Dear HPS Families,

Below are notes and links to discussion highlights with minute markers, along with links to relevant documents from the October 24th, School Committee meeting. These notes are not official School Committee minutes, which will be on the agenda for our next meeting, but are intended to keep the community informed of decisions and topics discussed in the meeting.

Our apologies that there was a glitch in the recording in the first portion of the meeting. It does resolve if you continue watching further. Thanks for your patience as we work through the best remote options for our meetings.

School Committee Meetings

• Tuesday, November 1 @ 7PM Special Town Meeting at Hingham High School
• Wednesday, November 9 @ 6PM Joint preliminary budget meeting with AdCom ACES
• Monday, November 14 @ 7PM Town Hall, 220 Central Street
• Monday, November 28 @ 7PM Town Hall, 220 Central Street

Other Town Meetings of Interest

• Foster School Building Committee Meetings

You can view agendas for all town board and committee meetings here

A full recording of the meeting is available on the Harbor Media. Referenced documents can be reviewed in the meeting packet. We have included timestamps below so you can skip ahead to discussions that may be of particular interest to you.

• (4:50) Dr. Adams provided her Superintendent's Report with the following updates:
• (10:06) Metco Update presented by Dr. Jackson
• (33:20) Preliminary Budget Calendar FY 24
• (36:00) FY 22 Budget Final Summary Update
• (36:48) South Shore Collaborative Update
• (37:37) Special Education Increase Out of District
• (38:58) Student Communications
• Nathan Tesler from the Student Advisory Council Representative provided a student update
• New Business
• (42:53) Field Trip Requests
• Phaedra Sassano presented a proposed field trip to NYC in March 2023 which was approved
• (47:03) The committee was informed of the new program review process for departments
• (57:58) A new name for the former Curriculum committee was presented and approved
• (1:00) Committee discussion and vote on Massachusetts Association of School Committee’s Resolutions
• Resolution 1: Regarding Sanctuary Laws for Transgender Students (unanimous vote in favor)
• Resolution 2: To Increase the Maximum Balance Allowed by The Special Education Reserve Fund (unanimous vote in favor)
• Resolution 3: Membership of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (unanimous vote in favor)
• Resolution 4: Preserving Local Governance of Massachusetts Schools (unanimous vote in favor)
• Resolution 5: Personal Financial Literacy Education (unanimous vote in favor)
• Resolution 6: Establishment of a Regional School Assessment Reserve Fund (determined that no action will be taken)
• (1:17:30) The FY 23 Connecting Activities Grant was presented and approved
• (1:19:58) Metco Grant was presented and approved
• (1:22:23) Declaration of surplus of materials
• (1:25:52) Project and Subcommittee Reports including the below upcoming meetings:
• East School Council meeting 10/18
• PRS School Council meeting 10/25
• Hingham Arts Alliance Board meeting 11/8
• Climate Action Planning Committee Meeting meeting 10/26
• Curriculum Subcommittee meeting 10/19
• SEPAC event with discussion on dyslexia 10/25
• Special Education Subcommittee meeting 10/27
• HEF Spelling Bee 11/6
• Human Rights Commission meeting 10/26
• Salary and Negotiations Subcommittee meeting 10/26 and upcoming on 11/1
• Student Advisory Committee meeting held on 10/19
• South School Council meeting held on 10/26
• Hingham Middle School Council meeting 10/27
• Foster School Council meeting 10/26
• Hingham High School Council meeting 10/19
• School Building Committee and planning board meeting 10/24 and upcoming 10/26

If you have questions or concerns, please email your School Committee members.