COVID-19

See When Watertown Elementary Students Will be Returning to School Full-Time

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Elementary school students in Watertown will return to school five days a week beginning April 5, and middle and high schoolers will follow at dates to be determined, Superintendent Dede Galdston announced Tuesday. The State Eduction Board voted to give Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley the authority to reopen schools for in-person learning on March 5. Galdston said plans for Watertown Middle School and Watertown High School students will be “determined in the coming days.” According to the state’s guidance, middle schools are supposed to return by April 28. No date was given for high schools, but the state will give districts notice of the return date at least two weeks ahead.

ALS TDI

Non-Profit Biotech Brings its ALS Research to Watertown

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A scientist working on a treatment for ALS at one of Watertown’s newest biotechs — ALS Therapy Development Institute. One of the Kendall Square biotech transplants to Watertown brings its unusual business model to Town, and plans to invite in the public to see what they are about when the pandemic is over. The ALS Therapy Development Institute, or ALS TDI, seeks to find treatments for ALS, which is also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Unlike most life science firms, ALS TDI is a non-profit biotech, supported by donors, said Carol Hamilton, Senior Director of Development. “We are the first and, as far as I know, still only non-profit biotech.

Buses

Bus Service on Multiple MBTA Routes in Watertown to be Decreased

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An MBTA bus in Watertown. Several bus routes serving Watertown will see service decreased by the MBTA beginning on March 14. Among the routes affected by the service reduction are the 71 and 73 buses. The 70 and 57 buses will see increases at some times of day and decreases at other times. The Red, Green and Orange subway lines will also see significant reduction in frequency.

Around Town

Watertown Scouts Collecting Items for Watertown Food Pantry

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Watertown Scouts collected 2.5 tons of food in the fall, and will be having another food drive in March. Watertown Scout Troop 30 provided the following announcement:

The 2.5 tons of food collected by scouts in November has gone to meet an unprecedented need in our community, so scouts are asking you again to help. March 20, 12:30-3 p.m., scouts are collecting shelf-stable food items for the Watertown Food Pantry at 80 Mt. Auburn St. 

Scouting for Food has become a tradition for Scouts in Watertown. Both Troop 30 (age 10-17) and Pack 30 (age 5-10) scouts have made the food drive part of their Thanksgiving tradition, collecting enough food that it’s measured in tons.

Police/Fire

Middle School Video: Statements from Teacher, School Officials & Police Union

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Watertown Middle School

The showing of a video to a group of Watertown Middle School students caused an uproar in Town. The video is being called anti-police and misleading, with some calling for the teacher who showed it to be disciplined or fired. The video, which was created by MTV, was not sanctioned by Watertown School officials before it was shown during Community Meeting at WMS in February. Superintendent Dede Galdston said that she cannot share details of a personnel matter, that the Watertown Public School officials are looking into the incident. “While personnel matters cannot be shared publicly, please know that District leadership will address this incident directly in a way that is consistent with School Committee policies and procedures,” Galdston wrote in a statement released Saturday.

Government

Town Meetings: Waverley Avenue Renovations, Planning Board Hears Cases & Zoning Changes

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Watertown’s Town Hall. On Tuesday, the Town Council will hear about proposed designs for Waverley Avenue and will consider a resolution on declaring a climate emergency. Also during the week of March 8-12, the Planning Board will hear three cases, including a move by the Town’s first marijuana dispensary and changes to the Arsenal on the Charles. Town Council

On the Town Council agenda is a vote on a resolution “Endorsing the Declaration of a Climate Emergency.” See the resolution here.

Police/Fire

Superintendent Responds to Anti-Police Video Shown at Middle School

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Watertown Middle School

Watertown Superintendent Dede Galdston sent a letter on Saturday about the showing of a video with an anti-police bias to a class at Watertown Middle School in February. The video came to light last week on the Turtle Boy website. Follow Watertown News this week for more coverage. The following is the text of Galdston’s letter:

Good evening, WPS Parents, Guardians, Faculty, and Staff:

I recently became aware of an incident that occurred in a Watertown Middle School Community Meeting in which students were shown a video with a strong anti-police sentiment. The video, along with the follow-up discussion, did damage to our school and community, was hurtful to students and families; for that, we are deeply sorry.