Government

Extra $1 Million Could Mean Reducing Class Sizes in Watertown Schools

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The School Committee will request an additional $1 million in funding from the town to cover special education costs and hire teachers to reduce class sizes. Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said the schools need $653,000 to raise the funds for special education in Fiscal 2015 up to the amount spent this year in Fiscal 2014. The money is needed along with the $750,000 the Town Council has approved for the Special Education Stabilization Fund. “We need the additional $653,000 to get to the base, and then if we go above that we can go to the stabilization fund because we will be in extraordinary times,” Fitzgerald said. “If we don’t do that, then we are already in extraordinary times.”

Government

Schools Make Budget Case, Councilors Want More Info

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Tuesday night Watertown School officials made their case for the major increase in their school budget to the Town Council, but Councilors had concerns and questions about the schools’ request. After making some adjustments to the request, the Watertown Public School asked for a $5.8 million in Fiscal 2015 over the current year, or just under a 16 percent hike. On April 29 when Town Manager Michael Driscoll first presented the budget their figure was $6.1 million or 16.87 percent more than Fiscal 2014. This is the amount of money needed to return the Watertown Schools to the point where they were before the Recession sapped the schools of funding, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. On Tuesday, Driscoll again presented his proposed budget which would give an increase of the town appropriation of $2.2 million or 6.18 percent.

Schools

Watertown Schools Hire New Business Manager

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After enduring a difficult – and still ongoing – budget year without a director of business services, the Watertown Public Schools hired one on Monday night. The School Committee approved the hiring of Charlie Kellner, and he will begin work after July 1, 2014. Kellner last worked as the school business director for the Medfield Public Schools. He said the Watertown job appealed to him. “I am familiar with some of the staff and I grew up not far away in Newton,” Kellner said.

Government

Watertown School Budget on Tap This Week

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On Tuesday, Watertown school officials will make their case to the Town Council for their Fiscal 2015 budget request. The School Committee and school administrators will present their budget at the Budget Hearing on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Town Hall. Their budget will be heard after the Water/Sewer Enterprise. There is a significant gap between the request from the Schools, which asked for a $6 million, 16 percent increase. While the Town Manager’s budget includes a $2.26 million, 6 percent increase.

Around Town

See the Watertown Peer Leaders “I Am” Video

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The Watertown Peer Leaders group at Watertown High School recently wrapped up an anti-drinking and drug campaign with the release of a video. 

The video premiered at an event at the Watertown Police Station on May 19. Sara Berkowitz, Peer Leadership Advisor for the Watertown Youth Coalition wrote the following announcement about the “I Am” video:
The Watertown Youth Coalition, a program of Wayside Youth & Family Support Network would like to recognize the hard work of their Peer Leaders, a group of informed, dependable, open-minded and dedicated Watertown High students who recognize and accept people for who they are. They are committed to making healthy choices and representing those decisions at school and in the community. Peer leaders take on many roles, working with teachers, students, parents and community members to run activities, promote diversity and acceptance and role model positive behavior. They develop surveys, lead presentations and help prevent substance abuse among youth in Watertown.

Letters

LETTER: Parent Urges Officials to Prioritize Keeping Class Sizes Low

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To the Editor:

Watertown Strong Schools has spent a lot of time focused on understanding the state of Watertown Public Schools. We analyzed data, met with town leaders and residents, interviewed administrators, and surveyed teachers. What we have concluded and have worked to clearly and objectively explain, is that the schools are at a crisis point. If left unchecked and underfunded, the problems will continue to get worse. While the Town Manager’s current education budget has made many positive steps and is larger than it has been in the past, it will not address class size in any meaningful way.

Government

Funding Retirement System Will Save Money Later, Won’t Help Schools Now

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The Fiscal 2015 budget includes $12 million to fund the shortfall in the retirement system, but in a few years it will reap $32 million in savings. Like all communities in Massachusetts, Watertown has an unfunded liability in its retirement benefits and the difference must be made up. The town now funds about 68 percent of the benefits, and needs about$53 million to fully fund it. The town had been working toward funding the shortfall by 2022 by paying in about $10 million a year, but last year the Watertown Retirement Board – at the request of the Town Council – voted to accelerate the funding of the shortfall. Each year from Fiscal 2015 to 2018 Watertown will pay an additional $1.575 million toward funding retirement benefits – meaning the town will pay in $12.2 million in Fiscal 2015 and keep adding until it pays $16.9 million in Fiscal 2018.

Letters

LETTER: Final Push for the Watertown School Budget

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Dear Editor,

I am the mom of a current and soon-to-be WPS student, as well as a public policy researcher who has worked for two decades across four continents with colleagues in government, business, and academia. I became focused on WPS when I realized that across the fifth grade, students were receiving minimal feedback, spending more time memorizing worksheets than engaged in project-based learning, and experiencing increased behavioral problems. Examining MCAS results, I noted that 20% of WPS students who were proficient in math in third grade, no longer met minimal standards by fourth grade, despite the fact that statewide, students perform better from year to year. As a mom, I am deeply concerned to see Watertown children falling behind, disengaged, and exposed to growing behavioral issues. Watertown Strong Schools formed as parents came together, sharing concerns about increasing class sizes, overburdened teachers, and a decline in student wellbeing. WSS focused on understanding the situation at WPS, the budget process, and school and town dynamics. We analyzed data, examined budgets, met with leaders, attended town meetings, held community meetings, interviewed administrators, and surveyed teachers.