|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Proposed School Budget a 4.8% Increase School budget exceeds the 2 ½ percent levy limit increase allowed by law — Town Manager
by Muriel Kramer January 25, 2013 — The School Committee (SC) held its annual Public Hearing on the upcoming budget last night with only a few residents in attendance. The issues that garnered the most attention from SC members and the public are the projected increase in class size at the 7th grade for next year and student fees. The Hearing began with a brief presentation by the Interim Superintendent Dr. Steven Hiersche on the proposed budget for FY’14 which represents a 4.8% increase over last year.
Addressing the Middle School class sizes, Dr. Hiersche commented that Alan Keller and the staff at the MS were still working four scenarios to address the increase in class sizes with the goal of decreasing them in the most cost effective manner that works long term for future classes. The budget impacts are not yet fully understood, and that detail will be finalized for next week’s SC meeting that will finalize the budget that the SC sends to the Selectmen for inclusion in the budget sent forward to the Appropriation Committee in preparation for Annual Town Meeting (ATM) May 6th. In addressing detail on the new teacher supervision and evaluation guidelines, Hiersche commented, “We have reached the point of no choice in adding administrative staff to manage the state-mandated supervision and evaluation program.” Included in the proposed budget is an increase of $271,000 for administration and expenses to address the new guidelines which includes two new assistant principals and software to manage the initiative.
In opening comments, SC member John Graziano addressed the initiative briefly. “We want people to understand that as much as it is an unfunded mandate and a lot of work, the new state mandated supervision and evaluation program is a good thing. There is real value there.”
Parent Amy Ritterbusch spoke first specifically addressing the class size concerns for the MS. She presented a petition to the SC representing the concerns of many that the class sizes were a priority to address. “I am very pleased to hear tonight that you were looking at various models to address the concerns of class size at the Middle School.” She continued that while disappointed to not be able to hear more specifics about a specific solution or approach at this meeting, she looks forward to hearing more next week.
Resident Dana Hall also spoke largely addressing the real hit parents particularly of high school students take with fees from laptop costs, to bus and athletic fees. “I just want to emphasize that the fee impact is quite substantial for high school students.” He suggested that the technology increases proposed for next year’s budget currently at $220,000 could be a place where reasonable cuts might be made. Later in the meeting SC member Rebecca Robak concurred that this might be a place where reductions in increases for next year might be made.
Dumas presented some detail on the F1 Visa program and the revolving expense account for that program. There are currently 15 students at the HS that pay tuition of $14,000 to study at Hopkinton HS this year. “Up until this year only a small amount of funding has come out of that revolving account.” He detailed that until this year the Mandarin Chinese teacher was paid for with grant money; now the account pays for that teacher, a portion of the salary for the World Language Coordinator, who will address the strategic initiative of improving the foreign language offerings in the future, and some additions in staffing that were made over the summer to address a big increase in student enrollment at the HS. That account currently has a balance of $310,000. Hiersche added a recommendation that the SC develop formal guidelines as to how that money is to be used in the future. Graziano commented, “Based on contributing factors as I understand them, the percent increase doesn’t bother me.”
SC Vice Chairman Scott Aghababian detailed his position on budget direction. “Reduce fees as discussed (previously set at 10% target to reduce), do something about class size (grade 7) and get the total increase reduced to 3%. I could support that.”
Graziano and Robak agreed they could see targeting a 4% increase. Graziano made the point, “Fiscally responsible also means driving education forward.”
For his part, Town Manager Norman Khumalo observed that the proposed increase in the school budget exceeds the 2 ½ percent levy limit increase allowed by law and does not address any of the needs of other town departments. The SC meets next Thursday at 7:30 PM in the MS Library to finalize the budget they will send forward. The discussion on the superintendent selection process will not take place at that meeting as originally planned but will be held the following week; the meeting date and time was not finalized at last night’s meeting. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
YOUR HOME |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SERVICE
GUIDE |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Band of Brothers
January 24, 2013 — Chris Hadley, 13, gets ready to fire one to brother Greg at dusk today at Ice House Pond, where skaters clear a respectable area of snow to reveal a glass finish on the surface. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 A
Great Valentine's Gift!
Casino Cocktail Party
Warren Conference Center, Ashland MA
March 9, 2013
8pm - Midnight
Join us for our first-ever Casino Cocktail Party! We will be rolling the dice and dancing the night away... all for a great cause - promoting educational innovation in the Hopkinton schools!
