Come to the Last Superintendent’s Coffees of the Year, Meet the New Superintendent

The last superintendent’s coffee for this school year is scheduled for April 26, from 9-10:30 a.m. and from 7-8:30 p.m., in the Data and Innovation Lab on the 3rd Floor of the Phillips Building, announced interim Superintendent John Brackett. This coffee will be a superintendents’ coffee. Joining me at each session will be incoming superintendent Dr. Deanne Galdston. We can chat about current issues but will allow ample time for Dr. Galdston to share reflections on her transition and entry plan and to get to meet those in attendance. I hope you will be able to join us.

Superintendent Hosting Second Coffee with Parents, Residents

Watertown Superintendent John Brackett will be available to meet with parents and residents on Tuesday. 

Brackett sent out the following announcement:

I hope you will be able to join us for the 2nd Superintendent Coffee/Tea on Tuesday, January 24. We offer two opportunities for your convenience; 9:00 am or 7:00 pm. We will meet in the 1st floor classroom in the Phillips Building. Enter from the Marshall St parking lot and it is on the right at the bottom of the stairs. Hope to see you.

Town Weighing What to Do with Old Watertown Police Station

Since the Watertown Police move to their new station the old one has largely sat unused, but many departments would love to get a piece of the building. Tuesday night, the Town Council’s Economic Development and Planning Committee reopened the discussion for how to deal with the building. The town had a study of the cost of renovating or reconstruction the building and received an estimate of $4.8 million to renovate and $7 million to rebuild, according to Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. The largest costs would be putting in an elevator and a stairwell. Those prices largely halted any plans to reuse the Police Station.

New Rotary Club Program Provides Meals for Watertown Kids on Weekends

A new program sponsored by the Rotary Club, called Food for Thought, is providing some Watertown students who might go hungry over the weekend with two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks each week.  

During the week, these students can get free or discounted meals at school. About 30 percent of the students in Watertown are in the Free and Reduced Lunch program, said Watertown resident Lilia Weisfeldt, who came up with the idea for the program. “Over the weekend the kids don’t have access to the program and a lot of kids go without any food,” Weisfeldt said. “We give them a bag of food over the weekend so they can go back to school Monday not hungry and ready to learn.”

Master Plan Answers Some Questions on Rebuilding Schools, Creates More

The School Master Plan presented to a joint meeting of the School Committee and the Town Council provided some insight into Watertown’s schools, but opened many more questions. 

The Master Plan incorporated the work of the Master Plan Steering Committee, which included parents, staff and elected officials, as well as, input from three community meetings and interviews with school staff and administrators, said School Committee Chairman John Portz.  

Representatives from SMMA, the firm hired to create the master plan, included cost estimates for three different options for improving the schools. Option 1 would be bringing the schools into good working conditions, but would not make major changes to the current configurations. Option 2 would renovate the schools and would make some changes inside so the buildings can handle 21st Century education, with more group and project learning and flexible spaces. Option 3 would be to build brand new buildings.