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School Committee ratifies food‑service contract, approves Traces lease and accepts $74,640 in HEF grants
Summary
The committee ratified a new Unit E food‑service contract with step and COLA adjustments, authorized the superintendent to sign a three‑year lease for the Traces industrial‑technology program, and accepted Hingham Education Foundation donations totaling $74,640.34 to support classroom projects and the Bridges rollout.
The Hingham School Committee voted on several fiscal and personnel items during its June 1 meeting, approving a newly negotiated Unit E food‑service agreement, authorizing a lease for the Traces vocational program and accepting philanthropic grants.
Unit E contract: The committee approved an agreement between the Hingham School Committee and the Hingham Education Association Unit E (food service workers) covering July 1, 2025–June 30, 2029. The package includes a one‑year retroactive 75‑cent equity adjustment to all steps and lanes plus a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for that year; the successor three‑year sequence includes 3.5%, 3.5% and 5% COLA increases. Committee members confirmed the agreement is to be funded from the food‑service revolving account; the union has ratified the agreement and the committee approved it by roll call.
Traces lease: The committee authorized Superintendent Kitty Roberts to sign a three‑year rental agreement to continue housing the district’s Traces industrial‑technology program at an off‑site Weymouth facility for the 2026–2029 school years. District staff said they solicited alternative bids but found no suitable in‑town facility; the committee approved the authorization to sign the lease (a recorded roll‑call approval included one reported opposition).
HEF grants: The committee accepted $74,640.34 in Hingham Education Foundation donations, including a $50,000 award to help launch the district Bridges mathematics program and smaller teacher‑ and school‑level mini‑grants for curriculum materials, playground work, vision screening equipment, flexible classroom seating and other student‑facing supports.
Public access to materials: During the Traces and contract discussion a member of the public asked how to find meeting packets and supporting documents; staff explained that full packets are posted to the district website after meetings (typically within 24 hours) and that presentation materials are shown on Zoom during meetings.
Next steps: Contracts and lease approvals will proceed as authorized; the grants will fund classroom and program purchases during the 2026–27 school year.
