New Website, Budget Talks and a Leaky Roof

The School Committee had a meeting last night where they saw presentations from various members of the school community. Here are five of the major discussions.

1. Elementary principals present preliminary budgets. All of the presented the changes in enrollment and how that affects class sizes. They also presented specific staffing changes throughout their schools. All of their presentations were in line with the .

2. The bus, athletic and full day kindergarten fees were discussed. As a part of their budget discussion, the committee had a conversation about the potential to increase fees. No decisions were made about the fees, but members of the committee did have a lengthy discussion about what fees are necessary and what value they have. "If we reject the fees there are only two ways to go," Superintendent Landman said. "Either you propose a larger increase or you ask us to go back and cut more positions."

3. New school district website. Director of Technology Kathleen Dooley presented a new school district website. “Our old site is chock full of information, and that’s the great part about it,” Dooley said. “We tried to carry over all of the rich information to the new site and make it as efficient as possible. You can view the site at hopkinton.schoolwires.net Dooley said she expects the site to take over the regular web address in early February.

4. Town meeting warrant items approved. The committee submitted 10 town meeting items that will need to be voted on at town meeting. The articles, which may be removed or changed as the budget develops, included the roof, the purchase of a new truck and a feasibility study related to the Center School among other things.

5. One to one laptop survey begins tomorrow. The School Committee informed the community that there will be a survey sent out today about the one to one initiative. The survey will be sent to the parents of students in sixth through eight grade. It will ask parents various questions about their response to every student in the high school having a laptop through the school.