HULL - May 26, 2026 - In a significant departure from historic precedent, the Hull School Committee voted 3-2 to open its doors to out-of-district students through the state’s School Choice program for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. The controversial move overrode the explicit recommendation of Superintendent Michael Jette, sparking an intense debate over fiscal risks, declining enrollment, and community inclusivity.
The Full Story
The decision materialized during the committee’s annual mandatory vote on the Massachusetts Education Reform Act provision, which automatically enters districts into the School Choice program unless local boards formally vote to opt out by June 1st. Historically, Hull has maintained a closed-door policy, a stance aligned with geographic neighbors like Hingham, Cohasset, and Scituate.
Superintendent Jette urged the committee to maintain that status quo, citing concerns over blind lottery mandates, low state reimbursement rates, and potential liabilities. Jette noted that while Hull has open seats, the state’s standard $5,000 per-pupil school choice tuition fails to cover the district’s actual per-pupil expenditure. He further cautioned that Hull would inherit long-term financial responsibility for any accepted student requiring specialized out-of-district special education services.
Committee leadership vigorously countered the administration’s conservative posture. Committee members argued that opening enrollment offers an important trial run to showcase Hull’s competitive, low-class-size environment. Proponents also pointed out that the program provides critical stability for local families forced to relocate due to regional housing affordability.
The debate quickly turned to logistics, with some members expressing hesitation regarding a lack of concrete data on transportation liabilities and impact on the lean municipal budget. To bypass a complete rejection of the program, the committee utilized a flexible state reporting mechanism. By voting “yes” to participate under a “contact district for details” designation, the board met the statutory June 1st deadline while maintaining the authority to establish strict local parameters later.
The final roll-call vote exposed the first major ideological split of the newly seated board. Committee members Aleeza Hagerty, Brendan Kilroe, and Chair Kyle Conley voted in favor of entering the program, while members Courtney Littlefield and Liliana Hedrick voted in opposition, citing a desire for deeper financial vetting. The administrative team was subsequently tasked with delivering a formalized pilot proposal—detailing grade caps, seat limits, and precise transportation impacts—at the next regular meeting.
“[School Choice] would put a dot on the map that Hull is open... I think that the benefits outweigh the risk.” — Committee Member Aleeza Hagerty
