Hingham Town Meeting Voters will Decide Name of New Elementary School

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.