Hingham School Committee Takes Strong Stand Against Hate Incidents at High School
Chair condemns swastika and racial slur found in bathrooms; committee also votes to maintain LGBTQ+ protections despite federal policy changes
HINGHAM - March 10 - The Hingham School Committee takes a firm stance against recent hate incidents at the high school, with Chair Nes Correnti delivering powerful opening remarks at Monday's meeting condemning the discovery of a swastika and racial slur in school bathrooms.
"Last week, a swastika was discovered in the boys' bathroom at the high school, and today we learned that the N-word was found in another bathroom," Correnti states. "These are not random acts of graffiti. These are symbols of hate, symbols that send a message of exclusion, fear, intimidation to members of our community."
Correnti emphasizes that such incidents demand the community's full attention and action.
"A swastika is not just a drawing. It's a symbol of genocide used to justify the murder of millions, including six million Jewish people during the Holocaust. The N-word is not just a word. It's a violent slur, one that has been used for centuries to dehumanize, oppress, and terrorize black people," she says.
The committee chair thanks students who reported the incidents and administrators who responded quickly but notes that removing the hateful messages doesn't address the deeper problem.
"These incidents are not isolated. They are part of a larger pattern of rising anti-Semitism, racism, and intolerance in our state and across the country," Correnti adds.
Superintendent Katie Roberts echoes these sentiments, stating that the administration is committed to promoting a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment.
"Our administration is committed to promoting a safe welcoming and inclusive environment and will continue to analyze our curriculum, our programming, our communications to make sure that we're recentering that sense of safety, welcoming and inclusion in our school community," Roberts says.
She expresses gratitude to the students who quickly reported the incidents, calling them "upstanders" who understand the impact such symbols have on their fellow students.
In another significant development, the committee discusses changes to the district's non-discrimination policies in response to federal Title IX policy revisions. Despite these federal changes, Hingham Public Schools plans to maintain explicit protections for LGBTQ+ students.
Committee member Alyson Anderson explains that while some policies must change to align with federal requirements, the district intends to keep its comprehensive list of protected classes in its local policies.
"We specifically say sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, and a whole host of other things, whereas the official MASC version does not include all of those," Anderson notes. "It does include the language, 'any category protected by state or federal law.' We just felt as a committee that we should actually call attention to [specific groups]."
Committee member Tim Miller-Dempsey seeks clarification on this point, asking, "In terms of protected students, nothing in Hingham will change between 2024 and 2025?"
Anderson confirms this, stating, "The law may have changed, but our protections have not."
The committee also addresses several other important matters during the meeting:
* Approving a reduction of one full-time position for the secondary special education administrator as part of budget adjustments
* Discussing a comprehensive plan for roof replacements at Hingham High School, Plymouth River Elementary, and South Elementary School, including pursuing Massachusetts School Building Authority funding
* Voting to approve the appointment of Dr. Christine Panarese as the new Executive Director of Student Services, effective July 1
* Conducting a first reading of multiple policy updates, including those related to security cameras, animals in schools, and fundraising activities
* Approving a $3,200 grant from the state treasurer's financial education innovation fund for the annual Credit for Life Fair
The committee also votes to withdraw from the state school choice program for the 2025-2026 school year, continuing its historical practice. Roberts notes that none of Hingham's comparable districts currently participate in school choice, and cites concerns about the strain it could place on service providers given current caseloads across the district.
Additionally, the committee approves a new competency determination for high school graduation following the elimination of MCAS as a graduation requirement. The new standards require students to pass ninth and tenth grade English, algebra and geometry, and biology.
Correnti concludes her opening remarks on the hate incidents with a call to action for the entire community.
"To our Jewish, black, and all students who have ever felt targeted or unsafe, we see you, we stand with you, and we will not tolerate any act that threatens your dignity or belonging in this school," she says. "This is our moment to decide what kind of school, what kind of town, and what kind of future we are building. Let's choose one of respect, inclusion, and accountability."
The next School Committee meeting is scheduled for March 25 at 6:30 p.m.