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Hingham School Committee OKs withdrawal from kindergarten revolving fund to add second kindergarten section
Summary
The Hingham School Committee voted to approve a withdrawal from the kindergarten revolving account to fund an additional kindergarten section at either East or Foster to address recent enrollment increases; committee members emphasized staff-led transfers and voluntary reassignment processes.
The Hingham School Committee voted to approve a withdrawal from the district’s kindergarten revolving account to support creation of a second kindergarten section at either East or Foster elementary school.
District leaders told the committee the action is in response to new registrations and updated fall 2025 enrollment projections that have increased kindergarten counts at several elementary schools. Superintendent Katie Roberts said the kindergarten revolving account “can only be used for kindergarten expenses,” and that the district has funds available to hire an additional staff member if the committee approves the withdrawal.
The district presented updated enrollment projections through the week of July 18 and said it had a net gain of nine elementary students since the June update. Without additional staffing, the district said projected kindergarten class sizes at Foster and East would exceed the school committee’s class-size policy limits (the presentation cited projections of about 23.3 and 23.7, respectively). With the creation of one additional kindergarten section at either East or Foster, the district said average kindergarten class sizes would drop to comfortable levels (the packet showed post‑change averages of roughly 17.8 at East and 17.5 at Foster; Plymouth River kindergarten was projected at about 19.3).
Committee discussion emphasized that the motion covered only authorization to withdraw an amount “appropriate” from the revolving account to add the second section; specific staffing assignments and any transfers would be handled by the district in collaboration with educators and would prioritize volunteers, appropriate licensure, students’ academic and social‑emotional needs and prior experience. The administration said adding one section can be handled in a budget‑neutral way; adding two sections would require drawing on the revolving fund. The superintendent also noted that some grade levels (East grade 5 at about 24.7 and South School grade 2 at about 24.3) were nearer to policy caps and would be monitored.
A committee member moved to approve a withdrawal from the kindergarten revolving fund in an amount appropriate to support the additional kindergarten section; another member seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.
District staff said they will first seek volunteers for reassignment, consider licensure and student needs, and then proceed with hiring or transfers as needed. The committee did not set a dollar figure at the meeting; the motion authorized an amount appropriate to support the second section.
The committee packet includes the district’s enrollment tables and the email/packet data cited during the discussion; the administration said it will continue to update the committee as registration numbers change.
Less critical details: the district noted kindergarten revolving funds come from kindergartners' tuition in the full‑day program; the committee reiterated that the revolving account can be used only for kindergarten expenses.
