Schools

Watertown School Officials Stand Behind Decision to Delay Start of Hybrid After Release of State Audit

By |

Watertown School officials stood by their decision to delay the start of in-person learning, citing COVID-19 safety concerns, after the release of the district’s audit by state education officials. Watertown was one of two districts audited in October 2020. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) commissioner sent a letter saying the Town’s COVID-19 rates were low enough that Watertown should start the school year with in-person learning, at least part-time. The Audit report largely summarized the findings of state education officials’ interviews with district officials, and the materials submitted by Watertown officials to DESE. (See the report by clicking here).

Around Town

Health Department Getting More Vaccine, Free COVID-19 Testing Continues

By |

Town officials gave a big “shout out” to the members of the Watertown Health Department for all the work they have done during the pandemic, including the recent free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. This week, the first members of the general public, age 75 and older, got the vaccine from the Health Department, and Town Manager Michael Driscoll said more vaccinations will be done next week. The Town will also continue to offer free COVID-19 testing through the end of February. Town Council President Mark Sideris took time during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting to thank the Health Department. “I wanted to give a shout out to our Health Department, which has gone above and beyond for just about a year to make this community as safe as possible during the pandemic,” Sideris said.

Arrest

Police Catch Man Breaking into Watertown Church

By |

An alert resident helped police catch a man who had broken into an East Watertown church. The Watertown Police received a call on Feb. 6 just before midnight about a person banging on a door at the Greek Orthodox Church/Hellenic Cultural Center on Bigelow Avenue, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. “When we arrived, officers observed a glass door on the Bigelow Avenue side of the building completely shattered,” O’Connor said. “As officers approached the shattered door they heard noises from inside the building.

Around Town

Watertown COVID-19 Cases Dropping, Lowest Since December

By |

The number of COVID-19 cases continued to drop, and the number of recent cases dropped to its lowest point since the beginning of December. According to the latest Mass. Department of Public Health report, Watertown has had 157 cases over the prior 14 days. The number dropped by 78 from the previous week’s report. The last time the Town had fewer cases over the previous 2 weeks was the Dec.

Schools

Watertown Schools Begin Anti-Racism Training, Looking to Hire Equity Director

By |

Watertown School leaders have begun equity and anti-racism training, and more staff members will soon be working with the group hired after the reports of racial harassment in the Watertown Schools went public. School leadership recently went through a two hour training on becoming a culturally proficient leader, which is part of a 10-hour course, said Superintendent Dede Galdston. On Monday, Galston introduced Dr. Kalise Wornum of KW Diversity, which is conducting the training and working with the district on related issues, at the School Committee meeting. She also updated the committee on efforts to hire someone for the newly created Director of Equity and Inclusion position. Wornun has been working with schools on these issues with colleges and public schools for three decades.

Sports

Watertown Grad Named to All-Big East Field Hockey Team

By |

Watertown’s Kourtney Kennedy, who plays at UConn, made the Big East’s preseason All-Conference team. The Big East Conference named former Watertown High School field hockey star Kourtney Kennedy to its preseason All-Conference team. Kennedy, a senior back for the Huskies, was one of four UConn players named to the pre-season All-Big East team prior to the start of the season, according to the announcement from UConn Athletics. Normally a fall sport, field hockey was delayed until mid-February due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a junior, Kennedy scored a career-high three goals and added three assists.

Around Town

Town Upgrading Website, Social Media, Adding New Ways to Communicate with Public

By |

The landing page for the Town of Watertown’s cell phone app. Website upgrades, building social media presence and high-tech billboards are some of the ways which the Town of Watertown is trying to reach residents. Complaints about the ease of accessing information about local government has come from residents and elected officials alike. The website has been a particular focus of the dissatisfaction. The Town of Watertown added personnel specifically to work on technology issues, hiring Chief Information Officer Chris McClure in the fall, and the Town will soon be hiring another person focused on social media and the website.

Development

School Budget to be Presented, 2 Projects at Planning Board & Police Exam

By |

An illustration of the plans for the former Mount Auburn Club at 99 Coolidge Ave. A community meeting will be held Monday about the project. One of the first steps in the making of the Watertown school budget will be presented Monday night, a community meeting will be held about the redevelopment of the Mount Auburn Club site, and the Planning Board will discuss two major projects. Watertown Public Schools administrators will present the Fiscal Year 2022 level services budget at Monday’s School Committee meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. That budget shows how much it would cost to preserve the district’s current staffing and programs, with no additions or cuts. It is typically the first major step in the school budget process.