The Holliston School Committee would like to thank the Select Board for calling a Special Town Meeting on June 20, 2024 at 7:00pm at the Holliston High School Auditorium. There will be preferred senior parking in front of the High School as well as babysitting services. We appreciate all the efforts of the Select Board, Town Administrator, Town Clerk, Town Assessor, Treasurer and Town Moderator to help make this Special Town Meeting possible. 

This override request is a two step process in order to be finalized:

1. First is the Town Meeting vote referenced above.  PLEASE come show up and support the Schools! The deadline for registering to vote to participate in this Town Meeting is June 10th!
2. The second is a ballot question that will be a vote, like other elections, in the High School gym at a date that is yet to be determined (it is set by the Select Board). The exact date will be communicated out as soon as possible by the Select Board as well as updated on the HSC override page.   

Both the article at town meeting and the ballot question for the override MUST pass for the contract to go into effect. For more details, please review information linked here and/or join us at the following office hours:

School Committee Office Hours

Saturday June 8th from 9am – 10am at Coffee Haven

Wednesday June 12th from 6:30pm – 7:30pm at the Holliston Public Library, Gilman Room

Brief Highlights:

• On May 20, 2024 the Holliston School Committee and the Holliston Federation of Teachers negotiating teams agreed to a new three-year contract for 2024-2027, subject to the passage of an override.  The agreement was ratified (voted on by both parties) on May 23, 2024. This agreement is good for our schools, students, staff and community, but requires passage of an override to fund the contract.
• The agreement was reached after the May 13, 2024 Town Meeting, preventing its financial aspects to be incorporated into the budget or for an override request to be made at that time.  At the time of Town Meeting, even the outline of an agreement was not known.
• The budget approved at the May 13, 2024 Town Meeting included $400,000 in cuts, resulting in 8 position cuts which ultimately resulted in one lost job as a direct result. An additional $750,000 was approved for one-time extraordinary expenses, mostly related to state mandated out-of-district special education costs.  This was merely a means to justify using one time funds rather than a statement about any particular budget driver.
• The School Committee is asking the Holliston community for an override to fund this new contract in order to compensate our teachers fairly, increase time on learning for our students, and to avoid additional layoffs. 
• The terms of the agreement linked here include fair compensation for our teachers and extend student instructional time by 15 minutes each day for grades 3-12 and 10 minutes each day for grades K-2 starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Additionally, the agreement provides a process for potential bell schedule changes at the middle and high school. Lastly, in order to accommodate the longer school day, the district will add additional buses to move from 3 bus runs to 2 bus runs which will allow us to have a later start time at Miller.
• Given the increased instructional time for students, fair teacher compensation comparable to neighboring districts, and other contract benefits, the cost of this override is fiscally prudent and a smart investment. These changes will positively impact student learning which makes for a desirable town and strong property values.
• The cost of the override is $1.2 million (inclusive of additional funding by the Select Board for non-union personnel raises) or $201 per average household. The Assessor has provided additional information on the Town’s website about how you can calculate your own personal impact from this override.
• This contract and override is good for students, good for teachers, good for HPS and ultimately good for Holliston.

For a more comprehensive discussion of the contract and override, please click here.