School Committee

Consultant to be Hired to Plan for Renovation of Watertown’s Schools

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The School Committee agreed to hire a consultant to get the planning for renovating Watertown’s schools rolling, and at the same time officials will apply to the state for money to renovate the high school. School officials want to renovate the five Watertown schools, but they need to decide which to tackle first. School Committee Chairman John Portz announced last week that a “request for qualifications” has been put out by the district looking for consultants. “There are a series of next steps. One is hiring a consultant to prioritize building projects,” Portz said.

Schools

Parents, Community Members Sought for Superintendent Search Committee

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The School Committee will be forming a search committee to help find Watertown’s next superintendent, and parents and community members will be a part of the group. 

School Committee Chairman John Portz said the Search Committee will have three parents, three teachers, two administrators, a high school student, two community members and two to three School Committee members. The parents and community members will be selected from people who apply to participate in the process. The teachers will be appointed by the Watertown Educators Association. School Committee member Eileen Hsu-Balzer wondered if someone who is a teacher who also lives in town could count as a community member. She wanted to make sure no group is over represented on the committee.

Jean Fitzgerald

Supporters Come Out to Praise Superintendent, But Some Parents Still Dissatisfied

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Two messages came through loud and clear at Wednesday’s School Committee meeting: there is a lot of love in Watertown and its schools for Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald, and that there is a sizable group of parents frustrated by the state of the schools – and they aren’t going away. Dozens of people came out to express their trust, admiration and love for Fitzgerald, who has been the target of a petition organized by a group of Watertown parents asking for the School Committee to take a vote of no-confidence for the superintendent. Many who work in the Watertown Public Schools praised Fitzgerald’s work, her commitment to the schools and her character. Watertown High School English teacher Vivienne Mulhall said she has been the best superintendent in her time. “It wold be disingenuous of me to say I always agree with Dr. Fitzgerald, I haven’t.

Letters

LETTER: School Committee Member Proposing Change to Athletic Subcommittee

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School Committee member Candace Miller will propose the following change to the Athletic Subcommittee into a Student Development Subcommittee at Thursday’s Policy Subcommittee at 10 a.m. in the Phillips Building. I am proposing to broaden the current Athletic subcommittee into a Student Development subcommittee which would focus on health and development issues that are fundamental to student academic performance and achievement. Topics to consider include social-emotional learning, physical and mental health, and extracurricular activities such as athletics, the arts, and other clubs and teams. I envision the subcommittee would strengthen existing partnerships and forge new links between WPS, town departments, Wayside Youth Services, the Watertown Boys and Girls Club and other public and private groups across Watertown working to improve student health and development from early childhood to young adulthood. Within the education field, there is a growing body of evidence on the fundamental importance of social-emotional learning and optimal health to students’ academic performance and long- term success. [Footnotes 1,2] Put simply, happy and healthy students learn better.

Schools

See the ‘Unofficial’ Minutes from the Last School Committee Meeting

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Watertown Strong Schools puts together a detailed summary of School Committee meetings, and adds its own commentary at the end. The parent group wrote these minutes for the May 2 School Committee meeting. Unofficial Minutes: School Committee Meeting 5/2/16 – Key Points and Commentary

Note: These are NOT official minutes. Commentary can be found at the end of the minutes. Committee members: Marc Sideris, Craig Hardimon, Candace Miller, Guido Guidotti, John Portz, Elizabeth Yusem, Kendra Foley, Eileen Hsu-Balzer, Charles Kellner, Dr. Jean Fitzgerald

Remembrance

A moment of silence was observed in memory of Robert Galante, site coordinator for the Lowell School Extended Day program and director for Camp Pequossette – RIP Bob!

Government

Arsenal Center on the Arts Will Host Watertown Inauguration

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Watertown’s elected officials will be sworn in at an inauguration ceremony to take place at the Arsenal Center for the Arts. The ceremony will be held in the Charles Mosesian Theater, 321 Arsenal St., in the Arsenal on the Charles Complex on Monday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.

Those elected to the Town Council, School Committee and Library Board of Trustees will be sworn in that night. A reception will follow.

Schools

Watertown School Committee Says Goodbye to Two Members

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The two School Committee members who served their last meeting on Monday may have only served one term, but their colleagues made it clear they will be greatly missed. Julie McMahon and Michael Shepard have made some major contributions over their four years on the board, said School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer. “Julie is enthusiastic, insightful and empathetic. She does the difficult work behind the scene and lets others have the face time,” Hsu-Balzer said. “Mike is a relentless worker on the Building and Grounds and Budget and Finance subcommittees.

Elections

LETTER: School Committee Chair Reflects on Watertown Election

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Editor,

I am extremely grateful to the voters of Watertown for their continuing trust in my work to support the Schools. None of that work ever happens without the robust assistance and counsel of other citizens. 

Thank you to all who participated in the election process, and who helped bring attention to the vital role that education plays in nourishing a healthy and welcoming community. Out of these discussions will come new good ideas and energy and participation. Congratulations to Kendra Foley and Candace Miller for their success, and thank you to Julie McMahon and Mike Shepard for being willing to put themselves and their families to the personal test that an election represents. I look forward to serving the School Committee and the School community in whatever way I can be most useful.