HopNews
Hopkinton, Aug. 20, 2026 — The Hopkinton School Committee presented four possible bus schedules for the 2027-28 grade reconfiguration.
Committee members also heard four speakers question the district’s policy regarding religious artifacts that resemble weapons. The committee approved updated handbooks, two paraprofessional positions, and a $20,000 grant.
Public Comments
Andrew Kerr questioned the district’s policy on religious artifacts resembling weapons, noting that Hopkinton allows Sikh students to carry a kirpan — even with a sharpened blade if a family objects to dulling it.
He argued the First Amendment protects sincerely held religious beliefs, not just formal mandates, and warned of an equal-protection problem if the district recognizes a kirpan but rejects a similar request from another faith, citing a Catholic student carrying a symbolic blade as an example.
Joey Ford raised a separate scenario involving an autistic Sikh student carrying a kirpan. He asked how the school would handle the student if the student were restrained or involved in a fight — a scenario he said the policy does not address.
He also raised reports of an art teacher wanting to use different pronouns, saying the teacher shouldn’t be denied a job. Ford argued that requiring students to use those pronouns would violate their First Amendment rights.
Jason Alfred said the district’s JIC policy bans dangerous weapons, including knives, while exempting recognized religious artifacts.
He questioned why families can seek exemptions from the three-inch blade limit on kirpans, given the district’s otherwise strict safety stance on weapons.
Alexis Henderson said she understands the kirpan symbolizes peace but still sees it as a knife, adding that kids don’t always make smart choices and any weapon in school carries risk.
RELATED: Knives Should Not Be Allowed in Our Schools
School Committee Chair Kyla McSweeney explained that the committee can’t discuss topics unless those items appear on the agenda for deliberation.
2027-2028 Grade Reconfiguration
School Start Times and Bus Transportation
Current Setup
First Run (7:55 AM – 2:25 PM)
- Schools: Hopkinton High School (HHS); Hopkinton Middle School (HMS)
- Buses: 36 buses per run
Second Run (8:55 AM – 3:20 PM)
- Schools: Hopkins School; Elmwood School; Marathon School
- Buses: 36 buses per run
Current Bus Costs
- 2025-2026 approved cost: $3,039,120.
- 2026-2027 active cost: $3,227,040.
- 2027-2028 projected cost if no changes are needed: $3,427,920.
Anticipated 2027-2028 Bus Numbers
- Grades K-4: Marathon and Charleswood — 1,357 students.
- Grades 5-6: Hopkins School — 658 students.
- Grades 7-8: Hopkinton Middle School (HMS) — 648 students.
- Grades 9-12: Hopkinton High School (HHS) — 875 students.
Total: 3,568 anticipated student riders, or 82% ridership.
Option 1: Two-Run with Hopkins Joining Earlier Route
First Run (7:55 AM)
- Schools: HS / MS / Hopkins
- Students: 2,181
- Buses: 40 buses needed (+4 extra)
Second Run (8:55 AM)
- Schools: Charleswood / Marathon
- Students: 1,387
- Buses: 29 buses needed
Cost
- Budget impact: Increased cost of $351,180.00.
- Anticipated 2027-2028 cost: $3,779,100.00.
Traffic Considerations
- Traffic likely would not improve during the first run and could worsen.
- HMS/HHS campus traffic does not improve.
Pros
- Keeps start times the same for most grades, except grade 5.
- May allow staff sharing between grades 5-12 if needed.
- May allow grades 5-6 students to take part in school-based after-school activities.
Cons
- This is the most expensive option.
- Grade 5 students and staff start an hour earlier.
School Committee Comments
- The discussion noted that adding grade 5 to the first run could worsen traffic during that run.
- Members identified the two higher-cost options as difficult to weigh against current budget demands.
Option 2: Two-Run with Hopkins Joining Later Route
First Run (7:55 AM)
- Schools: HS / MS
- Students: 1,523
- Buses: 33 buses needed
Second Run (8:55 AM)
- Schools: Hopkins / Charleswood / Marathon
- Students: 2,045
- Buses: 38 buses needed
Cost
- Budget impact: Increased cost of $176,940.00.
- Anticipated 2027-2028 cost: $3,604,860.00.
Traffic Considerations
- Traffic likely would not improve during the second run and could remain challenging.
- Traffic on the HMS/HHS campus would remain unchanged.
- Grade 6 would join Hopkins, Charleswood, and Marathon in the second run.
- The high school and middle school would remain on the same schedule.
Pros
- Keeps start times the same for most grades, except grade 6.
- May allow staff sharing between PreK-6 if needed.
Cons
- The operating budget would increase by more than $175,000.
- Grade 6 students and staff start an hour later.
School Committee Comments
- The discussion focused on the added traffic from placing grade 6 in the second run with Hopkins, Charleswood, and Marathon.
- Members noted that the first two options would increase the operating budget.
Option 3: Three-Run with HHS in the Middle Run
First Run (7:45 AM)
- Schools: Hopkins / HMS
- Students: 1,306
- Buses: 29 buses needed
Second Run (8:25 AM)
- Schools: HHS
- Students: 875
- Buses: 29 buses needed
Third Run (9:05 AM)
- Schools: Marathon / Charleswood
- Students: 1,387
- Buses: 29 buses needed
Cost
- Budget impact: Savings of $104,940.00.
- Anticipated 2027-2028 cost: $3,322,980.00.
Traffic Considerations
- Flattens traffic along Hayden Rowe Street.
- Reduces HMS/HHS campus traffic.
- A tight run window could delay arrivals in snow or accidents.
Pros
- Later high school starts.
