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By Carol Meyer
The Property Assessed Clean Energy Massachusetts program the Select Board recently opted into on a one-time basis will provide Hingham commercial property owners with an opportunity to finance energy improvements through special betterment assessments on their property tax bills, spread over up to 20 years. MassDevelopment administers PACE in consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. Business owners have the opportunity to apply by detailing the type of energy improvement project they would like to undertake and demonstrating that the energy savings will be greater than the cost. Owners of commercial and industrial buildings, including nonprofits, and owners of multi-family housing with more than five units work with a capital provider, such as a bank or a PACE lender, to finalize the application and to fund the project. PACE applications require Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and MassDevelopment approval to move forward. MassDevelopment works with the host community to bill and collect the assessment, which is then sent to the capital provider as repayment for the financing. Eligible projects include boilers, furnaces, HVAC systems, lighting upgrades, solar panels, insulation, and energy recovery. Retroactive consideration is available for already-installed improvements. "This is an interesting program that is aligned with Hingham's climate goals," Select Board Chair Liz Klein said. By Carol Meyer
Tara Boening was recently chosen as the next principal of South Elementary School from a pool of highly-qualified candidates, effective July 1. She will replace longtime principal Mary Eastwood. Boening, who has served as principal of Liberty Elementary School in Braintree for the past eight years, brings a wealth of experience and a passion for education to her new role. Hingham Public Schools administrators, the School Committee, and South School parents and staff participated in the intensive interview and selection process, with Boening coming out on top. She began her career as a Grade 6 classroom teacher in New York City before transitioning to other education-related roles in Massachusetts, serving as both a teacher and an administrator in various school districts. Expressing her enthusiasm for her new role, Boening stated in an HPS press release, "I am grateful for the opportunity to be the next leader of South School. It was an absolute pleasure getting to meet different members of the South School community during the interview process, and I look forward to connecting with staff and families when I begin on July 1." Eastwood will leave behind a legacy of excellence in education and a deep caring for the South School community, and Boening plans to continue this tradition. By Carol Meyer
Hingham has received nearly $250,000 to date as part of a settlement to resolve opioid litigation brought by states against large pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors from the town's total $1.2 million share. The remaining funds will become available over time. Town officials are in the process of deciding how to best allocate these funds to address substance misuse and related issues in the community. The need in Hingham is real, according to Elizabeth Miller, the town's new social worker and opioid use disorder program coordinator. She delivered the sobering news to the Select Board recently that 279 Hingham residents were evaluated for substance use disorder in South Shore Hospital's emergency department over the past year. The four main categories the settlement money can be used for are prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Part of the Fiscal 2024 plan presented by Miller and approved by the board includes allocating $17,000 for community outreach. She noted that it's important to focus not only on designating funding for treatment but also on prevention and post-treatment and to compile a list of qualified treatment centers and sober houses that provide the best quality care. In recognition of the fact that there is a need for these services in Hingham, Chair Liz Klein said she wants "to meet people where they are and help them access the services they need, using this settlement money in the best way possible." By Carol Meyer
Traffic calming measures that have been taken so far in the Downtown Hingham Business District have been a success, with more proposed, Town Engineer J.R. Frey told the Select Board recently. "These efforts encompass all of the tools available at our disposal to effect a change in driver behavior and generally improve safety for all users of the right-of-way -- including informational signage, changes to the roadway cross section, and direct engagement by law enforcement to educate the public and enforce the law," Frey said. "These cumulative and ongoing [measures] have resulted in a substantial reduction in speed throughout the downtown corridor." The direct result is a reduction in the average speed of vehicles traveling on North Street entering the downtown area from 29 to 24 mph and a reduction in the 85th percentile speed from 32 to 28 mph. Moving forward, the town will continue to evaluate additional measures to improve pedestrian and intersection safety in downtown Hingham. In the meantime, the Traffic Committee has reviewed the current downtown data and supports maintaining the current signage and enforcement efforts while continuing to collect data. "The police department has also committed to a regular schedule of education and enforcement efforts over the next several months to reinforce the changes [that have already been made]," Frey said. In partnership with the Cleaner Greener Hingham Committee, DPW Supt. Randy Sylvester recently shared several ways Hingham residents can compost to help achieve the town's 2040 net zero goal outlined in the recently released Climate Action Plan.
