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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 26 | No. 2 | January 29, 2025
Discussion continues regarding funding for adaptive playground By Mary Ellen Gambon Staff Writer
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PHOTO/JOHN CARDILLO
CHAMBER CHAMPION
Tim Kilduff speaks during the Jan. 17 event at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts honoring him for his contributions to the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce.
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Graduation | 3
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n November, Massachusetts voted to remove MCAS test results as a requirement for high school graduation. Hopkinton High School Principal Evan Bishop on Jan. 16 appeared before the School Committee to talk about competency determination (CD) going forward to comply with state law in the wake of that vote. Currently, he noted that students must earn a total of 113 credits, including 20 each in English, mathematics and “other”; 15 credits each in science, history/social sciences; 10 credits in world language; eight in wellness; and five in arts and technology.
Select Board | 4
INSIDE
HHS principal offers graduation competency plan By Susan Gonsalves Contributing Writer
he Select Board, joined by School Committee members and the Community Preservation Committee chair, on Jan. 21 discussed ways to fund a proposed adaptive playground without putting additional strain on the town’s tight financial resources. Ken Weismantel, the CPC chair, presented the rationale behind the committee’s decision to allocate $300,000 toward the adaptive playground for fiscal year 2026. Because its proposed location is at the Marathon School, he said residents would not have full access to it as they are prohibited from school grounds while school is in session. The School Department, he argued, should find money in its budget and through other sources for its $1,242,882 cost because it will be used primarily by its students. The CPC recommended $100,000 in FY 25 for a location study and engineering costs, he added. Town Meeting approved that in May.
With the state eliminating the MCAS test as a graduation requirement, Hopkinton High School Principal Evan Bishop is working to on a plan to establish a competency determination plan for students in town.
NEWS
‘Heavy fire’ damages Legacy Farms home
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BUDGET
Parks & Rec tries to deal with cuts
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SCHOOLS
ESBC works on plan for Hayden Rowe
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