- Staff sharing across grades 5-8, if needed.
Cons
- Different secondary schedules limit staff collaboration across grades 7-12.
- A later high school start could affect sports, coaches, and after-school commitments.
School Committee Comments
- Committee members discussed the tight 40-minute gap, potential delays due to snow or accidents on Interstate 495, and the impacts on sports, clubs, and after-school help.
- School officials said the middle and high schools currently meet at least once a year, although more collaboration is a goal. Athletics and club staffing would need further planning.
Option 4: Three-Run with Hopkins in the Middle Run
First Run (7:45 AM)
- Schools: HHS / HMS
- Students: 1,523
- Buses: 33 buses needed
Second Run (8:25 AM)
- Schools: Hopkins
- Students: 658
- Buses: 13 buses needed
Third Run (9:00 AM)
- Schools: Marathon / Charleswood
- Students: 1,387
- Buses: 29 buses needed
Cost
- Budget impact: Savings of $245,040.00.
- Anticipated 2027-2028 cost: $3,182,760.00.
Traffic Considerations
- Flattens traffic along Hayden Rowe Street.
- HMS/HHS campus traffic will not improve.
- A tight start-time window could affect arrivals during snow or accidents.
Pros
- Potential for middle and high school staff to collaborate across grades 7-12.
- A larger after-school window for secondary students.
- More buses available for after-school sports.
- Potential 9 a.m. third run; Grade 5 would start 30 minutes earlier, and Grade 6 would start 30 minutes later.
Cons
- Hopkins School’s own schedule limits collaboration time.
School Committee Comments
- One committee member said Option 4 appeared to offer the greatest opportunities, the fewest drawbacks, and the largest savings.
- School officials estimated that two to four buses might become available for after-school sports.
- Committee members questioned the effects of the later high school dismissal on sports, clubs, and staff schedules.
Handbook Updates Approved
Special Education — Applies To All Handbooks
- Suspension and expulsion protections for students with IEPs or 504 plans.
- Manifestation determinations.
- Definitions of dangerous weapons, controlled substances, and serious bodily injury.
- Interim alternative educational settings and educational services.
- Appeals to the Bureau of Special Education Appeals.
- Approved with minor bookkeeping changes.
Elementary Handbook
- Distinguishes approved fidgets from toys.
- Adds smart glasses to the “off-and-away” device policy.
- Updates the traffic map.
- Revises nurse-visit language.
- Removes the outdated volunteer release form.
- Approved by the committee.
Middle School Handbook
- Asks families to refrain from bringing fast food during the school day.
- Addresses sugary and caffeinated drinks. The presenter said canned energy drinks will be confiscated. Some drinks brought at the start of the day may be stored.
- Adds a grading practice for students returning after an extended absence. This is more accurately described as a grading practice than a formal accommodation.
- Approved by the committee.
High School Handbook
- Separates absence and tardy policies.
- Sets seven absences or seven tardies as intervention thresholds.
- Expands academic-integrity language to include plagiarism checkers, digital file sharing, artificial intelligence, and deepfake images.
- Explains how students earn, lose, and regain privileges.
- Requires monthly privilege reviews.
- Approved by the committee.
Athletics Handbook
- Replaces Family ID with Final Forms.
- Identifies sports requiring Sway concussion testing.
- Changes academic eligibility reviews to November and March, followed by monthly reviews.
- Requires advance notice when eligibility may be at risk.
- Requires alternate transportation forms one day before they are needed.
- Approved by the committee.
Paraprofessional Positions
Beyond handbook changes, the committee signed off on two new Level C ABA paraprofessional positions—one for Marathon and one for Hopkinton Middle School.
The approximately $60,000 cost will be supported by IDEA grant funds and partly offset through Circuit Breaker claims.
Grant and Appointees
Members accepted a $20,000 MetroWest Health Foundation grant for programming and student and staff resources. The committee appointed Kyla McSweeney to HTA negotiations, Jamie Wronka to paraprofessional negotiations, and approved the 2026-27 norms and protocols.
By the Numbers
Superintendent Evan Bishop reported current enrollment of 4,214 students in prekindergarten through Grade 12, down from 4,233 on June 30.
New enrollment projections are expected to take four to six months and inform budget planning.
School Emergency Response Training
Bishop also announced joint police, fire, and school emergency-response training from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the high school.
The building will be closed, but the fields will remain open.
Consent Agenda and Next Steps
The committee approved the consent agenda, including warrants totaling approximately $7.76 million, minutes from June 18 and July 23, and an $800 donation to the RAD program.
No vote was taken on the transportation options. The committee plans to gather public feedback and has discussed aiming for a decision at the Sept. 10 meeting.
The next two regular meetings are scheduled for September 10 and 24.
I would question the bus numbers for the high school only route option. I would imagine that half the high school students don’t even take the bus or opt into the bus system. I hope they are basing this on actual busing numbers not just enrollment numbers in the school. Also, how could there possibly be the same amount of buses needed for option 3 runs 2 & 3 when the student numbers are approx 900 vs 1400?
This is a very detailed summary, however, in addition to the bus changes, the biggest takeaway here is the enrollment. Hopkinton residents were told that the elementary school expansion projects were critically necessary due to forecasted future enrollment growth. There would be 800+ students at Elmwood, with class sizes over 30 and 5 lunch periods needed, and 1300+ students at the MS with 7-8 lunches- quoted from the Oct. 2023 ‘if no vote’ slide. Now we are seeing declining enrollment numbers? I guess we will have the largest elementary school in Massachusetts with lots of (very expensive) wasted space. Hope voters keep this information in mind when the next “must have” school project comes up to vote at town meeting.