The School Committee on Thursday voted to table a proposal to authorize $136,953 to study and develop a funding request for this fall’s expected Special Town Meeting to relocate the existing two-story modular classrooms from Elmwood School to Hopkins School.
Funds remain in the Hopkins School project to pay for the study.
Chris Eberly, representing Vertex (owner’s project manager), said the money would be spent to assess changes to Elmwood and the scope required to develop a schematic design and budget. It also would look at Commodore Builders’ pre-construction services, coordination with the modular manufacturer and Vertex’s oversight of consultants, budget development and support of the allocation process.
In addition to Vertex, the current team — including architect Perkins Eastman and contractor Commodore Builders — would be retained.
A rough estimate for the moving and installation project is $2 million, Eberly said.
Town Meeting would be asked to release some of the contingency funds from the Charleswood School project and reallocate them to the Hopkins project.
Eberly said the idea is to move the modulars at the same time grades are being reconfigured next summer — moving some students from the middle school to Hopkins, from Hopkins to Charleswood, and out of Elmwood to Charleswood.
He said the $158 million Charleswood project is on track to be under budget by $22 million-$24 million and could support the move.
Member Chris Masters questioned the rationale of spending money on a study when there is no immediate need for modulars at Hopkins based on current enrollment.
“Do we spend nearly $140,000 on a study and take the risk of spending $2 million to have modulars at Hopkins we don’t need at a time when we are spending a lot of money?” he asked.
Member Nancy Cavanaugh concurred, asking about enrollment “leveling off.”
Superintendent Evan Bishop noted that another enrollment assessment is warranted, saying if it stays at current levels, Hopkins can manage without the modulars next year. However, if growth projections from a 2023 assessment play out, the modulars would be needed in future years. Either way, Bishop said, it would be advantageous for Hopkins School to have them.
Jeff LaBroad, chief operating officer, said the district has to keep in mind the expansion of programs in future years and having ample space for them.
Vice chair Jamie Wronka pointed out that the modulars would have to be heated to prevent deterioration even if they remain at the Elmwood building following the opening of Charleswood School.
Member Sandra Irwin questioned the feasibility of moving modulars that are halfway through their 20-year lifespan. She also noted Elmwood School would be occupied another year, giving time for updated enrollment projections to be obtained.
Chair Kyla McSweeney said the district must be mindful of not only its needs but the rest of the town’s issues “in a heightened time when taxes are going up.”
Cavanaugh noted she is worried about bringing further costs to the town and also trying to get the schools’ operating budget passed. Other capital projects are impacting taxpayers as well, she said.
Eberly said he was not there to convince the committee members to do something they did not want to do.
“If you can’t convince yourselves, you can’t convince Town Meeting,” Eberly said.
The matter was tabled to consider at a later date.
New administrators welcomed
In other business, Bishop welcomed several new administrators, including Cindy Mahr, chief financial officer; Helene Desjardins, director of student services; Tim Heavey, director of human resources; Amy Davenport, Hopkinton High School principal; Thom Henes, Hopkinton High School assistant principal; Jen Taylor, Marathon School assistant principal; and Sarah Elam, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning/chief academic officer.
Following Susan Rothermich’s retirement, LaBroad has taken over some of her duties and now is the assistant superintendent of operations/chief operating officer.
The superintendent noted that the adaptive playground at Marathon School is expected to be completed by Sept. 28. He called the playground “an incredible resource for our students and families.”
Bishop noted that although the Charleswood School and Hopkins School projects get a lot of attention, Hopkinton Middle School is receiving a “refresh,” with new flooring, furniture and whiteboards in some classrooms.
The committee also accepted Hopkinton Education Foundation grants totaling $10,483 for The Walking Classroom ($5,595) and Similarity Awareness Through Paralympic Sports ($5,248) programs, both at Hopkinton Middle School.
Also, for the middle school, the committee accepted Board of Trustees grants of $3,500 for the Grade 6 Nature’s Classroom trip and $1,500 for library assistive technology.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 20.
I am happy to finally see some pushback from the SC on these capital expenditures proposed by paid consultants who are anxious to spend taxpayer money. I am also glad to see that they are taking a closer look at the actual enrollment and not outdated enrollment “projections” that have been the basis of many significant capital expenditures and operating budget decisions. It was obvious to me that enrollment was plateauing as far back as 2023, and I expressed this fact in many, many letters to the School Committee, ESBC, Superintendent and a Letter to the Editor. Unfortunately, no one was concerned with this clear and obvious trend, and here we are in 2026 with Hopkinton taxpayers buried under an avalanche of school debt.
Thank you Kristen. We need DOGE in Hopkinton. #MHGA
Just glad to see reasonable fiscal restraint from the SC.
You are a MAGA troll who makes false accusations.
Not sure what “accusations” you are referring too I am praising the SC for being hesitant to spend money on moving modular classrooms that we may not need.
I am “referring too” the rest of your rant. LMFAO. Typical MAGA taking her false accusations back when questioned.
Could the modular classrooms be utilized as administration offices vs paying rent? Could any future school construction incorporate space for the administration at a school vs renting. I wonder how much rent has been paid over the years for the administration space on Hayden Rowe over the decades of paying rent, it has to have accumulated into 7 figures.