Hingham School Committee Approves Preschool Director Position, Gives Superintendent Exemplary Rating
The district expands its integrated pre-K program to six full-day sections at Foster School while recognizing Superintendent Katie Roberts' first-year achievements in stabilizing leadership and improv
HINGHAM - July 21 - The Hingham School Committee approved the creation of a new Preschool Director position Monday to support the expansion of the district's integrated preschool program, which grows to six full-day sections at Foster School for the 2025-26 school year.
The position consolidates oversight responsibilities previously handled by multiple staff members and addresses federal and state early childhood mandates, including child find requirements. Dr. Christine Panarese, the district's new Executive Director of Student Services, recommended the leadership restructure after analyzing the program's growth needs.
"Prior to the FY25 school year, the integrated preschool was coordinated by a preschool coordinator who simultaneously served as the preschool team chair and the preschool psychologist," Superintendent Katie Roberts explained. "This position will be funded from the early childhood grant and the preschool revolving account."
The funding approach ensures the new director role remains budget-neutral and does not impact the district's Memorandum of Understanding with the town. Roberts noted the district anticipates pulling in approximately $150,000 more in tuition revenue this year due to the move from half-day to exclusively full-day programming and the addition of another section.
"We've always wanted to expand the program, welcome more typical peers, expand to that full-day model," Roberts said. "And now that we have the space to do it, this was the vision all along."
The committee also addressed elementary enrollment changes requiring additional staffing adjustments. As of July 18, the district recorded a net gain of seven elementary students since the June 15 update, with two additional registrations received since that date.
Kindergarten enrollment increases at Foster and East schools will result in projected class sizes of 23.3 and 23.7 respectively, exceeding school committee policy limits. To address this, the leadership team proposes reducing one grade two section at Plymouth River School and transferring one staff member to either East or Foster.
"The leadership team proposes a reduction of one grade two section at Plymouth River, which would result in one PRS staff member, not necessarily a grade two staff member moving schools," Roberts explained. The district will create two additional kindergarten sections, with one funded through staff transfer and the second requiring funds from the kindergarten revolving account.
The committee unanimously approved both staffing proposals, allowing the district to maintain comfortable class size margins. With the additions, kindergarten average class sizes will be 17.8 at East, 17.5 at Foster, 19.3 at Plymouth River, and 19 at South School.
In a separate agenda item, the committee conducted Superintendent Roberts' first-year summative evaluation, awarding her an exemplary rating. Committee Chair Jen Benham read the composite evaluation results, highlighting Roberts' work in stabilizing the district after five years of significant leadership turnover.
"Superintendent Roberts is commended for her work ethic, intellect, communication skills, empathy, and compassion, professionalism, community engagement, significant improvements in employer relations, and most importantly, her focus on student needs, both academic and well-being," Benham stated.
The evaluation praised Roberts' visibility in the community, including her presence at town meeting addressing turf field replacement concerns and various community events. The committee rated her as having exceeded expectations on three of six goals, including professional practice, innovative secondary mathematics instruction, and strategic planning development.
"The school committee acknowledges that exemplary does not mean perfect," Benham noted. "But the competence we have witnessed in under a year has instilled great confidence among the committee and the community."
Roberts, who has worked in the district for 28 years and taught in every building, expressed gratitude for the committee's support. She referenced the recent Massachusetts Executive Institute conference, where other superintendents described divided school committees.
"I was so grateful to be able to share that we have a school committee that is collaborative, keeps the best interest of students at the center and the core," Roberts said.
The committee also approved several donations, including $7,344 from the South School PTO for new basketball hoops and installation. The PTO's offer to handle installation helps alleviate pressure on the district's maintenance team, which faces a stretched schedule due to summer projects including the DOC completion and Foster building work.
Additionally, the committee accepted an artistic donation of an "H" plaque from Newport, Rhode Island artist Debralee Iacobucci for Hingham High School.
Roberts provided updates on Massachusetts School Building Authority site visits scheduled for early August regarding proposed accelerated roof projects at Plymouth River and South Schools, plus rooftop unit work at Hingham High School. The MSBA received 99 statements of interest from districts across the Commonwealth for 2025-2026 consideration, compared to 72 in 2024.
Other business items included:
• A hiring fair scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. at Hingham High School for various positions including paraeducators, substitute staff, and maintenance workers
• The DOC ribbon-cutting ceremony set for Friday, Sept. 12, with the facility nearing completion pending occupancy permits
• Recognition of Dr. Christine Panarese's early contributions as Executive Director of Student Services, with her entry findings presentation scheduled for early September
• Upcoming school committee workshop on Saturday, Sept. 13 to review subcommittee goals
The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m.