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Hopkinton reports bias and bullying data; middle school had highest number of allegations
Summary
At the May 15 meeting, the superintendent presented the district’s 2024–25 bullying and bias-reporting summary: the middle school logged the highest number of reports; incident outcomes varied from no finding to findings of bullying or harassment; the district uses a bias-reporting form ("B.I.R.T.H.") in addition to DESE bullying protocols.
Superintendent Dr. Kavanaugh presented the 2024–25 annual bullying and bias-reporting summary to the Hopkinton School Committee on May 15, saying the district uses both DESE bullying protocols and a locally developed bias-reporting form the district calls the B.I.R.T.H. form.
Dr. Kavanaugh reported three bias reports at the high school (one anonymous, two investigated), 35 reports at the middle school (30 investigated; three deemed jokes; two anonymous), nine allegations at Hopkins (one withdrawn, one finding of bullying, two findings of harassment), two at Elmwood (one withdrawn, one not found to be bullying) and one at Marathon (withdrawn). At the high school, eight allegations of bullying resulted in two findings of bullying and six no‑findings. At the middle school, 13 allegations yielded seven findings of bullying and four no‑findings after investigation.
Nut graf: The district emphasized that the bias-reporting form has opened dialogue in cases where identity-based references prompted follow-up and education, and that outcomes depend on investigations and applicable legal standards, including DESE guidance and references made in the meeting to statutory requirements.
Details: The superintendent shared examples from the B.I.R.T.H. reports that staff used to open conversations with students; one middle‑school report described a student selecting a darker Fenty tint and saying the product owner is Black “just like you,” which the superintendent said created an opportunity for discussion. The district cited restorative approaches and adherence to procedural requirements (including what was described in the meeting as “37 h and a half”) when deciding interventions and sanctions. The superintendent said educational and restorative interventions are typically used before suspension, and that assistant principals often lead follow-up with involved students.
Ending: Board members asked about follow-up and longitudinal tracking of outcomes; the superintendent said the district is open to longer-term study but noted practical limits because of student transitions across grades and schools. No formal policy change was proposed at the meeting.
