Schools

Watertown School Bus Fees Increasing, District May Buy Electric Buses

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by Pixabay

School bus fees will rise $200 for students who don’t qualify for the mandated busing areas of town in the 2026-27 school year. School officials will also look at purchasing its own buses, which would be electric. Increasing school bus fees was one of the steps taken to balance the school budget for Fiscal Year 2027. School officials had to close a $2.5 million gap. This year, students were charged $300 to ride the school bus, with a family cap of $475, said Superintendent Dede Galdston.

Schools

Watertown High School Student Voices Heard at Recent Community Discussion

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The following piece was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:

On April 8, seven Watertown High School students engaged in lively discussions with the community at the Watertown Free Public Library. Sponsored by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment (WCPJE). Student Voices and Conversation brought together City Councilors, School Committee members, and the general public to hear what is on the minds of local students. Students helped to develop and plan the evening’s structure and led all of the discussions. The event focused on dialogue about what is working for students in Watertown as well as what can be improved. Key questions included “What challenges/issues/concerns are young people facing in Watertown,” “What do students want community members to know about youth today?”

Government

After Recent ICE Detention in Watertown, School & City Officials Were Asked About Plans & Protections

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Following the detention of a Watertown man by federal immigration enforcement agents on April 10, School and City officials discussed actions being taken or planned by local officials. At about 9 a.m. on Friday, April 10, a man was taken from his vehicle on Rutland Road by ICE agents after they broke the window. Witnesses contacted the LUCE hotline, which got in touch with the Watertown Rapid Response Network (RRN) (a group of about 250 residents with “concerns about the current immigration enforcement”) who contacted the man’s wife. The man was taken to a detention facility in Plymouth, according to a member of the RRN. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, a member the Rapid Response Network requested that City officials “issue an executive order that prohibits City resources from being used for immigration enforcement, prohibits immigration activities on City property, requires valid warrants before ICE enters City buildings, ensures transparency and community notifications regarding ICE activity, and protects every Watertown residents Constitutional and human rights.”

Business

Watertown Community STEM Night Returns to the Middle School

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The showcase of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in the Watertown Public Schools, along with people and businesses in the city that work in those sectors, returns to Watertown Middle School on April 29. See more details in the announcement from the organizers, below. Mark your calendars, Watertown! On Wednesday, April 29th, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, Watertown Middle School is transforming into a hub of innovation, curiosity, and local talent for the 2nd Annual Community STEM Night, presented by the Watertown Business Coalition and Watertown Public Schools! Whether you’re a student with a passion for coding, a parent curious about what’s happening in our classrooms, or a resident interested in the booming life science sector in our backyard, this is an evening you won’t want to miss.

Schools

German International School Boston Appoints New Head of School

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Philipp Kraft with Interim Head of School, Funda Suzan. The German International School Boston, which has a preschool to grade 3 campus in Watertown, recently announced the hiring of its new head of school. See the announcement from the school, below. German International School Boston (GISB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Philipp Kraft as its next Head of School. Mr. Kraft joins GISB from Alexander-von-Humboldt-Schule in Neumünster-Einfeld, Germany, where he most recently served as Head of School since 2019.

Schools

Rotary Club Accepting Applications for Scholarships

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The Watertown Rotary Club invites high school seniors from Watertown to apply for scholarships offered by the club. See details in the announcement from the Rotary Club, below. All residents of Watertown who are high school seniors and applying to college are eligible for Watertown Rotary Scholarships. The amount of each award and the number of scholarships granted are determined on a yearly basis. 

All eligible residents must submit completed applications, postmarked no later than April 17, 2026 to:

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEEROTARY CLUB OF WATERTOWNP.O. Box 765Watertown, MA 02471-0765

The form must be completed in full and accompanied by a transcript and letter of recommendation to be considered a valid application. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee.

Schools

Proposed Watertown School Budget Cuts Multiple Positions, Increases Athletics, Busing Fees

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Watertown School officials, with the guidance of the School Committee, have reduced a shortfall of $2.5 million and came up with a budget that would have a $700,000 surplus, according to the presentation made Monday by Superintendent Dede Galdston. The total Watertown Public Schools Fiscal Year 2027 budget is $64.59 million, a $2.48 million or 4% increase from FY2026. The budget provides a level services budget from the current school year, which means that the district provides the same programs and generally includes the same staffing levels, although some positions have been eliminated and others added in the budget. The School Committee will discuss the proposed budget and vote on it at a meeting on Thursday, March 26 at 5:15 p.m. to be held remotely. See details here.

Schools

Watertown Student Named Semifinalist for Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship

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Jack Kent Cooke Foundation logo

The following information came from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation:

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced today that Yuanzhe Wang of Middlesex Community College  is among the semifinalists for its highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. The Foundation named 485 semifinalists for the scholarship, which supports the nation’s top community college students with financial need seeking to complete a bachelor’s degree at four-year colleges or universities. 

Selected from a pool of more than 1,300 applicants, this year’s semifinalists represent 224 community colleges across 37 states. Each was chosen through an evaluation process that assesses academic ability and achievement, perseverance, and leadership. 

The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship enables recipients to complete their bachelor’s degrees debt-free at any accredited four-year college or university in the United States and provides last-dollar funding of up to $55,000 per year for two to three years. The award is designed to remove financial barriers so that high-achieving community college students can transfer to and thrive at the nation’s top institutions. 

“Through the Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation works to ensure that exceptional community college students have the opportunities to reach their full academic potential,” said Executive Director Giuseppe “Seppy” Basili. “This year’s semifinalists reflect the remarkable talent and ambition found in community colleges nationwide.” 

The Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship provides comprehensive support that extends far beyond financial assistance, recognizing that admission and enrollment are only the beginning. Selected Cooke Transfer Scholars receive personalized educational advising from the Foundation’s Deans of Scholar Support, who guide them through the transition to a four-year institution and help prepare them for future careers.