The Hingham School Committee moved to honor the legacy of a local icon on Monday night, following a proposal from the Hingham track boosters to name the high school track after the late Fred Jewitt. Superintendent Katherine Roberts shared that the proposal has garnered significant community support for Jewitt, a retired English teacher and Hall of Fame coach who spent decades mentoring students. He positively impacted thousands of students, Roberts said, noting a celebration of his life is scheduled for May 23rd. The committee will formally decide on the naming next week to allow for public feedback. Member Allison Anderson shared the personal impact Jewitt had on her family, stating, He was a mentor to my children. They found in him someone who made them feel seen and heard. Nina Villanova added that as an alumna, the outpouring of conversation since his passing shows he is someone we should honor.

Residents Bill Ramsey and Rich Chamberlain spoke in favor of the designation during public comment. Fred was my football coach. He was about life lessons, Ramsey said, noting Jewitt’s habit of staying in touch with students for decades. Chamberlain suggested the facility be designated as the Fred Jewitt Track at Mickelson Field to honor both the late coach and the family that originally donated the land. Chair Jen Benham noted that the delay in the formal vote was procedural, explaining, Per our policy on naming facilities, we must alert the public and allow time for response.

The meeting also marked the committee’s annual reorganization. Motion Made by C. Kne to elect Jen Benham for the chair of the Hingham School Committee for a one-year term. Motion Passed 5-0. Following her election, Benham presided over the selection of the remaining leadership. Motion Made by N. Villanova to nominate Allison Anderson for vice chair for a term of one year. Motion Passed 5-0. Additionally, Motion Made by N. Villanova to nominate Carrie Kne for secretary for a one-year term. Motion Passed 5-0. Kne welcomed the return to the role, noting she had served as secretary many years ago. Jen Benham has graciously volunteered to run for chair for the second year, Kne said during the nominations.

In a significant data presentation, Director of Student Services Dr. Chris Panaresi delivered a deep dive into the district’s Special Education performance, revealing that 19.1% of Hingham students—a total of 785 individuals—are now on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). This represents a climb from 15.5% in 2022. Panaresi also addressed findings from a state Tiered Focused Monitoring audit which identified non-compliance issues regarding missing learning disability flowcharts and parent excusal forms. I give myself a B-minus for my first year, Panaresi told the committee. He highlighted that the district will soon transition to a new IEP platform called EdPlan to automate compliance checks. Tim Miller-Dempsey questioned the gap between student growth and achievement on standardized tests, asking, The MCAS data shows a gap in achievement but strong growth. Why the gap? Panaresi responded that students need more explicit instruction in test-taking and independence to demonstrate their learning on state exams.

Financial discussions centered on the Kids In Action (KIA) program and district infrastructure. Executive Director of Business and Support Services Aisha Oppong presented updated guidelines for KIA staff, including a 3% across-the-board salary increase. KIA now has almost 500 kids; it’s as big as a whole school, Oppong noted. Motion Made by N. Villanova to approve the Kids In Action teachers and teacher assistants benefit guidelines as presented. Motion Passed 5-0. The committee also moved to retain specialized staff for the program’s strings component. Motion Made by N. Villanova to approve increasing the rate for Kids In Action strings teachers from $65 to $70 for the school year. Motion Passed 5-0.

To streamline fiscal oversight of testing fees, the committee authorized a new revolving account for the Guidance Department. Oppong explained that moving AP and SAT fee management out of student activities would provide better oversight. Motion Made by N. Villanova to authorize the Executive Director of Business and Support Services to work with the Town Accountant to establish a Guidance Department revolving account. Motion Passed 5-0. Infrastructure needs also prompted a multi-year commitment for the district’s fleet. Motion Made by N. Villanova to authorize the Executive Director of Business and Support Services to execute a lease for seven buses for five years on behalf of the School Committee. Motion Passed 5-0. Oppong noted that while the district expects 13 electric buses this summer, these diesel leases are necessary to replace aging vehicles during the transition.

The committee also celebrated the Hingham High School Hammerheads robotics team, which recently ranked 34th in the world out of 3,700 teams at the FIRST World Championship in Houston. Team captains Tori Dell and Logan Delaran showcased their custom-built robot. This is the first time in team history we made the world championships, Dell said. Delaran explained the technical complexity of the robot basketball challenge, noting, Every part of the robot is custom-made and designed in CAD. In other personnel news, Danielle Grafton was introduced as the new World Language Director. Grafton, who has taught in Hingham since 2020, stated, I have loved all of my 26 years of teaching. It is more a hobby than a job.

Additional routine business included the reappointment of the Superintendent to a regional board. Motion Made by N. Villanova to reappoint Superintendent Katherine Roberts to the Board of Directors of South Shore Educational Collaborative. Motion Passed 5-0. The committee also accepted a professional development grant for World Language teachers. Motion Made by N. Villanova to accept the grant to cover tuition for a College Board endorsed AP Summer Institute course. Motion Passed 5-0. Finally, the board authorized the disposal of old vehicles, including two driver’s education cars. Motion Made by N. Villanova to declare as surplus the items listed and authorize the Executive Director of Business and Support Services to dispose of them. Motion Passed 5-0.