Votes at a glance: Hingham School Committee approves student trip, contracts, grants and routine items
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Summary
At its Feb. 26 meeting the committee approved a student trip to Italy, OPM/design contracts for MSBA roof/HVAC projects, a six‑year bus lease, multiple grants and routine surplus and minutes approvals; committee moved to executive session at the end of the meeting.
Hingham — The Hingham School Committee took a series of votes on Feb. 26 after a public hearing on the FY27 operating budget and facility reports. Key outcomes:
- Student trip to Italy (Feb. 2027): Committee unanimously approved an eight‑day curricular trip beginning in Rome; motion carried.
- MSBA roof/HVAC projects: The committee authorized Superintendent Katie to execute OPM and designer contracts for Hingham High School (OPM up to $154,008.56; design up to $463,700, noting heat‑pump options and related additive costs) and for South and Plymouth River elementary schools (OPM up to $20,000; design up to $256,900). Motions passed unanimously.
- Extraordinary repairs warrant article: Committee discussed increasing the proposed extraordinary‑repairs reserve (a working figure of $500,000 was mentioned as a possible cushion); no final vote on warrant amount was taken — staff will present recommended figures to the joint forum on March 3.
- Bus lease: Committee authorized a six‑year lease for one diesel bus with annual payments of $22,327 for the first five years and $20,000 in year six; motion carried.
- Grants and donations: Committee accepted a $750 donation from TD Bank for METCO family programming; Hingham Music Parents Association grants for Foster and East School equipment; and a $3,200 state treasurer financial‑education innovation grant for the high school credit‑for‑life fair. Motions carried.
- Surplus and deaccessioning: The committee declared certain food‑service equipment surplus (to be disposed of at least cost), approved deaccessioning Everyday Math materials to replace with Bridges math materials and authorized donation of 75 book titles to More Than Words; motions passed.
- Honorary bench: Committee approved installing a memorial bench honoring a past student at Hingham High School; motion carried.
- Executive session: The committee voted by roll call to adjourn into executive session to discuss collective bargaining and litigation and did not return to open session.
Where recorded in the transcript: approvals and motions occur in the latter portion of the Feb. 26 meeting in the routine business segment; the joint budget presentation and public comment preceded the votes.