School Budget

Watertown School Budget Includes Staff Cuts Despite Increasing Funds

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The Watertown Schools will lose several positions in the 2017-18 school year as school officials look to control the increasing costs, but classes will still be under the class-size guidelines in the elementary schools. Interim Superintendent John Brackett presented the budget to the School Committee Monday night. The total budget would be $45.71 million, which is 5 percent above the current year’s budget. It comes in more than $700,000 below the requests from principals and department heads. Interim Business Manager Mary DeLai said that four percent of the increase comes from staff salary and compensation.

Brigham House

Watertown Students Bond with Seniors Through Intergenerational Activities

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This school year, some of Watertown’s youngest students have added a new component to their curriculum—events with the town’s senior citizens. Preschool and elementary school students have trick-or-treated, performed a Thanksgiving play, listened to “Mrs. Mittens” read a winter story, and delivered valentines. With the Phillips School building (adjacent to the Senior Center) now being used for some preschool classes, the partnership was welcomed and convenient, said Karen Feeney, Watertown’s Early Childhood director. “We are thrilled to collaborate with our neighbors as a way to foster community. The seniors have so much fun and the students love it.

Schools

Superintendent Hosting Second Coffee with Parents, Residents

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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.

Government

Town Weighing What to Do with Old Watertown Police Station

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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.

Charity

New Rotary Club Program Provides Meals for Watertown Kids on Weekends

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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.”

Schools

Master Plan Answers Some Questions on Rebuilding Schools, Creates More

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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.

Schools

School Committee Wants to Hear from Public About Hiring Next Superintendent

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As the search begins for Watertown’s next Superintendent, the School Committee wants to hear from parents and community members about what they want to see in the next leader of the town’s schools. 

The Watertown Public Schools sent out the following announcement:

The Watertown School Committee is interested in getting feedback on the superintendent search process. There are several ways to participate, including live focus groups for the community scheduled at the following dates and times:

Tuesday, January 10, 2017: 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017: 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 12, 2017: 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

The focus groups will take place in the Innovation Lab, Third Floor, Phillips Building, 30 Common St., Watertown. In addition, you can go to the following link and participate in an on-line survey that includes ample space for your open responses. That link is:   https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WPS2017

Schools

Parents, Community Members Sought for Superintendent Search Committee

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The School Committee will be forming a search committee to help find Watertown’s next superintendent, and parents and community members will be a part of the group. 

School Committee Chairman John Portz said the Search Committee will have three parents, three teachers, two administrators, a high school student, two community members and two to three School Committee members. The parents and community members will be selected from people who apply to participate in the process. The teachers will be appointed by the Watertown Educators Association. School Committee member Eileen Hsu-Balzer wondered if someone who is a teacher who also lives in town could count as a community member. She wanted to make sure no group is over represented on the committee.