[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6252753,"mediaKeyId","3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35","parentId",3186586,"title","School committee ratifies custodians’ contract with 5% wage increase over three years","audioSeconds",115,"startMs",5357000,"endMs",5472000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35&start=5357&end=5472","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35/thumbnail_5357000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252753/Massachusetts/School-committee-ratifies-custodians-contract-with-5-wage-increase-over-three-years","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252753-616223c3d46302d4048fb24eac9dbd86/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770328&Signature=YdCZ0esYopl0OpU1x72A07kAVw4mlMlfeCfWy5d~eS7Rdg1W3FG1VUvUDsJHYXvcgIy3dLm4Ph6ObrctJSEew6osl90I550M6312YuEZWTFrd5ZjlW42v9K9pjxA4Hu3mnYpMxJ5SPGAGDaW2TnJwCPz8~DbOlf9ZvBHG-gz~y7I9aWXo486lHZFU~U4tAoKfhZPPPSBraWnsDNS8g6an~~lV8xiz6Fre7DZbtG-vp3kui0S-IjoIY6F2~6ZFGXEzFRD3ShSv9WwokBM5sTzQQc7NJ-S75MPniWk6B1wr8tDw~x5QmKSdEg3zdXH6F10YMirCot6YMGgCwTMwd~TGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hopkinton Public Schools, MA","date","2025-05-03T16:10:07.657Z","article","The Hopkinton School Committee unanimously ratified Thursday a custodians’ memorandum of understanding that covers 2025–2028 and includes modest increases to wages and benefits.

Superintendent and negotiators highlighted several contract features before the vote: a 5% increase across the custodial wage scale over the contract term; an increase in the grievance filing and response windows from five to ten days; a clothing allowance increase to $550; and clarified scheduling flexibility that allows the district to schedule an eight‑hour custodial shift any time between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. on weekdays (and between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekend days).

The superintendent said the district conducted a market review that showed custodial wages needed an increase to remain competitive in comparable communities. Committee member Jamie moved to approve the contract and Susan seconded; the motion carried with recorded “Aye” votes.

Administrators said the expanded scheduling window will help facilities planning and building coverage, and that longevity payments were adjusted slightly. The agreement was ratified and will be implemented according to the negotiated terms.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Committee: May 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The school committee ratified a memorandum of understanding with the custodians, approving a three‑year contract that includes a 5% wage increase across the scale, extended grievance timelines and scheduling flexibility for shifts.","taxTitle","Hopkinton Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71104,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252758,"School committee appoints Jessica Beatty as student services director, contingent on contract",256,5622000,5878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35&start=5622&end=5878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35/thumbnail_5622000.jpg","/articles/6252758/Massachusetts/School-committee-appoints-Jessica-Beatty-as-student-services-director-contingent-on-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252758-3e5c409d2dd802ce691a4c8260c18c92/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770328&Signature=LoP529U7QB-L2R~2kQJioRVz25eitJCGZAGKSWmUOJfX8qMojdy3nb9bIlzY7p1luiWnxBzlJmS143L743Cqv~Tefza1mGJp2gRG-cmKTIxGFGkpDpIda2fP46l-oOBV~LfKZR9CBEFBFbnJniw-xZ1W~pGxuybTxgKmyzHoGXs-HdJiJdyG31Mwpo3aHRpdoOubwUvbEpf7caezFU6kst447gLBJkSj0j82FhKxuWAbt4tBE8N4BdIY~n~j17CgiRSd7Oc3XJFNFCr40OpCJFuw2smIm1SEu6RU41r~XROMj9t-aX9Enf583SVmMNwFJi5fufECu3ZZOjisib7Tpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hopkinton School Committee voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Jessica Beatty as the district’s next director of student services, contingent on successful contract negotiations.

Superintendent Dr. Kavanaugh and interim leadership described a multi‑step hiring process that included resume screening, central‑office screening interviews, a subcommittee panel interview, and a public forum attended by parents, staff and community members. Three finalists participated in the public forum; committee members also met individually with finalists and submitted written feedback to the hiring team.

Dr. Kavanaugh said all three finalists would have served the district well but that Beatty’s experience and demonstrated readiness to lead the department stood out in the committee’s review. Committee members who participated in the screening and panel interviews described Beatty’s answers as thorough, focused and responsive during both the formal interview and the public forum.

Jamie moved to approve the appointment, Kyla seconded and the vote was unanimous. The appointment is contingent on successful contract negotiations with the district; the committee recorded no other conditions in the motion.

