Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/schools/page/179/)
Everyone in Watertown wants strong schools. But the notion that the schools have not been well funded by the Town Manager and Town Council is not true. The basic premise put forward to substantiate that notion is that Watertown spends a lesser percent of its total budget on schools. That idea only masquerades the real reason. We spend less because we have far fewer students to educate.
{NOTE: The story was been updated on June 10, 2014 with more current information on the special education costs the district has spent this year.}
Some children living in the area where Watertown Police faced the Boston Marathon Bombing suspects have had long-term negative effects, which can be seen in the special education budget in town schools, officials said Thursday. Watertown schools have had a spike in the number of students with mental health problems, which is mostly seen in students who live close to the area of the shoot out – Dexter Avenue and Laurel Street in the East End. “We have seen high anxiety, older kids not wanting to be home alone and a feeling of hopelessness,” said Arlene Shainker, interim special education director. When it gets out of hand and affects their school life students are evaluated and sometimes sent to off-campus programs, including even hospitalization, Shainker said. The Impact
This school year Watertown has had 22 students placed in new out of district programs to meet their special needs, Shainker said, while last school year they had two.
For the past two years, students at Watertown High School have worked on the “I Am” campaign in an effort to avoid drinking and drugs, and to make healthy decisions. They will culminate their effort with a video which will be shown on May 19. More than 20 Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders worked on the short film which promotes healthy decision making, and giving alternatives to risky behaviors such as underage drinking and other substance abuse. Through the “I Am” campaign these students have shared ways to maintain that identity both in real life and in the online. The Watertown Youth Coalition will show the film on Monday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Watertown Police Department Community Room, 552 Main St.
The Watertown Public Schools will receive a $1 million budget boost in the current school year, and they will spend most of it on special education, but will also use some on technology, materials and preparations for the new PARCC standardized test. Tuesday night, the Town Council approved taking the money out of the Free Cash Fund and use it for the school’s Fiscal 2014 budget (which ends in June 30). The majority, $790,000, will be spend to create a Special Education Stabilization Fund. Unexpected special education costs when students move into town with severe needs can cost nearly $250,000 per student in some cases. The Watertown Public Schools cover the cost even when students go to out of town programs.
The stabilization fund was created to prevent the general education budget from being eaten away by the unexpected, un-budgeted costs, said Councilor Vincent Piccirilli.
Watertown High School enjoyed an amazing winter sports season – perhaps the most historic winter in school history – and the success was celebrated this week at the School Committee meeting. Four teams displayed five banners earned this winter on the basketball court and ice hockey rink. Watertown High School Athletic Director Michael Lahiff said this is the first time in his memory that four teams – boy’s and girl’s basketball and boy’s and girl’s ice hockey – have won the Middlesex League title. “It may be the first time in Middlesex League history,” Lahiff said. “I don’t know.
Keeping class sizes small is one of the School Committee’s goals each year, but Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said the budget may prevent lowering class sizes. The School Committee requested a $42 million budget, which would be $6 million more than Fiscal 2014 and would pay for 22 new teachers. The budget proposed by Town Manager Michael Driscoll last week gave the schools a $2.267 million, or 6.18 percent, increase. Fitzgerald said the first priority will be filling the positions that will keep Watertown in compliance with state and federal mandates, including special education and English as a second language. After that, class size and other needs “may go unresolved,” Fitzgerald said Monday night.
Members of the Lowell School’s Math League Team tested their skills and came out top in the nationwide competition. The Watertown elementary school has fourth- and fifth-graders who take part in the Continental Math League. Both grade levels enjoyed success this year, said Lowell teacher and Math League advisor Debra Garabedian, but the fifth graders rose to rarified air. “For the fifth grade, we are the top nationally, and the fourth grade won regionally, in New England,” Garabedian said. “Both grades levels won something this year, so that is a milestone we should be proud of.”
The message at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting where the budget was revealed was clear from Watertown parents, said School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer. The budget presented by Town Manager Michael Driscoll which included $38.9 million for education is a $2.267 million or 6.18 percent increase over Fiscal 2014. But it came in below the $6 million, 16 percent increase requested from the School Committee. Parents were upset and let the Town Council know they wanted the full request from the School Committee. Hsu-Balzer said that the budget is not done yet, and will not be voted until June 10.