Schools

LETTER: Group of Residents Advocate for School Committee Candidate

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Dear Watertown community members,

Lisa Capoccia’s commitment to equity in the Watertown schools over the past 10 years, her skills in working with groups, her role as an advocate and her professional occupation as a school social worker are just a few of the many reasons we encourage you to vote for Lisa on November 7th for School Committee member of the Watertown Public Schools. In her community work Lisa has interfaced with several community groups that focus on equity. She was a member of the first Diversity Council at the Lowell Elementary School and as her daughter advanced to the WMS she became a member of the Watertown Middle School Diversity Council. Lisa is a Kingian advocate and trainee, a member of the WPS Anti-Bias Coalition (ABC), and for a year she co-facilitated the Equity in Schools subcommittee of the Watertown Community for Black Lives (WCBL). A number of us have come to know and admire Lisa through her work with the WPS Anti-Bias Coalition and leadership of the Equity in Schools subcommittee of WCBL.

Schools

LETTER: Parents of 2 Endorse Candidate for School Committee

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Vote Rachel Kay for School Committee

I am writing this letter to encourage residents to get out and vote for Rachel Kay for the School Committee. I have attended School Committee, Equity Audit, and Diversity Committee meetings for the past 3 years and see so many opportunities for improvement. I know Rachel Kay would be a catalyst to make these improvements happen. She is a team player and accountability partner, who focuses on using data and measurable outcomes. Specifically, her experience and proven ability to work with various stakeholders within the city of Watertown will be vital when working with the new DEI Director of Watertown Schools.

Schools

LETTER: Parents Back Watertown School Committee Candidate

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As parents of students at all levels in the Watertown Public Schools, we write to enthusiastically express our support for Lisa Capoccia for Watertown School Committee. The three of us have separately known Lisa for over a decade in various capacities – as a public health colleague working in suicide prevention, as collaborators on school and community initiatives, and as fellow parents. Lisa has dedicated an incredible amount of time to the Watertown Public Schools over many years, and often behind the scenes, by advocating for resources for students, families, and staff who need them the most, improving transparency of health data to the community, sharing and compiling resources on a community and individual level, and much more. As long as we have known Lisa, she has deeply valued the diversity among families in Watertown and has seen that as one of the greatest strengths of the Watertown Public Schools. She is a tireless advocate for equity in public education and has offered important feedback to the district through the Equity Audit process that was developed last year.

Around Town

Missed the School Committee Candidate Forum? See it Here

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The candidates for School Committee appeared at a forum at the Mosesian Center for the Arts on Oct. 16. (Courtesy of WCA-TV)

The five hopefuls for the three seats on the School Committee in the Nov. 7 Watertown Election appeared at the Mosesian Center for the Arts on Monday night. If you missed it, or want to rewatch the event, check out the video produced by Watertown Cable Access Television.

Around Town

Watch Videos from This Week’s Council President Forums, Catch the School Committee Hopefuls Monday

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The candidates running for City Council President appeared in two candidate forums this week. Don’t worry if you missed them, you can watch the replays. Also, Monday night, the five School Committee candidates will appear in a live forum. On Wednesday night incumbent Mark Sideris and challenger Clyde Younger responded to questions on a variety of subjects during the candidate forum sponsored by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access TV. The event took place at the Watertown Free Public Library and was broadcast by WCA-TV.

Around Town

LETTER: Resident Backs School Committee Candidate in November Election

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Dear Watertown voters,

I’m writing to urge voters to elect Lisa Capoccia for School Committee. For those of you, like myself, who do not have school age children or grandchildren in Watertown, we know a healthy, thriving community requires a healthy, thriving school community. We appreciate the importance of living in a city where the School Committee has members who walk-the-walk to help create an “exceptional and equitable educational experience” for all students. Lisa commits to this mission in her campaign statement and she has worked on this mission for years.  

I know Lisa through friends and our community work.

Around Town

LETTER: Watertown Parent Endorses School Committee Candidate

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Rachel Kay is a tireless advocate for Watertown students and parents. On her website, she has a small section on what she likes to do in her free time, but I doubt she actually has any free time! You know her name because she is involved in so many things. Whether it be formally in her role as an officer of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) or with the Commission on Disability, or informally when she attends various school forums or events or just watching her son’s baseball games. You may also see her actively involved in many Facebook group pages.

Around Town

LETTER: Fair Share Amendment Committee Members Back School Committee Candidate

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As members of Watertown for the Fair Share Amendment Committee, we very happy to write in support of Rachel Kay for School Committee. 

For over a year and half, a small group of us worked to successfully promote the passage of the Fair Share Amendment. Rachel understood early the value of the FSA to local schools and jumped in with enthusiasm. Voters of Massachusetts voted in favor of it in November 2022. The 4 percent tax on incomes over one million is projected to bring in over $2 billion every year. This revenue will support improvements to schools, higher education, early education, vocational training and adult education, plus transit. The Watertown for the Fair Share Amendment Committee organized forums, canvases, information campaigns, and did outreach to residents and community groups. We also asked the city council to join other Massachusetts councils in endorsing the Fair Share Amendment, which it did. All of these efforts led to the additional funding for our schools and learners.  

Rachel contributed more than hard work and steady diligence to this project. She stepped up when needed; taking initiative, facilitating communication, informing decision-making. Rachel is well organized, a fast learner, a good communicator and a strong collaborator.