PRST-STD U.S. Postage PAID Hopkinton, MA 01748 Permit No. 109 ECRWSS Postal Patron
HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 20 Number 2
January 23, 2019
HPS submits budget request with 6.67 percent increase By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer
School budget page 12
Ice to see you!
By Michelle Murdock Contributing Writer
photo/jerry spar
The Hopkinton Public Schools will be requesting a $48,059,950 budget for the FY20 school year; a budget that represents a 6.67 percent increase over FY19. “It was really important to us to maintain the level of excellence that [Hopkinton Public Schools] have,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Cavanaugh said while presenting the budget to the School Committee on Jan. 3. For the past few months, the district and School Committee have worked together on creating a budget that met the town’s directive that all departments stay under a 6.5 percent year-over-year increase. Initial budget presentations from the district were close to a 10 percent increase based on individual department asks. Reducing the ask to a 6.5 percent increase was not an easy task, according to Cavanaugh.
Lykan Bioscience seeks support for tax break to locate to South Street
The Parks and Recreation outdoor rink in front of Hopkinton Middle School opened to the public on Jan. 13, and among the first skaters to hit the ice were 4-year-old Olivia (left) and 3-year-old Miles.
‘Mrs. K’ closes book on library career Kofron feted at retirement celebration By Michelle Murdock Contributing Writer
Kofron page 11
PHOTO/MICHELLE MURDOCK
A large crowd gathered in the children’s room of the Hopkinton Public Library on Jan. 14 as patrons, both young and old, gathered to wish children’s librarian Denise Kofron farewell. Kofron, affectionately known as “Mrs. K,” will retire at the end of January. Kofron, described by Library Director Heather Backman as an
Denise Kofron says goodbye to Matt and Charlie Gagin at her retirement celebration on Jan. 14.
Representatives from Lykan Bioscience appeared before the Board of Selectmen on Jan. 15 to provide an update regarding the company’s interest to locate in Hopkinton and to discuss the board’s support for a tax increment financing plan, better known as a TIF, which would provide the company with a tax break. Based in Phoenix, Lykan Bioscience is an emerging manufacturer of cell and gene therapies, and according to CEO Tony Rotunno, the company plans to lead the way in manufacturing clinical products for immunotherapy treatments of cancer and other illnesses. The company conducted a site search in Massachusetts, and a property at 97 South St. has been identified as a viable option. Rotunno told the board that the town’s access to both airports and talent make Hopkinton a great place to start. The proposed project investment is estimated at $12 million, which includes $10 million in construction costs and another $2 million for personal property. The building at 97 South St. is vacant and has been for seven years. Over a five-year period, Lykan would create 125 permanent fulltime jobs that will require a mix of talent and skills, but Rotunno said that the majority of jobs will not require a college degree and employees will be trained. The average salary is estimated at $100,000. “We want Lykan to be the place to work,” he said. The company also plans to become an active member of the community and hopes to use high school students as interns. But in order for a TIF to be fiLykan page 6
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