School Committee Approves New AI Policy, Receives METCO Program Update
New policy provides framework for AI use in schools while METCO program expands opportunities for Boston students
HINGHAM - May 19 - The Hingham School Committee has approved a new policy on artificial intelligence that establishes guidelines for proper use by students and teachers throughout the district.
The policy, which received unanimous approval at Monday's meeting, provides a general framework rather than specific rules about particular AI programs or websites.
"Just the explanation of that is that this sort of robust part of the details of this will live in the procedures, not in the school policy, just to be able to keep up," explained member Tim Miller-Dempsey during the discussion.
Committee members noted that the policy intentionally avoids specifying programs or websites "because the technology is changing so fast and evolving so we don't want to be that specific in our policies."
The AI policy is one of three policies the committee approved during the meeting, with the others addressing data and records retention and field trips.
In other business, METCO Director Amy Jackson presented an update on the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program, which currently enrolls 43 Boston students in Hingham schools.
"Currently we have 43 students, 19 in our elementary schools. We have six students at East, four students at Foster, two students at Plymouth River, seven students at South. We have 12 total at Hingham Middle School and 12 total at Hingham High School," Jackson reported.
The program is set to welcome nine new students from kindergarten through ninth grade next year. Jackson noted that interest in the program is growing.
"I'm really excited about all the parents to talk to. I'm just really excited to come to Hingham, which is really nice because usually it's like, it's too far. But now we're not having that. Like, they heard a lot of good things about it," Jackson said.
The METCO program receives state funding totaling $400,251 for fiscal year 2025. Additionally, the district secured two grants specifically available to METCO districts: a grant for $31,444 and a racial equity inclusive grant for $15,000.
Jackson and Superintendent Roberts wrote the racial equity grant "to deepen our ongoing racial equity work that was aligned with the METCO 2.0."
The program offers numerous enrichment activities for students, including a historically Black colleges and universities tour in partnership with the guidance department. Fifteen METCO and Hingham students attended a college fair at Roxbury Community College where they met with admission representatives and attended financial aid workshops.
Other activities included a METCO Family Night Out at the Franklin Park Zoo with over 40 families attending, and METCO Advocacy Day at the State House where eight Hingham METCO students received a special tour of the Senate House.
"Hingham and Cohasset were the only districts who actually got that tour. So, the students were really excited and very happy about that," Jackson said.
The program is also bringing guest speaker Anthony Valentine to the middle school next week to discuss "belonging, identity, and being your best self" with students in grades 6-8.
Summer programming includes six students attending the METCO Summer School Program, which offers academic focus in the morning and enrichment activities in the afternoon for five weeks. Six additional students will participate in Boston University's Tech Revolution STEM Program, made possible by a METCO Supplementary Grant.
The BU program offers courses in Rollercoaster Design, Robotics, STEM and Medicine, Graphic Design, and Digital Arts.
"I'm like, that's so nice. And then the STEM and Medicine? Unbelievable. Like, why didn't they have that when we were young?" Jackson remarked.
Jackson also highlighted the program's two graduating seniors: Sonia Riley Brooks, who will attend UMass Boston to study Psychology, and Daniel Davis, who will attend Morehouse College to major in Business and minor in Film Studies.
Committee members praised the program for its inclusivity and community integration.
"I think one thing that's become clear is that these are not students who just attend Boston or attend Hingham schools. These are students who are included in all aspects of life in Hingham, from the sports and extracurriculars to the community events," noted one committee member.
The committee also recognized the recent dedication of the Foster School Library in honor of Camilla Roundtree, who served as Hingham's METCO director for over 40 years.
Other business addressed at the meeting included:
• Approval of the 2025-2026 school committee meeting calendar, including a Saturday workshop scheduled for September 13
• Review of school committee operating protocols
• Declaration of surplus equipment including copy machines and a water cooler
• Updates on subcommittee assignments for the upcoming school year
• Discussion of a potential school building committee for roof repairs, pending Massachusetts School Building Authority approval
The next school committee meeting is scheduled for June 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.