Black Jack - Texas Hold 'Em - Craps - Roulette
DJ Dancing - Live Acoustic Music
Great Auction & Prizes - Real-Time Bidding
Passed Appetizers - Food Stations - Dessert!
Tickets at www.biddingforgood.com/HEFGALA $90 each and include $1,000 in gaming chips
________________________
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
>
YOUR VEHICLE < |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trails Club Hike Sunday, January 27, 1:00 PM: Hopkinton State Park hike. We'll walk the Long Trail from the Aikens Trail to Aikens Road, with a side trip to an old mill site on the Sudbury River (file photo). The walk will begin at the Aikens Trail trailhead on the park's Main Road. From the park entrance, bear left onto Main Road and park at the barrier gate. Come dressed/prepared for the weather & ground conditions. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Three Official Boston Marathon Numbers Available from...
We have 3 official numbers for the 2013 Boston Marathon. Just raise $2500 for the Hopkinton Senior center! Early registration is February 1 and we will pay your $300 fee. For more information contact Pat Kuehne at 508.864.9947 or Amy Beck at 508. 497.9730 x18 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
>
FOOD AND BEVERAGE < |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Four-car Collision
January 23, 2013 — A four-car chain-reaction collision occurred on West Main Street this frigid afternoon as one car heading east slowed down and the other three reacted a little too late. Two officers kept the heavy, mostly westbound traffic moving while a third gathered information from the drivers involved. All drivers passed muster, and no injuries were reported. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
YOUR HOME |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hoyt Statue Maquette at Hopkinton Public
Library
January 23, 2013 — John Hancock, sponsor of the Boston Marathon as well as the statue of father and son, Dick and Rick Hoyt, Team Hoyt, has loaned a maquette of the work, for display at the Hopkinton Public Library. For those wishing a close up view, stop by the main room and soak it in before it gets sent to Center School for the enjoyment and education of the students there prior to the April 8, 2013 unveiling of the full-sized statue in front of the school. The statue is being created by Texas sculptor, Mike Tabor. You can visit the library during the
following hours: Rick and Dick Hoyt will appear at Colella's Supermarket for a book signing on Saturday, January 26, 2013, between from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Updated Wednesday, January 23, 2013 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SERVICE
GUIDE |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Selectmen Vote $25,000 for NSTAR
Study Related to Solar Farm on Fruit Street Land But defer until further study, approving the actual site  January 22, 2013 — Selectmen hosted a presentation by the Sustainable Green Committee this evening, delivered by member John Keane, who broke the committee's request into two parts: 1.) $25,000 for an NSTAR study and other associated needs to determine feasibility and cost. 2.) Approval by the Selectmen of the location (story below) on Fruit Street which replaces the previously designated uses in the Master Plan of the property. The location would support a solar farm that its proponents are touting would save the town $500,000 annually in electricity costs. The Selectmen approved the former, but not the latter, citing the need for Town Counsel Ray Miyares (photo, above) to study the matter and render an opinion. Inasmuch as a major study was done and a committee established that carved out parcels for various uses in a Master Plan that was approved at Town Meeting, Selectmen were wary to act without strong public vetting and an equally strong legal opinion. The energy savings are substantial, but all parties agreed they were ballpark estimates and that the actual value of the savings can't be known until the project goes out to bid.