Committee materials and the superintendent’s remarks note that central office and building‑level teams will work together during the transition, and that the district will continue to involve stakeholders as the new director begins work.","After a multi‑stage search that included panel interviews and a public forum, the Hopkinton School Committee voted unanimously to appoint Jessica Beatty as director of student services pending successful contract negotiations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252763,"Trails committee presents plan for stone‑dust paths on school property; committee voices safety and maintenance questions",1594,2422000,4016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35&start=2422&end=4016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35/thumbnail_2422000.jpg","/articles/6252763/Massachusetts/Trails-committee-presents-plan-for-stonedust-paths-on-school-property-committee-voices-safety-and-maintenance-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252763-935924c3dc38be5cf6c8d4c512a91110/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770328&Signature=Ilp9OZvCTNw9RjLpiHjY9Nk0twfdE1Ijlj3W6ZakxOlGCL4wsDQrLMso1p33~HPeWi3Lw97w8htx6WBT~6gznKDP3-7qd5bDcwUfVWVTeSgAN3GHieaTjMrr0pKFkSrrlCjiNlZNsl7Lfzo3RMjk1apfKO~e7UTYv5IBkn6CZD7RRrz-Ya6EPqWeiYyWueM5Xy6aAKUW84vWkbr5EEkirOFfKpYXR-bG9VCI6Og0eKQbTVdsV4HDSOXMXaybJ4I75N25qDPE6XKp8kTe77w0OP572RSpAqO6qVhRv~VpDbivsEzlCRSdZ2-aIV1E4~LGe8AQQwcuRhhnztIF0tHETA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The newly formed Hopkinton Trails Committee presented trail plans Thursday for paths on and near school property, proposing stone‑dust paths, two wider bridges and fitness equipment funded by the Community Preservation Act and participatory budgeting.

Peter Lagoi, chair of the Trails Committee, described a proposed stone‑dust path connecting near Field 11 to the Chamberlain Street extension, a second path at the south end of Field 13, and a woods‑trail/cart‑path feature designed to emulate an old farm road for cross‑country and pedestrian use. The committee plans to submit a Notice of Intent to the Conservation Commission for the section that crosses or approaches wetlands.

Lagoi said the trails would provide a safer, off‑road walking and running option for students and residents and noted two bridges would be installed wider than the standard 32 inches to accommodate cross‑country teams. He said some segments have already been built where wetlands risk was lower, while other, adjacent sections will require conservation review.

School committee members welcomed the proposal’s potential to ease traffic and create recreation and cross‑country training space, but they raised several operational concerns. Committee members asked whether the district would maintain trails, especially in winter; presenters and administrators said the schools do not maintain all trails year‑round and that winter use would be “at users’ own risk.” The committee also flagged the possibility that new trailheads could draw nonlocal parking to school lots and noted overall security concerns about unsupervised access from nearby neighborhoods. Deputized police comments and a former planning board member urged the committee to consider one‑way access or other traffic management solutions in locations constrained by wetlands.

The Trails Committee said funding for the projects would come from Community Preservation Act funds and that some fitness equipment has already been installed on a center trail through participatory budgeting; the group said they will work with town departments and conservation staff on permitting, trail naming (several trails already have local nicknames such as “Fern Gully”), and signage to improve location identification for safety and emergency response.

No formal committee vote was taken; the presentation was positioned as a listening session and the trails group was invited to continue coordinating designs and permits with school and town staff.","The Hopkinton trails committee described planned stone‑dust and woods trails that would connect new Chamberlain Street extension to paths on school property; the school committee expressed support for access and cross‑country use but raised security, maintenance and parking concerns.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252767,"School committee approves $380,000 contingency for temporary kitchen and $150,000 for loop‑road design",1979,415000,2394000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35&start=415&end=2394","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35/thumbnail_415000.jpg","/articles/6252767/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-380000-contingency-for-temporary-kitchen-and-150000-for-looproad-design","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252767-266427506805622f543078773d0e3b2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770329&Signature=aUniVrkgmk-GbzTlqFFW-PJ7J4vFYi7FvD6nu6MsfRa3-Z-TEO3lyA34eu7OnZtX81qQ~5jxzy-WSYr6cSvu6u3O60MPz3LKTWN7UOdy8pWliTju4KhZMdfFd4CyE8dSxoupFDayvgEo0nbYZAkeexsPj9057fBS7JOEjG~HpXzVZ6QL5vNd~nkT2IUJ90QbpINMZwipmZ~KOOIdRvo0~RAZADjeQxAF-553o1S2v3tdDxmDJS4jhXZU0WLlfTZ0-GFxTcuGrGJMhRG-OubWe1JkrwT4bzu-I-YMnz2Lsz9pzbOiBvYlbwWrLaPmunegTr6t0lrXqQ1tEC9tT8KiQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hopkinton School Committee approved contingency funding Thursday to support a temporary food service solution during construction at Hopkins School and authorized design and permitting work for a full‑depth paving of the campus loop road.

During a construction dashboard update, a project representative said the Hopkins addition remains on schedule and on budget; the report reviewed procurement of classroom technology, mechanical/electrical/plumbing rough‑ins, CMU block work and upcoming window and brick facade installation. The presenter also summarized the committee’s contingency planning for change orders and other risks.

