Government

This Week’s Meetings: In-Person Learning, Charter Review & WHS Project

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This week’s meetings include a discussion of reopening of the Watertown Schools to in-person learning, the Town’s Charter Review, and an update on designs for the new Watertown High School. School Committee

The School Committee meets Monday, March 1 at 7 p.m., and the agenda includes an update on the reopening and an update on student learning time. A group of Lowell PTO members have written a letter asking the Watertown schools to open to all in-person learning (see the letter by clicking here). Also, the School Committee will hear a presentation about social and emotional learning and health during COVID-19. Reports include a look at the draft 2021-22 school calendar.

Schools

Watertown’s Elementary School Projects to Finish Months Ahead of Schedule

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Recent photos of the construction at Hosmer (left) and Cunniff elementary schools. The construction of the new Cunniff and Hosmer elementary schools will be completed several months ahead of schedule. Students at Cunniff are projected to move into their new school three months early. At Hosmer, children and staff will return seven months early, with the entire project scheduled to be completed a year early, said Vivian Varbedian from owner’s project manager firm Hill International. The School Building Committee received the news last week, and it was shared with the Town Council on Tuesday night.

Schools

State Officials Have Questions About High School Project, May Delay Final Vote

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A conceptual design of the preferred option for the New Watertown High School, looking down Common Street toward Mt. Auburn Street. The date of the public vote on funding for the Watertown High School project may have to be pushed back after state officials had questions about the size and design of the proposed new school. After reviewing the preferred design of the new WHS, the Facilities Assessment Subcommittee of the Mass. School Building Authority sent back comments, and request for more investigation into other options after their meeting on Jan.

Schools

Design of New High School Changed to Reduce Impact on Neighbors, Drop-off Areas & Parking Discussed

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A conceptual design of the preferred option for the New Watertown High School, looking down Common Street toward Mt. Auburn Street. Architects working on the new Watertown High School tweaked the designs to make them less obtrusive to neighbors, and showed potential pickup and drop off areas around the two buildings on either side of Common Street. Ai3 Architects presented the conceptual designs at the fifth Community Forum for the high school project held virtually on Monday night. On Dec.

Schools

Community Forum on Watertown High School Project Planned for Nov. 30

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The Watertown School Building Committee will be hosting its fifth Community Forum on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 at 6 p.m. via Zoom Meeting. The School Building Committee’s the announcement said: “This is an opportunity for community members to learn more about the option that has been advanced for further study leading up to a final decision and vote of preferred option at the next School Building Committee meeting on December 2.” The presentation for the forum will be posted to the Watertown Building for the Future site prior to the forum to allow the Community to review it in advance or use it to follow along. Here is the link to all agendas and presentations organized by date:https://www.watertown.k12.ma.us/building_for_the_future/meeting_info

To tune in and participate, click use link or telephone number for the meeting below.

Building for the Future

Good Reviews for 3-Story WHS Design, Call to Move Non-School Functions Out

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A drawing of what the new Watertown High School could look like. The illustration of option 3D-4 shows a three-story main academic building, and a faded image of how tall it would be if it were four stories. The three-story design for the new Watertown High School got good reviews from the School Building Committee and residents who tuned into the meeting Wednesday night. Also, there were calls for the District Administration offices and the Facilities Department to another location to free up room at WHS. The main academic building, proposed the property where the Phillips School and Senior Center now sit, was shortened by a story after concerns were raised about how big it would be compared to the surrounding neighborhood at a meeting in October.

School Building Committee

Preferred Design for Watertown High School to be Discussed by School Building Committee

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A drawing of what the new Watertown High School could look like. The illustration shows a three-story main academic building, and a faded image of how tall it would be if it were four stories. The latest designs for the new Watertown High School show a shorter academic building on the Phillips School site, with the gym, auditorium and dining area on the site of the current school. The design of the school will be discussed Wednesday, Nov. 4 as the School Building Committee seeks to choose a preferred design.

Community Forum

Designs for New High School Discussed, Community Forum Being Held Thursday

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One of the options for how Watertown High School may sit on the current site, on the left, and across the street where now the Phillips Building and the Senior Center sit. The architect said the illustration is for massing, and not the design of the buildings. Questions about the impact of a four story high school, and parking at the new Watertown High School arose at Wednesday’s School Building Committee meeting. Designers of the new high school showed more detailed ideas of how the new school could be constructed on the current site during the online meeting. The planned Watertown High School project will be discussed at a virtual Community Forum on Thursday, Oct.