Elementary School Study Volunteers Needed

At its March 1 meeting, the School Committee voted to create a Criteria Working Group (‘CWG’) to draft potential criteria against which future Elementary School Building Project options will be measured.

The CWG will be officially appointed by the School Committee as an ad-hoc committee. The CWG will be led by the Assistant Superintendent and will report directly to the School Committee. No School Committee members will participate in the work group. All interested citizens are encouraged to apply.

Based upon a review of important school district and community documents, as well as personal experience and background, the CWG will work together to brainstorm criteria to be used by the School Committee, HESBC, and MSBA to evaluate options for addressing the constraints of the Center and Elmwood Schools developed through the next Feasibility Study. Applications for membership will be accepted by the School Committee beginning on Monday, March 5 and conclude on Monday, March 12. Interested residents can download the application from the www.hopkinton.k12.ma.us or pick up a printed copy of the application at the Senior Center or Library. Completed applications can be sent via US mail to Dr. Mary Ann DeMello, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, 89 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748; or via email to Sharon Williams at swilliams@hopkinton.k12.ma.us.

In addition to community members, the CWG will be comprised of representatives of the organizations listed below. Identified organizations will nominate their own representative. If an organization is unable to select a representative, or chooses not to do so, that organization’s ‘slot’ will be open to an

additional community member:

1. Assistant Superintendent – Chair

2. Elementary School Principal

3. HTA – one representative

4. District Safety Committee – one representative

5. SPEAC – one representative

6. HPTA and HEF can designate one person who can represent both organizations

7. Educate Hopkinton – one representative

8. Ballot Question Committee – one representative

9. Council on Aging – one representative

10. Realtor or Real Estate Agent – one representative

11. Chamber of Commerce – one representative

12. Sustainable Green Committee – one representative

13. Community members – minimum of three

Applications should indicate interest and availability for frequent meetings between March 15 and June 7, 2012. Successful applicants will be Hopkinton residents or HPS staff and have demonstrated:

 ability to collaborate with others;

 excellent listening and communications skills;

 problem-solving and creative abilities; and

 outstanding research skills.

Interviews will be conducted by the Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mary Ann DeMello, as well as Mrs.

Nancy Burdick and Mr. Scott Aghababian from the School Committee on March 13 and March 14.

The final membership will be recommended to, and appointed by, the School Committee at its March 15 meeting. The first meeting of the CWG will take place on Tuesday, March 20 at 7 pm.

A final report of all brainstormed criteria with a consensus opinion regarding the viability of each suggestion will be submitted to the School Committee. The criteria will be weighed alongside feedback offered by HPS staff, other town departments, and feedback from a community forum. The School Committee will have the responsibility for generating the final list of Criteria for Evaluation of alternatives for the Feasibility Study.