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HOPKINTON INDEPENDENT Vol. 19 Number 22
Novemer 22, 2018
DPW celebrates grand opening
Preliminary school budget includes 9.9-percent increase
New facility dedicated in memory of Thomas McIntyre
By Melissa Orff Contributing Writer
By Michelle Murdock Managing Editor
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PHOTO/MICHELLE MURDOCK
inished in February of this year after over 10 years of planning, proposals and votes at Town Meeting, the new Department of Public Works facility, located at 83 Wood St. was officially dedicated in memory of Thomas McIntyre as the Thomas McIntyre Town Barn on Saturday, Nov. 3. McIntyre, the late owner of McIntyre Loam passed away in April of 2017. He was 62 years old. “This facility really is unbelievable,” said Selectman Brendan Tedstone, the event emcee, as he joked that the building that was torn down had probably existed before Hopkinton was incorporated in 1715. From there, Tedstone went on to talk about the man who the facility was named for, Thomas McIntyre. DPW page 11
The official ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening and dedication of the Thomas McIntyre Town Barn took place on Saturday, Nov. 3 (left to right) DPW Director John Westerling, Selectman Brendan Tedstone and his son Brendan, Highway Manager Mike Mansir, Dan McIntyre, Tom’s brother, Kathleen McIntyre, Tom McIntyre’s wife, Tommy McIntyre, Tom’s son, Kelli McIntyre, Tom’s daughter, Selectman Claire Wright, and Water-Sewer Manager Eric Carty.
Veterans Day ceremony held at Hopkinton Senior Center By Michelle Murdock Managing Editor
PHOTO/MICHELLE MURDOCK
Led by American Legion Adjutant Michael Whalen, the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Hopkinton Senior Center Nov. 11 began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. And from there, the rest of the ceremony was all about honoring and recognizing the service of Hopkinton’s veterans. Acting as emcee for the event, Hopkinton High School student Tess Pagagni spoke about the Missing Man Table, also known as the Fallen Comrade Table, a small table set for one that is off on its own with Ceremony page 6
Hopkinton veterans listen attentively at the Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Hopkinton Senior Center Nov. 11.
Hopkinton Public School officials presented their preliminary Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) School Budget to the School Committee during their Nov. 1 meeting, a budget that initially includes a 9.9 percent, or $4.5 million, increase over the current school year. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Cavanaugh and Director of Finance Susan Rothermich outlined the preliminary budget which included “asks” from the district’s stakeholders, each of whom will be presenting their needs to the School Committee individually at a future meeting. The budget was put together with a number of key factors in mind, said Cavanaugh, factors that would keep the Hopkinton Public Schools among the highest ranked in Massachusetts. Enrollment is one of the major factors in developing the FY20 budget, with the district seeing an unprecedented number of students moving into the town over the past few years. For FY19, the New England School Development Council (NESDEC) predicted 50 additional students would be enrolling in the district, but in actuality, 189 students enrolled into the district, skewing the budget significantly. “Good projections of new students for FY20 will be critical in setting this budget,” said Cavanaugh. Eight percent of the budget is payroll expenses, Rothermich reminded the School Committee, accounting for $3 million of the $4.5 million increase. “When you have an influx of 100 to 200 students, the biggest impact you are going to see is in payroll,” she said. Already this year, the district has added 4.6 classroom teachers, two English Learner teachers, one campus aide at the high school, four paraprofessionals, and four special education aides. Funding for those teachers will Budget page 20
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