The current composting program, developed by the DPW over the past three years, helps lower the town's cost of disposing of materials, reduces methane emissions, and creates clean organic soil. As part of this effort, residents may purchase rodent-resistant compost bins for home composting from the DPW for $25. The cost is less than the retail price, thanks to funding from the state Department of Environmental Protection. All of the funds collected are put toward offsetting the price of the town’s recycling operation and help cover the costs associated with Household Hazardous Waste days for residents. To purchase a compost bin for backyard composting, contact the DPW at (781) 741-1430. In addition, Black Earth Compost and Bootstrap Compost provide curbside compost pick up services for a fee, along with other benefits. Both companies will also accept organic material that is not recommended for backyard composting. For further information, visit the Black Earth and Bootstrap websites. Residents are also encouraged to fill out a Cleaner Greener Hingham food scraps composting survey that's available on the town website under the "Latest News"
By Carol Meyer
A screening committee will be created in early 2024 to assist in the hiring of a new principal for South School to replace Mary Eastwood, who will retire at the end of the current school year after 45 years as a Hingham Public Schools educator -- 11 of those in the principal role. Supt. of Schools Margaret Adams expressed appreciation for Eastwood's "long career here in Hingham. It will be hard to find a replacement to fill such big shoes," she said recently. The committee will be comprised of two parents, two staff members selected by the Hingham Education Association, a School Committee member, two principals at the elementary and secondary level, one special education Central Office administrator, one curriculum director, and two Hingham High School students. Adams explained the timeline to the School Committee recently. A candidate profile will be developed and recruiting materials prepared in early January, followed by advertising the position starting Jan. 13, interviews in February, and identification of finalists by the middle of the month. Finalist interviews with the leadership team will be scheduled in late February, with the appointment of the new principal in early March. The induction period will go from the beginning of April 2024 through July, leading up to the new school year. Among the principal's many responsibilities is providing the leadership necessary to enhance the educational development of each student, including establishing and maintaining an "effective learning climate in the school." By Carol Meyer
The Hingham Town Clerk’s Office is preparing for a busy year, including two primaries and two elections. Also, the annual Street Listing Census -- mailed to residents the first week of January -- provides critical population data used not only by the town, but also by the state for various services and budgets. "Massachusetts law requires that residents respond to this census form on an annual basis," Town Clerk Carol Falvey said recently. "Compliance provides proof of residency, protection of voting rights, eligibility for certain elderly and veteran benefits, public safety information, and community data used in applying for grants.” This year, there will also be a separate Hingham School Department Census form -- similar to those included in censuses by neighboring towns. This form is voluntary and will ask for information on school-age children for school enrollment planning. In addition, the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth will mail postcards in early January, notifying residents of how they can apply to Vote by Mail. Detailed information and important deadlines and dates for all of the elections and primaries, as well as for nomination papers for the April 27 Town Election, will be available on the Town Clerk’s webpage. Hingham's Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, rather than the originally planned Monday, April 22, because the first day of Passover falls on that date. Contact the Town Clerk's office with questions at (781) 741-1410. By Carol Britton Meyer
An exploratory committee was recently created -- in alignment with the School Committee's mission and the goals outlined in the Hingham Public Schools strategic plan --to consider the possibility of offering a Spanish elementary structured immersion program for K-5 students. This is part of Supt. of Schools Margaret Adams' efforts, with the committee's support, to actively pursue more opportunities to prepare students for active participation in the global community. "I'm excited about Dr. Adams' plan to create a committee to explore this possibility," School Committee Chair Nes Correnti said. "The positive response to this year's pre-K Spanish pilot program has already been evident. I appreciate her innovative thinking in finding ways to encourage families to remain within our public schools and to possibly attract new families to our district." According to HPS World Language Department Director Erica Pollard, research into immersion programs consistently shows that participating students develop higher levels of proficiency in the second language, gain an improved ability to focus, and can easily switch between tasks, in addition to other benefits. Such programs are also known to promote cross-cultural understanding and tolerance. The School Committee will hear an update on findings from the exploratory committee this winter. "If the recommendation at that time is to move forward with a K-5 immersion program, the School Committee would vote on the proposal at that time," Correnti said. By Carol Meyer
A program update for the new school year was recently outlined by Interim Executive Director of Student Services Dr. Barbara Cataldo. The director's role is to ensure that Hingham Public Schools' implementation of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks is accessible to all students. To help achieve this goal, HPS has developed a comprehensive District Curriculum Accommodation Plan that is used uniformly across all grades and curriculum areas. In describing the Student Services Entry Plan for 2023-2024, Cataldo explained that in the past couple of months, she has had an opportunity to work directly with school administration -- both Central Office and school-based -- which she said provided her "with an excellent understanding of the Hingham Public Schools." In addition, several teachers visited with Cataldo, sharing areas of success and concerns about students and offering suggestions for ways to improve the program. "I have also worked closely with the senior leadership team to understand the mission and vision and how the activities and curriculum match these essential areas for the Hingham Public Schools," she said. The Special Education Parent Advisory Council co-chairs shared their thoughts, "providing an important parent perspective." Cataldo also plans to work with the Special Education Sub-committee. The interim director identified "areas of need" that will receive attention during the new school year. "They do not encompass every aspect of Student Services, but they are most certainly part of the heart of our work in Hingham," she states in the entry plan. By Carol Britton Meyer
Voters will undertake the important task of approving a name for the new elementary school at the former Foster School site on Downer Avenue during next Spring's Annual Town Meeting. "The construction of the new school is progressing smoothly and is on track for completion by the beginning of the next school year," School Committee Chair Nes Correnti said. Supt. of Schools Margaret Adams and Director of Business and Support Services Aisha Oppong recently outlined a process for the district to follow in gathering name suggestions from the community, which met with unanimous School Committee approval. Their outline is based on the School Committee's "Naming New Facilities" policy. The suggestions will be presented this fall to the School Committee, which will vote to select a proposed name in January. Suggestions are due by Oct. 31. The name they choose will be submitted to the Select Board and Advisory Committee for their consideration and will be included in the Annual Town Meeting warrant article. "We are so excited for the Foster community and our town as we get closer to the completion of this long-awaited project," Correnti said. A form to collect suggested names from the community is being shared through various forms of communication. Feedback will be solicited from the PTO and school council. The data collected will be synthesized by the superintendent and presented to the School Committee for discussion on Nov. 27, followed by a second round of feedback. A final School Committee vote on a warrant article on the proposed name is expected Jan. 22. Town Meeting voters have the final say. |
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