MassDevelopment

Perkins School Getting Big Bonds from MassDevelopment to Renovate 2 Buildings

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MassDevelopment announced it has issued a $4.1 million tax-exempt bond on behalf of Perkins School for the Blind, a Watertown educational service provider for individuals with visual impairment. Perkins is using bond proceeds to renovate two school buildings, including adding a second elevator and a universally accessible entrance; designing a new lunch room in the school’s Hilton building; and building and renovating classrooms and bathrooms and upgrading the HVAC system in its Howe Building. TD Bank purchased the bond. “For nearly two centuries, Perkins School for the Blind has opened doors to education, employment and independence for people living with blindness and deafblindness,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “MassDevelopment is pleased to support improvements to the school that will allow it to better serve its community in the years to come.”

Schools

School Committee Chooses Same Search Firm That Found Last Superintendent

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The Watertown School Committee decided to use the same search firm that they used the last time the town sought a new superintendent. 

After interviewing three firms, the School Committee members agreed on using the Massachusetts Association of School Committees as the consultant in the superintendent search. This was also the firm Watertown used when they promoted Jean Fitzgerald from interim superintendent to permanent superintendent in 2012. She retired in October after 4.5 years as superintendent, and following a tumultuous summer when a group of parents called for a vote of no confidence in her by the School Committee. Along with MASC, the School Committee also heard from representatives from the New England School Development Council and Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates. Town Council President and School Committee member Mark Sideris said he knows MASC Executive Director Glenn Koocher, who will lead the search, because he deals with him frequently as the head of the group that assists School Committees.

Schools

Mass Bay Community College Invites Prospective Students to Visit Campus

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Massachusetts Bay Community College announced it will hold its annual Fall Open House on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016 at 9:45 a.m. President David Podell along with faculty, staff and students will be on hand to greet and welcome prospective students and their families to the Wellesley Hills campus. The Fall Open House is an opportunity for prospective students to meet and talk with current students, faculty, and staff to learn about the 70 degree and certificate programs offered at MassBay and transfer opportunities after MassBay. Prospective students are encouraged to attend to learn more about student clubs and organizations, the admissions and financial aid process, and talk with academic divisions. The Open House will include a self-guided tour of campus, mock classes, information sessions, student and alumni panel discussions, information for veterans, on-the-spot admissions, and more.

Letters

LETTER: Watertown Schools Could be Renovated Without Major Tax Increase

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To the Editor,

Why is a tax override or debt exclusion needed to fund the renovation and upgrade of the 5 Watertown Public Schools? During this recent election season, tax increases were discussed with a lot of passion both for and against the proposed surcharge to fund the Conservation Preservation Act (CPA). Another discussion conflated the CPA tax and a tax override or debt exclusion to pay for proposed renovations to Watertown’s aging schools. The message presented was that if the CPA passed, residents would be facing a second tax increase to pay for the schools. I disagreed with the premise that an override/exclusion was necessary and the only option to fund the school upgrades (http://www.mass.gov/dor/docs/dls/publ/misc/levylimits.pdf).

Schools

Hosmer Teachers Bring Together Art, Music for ‘Arts Around the World’ Lesson

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The art and music teachers at the Hosmer Elementary School have created a unique collaboration – one that benefits the 600 students they so thoughtfully serve. 

Art teacher Hae-In Kim and music teacher Sara Patashnick worked over the last year during their professional development time to build a year-long collaborative framework for the second grade art and music curriculum called Arts Around the World. This curriculum focuses on the art and music from different countries and cultures. They realized the benefits of collaboration, both for themselves and for their students. Connecting art and music throughout the year in a deliberate way adds context and depth to student understanding. Their curriculum also creates home/school connections, as they focus on the countries and cultures reflected in the school.  They use music and art as teaching tools to foster unity and understanding.

Schools

New Watertown School Grant Program Seeking Applications

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The Watertown Education Foundation and the Watertown Community Foundation announced they are teaming up to offer a new School Grants Program for the 2016-2017 academic year. We are excited to announce that $35,000 is available to seed innovative programming for Watertown’s public schools. Applications will be available on the Watertown Community Foundation website (WatertownFoundation.org) starting on November 1, 2016. Completed applications are due on December 16, 2016 and grants will be awarded by January 20, 2017. It is our hope that this new joint program will provide a more streamlined process for the teachers, administrators, and not-for- profit organizations working in our schools, giving them more time to focus on our students.

21st Century Schools

School Renovation Master Plan Includes Cost Estimates, Sequence Undecided

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Watertown’s master plan for renovating the town’s five public schools is almost complete, but school and town officials – and the community – must decide which order to do the work and what to what extent the renovations should go. The Watertown Schools Master Plan Steering Committee wrapped up months of work Wednesday night by giving their final thoughts about the draft of the master plan being put together by consultants from SMMA. “It has been a great group, with lots of perspectives,” said School Committee Chairman John Portz, who chaired the group that began meeting in June. The plan includes an estimate for renovating Watertown High School, Watertown Middle School, and the three elementary schools – Cunniff, Lowell and Hosmer. Basic renovations, just to fix current issues, would cost about $160 million at current construction costs, while improving them to meet 21st Century standards the cost would be $200 million in current costs, said Town Councilor Vincent Piccirilli, who is on the Steering Committee.