Online Petition Calling for Fully Funding Hingham Schools Gets Off to a Good Start

November 3, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer

An online petition circulated on Facebook on Monday gathered 330 signatures in eight hours in support of fully funding Hingham public schools -- with many more expected.

Parent Susan Ohoro told the School Committee during its remote meeting last night, "Working with a group of parents, a petition was started today to increase awareness around school budget issues. We're behind getting the schools everything they need."

Ohoro's comments followed a discussion among committee members and Supt. Paul Austin surrounding the upcoming Fiscal 2022 school budget process and what committee members felt that funding should include. (See related story.)

"We're tired of level service funding," Ohoro said. "[These are] disruptive [times], and we need to go forward with our values in mind and what we want our schools to look like in the future."

She noted the many parents who signed the petition -- with many more signatures expected -- "are willing to go to bat for this cause."

The online petition states that COVID-19 has brought to light many issues throughout the world, the country "and in our own small town of Hingham. One of the most prominent issues is how to safely educate our children during this time."

Although this issue has become" a highly politicized, emotional debate," one thing that both sides agree on, the petition states,  "is that providing our children the best possible education in this situation requires more money than the school budget allows. Sadly, our schools in Hingham were struggling with inadequate funding long before COVID. Yes, Hingham. Often thought of as a town with a 'good school system,' Hingham ranks last when compared to 20 benchmark towns on per pupil spending -- below the average spend by almost $3,700 per pupil. Previous decisions that were made by the town to not increase the school budget appropriately have left the administration little flexibility during this pandemic and beyond."

The petition cites school building issues, including Foster needing a new building for at least a decade, Plymouth River School's rusting windows, South School's need for major exterior and mechanical work, and the need for new boilers at Hingham High.

Other issues include under-staffed schools, larger class sizes than in peer towns; and "teachers trying to do more with less."

The petition advocates for increasing the school budget -- "It is the town's responsibility to fully fund our schools."

Also mentioned in the petition is the proposed new police-fire department public safety building, which will be the subject of a Nov. 21 Special Town Meeting.  Voters will be asked to support spending $5.5 million on a parcel of land on Lincoln Street/Rte. 3A for that purpose. This will be the only discussion and vote at that meeting.

If the entire project is ultimately approved, the Senior Center would expand into the space now occupied by police headquarters.

The petition states that those signing it agree "that our police officers, fire department, and seniors deserve new facilities. However, it is our children who are guaranteed a free and appropriate public education under the law. Not only are they not receiving that now, they weren't receiving it before the pandemic.  Unfortunately, unless funding for the schools is dramatically increased, they won't be receiving it after the pandemic ends either."

Petition supporters are calling on the town and Selectmen "t prioritize our children’s education and properly fund our schools before we spend any additional monies on the development or planning of this public safety building."

Those signing the petition -- including parents, caregivers, and concerned taxpayers -- say they are committed to attending the next annual Town Meeting in Spring 2021 "to ensure that any budget that is approved fully funds our schools."

Austin thanked Ohoro for her support. "Awesome!" he said.