The committee voted to authorize a $380,000 contingency to fund a temporary kitchen trailer and related setup while the school kitchen is taken offline for renovation. The presenter said the trailer would be a full working kitchen connected to utilities and would allow a fuller menu than off‑site catered or packaged meals; initial price estimates given to the committee included setup and removal ($40,000), five months’ rent ($130,000) and a platform/access cost ($15,000), and the presenter described $380,000 as a conservative contingency to cover utilities, equipment and any additional loose items required for safe operation. The presenter said the district will consult with the local health department before finalizing contracts.

The committee also authorized $150,000 for design, engineering and permitting for a full‑depth repave of the campus loop road, a project the presenter said is on the district’s 10‑year capital plan and was estimated by the presenter as roughly $1,450,000 for construction (subject to permitting and conservation commission review). The presenter emphasized that the committee was being asked only to authorize the design and permitting work, not the construction contract; conservation review will be required where the work crosses or borders wetlands.

The board voted in a single motion to approve both items and to authorize Susan Rothermich to approve the final proposals; Jamie moved and Susan seconded the motion, which carried with “Aye” votes.

The construction presenter reviewed budget‑management practices used by the owner’s project manager, including a monthly change‑order log, a 6% contingency factor applied to remaining construction contract amounts for unidentified change‑order risk, a 5% contingency on certain owner equipment budgets to cover tariffs, and ongoing tracking of holds/allowances that could revert to the owner if unspent. The presenter said there was about $2.1 million of “potential known risks” being held as a conservative placeholder and that about $3.2 million remained available for other uses after conservative risk forecasting; the presenter cautioned these were forecasts and not guaranteed expenses.

The project schedule items mentioned in the presentation included window installation and exterior brick starting next month and continued MEP rough‑ins and slab work; the presenter said site photos showed progress on the west and north elevations and roof and interior block work.

Committee members and public commenters asked about wetlands and conservation commission approvals for the loop‑road work and whether the district would expand the road beyond its current footprint; the presenter said the intention is replacement in kind and that any expansion could trigger additional wetlands requirements and higher costs.","After a construction update on the Hopkins school addition, the school committee authorized a $380,000 contingency for a temporary kitchen solution and $150,000 for design, engineering and permitting for a full‑depth repave of the campus loop road.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6252772,"Hopkinton School Committee votes not to participate in state school choice program",317,75000,392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35&start=75&end=392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3186586-93d251e2a5fb989d7a30f52a75d02a35/thumbnail_75000.jpg","/articles/6252772/Massachusetts/Hopkinton-School-Committee-votes-not-to-participate-in-state-school-choice-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252772-436399806aa3641e48bc992cef7aa090/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770329&Signature=Au79iwFKh4n2BXeSO6J5baXCJkiGGMD8AzG2nTpB0mGPDI4aQUUvIBEHV6-gXo2VPWmZzQi-V~JxBUckNwE1fvx~rJPtKMWhJejhe6833TME9nq~NnweUd~bE2suD61dkzljATnENE7NksG4BBL5oEhvQzuKVswWChPGF4IwVdHGCNDsSGTMY5mm-uETTWkt03IYJenwOBS6R-aX26bC6LMaOTTTlk1RTvabvy4gtDCRyACvukK2tqVPgYsleCNl0dvCsz92~urfs3Zga5J50mo1NOsCzx8-JBZ-RGVBhQIdl-8RHnsUvrbrOwUlw3DIUDwFrC-vaQeKO93fdNTrRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hopkinton School Committee voted unanimously Thursday to decline participation in the Massachusetts school choice program for the 2025–26 school year.

School committee members said the district’s sustained enrollment growth and constrained building capacity left no room to accept out-of-district students. The committee’s motion to “not approve school choice because of population problems” passed with members answering “Aye.”

The item was introduced during a public hearing on school choice. A staff member presenting the program explained that districts must vote by June 1 to accept or decline school choice, and that whatever decision is made must be reported to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The presenter said districts that opt in can set a cap on the number of incoming students and can limit participation to specific grade bands; for example, if a district admits a first‑grade student in a K–8 program it must allow that student to continue through eighth grade.

Committee members asked whether neighboring districts had spare capacity; Holliston and Mendon‑Upton were mentioned as nearby districts that participate in school choice. The presenter and members said Hopkinton’s buildings are already near capacity and that taking additional students would not be financially beneficial given current space constraints.

After closing the public hearing, committee member Jamie moved to decline participation and Susan Rothermich seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

The committee did not adopt additional conditions or caps in the motion; the vote as recorded is a decision not to participate in school choice for the 2025–26 school year.

The committee record notes that the decision must be reported to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; no further administrative directions were recorded during the meeting about reporting steps or future reconsideration timing.","The Hopkinton School Committee voted unanimously to decline participation in the Massachusetts school choice program for the 2025–26 school year, citing sustained enrollment growth and limited space.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

School committee ratifies custodians’ contract with 5% wage increase over three years

School committee appoints Jessica Beatty as student services director, contingent on contract

Trails committee presents plan for stone‑dust paths on school property; committee voices safety and maintenance questions

School committee approves $380,000 contingency for temporary kitchen and $150,000 for loop‑road design

Hopkinton School Committee votes not to participate in state school choice program