November 4, 2023 by Carol Britton Meyer
In response to the arrest of a Hingham Middle School substitute teacher Oct. 27, the School Committee issued the following statement on Nov. 4. Supt. Margaret Adams first notified Hingham Public Schools families of the incident on Nov. 3. Many parents and teachers have expressed concern about the way the situation is being handled.
Dear Hingham Public Schools Community,
On behalf of the School Committee, we share your concerns regarding the recent arrest of a substitute teacher at Hingham Middle School and are writing to assure you that district hiring procedures require that all potential employees pass a criminal background check through the CORI process and that they be fingerprinted, per Massachusetts law. While hiring procedures are outside the School Committee’s purview, it is our understanding that district policies and Massachusetts laws were followed in this instance per Dr. Adam’s message on November 3rd, 2023.
Despite the necessary background check being completed, an arrest warrant for one of our employees was issued by Hingham District Court and Hingham Police Department made the arrest on Hingham Middle School property on Friday, October 27.
Understandably, this incident is unsettling for our entire community, particularly our middle school families and we are sorry for the undue stress this created. We acknowledge that a review of district policies, procedures, and protocols is necessary and are therefore taking the following immediate action:
1) Review hiring policy and recommend necessary changes
2) Collaborate with Hingham Police Department to develop protocols for police activity conducted on school property
3) Implement a communication strategy to notify the HPS community of families of any police activity that occurs on school property
Again, please be assured that we share your concerns and are actively addressing the need for greater transparency and accountability by implementing these immediate measures.
Sincerely,
Nes Correnti
Chair, Hingham School Committee
The school committee is totally missing the mark with this response. First this sub was present in ALL of the buildings. She was with kids with needs as well as Kindergarten children. Why is she only addressing the Middle School parents. The reason is that when this was written the information to the public was not given that she had worked in the other schools. It is another way that the School Committee is not being honest with the people of Hingham.