A major highlight of the meeting was the superintendent’s presentation of the recommended budget for FY27. The superintendent emphasized the collaborative process used in forming the budget, involving input from principals, directors, and other stakeholders. The budget aims to protect what makes the Hopkinton schools unique while responding to current trends and preparing for future needs. The proposed budget includes new requests amounting to $535,763, with $88,000 already approved. The superintendent expressed pride in the care and vision underpinning the budget, stating that maintaining educational standards while being financially responsible was a primary goal.

One of the topics addressed was the addition of new positions to handle growing enrollment and increasing student needs. The committee approved a 1.0 intensive teacher position at Hopkins School to cater to students requiring intensive support. This addition is important for maintaining educational standards, as highlighted by the superintendent. The approval of two paraprofessional positions was also discussed, intended to enhance support for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and accommodate enrollment changes. These roles are vital in ensuring students can access learning effectively.

The committee also deliberated on the necessity of a 1.0 reading interventionist position at the middle school to manage growing class sizes and diverse reading abilities. This position aims to support students who struggle with reading but do not qualify for an IEP, addressing a gap identified through listening tours with families. Additionally, a 0.5 position for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at the Marathon School was proposed to support early grade students during a critical language acquisition phase.

Another discussion point was the need for a 1.0 assistant principal at the high school. The justification for this position arose from increasing student enrollment, nearing 1,300, and a 30% rise in discipline referrals. The current administrative structure is reportedly stretched thin, with assistant principals managing about 650 students each, whereas the ideal caseload is around 400 to 500. This imbalance impacts the quality of teacher evaluations and supervision provided, prompting the need for additional administrative support.

The committee also addressed the operational budget, which includes a special education reserve of $1,940,024, contributing to a total operating budget of approximately $67.87 million for FY26. Concerns were raised regarding the reliability of state reimbursements for special education expenses, with historical figures showing a reimbursement range between 60% to 75%, dependent on state funding levels. The proposed budget for FY27 reflects a salary increase of $3.66 million, equating to a 5.4% rise, and a modest expense increase of $297,000, or 0.4%.

Further inquiries were made regarding transportation delivery costs. Committee members expressed pride in maintaining competitive costs despite rising expenses.

In addition to budget discussions, the committee considered the construction update for the new school building, with substantial completion expected by August 2026. Plans to partially occupy the new addition during the upcoming Christmas break were discussed, with inspections for a temporary certificate of occupancy scheduled for the following week. The update covered progress on flooring installation, gym completion, and ongoing painting and plumbing work. Change orders approved during the meeting amounted to $10,233.

Lastly, the Charleswood project update confirmed its schedule for substantial completion by October 2027, with final completion expected in January 2028. No safety incidents were reported, and testing and inspections were proceeding without issues. The project budget revealed that the architect had spent 69.8% of their allocation, with construction billing at 7.7%.