WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE – 09/16/26

SELECT BOARD 

At its Tuesday meeting, the Select Board began the FY2028 budget process, meeting jointly with the School Committee, Appropriation Committee, and Capital Improvement Committee.  A challenging financial outlook was presented by chief financial officer Kyla LaPierre. Even if departments are level funded, a $1 million deficit is projected, before contractual salary increases. School officials warned that level funding would require significant staff cuts, while level-service funding would increase the school budget by about 5.1%, even before additional special education, transportation and Charleswood School costs. Members noted that it is still early in the process. The town manager must issue the budget schedule before October 1st, and the Select Board will vote on the budget message to town departments at its October 6th meeting. 

The board also discussed the low resident participation in Town Meeting over the past 10 years. Study results showed that 87.1% of registered voters have not attended any Town Meetings between 2015 and 2025. Members discussed possible ways to increase resident engagement, including town communication improvements, scheduling, childcare and food availability. The board also voted to create a committee to study the future use of the Elmwood School property after its closure.

Select Board hears ‘dire’ FY 28 budget projections as process begins (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 09/16/26) 

The board also reviewed the warrant for the October 26th Special Town Meeting, which includes town-sponsored charter review and emergency finance articles, in addition to 19 citizen petitions from resident Parker Happ. The Charter Review Committee informed the board that it is considering delaying the vote on its proposed charter changes until Annual Town Meeting in May to allow for more time for public discussion and education. The committee will still be holding a public forum on September 30th to discuss the proposed changes to the charter. Board members also had the opportunity to question Happ regarding his citizens petitions. Concerns were expressed about the appropriateness of bringing the articles to STM rather than ATM. Happ’s proposed articles are pending legal review. Vice chair Matthew Kizner requested that a vote not be taken on final recommendations until the board’s October 6th meeting, to include the feedback of chair Shahidul Mannan, who was absent from the meeting.   

Select Board reviews STM articles; members balk at citizens’ petitions inclusion (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 09/16/26) 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

At its Thursday meeting, the School Committee voted on a transportation and school start time schedule for the 2027-28 school year, adopting a three-run bus schedule with the high school and middle school starting at 7:45 am, Hopkins starting at 8:25 am, and Marathon and Charleswood starting at 9:05. The end times will be 2:15, 2:55, and 3:30, respectively. This decision considered the 800+ responses to a survey earlier this year, as well as 100 direct responses from the public. Staff and student surveys were also considered, as well as YMCA before/after-school care program feedback. 

In other business, the committee heard of a slight district enrollment increase with 4,217 students to date; recognized long term cafeteria worker Kathy Bieri; reviewed its goals; and discussed extending DEI efforts to students and parents/caretakers with disabilities in the community. Member Sandra Irwin expressed interest in being a School Committee liaison to the Commission on Disability.   

School Committee sets start times for next year (Article by Susan Gonsalves, 09/11/26) 

The committee also heard a presentation by assistant superintendent and chief operating officer, Jeffrey LaBroad, about the district’s Induction and Mentoring program, a state mandated program designed to increase staff retention. By offering this program, the district has found that educators are more successful and stay longer. Hopkinton is ranked 7th in the state for retention, with a 94% retention rate, as compared to the state average of 87%. The process and benefits of the program were outlined. 

HPS induction/mentorship program helps with strong educator retention rate (Article by Susan Gonsalves, 09/11/26) 

PLANNING BOARD 

At its Monday meeting, the Planning Board reviewed an economic development strategy put together by the Massachusetts Area Planning Counsel. The board must advance a plan to the Select Board for final approval in early October before the town can hire an economic development director. The proposed plan includes recommendations to support existing businesses, attract new ones, revitalize the downtown area, improve transportation and walkability, and promote the town’s cultural assets. Members discussed the strategy presented and addressed the desirability of lowering residential tax rates against the massive commercial / industrial development required to do so, which would alter the current suburban nature of the town. Members were urged to conduct a more detailed review of the plan.  

In other business, the board also addressed a plan to meet with the Select Board on October 5th to discuss the creation of a town plan for private ways seeking acceptance; initiated a discussion on developing denser affordable and market-rate housing on a town-owned 7-acre parcel off Fruit Street and Pratt Way; approved a reappointment to the Open Space Preservation Commission and new appointments to the Zoning Advisory Committee and Design Review Board subcommittees; voted to restructure ZAC from five to three at-large voting members; endorsed approval not required requests to subdivide 93 Haden Rowe Street and 82 Clinton Street; and continued hearings for the proposed 13-unit mixed-use housing development off Main Street and Walcott Street at the applicant’s request. 

Planning Board gives MAPC economic development plan mixed reviews (Article by Mary Ellen Gambon, 09/15/26)

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE 

At its Tuesday meeting, the Elementary School Building Committee was made aware by Vertex Project manager Chris Eberly that the contractor Brait Builders’ workers had been discovered working on the Charleswood School site on Saturday without proper supervision or notification to Vertex, and had done so going back several weeks. Vertex addressed the matter with Brait, who responded appropriately and expressed a commitment to finishing the job in a stronger way. 

The budget update showed the project 77% committed to budget, with about $122.5 million of the $158.4 million total committed and $75.6 million spent to date.  

Unsupervised Saturday construction work at Charleswood raises concern (Article by Susan Gonsalves, 09/16/26) 

COMMISSION ON DISABILITY

At its Monday meeting, the Commission on Disability reviewed a draft ADA accessibility transition plan presented by Capital Strategic Solutions, contracted by the DPW and grant funded. While noting that Hopkinton has a strong accessibility foundation, the plan suggests addressing short-term improvements first, including parking signs, pavement markings, and posting the ADA grievance procedure online, while developing a larger strategy for longer term funding and plan implementation. With the draft plan complete, the commission agreed to host two events this fall: a public forum to discuss the plan recommendations and priorities with residents on October 28th, and a facilities walkthrough from the library to Town Hall to identify accessibility issues on November 7th. 

Commission on Disability discusses results of town ADA evaluation (Article by Nick Schofield, 09/15/26) 

 FROM THE TOWN MANAGER’S OFFICE 

Check out the Town Manager’s Weekly Update – September 10, 2026 for a number of upcoming events and community meetings. 

REMINDER: SPECIAL TOWN MEETING 

For updated information about Special Town Meeting on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM, check out eHop’s Special Town Meeting information page.