HomeMy Public PortalAbout20190916 - Growth Study Committee - Meeting MinutesHOPKINTON GROWTH STUDY COMMITTEE
Monday, September 16, 2019
Hopkinton Town Hall, 18 Main Street, Hopkinton, MA, Lower Level Meeting Area
Attendees: Amy Ritterbusch Chair, Fin Perry V-Chair, Muriel Kramer Clerk, Fran DeYoung, Michelle
Murdock, Tim Brennan, Chuck Joseph, Dave Wheeler, and Wilson St. Pierre Absent: none. Audience:
none
Called to order: 7:02 PM
Meeting notes with action items and votes noted
Agenda item 1: Dr. Cavanaugh discussion and data work
School Superintendent Dr. Carol Cavanaugh spoke with the committee to discuss current growth trends
in student populations, the past enrollment predictions as well as the ongoing current prediction work
being done by DRA Architects. The current predictions for the 2019-2020 year have already proven to be
way off; at the start of the school year enrollments exceed NESDEC predictions by 103 students. DRA has
been commissioned to do an intensive review and provide their results/predictions in late November
2019. Dr. Cavanaugh’s team is also working with the GSC to respond to the data provided on real estate
by housing type with corresponding enrollment data for 2018. If practical the GSC hopes to do the same
for 2016 and 2017.
GSC found that the turnover base for housing remains consistent at approximately 300 houses per year;
noted that because of our school system we can expect a higher percentage of families with children
choosing to move here.
Trends that have arisen in recent years: Gr K, 1 and 4 get the greatest influx annually. No loss at MS or
HS; in fact MS got a substantial bump last year (20 students in grade 8) and HS netted an increase of 7
students in grade 9. . NESDEC predictions have been more off than ever in the last two years.
Dr. Cavanaugh notes that the schools’ reputations are internationally known
Analyzing the data on enrollments from Legacy Farms South may help predict numbers to expect from
Legacy Farms North at build out. Dr. Cavanaugh notes that while Legacy Farms has been a driver in
increased enrollments, it is not the only driver or perhaps the major driver in recent increases.
Noted that 30% of homes in Hopkinton have school age kids, 70% do not but may have pre-school age
kids.
There are constraints with the MSBA funding model that limits towns from accessing funds to build new
schools beyond the standard predictions. Noted that some towns are opting out of the re-imbursement
process to get out of the cycle of continuously needing to build new schools as enrollments increase; it is
potentially more cost effective to independently predict the town’s future needs and build schools to
meet the need that may then not “qualify” in the MSBA process for state re-imbursement funds. Is it
possible to construct a model that more accurately predicts Hopkinton’s school enrollment increases?
Noted there is a new 85 acre parcel off Saddle Hill that is no longer land-locked – Conroy property.
Dr. Cavanaugh will assess if her staff has the resources to do the comparative data analysis from real
estate by housing type and enrollments for 2016 and 2017 to then be able to discern if ratio is
consistent across years.
In 2000 build out projections predicted a max population of 18,350; an update to that prediction is
needed.
The GSC discussed the payment formula that the master developer from Legacy Farms owes the town in
response to enrollment that exceeds predictions. An initial payment has been made to the town and put
into a stabilization account; $200k was authorized to be spent by the schools at ATM 2019. The formula
in the Host Community Agreement (HCA) mandates additional payments of $300k for every additional
increment of 30 students; there is no cap until the project is developed out. According to existing
enrollment data there is currently a $600K payment due with another $300K soon due. It is understood
the money is to be used by the schools to address the needs that arise in response to the growth from
legacy Farms specifically.
Noted: this is a question to ask the Select Board about; how are these payments tracked?
Planning for a public forum in November: the results of the DRA study should be presented, perhaps a
“myth busting” segment (ie. LF is not the only driver of enrolment growth), and we need a real time
feedback mechanism from public at the forum.
Agenda topics following school data discussion
There is a google drive that the public can access. Amy, Fin, and Muriel are administrators.
Discussion about an economic development officer included thoughts on successes other towns have
seen with this approach – Hudsn, Marlboro, Ashland, Southboro. What is reasonable on South Street? Is
anyone doing active outreach with existing businesses on South St, Dell in particular?
Fin and Michelle took an action item to research other towns on economic development
utilizing a development officer. What were there results, timeline, particularly how long to gain
traction?
Tim offered to take an action item to see if he can assist in the data comparison work with the team at
the school. He will also arrange the finance folks to attend our next meeting.
Jen Devlin is the representative that has been appointed by the schools for the GSC.
Nick Slottje from the Chamber will be asked to attend the meeting 10/15 when the Select Board will also
be asked to attend.
It was noted that the alternate positions for this committee had to be reposted and re-voted by the
Planning Board because the original posting was incomplete when the committee was first organized.
Reports of other committees: none
Minutes of previous meetings: after discussion about removing identifiers of specific speakers, the
minutes of meeting from 29 July 2019, 19 August 2019, and 3 September 2019 were moved by Chuck,
second by Fran, voted favorably by Fran, Chuck, Muriel, Amy, Tim, and Michelle. Fin abstained. Dave &
Wilson did not vote.
Adjourn 9:05PM, motion Muriel, second Amy, vote unanimous
Respectfully submitted,
Muriel Kramer, GSC Clerk