Hingham School Committee delays FY27 budget vote, weighs larger repair fund

HINGHAM — February 26, 2026 — Hingham School Committee held a public hearing on its proposed FY27 operating budget and signaled it will seek a larger extraordinary repair appropriation than the $500,000 currently in a warrant article. Superintendent Katie Roberts and Executive Director of Business Aisha Opong presented a budget that closes a $431,736 deficit within the town's 3.5 percent MOU cap, relying on retirements, revolving funds, and the elimination of a vacant communications specialist post rather than program cuts. Director of Facilities Matthew Mian reported the district has already spent approximately $312,000 from the extraordinary repair fund on the high school's 27-year-old boilers — which cracked for the fifth time the night before the meeting — and on roof and HVAC failures at South Elementary and Plymouth River; he warned the $500,000 will likely be exhausted before the fiscal year ends. The committee voted unanimously to authorize the superintendent to sign MSBA design contracts totaling up to $618,556 for the high school and $276,900 for the two elementary schools. Three parents urged the committee to reconsider relocating RISE 2 special education students from South Elementary to the new Foster School, citing established peer relationships and proximity to the end of elementary school careers.