Any movement of our school to a new league is on hold for the time being.”

With enrollment in Hopkinton surging over the last decade, HHS has moved up to Division 1 in every sport except football, ice hockey and track and field (all Division 2).

HHS also has become the biggest school in the TVL by a wide margin. According to the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, enrollment at HHS for 2024 stood at 1,241. Norwood (which left the Bay State Conference for the TVL in 2018) was next at 951, followed by Westwood (874), Ashland (870) and Holliston (803). The rest of the TVL consists of Bellingham (749), Dedham (731), Medfield (705), Dover-Sherborn (648), Norton (685), Medway (607) and Millis (317).

In the Bay State Conference — which includes Braintree (1,677), Brookline (2,173), Framingham (2,545), Milton (1,092), Natick (1,743), Needham (1,622), Newton North (2,118), Walpole (946), Wellesley (1,358) and Weymouth (1,751) — Hopkinton would become one of the smallest, ahead of only Milton, Walpole and Weymouth.

Some HHS coaches and parents of athletes have expressed concerns about the additional time and expense involved with having to travel to schools that are farther away — most notably Braintree, Brookline, Milton and Weymouth, all of which are at best about a 45-minute drive, and on a weekday during rush hour could be substantially longer.

Also lost would be the traditional rivalries that have been built up over seven decades, lament those opposed to such a move.

Superintendent Evan Bishop, who declined comment for this story, would have to sign off on any conference change.

— JERRY SPAR

Latest News

The Select Board voted on Tuesday to hold a Special Town Meeting Dec. 4 to determine whether the town should give back $5.7 million from the fiscal year 2026 operating budget to residents.

Members of the Select Board commended Town Manager Elaine Lazarus on her leadership and “commitment to effective operations” during her first annual review Tuesday night.

The Parks & Recreation Commission on Tuesday discussed the merits of continuing the Pyne Field development project after hearing safety concerns from the Planning Board.

The Elementary School Building Committee on Tuesday discussed how Brait Builders Corp. is accelerating its work schedule on the Charleswood School project and the potential timeline impacts.

This week’s Police Log features reports of a lost engagement ring, vehicles playing loud music and multiple struck deer.

Granite Street was closed for several hours Wednesday night so crews could replace a telephone pole broken as a result of an earlier crash.

Town meetings tonight include the Open Space Preservation Commission (5:30), Cultural Council (6:30) and School Committee (7).

Photo of the Day

Volunteers get ready for the annual Senior Center Holiday Sale and Silent Auction, which takes place Friday and Saturday.

PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO