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Persson resigns from HPS for operations role with commonwealth

Former Hopkinton Public Schools director of facilities Tim Persson resigned from the role last week after almost 10 years with the school district. PHOTO/HOPKINTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Hopkinton Public Schools is on the hunt for a new director of facilities following the resignation of Tim Persson last week.

Persson leaves the role after close to a decade on the job. While he said he has had mixed feelings about leaving, he expressed excitement about his new opportunity working for the state.

“The job is … a little bit different from what I’m doing now,” Persson told the Independent prior to his last day with HPS, which was last Friday. He will be taking an operations position with the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). The agency is responsible for “capital planning, public building construction, facilities management and real estate services” for the state, according to its website.

Persson explained his new role with DCAMM will mean he is responsible for taking care of all of the state buildings from the central and western parts of the commonwealth. “It’s just over 1 million square feet of buildings and 2,500 acres,” he said.

When asked about his career with HPS, Persson pointed to the impact of his relationships with others in the school district and the town as a highlight. He said he was “really happy that I’ve gotten to be a part of this team” and has worked to build important connections with other town departments through his tenure.

“This town has been really good to me,” he said. “I’m sad I won’t be a part of watching this district grow over the next however many years.”

Other accomplishments he looked back on included helping the district finish Marathon Elementary School, installing the turf field behind the high school, work on Hopkins and Charleswood schools, and additions to the high school.

Persson gave his notice in late August and has been working with the district on a transition plan. Assistant Superintendent and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey LaBroad is taking on some of the director’s duties until a replacement can be found.

“We’re currently in the process of hiring the next director of facilities,” LaBroad stated in an email. “We anticipate being able to introduce our new director in the coming weeks.” He added that he is working with HPS staff members, Department of Public Works director Kerry Reed and the Elementary School Building Committee, among others, to find a suitable candidate.

LaBroad praised Persson for his work with the district through his tenure. “Tim has been an instrumental part of supporting the expansion of our buildings as the district has worked to keep up with exponential student growth over the last decade,” he stated. “[His] depth of knowledge and capacity for developing strong relationships — both with members of our faculty, staff and administration, as well as our partners in the community — has been a tremendous benefit to Hopkinton.”

Added LaBroad: “The commonwealth is going to benefit tremendously from having Tim on their team. Our loss is certainly their gain.”

— NICK SCHOFIELD

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Photo of the Day

Centerpoint Driving Academy co-owner Jim Beyer (left) and state Rep. James Arena-DeRosa (right) congratulate Hopkinton’s Raegan Breen on winning the CDA essay contest and the $500 scholarship prize that goes with it.