Schools

Special Education: Director of Student Services to Step Down, Plans to Improve Program Discussed

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Watertown’s Director of Student Services will be stepping down before the beginning of school in September. The announcement came after parents of students in the special education program aired their complaints at the second straight School Committee meeting. A group of more than 100 parents also signed a petition requesting that the School Committee take a vote of no confidence for the Director of Student Services, who oversees the special education program. At the meeting on July 22, members of the School Committee requested that the Watertown School administration make special education its priority. Some committee members also asked for the creation of a subcommittee to focus on special education so that they can hear directly from parents, students and others.

Weather

UPDATED: Temps to Hit 100 in Watertown This Week, See How to Stay Cool

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(UPDATED July 2, 8:55 a.m.: The library will be open until 7 p.m. Friday.)

With temperatures forecast to reach 100 degrees this week, the City of Watertown has compiled a list of places to keep cool during the heatwave. The National Weather Center has issued an Extreme Heat Warning from July 1 at 10 a.m. to July 4 at 8 p.m. As of Tuesday at 11 a.m., the forecast highs are 95 degrees on Wednesday, 100 degrees on Thursday and Friday, and 95 degrees on Saturday, which is Independence Day. With high humidity expected, the high “feels like” temperature will be over 100 degrees from Wednesday to Friday, topping out at 109 degrees on Thursday. The City of Watertown put together information during the heatwave at watertown-ma.gov/warm-weather-updates. The City provided the following information:

Watertown is expecting very hot temperatures this week with high humidity.

Schools

Students & Parents Ask for Armenian Classes to be Expanded; French Most Popular World Language Unavailable at WHS

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The sign for the temporary Watertown High School at PFC Richard Moxley Field. (Courtesy by City of Watertown)

Watertown High School students, alumni, and parents of students who took part in the Armenian language program urged School officials to bolster the program for fear of losing the classes that are more than just about learning a language. At Monday’s School Committee meeting, several people spoke about the Armenian classes, which are part of the World Language offerings at the High School. During the meeting, the School Committee also heard a report about the district’s World Language Program, a survey of what languages students and parents are interested in, and the progress of students who have been in the elementary school Spanish immersion program. The speaker noted that the Armenian teacher recently resigned, and said that having students with four levels of proficiency in the same class is not something that other languages or subjects would have to do.

Real Estate

19 Open Houses in Watertown Over the Weekend

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Properties around Watertown will host open houses from Friday, June 26 to Sunday, June 28. 20-22 Franklin St., $1,149,900, 4 bedroom 2 bathroom 2,330 sq. ft. 2 Family, Open houses: Saturday, June 27 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Sunday, June 28 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

48 Beacon Park, $1,180,000, 3 bedroom 4 bathroom 1,650 sq. ft.

Schools

New Head of Perkins School for the Blind Looks to Build on Legacy, Advocate for the Visually Impaired

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Perkins School for the Blind President and CEO David Barth, right, speaks with a student during the White Cane Walk. (Courtesy of Perkins School for the Blind)

David Barth did not take the most direct route to becoming Perkins School for the Blind’s President and CEO, but he told Watertown News that the work helping some of the most vulnerable children get the education, services, and rights that they deserve is something he has done during his whole career. Barth joined the Perkins team in September 2025, after many years working on behalf of children around the globe with the U.S. government (including USAID) and non-governmental organizations, most recently as Vice President of International Programs at Save the Children. Barth is Perkins’ 11th director, and he said taking over an institution with a long and storied history of work for the blind and visually impaired is an awesome responsibility. “So this job is a privilege, because you get to conduct this orchestra of really, really, really talented people who are really, really committed,” Barth said.

Entertainment

WEEKEND FUN: Tipsy Tea Party, a Show at the Mosesian Center, Historic Mansion Tour, Drop into the Makerspace

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(UPDATED: June 25, 3:10 p.m.: the Watertown Children’s production is in July, stay tuned for more information)

The Pride month celebration continues this week with the Tipsy Tea Party on Sunday. The final weekend of a play by a new theater company is at the Mosesian Center. Take a tour of the historic Gore Mansion and learn about the intricacies of the wallpaper in the former governor’s home on Saturday. In the mood to make something, learn how at the Hatch Makerspace on Friday. TIPSY TEA PARTYSunday, June 28, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.Commander’s Mansion, 440 Talcott Ave.

Government

Unwanted Surprises Drive Up Cost of Renovation of the City’s Parker Annex Building

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The Parker Annex Building (Courtesy of City of Watertown)

City officials have learned what it’s like to renovate a 100+ year old building, and the unwanted surprises that come with it. On Tuesday night, the City Council approved a $373,000 budget transfer to cover the cost of unexpected additional repairs, as well as to insulate the Parker Annex. The former elementary school on Watertown Street opened in 1914, and was sold by the Town in 1986. In 2022, the now City of Watertown bought back the building, which has been turned into office space. Since then, the City has been planning to turn Parker in to a City Hall annex, and hired contractors to renovate the building.