May 24, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer
After the School Committee last year informally endorsed exploring the possibility of transforming the old concession building at the Hingham High School multi-purpose playing field into a wellness center as proposed by the Hingham Sports Partnership, the HSP did its homework and returned recently with an updated proposal and the offer to raise the funds to cover the cost of the project.
One of the driving factors is that the weight room space that's currently being used is considered to be inadequate to serve the entire HHS student body.
Last October, before presenting the proposal to the Committee -- which controls the property -- Quilty and fellow HSP board member Dan Rakauskas first discussed the possibility with Principal Rick Swanson, Athletic Director James Quatromoni, and others -- with positive results.
Quilty reported this week that after talking recently with the superintendent of schools, a member of the Planning Board, and again with Swanson and others and working with an architect and engineers to come up with drawings for the project -- which HSP members refer to as "The Dock" -- the HSP is onboard to move forward with the "The Dock" pending all necessary approvals.
"Based on the information that we have, the HSP feels we can raise the money to fund a new wellness center," Quilty said.
While no formal vote by the Committee was required, members had an overall positive response to the proposal this week.
Newly-elected SC member Matt Cosman asked if anyone could name any "cons" about the proposal.
Quilty responded that despite efforts to find any downside, the HSP was unable to do so.
Director of Business & Support Services John Ferris said the only "con" he could think of was that the building is now used for storage, but "for the sake of getting a health and wellness center, we can figure out what to do about [that issue]."
The goal is "to get more windows and light into the building and to make it more friendly so that everyone in school can feel comfortable about using it and feeling good," Quilty explained.
Ray Estes commended Quilty and Rakauskas for bringing the idea before the Committee earlier. "He and Dan [supported the proposal] from the outset and brought other board members onboard," he said. "I thank them for their efforts over the last year spearheading this project. The passion behind it is real."
School Committee member Kerry Ni expressed support for the project. "Some of our athletes are working out in private gyms, and a wellness center at the High School would bring all the teams together in one place," she said.
Vice Chair Nes Correnti is all for the project. "This will extend the life of the high school," she said.