Although the Selectmen did not approve the location this
evening, Selectmen Chair Ben Palleiko said the matter was
not dead and that the group could come back Senior Center Outreach Coordinator Marlene Troupes was on hand to offer her expertise on fuel assistance, citing figures that showed the bar for approval is low. She can be reached at the Senior Center at 508-497-9730. Senior Center staff Sally Almy and Judi Allessio bragged about the variety of activities available at the Senior Center. "The idea is to have something for everybody," said Mrs. Almy. Mrs. Allessio listed quilting and knitting, as well as six new computers staffed at times by volunteer helpers. There is Tai Chi, Dancercise and other exercise programs that all focus on muscle strengthening and balance. Selectman Vice-Chair John Mosher, apparently speaking from experience, said "good luck" on getting any time at the pool table. Chair of the 300th Anniversary Committee, Anne Mattina (photo), stopped by to update Selectmen on their progress and ideas, as well as offer suggestions to reduce her committee from 15 members to 5. She would also like to give up her role as Chair in the spring, and focus on writing grant requests, her strength, she said. Ms. Mattina, who holds a doctorate, is an Associate Professor of Communications at Stonehill College. She believes the committee will need $300,000 in 2015, the anniversary year, and has a list of ways make that happen, from grants to corporate sponsorships to medallion sales. "There's money to be had, but we have to go after it," she said. The Chamber of Commerce was represented by their 20/20 group, which the town assigned the task of working with businesses who want to site in Hopkinton They were personified this evening by "Interim Chamber President" Jack Speranza. Mr. Speranza said that if a business is in the biotech industry, Hopkinton looks attractive. Mr. Speranza said he was continuing to support establishing a "marathon institute" in Hopkinton, and challenged Selectmen to define what Hopkinton will look like decades from now. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
>
YOUR VEHICLE < |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
John A. "Jack" McKenzie, 75
A loving husband, father and grandfather, Jack was always there for his family. He preferred babysitting his grandchildren to just about any other activity. In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughters Ellen Thomas and her husband Eric of Hopkinton, Laura Zichella and her husband Raymond of Ashland, Susan Silva and her husband Daniel of Wrentham; and his son John McKenzie of Chicago. He also leaves his grandchildren Ryan, McKenzie, Angela, Riley, Colleen, Evan and Miranda. In addition, he leaves his sister Mary Gorman of Framingham and his brothers Bernard and his wife Ann Marie of Framingham, Paul and his wife Joan of Acton and Daniel and his wife Judith of Kingston. The funeral will be held Friday, January 25 at 9:30 a.m. from the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church Street, Hopkinton. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church, 20 Church Street, Hopkinton. Burial with military honors will follow in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Hopkinton. Calling hours at the funeral home are Thursday, January 24, from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701-4688. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
PRESS RELEASE:
Superintendent Search: School Committee Interviews & Community Forum Concluded Discussion and Vote expected on January 31, 2013 
 Hopkinton, MA HopNews file photos |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
>
FOOD AND BEVERAGE <  
 
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sustainable Green: $8-10 million
Projected in Electricity Savings From Solar Farm Over 20 Years To present plan to Selectmen tonight  Above is a rendering of another site for illustrative purposes
January 22, 2013 — The Hopkinton Sustainable Green Committee is expected to present a plan to Selectmen this evening to construct a solar farm on 23 acres of town-owned Fruit Street land (below), some of which was previously designated for affordable housing in the Fruit Street Master Plan.
The group wants to enter a power purchase agreement with a company that will generate the power and sell it to the town at an expected 50% savings over 20 years with "no cash outlay required by the Town throughout the project.
Given the life-expectancy of the photo-voltaic cells, the winner of a bid would need to put enough money n escrow to pay for removal of the installation in 20 years.
Other benefits the group will tout are an improvement to the electrical infrastructure on the site, and the reduction of CO2 production by 2,500 tons/yr. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Fundraising for Best Buddies
by Brooke McMullen This year I will be fundraising and training for the 2013 Boston Marathon in support of Best Buddies Massachusetts. Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that provides social and employment opportunities to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Massachusetts. Best Buddies allows special education students and regular education students opportunities to interact in a non-academic setting at middle school, high school and college chapters. My goal is to raise $6,000 by April 15th to support Best Buddies, and I'm well on my way but need your support to get me to the finish line. My involvement with Best Buddies began in 2009, when I was a freshman student at Hopkinton High School. I became the Secretary for the Best Buddies chapter, and mentored for two students that have intellectual and developmental disabilities. My time with these girls was spent taking a rape defense course called RAD. I encouraged the students to be strong and gain empowerment through self defense. I have continued my passion for Best Buddies by joining the chapter at The University of New Hampshire. I hope you’ll consider supporting my efforts to make Massachusetts more inclusive for people of all abilities, one stride at a time! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. If you would like to make an online donation please visit www.teambestbuddiesboston.org and select “Donate”, “Make a Gift” then select my name from the list. As an added bonus, you’ll be officially added to my support team with a complimentary tee shirt for all donations over $50. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
YOUR HOME |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Updated Tuesday, January 22, 2013 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
A Day of Giving Back See a couple of the events from yesterday, on HopNews HD Video: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SERVICE
GUIDE |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hopkinton 70, Dover-Sherborn 41 January 22, 2013 — Senior guard Hank Rudden lays one up for two against Dover-Sherborn on Monday. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
>
YOUR VEHICLE < |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Woodville Rod and Gun Club has postponed the Adult Ice Fishing Derby to Saturday, February 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bike Collection
Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in Holliston will be hosting a bicycle collection pick up service in Holliston and neighboring towns for all residents and businesses for the month of January. Do you have a older/newer road, mountain, bmx, adult or kids bikes? It does not matter the condition or if it may need fixing. Bikes to be reused and fixed. Many of these bikes will be going to Ghana Africa where they are very much need. Please email J.wood36@yahoo.com or call 508-277-6728 to arrange for a home pick up-free event Also needing sewing machines |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
>
FOOD AND BEVERAGE <
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
A day of giving back          January 21, 2013 — Margie Wiggin, Chair of the Hopkinton Youth Commission, made sure everyone had their fill of a continental breakfast at the Middle School this morning before inviting them into the Auditorium for some inspiration for Hopkinton's version of a Day of Giving Back. Ms. Wiggin explained that when youth become involved in volunteer activities, they were less likely to engage in risky behavior.
