Superintendent and finance staff outlined a proposed FY27 operating budget that would total about $71.84 million, highlight targeted special‑education and instructional hires, and place districtwide HVAC and roof work among the largest capital needs over the next five years. The committee opened and then closed the public hearing and approved routine gifts and grants.
School leaders reviewed the superintendent’s recommended FY27 budget, which folds a $1.09M special-education reserve into the operating base and proposes roughly $535,000 in new staffing requests. Presenters said the net operating budget for FY27 would be about $71.8 million with a current $322,000 deficit.
Officials reported a partial move-in to the Hopkins addition over the December break and a construction schedule for Charleswood with student occupancy planned for January 2028. Presenters said both projects remain on schedule with modest change orders.
Committee members heard school-by-school budget presentations (Marathon, Elmwood, Hopkins, HMS, high school, athletics, technology), debated staffing and class-size pressures, approved two ABA paraprofessionals for IEP compliance, accepted an $800 viola donation and approved consent items by consensus.
After extended public comment and internal debate about instructional time, testing and student belonging, the Hopkinton School Committee voted to keep its inclusive 2026-27 school calendar that recognizes multiple religious observances rather than switching to a federal-holidays-only calendar.
At the Nov. 20 school committee meeting, parent Jessica Lim said students wore ICE‑agent costumes at a senior event, asked the district to review policy interpretation and provide explicit guidance to administrators, and prompted officials to schedule a community conversation at the high school.
The Hopkinton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) presented its board, mission and programs to the school committee, highlighted Project SHARP (teacher wish lists fulfilled by community donations), and asked community members to join CPAC and its upcoming events.
The Hopkinton School Committee on Nov. 20 heard FY27 budget presentations across departments — special education, buildings and grounds, curriculum and central office — and voted to fund design and engineering for a high‑school geothermal HVAC project (up to $900,000) to position the district for state and grant funding.
Hopkinton Public Schools officials on Nov. 6 told the School Committee that most grade levels returned to pre‑COVID performance levels on the spring 2025 MCAS and that the district continues to outperform statewide averages in both achievement and growth.
The Hopkinton School Committee approved a budget transfer to allocate settled contract amounts, adopted the revised IKFE competency‑determination policy (second reading), approved items by consent and adjourned on Nov. 6. Actions were recorded by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were provided in the transcript.
