The School Committee on Thursday voted to ratify three-year contracts for the Hopkinton Teachers Association and Evan Bishop, the new superintendent.

The HTA pact runs from 2025 until 2028. The Independent was awaiting a response regarding further details on the agreement.

Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh said the negotiation process with the HTA was “thoughtful and respectful,” while chair Nancy Cavanaugh thanked the HTA and said there was “a lot of listening on both sides,” adding the contract is “beneficial to all.”

Bishop’s contract has an annual salary of $210,000, according to Nancy Cavanaugh. The pact also includes his participation in a new superintendent’s induction program by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents and membership in that organization.

The chair said Bishop’s evaluation process is state regulated and that the committee would need to renegotiate with him when the agreement ends on June 30, 2028.

In addition, the board extended the Ride Rite contract for special education van transportation through June 30, 2026. Director of Student Services Abby Hanscom said the company has held its rates steady year to year and has been a “good partner” for the district, providing continuity for students and families.

In a related matter, the committee thanked Hanscom for her work and wished her well in her upcoming retirement.

Nancy Cavanaugh noted that Hanscom had put the special education services “on a good path.”

Gas leak at Hopkins reviewed

In her superintendent’s report, Carol Cavanaugh talked about a gas leak that occurred at Hopkins School on Tuesday. She said the problem was at the regulator, just before the meter.

Personnel called the Fire Department when an odor became noticeable and the fire alarms were pulled to evacuate the school.

The superintendent said the Fire Department arrived in two minutes, calling that response time “phenomenal.”

The cause of the leak is under investigation.

Carol Cavanaugh said the children walked to the middle school, where there was room for fourth graders in Doyle Gym and fifth graders in Brown Gym.

She praised the students for being orderly and well behaved and thanked all the educators, directors, custodians, etc. involved for their student management in the wake of the incident.

Carol Cavanaugh said the cafeterias at the other schools were able to provide lunches for the children on short notice.

She pointed out that the leak had nothing to do with the construction going on at Hopkins, as that is located “way on the other side of the building.”

Finally, the superintendent thanked the Police Department for assistance as well and said the students returned to Hopkins by late morning.

“We went from great concern to it’s all wrapped up in two hours,” the superintendent said.

Eversource replaced the regulator and “everything was fine” by the next day, and school resumed as usual, she said.

Jeff LaBroad, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said that fifth graders were taking the MCAS tests when the interruption occurred.

He said the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has a protocol in place for these types of interruptions that the district followed.

Adaptive playground funds accepted

Other committee action included acceptance of a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) grant of $300,000 for an adaptive playground at Marathon School. At the May 5 Annual Town Meeting, members approved both the CPC funding as well as $943,000 from free cash for the project.

Carol Cavanaugh thanked Town Meeting members for their support. She also praised Susan Rothermich, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, for her “enormous work to get us to this point.”

Rothermich and the Adaptive Playground Committee spearheaded the proposal for this project for the past several years.

“I’m excited for it to become a reality. It will be a great resource for the community,” Nancy Cavanaugh said.

Bullying/bias report presented

In other business, Carol Cavanaugh outlined the reported number of bullying and bias incidents that occurred in the schools during 2024-25, noting that there still are some investigations underway that are not included. Numbers may change slightly because there are six weeks of school left, she said.

At the high school, three bias incidents (one anonymous) were reported and two investigated. An example was given whereby students jokingly signed their names to the Gay Straight Alliance Club fair membership sheet. The reporting student said this act mocked gay students and made them feel uncomfortable.

Out of eight bullying reports, six had no finding and two were found to be bullying.

At the middle school, there were 30 out of 35 bias reports investigated. The others were anonymous or deemed a joke.

An example given was a student commenting on another’s dark skin tone.

There were 13 allegations of bullying, with two withdrawn, four having no finding and the other seven deemed legitimate reports.

At Hopkins, there were nine allegations of bullying, five with no finding, one deemed bullying and two incidents of harassment.

Carol Cavanaugh said the harassment incidents referred to kids making slurs.

At Elmwood, there were two bullying allocations, with one withdrawn and the other getting no finding.

Marathon School had one allegation, which was withdrawn.

The superintendent said she was not surprised the middle school had the most allegations.

“It’s a place where kids are not fully developed … and a tricky age,” Carol Cavanaugh said.

Member Susan Stephenson asked about the consequences for students doing the bullying or harassment.

The superintendent said the issues are addressed through “a lot of work with restorative justice and educational interventions.”

She said issues are usually handled by assistant principals, who feel restorative practices “make a difference in kids’ lives.”

Stephenson replied that she would like to see follow-up with kids involved in bullying and harassing others “to find out what happens afterwards.”

Carol Cavanaugh said staff are seeing behaviors at Hopkins School that 15 years ago would have been associated with middle school students.

The next School Committee meeting is June 12.