The first of two speakers was Timothy Kilduff, founder of the Hopkinton Athletic Association, now the 20/20 Commission, as well as a principal of the Chamber of Commerce, and a champion of marathon-related activities in Hopkinton. He was instrumental in the commissioning of the George V. Brown statue on the Hopkinton Common, and the advancement of the sister city relationship between Hopkinton, Mass and Marathon Greece. Mr. Kilduff is the WBZ CBS4 color commentator for their Boston Marathon Men's Division race, riding backward to Boston ahead of the lead runners for slightly over 2 hours on race day for several years now.
Mr. Kilduff, known as a man of ideas, had some simple advice for those in attendance, especially children, this morning.
"When you have an idea, stop a moment and think about it. "Take some time and be quiet with the idea. "Share the idea with others — bring other people into the process. "Then you have to act," Mr. Kilduff concluded.
Mr. Kilduff had high praise for others in Hopkinton and promised the young people they will find joy in helping others.
"Your service projects are immense," he concluded.
Speaking next, Hopkinton graduate Colleen McBride, who had a dream of going to Kenya to see if the "Circle of Light" actually existed, said she found a circle of service instead. She said she is inspired by Martin Luther King's rhetorical question, "What are you doing for others?"
Ms. McBride became involved with an organization called Flying Kites and related some her favorite memories of travelling to Kenya and becoming involved with a group there. She enjoyed tucking in the children in her care and praying with them and telling stories at bedtime. She said that the simple life inspired her to share with others.
"When you set out to change the lives of others, our lives are changed in return."
Following the speakers (and the singing - watch the video to be uploaded tomorrow) people moved into the gym for several service projects.
Many other projects took place around town, too, according to the itinerary. Troop One scouts cleaned up the roads and perimeters at the schools. The Skateboarding Club made deliveries. Young Girl Scouts led activities at Senior Housing and older scouts collected items for Serenity House. High School peer leaders led a story and craft hour at the library, and the Leo Club was dispatched to the Respite Center to make lunch.
The Hopkinton High School Honor Society made lunch for seniors at the Senior Housing, and then made the area spiffy. The High School Student Council worked on historical projects, and the High School Red Cross was scheduled to feed the public safety departments, police and fire.
The SADD Club collected and delivered items to Project Just Because, and St. John's Confirmation class had a weekend of activities scheduled.
The Ignite Middle School group is planning service for the whole week, and at the end of the week, January 26, the Hopkinton Boys basketball will take on the formidable Hopkinton Special Olympics Athletes. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
YOUR HOME |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Want More? Choose: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Go
Back to Top |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All content on this site and linked pages within this domain and affiliate domains are ©2012 Hopkinton News and may not reproduced in any form without written permission. Learn more. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hiersche began by stating
that the SC is charged with presenting a
fiscally responsible budget that addresses
district needs and acknowledged that the
proposed budget is not level funded as per the
recommendation of the Selectmen.
after discussions with the Town Manager and guidance from
Town Counsel.
FRAMINGHAM -
No Inspection/Sticker and Operating a Motor Vehicle With
License Suspended.
find.
.jpg)
