Following a unanimous Town Meeting vote to fund a Center School feasibility study, Hopkinton’s Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) met recently to discuss next steps. At the May 22 and June 5 meetings, ESBC members expressed a desire to use time over the Summer to develop foundational knowledge that may be helpful once the formal Feasibility Study is initiated, and plan community engagement activities.
"While Hopkinton awaits a decision by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), expected by early Fall, the committee is eager to build on community momentum and continue to advance the effort," said ESBC Chairman Joe Markey. “Any decisions regarding either the nature or the location of a solution to the constraints at Center School will occur after MSBA engagement, when we initiate the actual Feasibility Study, but there is preliminary work we can do now,” added Markey.
ESBC Clerk Rob Nickerson emphasized, "All of this work will take place in our posted public meetings, and we encourage anyone in the community to attend and participate." Nickerson said the preliminary work that the committee plans include: facility tours at both the existing Center School and Pre-K facility (currently housed in the Middle School), site walks at properties that could be used if a decision is made to rebuild rather than renovate, and knowledge-building sessions with experts in land use planning and school building practices.
As more information is gathered, the committee will announce additional events to inform the public and gather new questions and feedback. Meanwhile, those interested can follow the committee’s actions on Twitter (@HopkintonESBC), and on the Hopkinton town website at http://www.hopkintonma.gov/home/government/boards/esbc.
“Transparency and community engagement are two of our guiding principles,” said Markey. “We want to be sure that both the committee and the community are learning together and getting answers to important questions that will continue to come up throughout the process."
