Hingham School Committee Elects New Leadership, Welcomes New Member
Committee discusses potential merger of educational and special education subcommittees, approves student trip to Quebec
HINGHAM - May 5 - The Hingham School Committee elects new leadership for the 2025-2026 school year, with Jen Benham taking the helm as chair during its May 5 meeting. The committee also welcomes new member John Mooney following the recent town election.
In a series of unanimous votes, the committee selects Michelle Ayer as vice chair and Alyson Anderson as secretary, completing the leadership team for the upcoming year.
"Thank you very much," Benham says after accepting the position, joking that committee members will need to help her speak into the microphone as she "tends to talk a little quietly."
The committee also engages in a substantive discussion about potentially merging its Educational Programming and Special Education subcommittees, a topic that has been considered in previous years.
Tim Miller-Dempsey, who initially raised the topic, suggests maintaining separate committees for one more year before potentially combining them.
"I don't think now is the time to do that, seeing as how we're having a new incoming director of student services," Miller-Dempsey says. "I think it would be a good year to continue to have a special ed committee with maybe on both of our agendas figuring out ways to maybe combine those two committees for next year."
Committee members note that Hingham appears unique among benchmark towns in having a dedicated Special Education subcommittee. The committee plans to engage with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) for feedback before making any final decisions.
Matt Cosman, who chairs the Special Education subcommittee, supports considering a merger for the next school year.
"I think we should engage with SEPAC and understand where they're at," Cosman says. "The leadership has changed a little bit and so I'm not sure what they would think about it."
Kerry Ni, who serves on both subcommittees, notes there is significant overlap in discussions.
"I think to Kerry's point, it would really help them to be able to hear all of it and to be able to give feedback on both pieces together, as opposed to trying to get in 10 team meetings," Anderson adds.
The committee agrees to continue the conversation at future meetings after gathering input from SEPAC.
In other business, the committee approves an Eagle Scout project proposed by Huck Shaughnessy to rebuild a bridge and clear fallen trees along the South School nature trail.
"What I plan to do is to build a bridge or fix a destroyed bridge that was downed in the South School Nature Trail, just behind South School," Shaughnessy explains. "It's not only the bridge, but there are also a few trees that are downed along the nature trail path."
The committee also approves a student trip to Quebec City planned for February 2026.
"The educational objective is to allow students to use what they have been learning in class as an authentic experience," says Stacey Turner, director of world language. "Students will be immersed in the French-speaking culture and will learn about the history, people, cuisine, and culture of Quebec."
Superintendent Katie Roberts provides updates on several successful school-related warrant articles passed at town meeting, including schematic designs for the Hingham High School roof and HVAC, roof projects at South and Plymouth River schools, turf field improvements, and bus leases.
"These capital investments will help us to continue to provide well-maintained facilities in support of our students in programming," Roberts says.
The committee also conducts a first reading of three policies:
* EHB (Data and Records Retention)
* IJOA (Field Trips)
* IJNDG (Artificial Intelligence)
The field trip policy revision aims to streamline approval processes for tournaments, competitions, and contests by allowing the superintendent to approve certain trips or enabling the committee to approve them in advance for the season.
"Most of them are things that are known that they may happen," Anderson explains. "If we know there's a chance that they may be entered into a competition at the end, we can kind of approve everything up front."
The committee also discusses reviewing its liaison positions to various town organizations, with members agreeing to reach out to their assigned groups to determine the appropriate level of engagement needed.
The committee accepts a $368 donation from Derby Street Shops before adjourning to executive session to discuss collective bargaining matters.
The next school committee meeting will be held at the new Foster School on June 2.