Election 2017

School Committee Candidate Q&A: Michael Shepard

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The candidates for School Committee each received the same six questions from the Watertown News about some issues facing the Watertown Schools and themselves. Here are the responses for Michael Shepard:
1) Tell us about yourself and why you are running for School Committee. My wife, Catherine, and I have a daughter, Sophie, who has autism and has been in the Connections program in the public schools since kindergarten.  I am a project manager in the financial industry and manage a number of applications which report to federal regulatory agencies.  We have lived in Watertown since 1989. I want to work on the issues that will make Watertown a magnet district for students, families and teachers:  upgrade our school buildings for a modern educational model, develop challenging and engaging programming/curricula, and develop a sustainable funding model with the Town Council. 2) What is the biggest issue facing the Watertown Public Schools? 
The school buildings themselves are the biggest challenge right now due to their age and configuration.  To be more effective, the interior spaces need to be renovated and upgraded to meet current teaching styles, like project based learning.  To do this, spaces need to be flexible and easily changed when needed.  The buildings also need to have old materials removed and replaced with contemporary building materials that are greener and more energy efficient than what is currently in place.  Without modern, flexible spaces, making the most of new or modified curricula becomes a challenge.

Elections

School Committee Candidate Q&A: Amy Donohue

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The candidates for School Committee each received the same six questions from the Watertown News about some issues facing the Watertown Schools and themselves. Here are the responses for Amy Donohue:

1) Tell us about yourself and why you are running for School Committee. Hi. I’m Amy Donohue, a long time resident and educator in Watertown, a business owner in the community with my husband J.D., and the proud mother of four very busy children. Their independent and individual personalities challenge and enrich our lives each and every day.

Elections

School Committee Candidate Q&A: Lily Rayman-Read

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The candidates for School Committee each received the same six questions from the Watertown News about some issues facing the Watertown Schools and themselves. Here are the responses for Lily Rayman-Read:

1) Tell us about yourself and why you are running for School Committee. My name is Lily Rayman-Read, and I am a public high school teacher, mother of two children (one second grader at the Lowell, and a 3 year old who will hopefully be starting Pre-K next September. I am the general educator in an inclusion/co-taught classroom where I get to see students of all abilities and learning styles and work towards providing a safe, supportive, and excellent learning environment for them all. I am running for School Committee because I feel as though Watertown is in an incredibly crucial moment in our schools, where we need a great deal of expertise and understanding of the needs of schools and students when it comes to supporting our new administration as they work to rebuild the high school, renovate the other buildings, and revamp curricular development and new district initiatives (including the expansion of co-teaching, the Kingian Nonviolence program, Foreign Language at the Elementary Schools and many other programs and projects).

Election 2017

School Committee Candidate Q&A: Liz Yusem

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The candidates for School Committee each received the same six questions from the Watertown News about some issues facing the Watertown Schools and themselves. Here are the responses for Liz Yusem:

1) Tell us about yourself and why you are running for School Committee. I am seeking re-election to the school committee so that I may continue to serve the community and the children of this town as their advocate selected by vote. This is a very important role in our community as the governing body that serves the children of this town with one of their essential needs, education. As a contributing member of the board, I am a very good collaborative team player and have been able to advance the vision of the community through careful consideration and advice that I have lent the board and administration to support the district’s educational goals.

Elections

School Committee Hopefuls Air Their Views at Candidate Forum

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The six people running for School Committee shared their views on a variety of subjects during the School Committee Candidate Forum co-hosted by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access Television on Thursday night at the Watertown Free Public Library. Three challengers – Amy Donohue, Michael Shepard and Lily Rayman-Read – appeared along with the three candidates seeking re-election – Guido Guidotti, Liz Yusem and John Portz. The candidates shared similar views on several questions, including:
• Wanting to renovate or rebuild schools that will be able to provide a modern education
• Seeking to improve communication with parents and with the school administration
• Continue to expand the Spanish lessons for elementary students up through fifth grade
• The start time for the middle and high schools should be moved later
• Watertown should explore joining the Minuteman Vocational District, or find another way to offer vocational education
Each candidate had their own views on certain subjects. Cutting Costs if the Schools Have a Budget Shortfall
Guidotti, a healthcare management consultant who seeks a second term, said that he thinks there is always room for more efficiency in the schools, but said the tough thing is to find efficiency without “cutting the lights off” for important people and programs.

Shepard, who served one term on the School Committee previously, said he wants to save the district money by leasing equipment, particularly technology, instead of purchasing it. By purchasing items outright, the district is stuck with the maintenance and upkeep, he said, but the district should see if any efficiency can be gained by leasing.

Election 2017

6 Running for Council, But Second Incumbent Out; School Comm Race Draws 6

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Half a dozen people will run for both Town Council and for School Committee, but a second incumbent Councilor has decided not to run for reelection. There will also be a race for Board of Library Trustees, but several will not have contested races including Town Council President and the two-year School Committee seat. The Town Council At Large race will have six candidates for the four seats, but there will be at least two new faces on the board after Aaron Dushku decided not to run for a third term. Earlier, Susan Falkoff announced she would not seek another term. On Monday, challenger David Stokes got his papers certified and Michelle Cokonougher turned in her papers and Flynn said he is confident she will have the 100 signatures of Watertown residents necessary get on the ballot.

Election 2017

List of Candidates in Watertown Growing as Filing Deadline Nears

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More potential candidates in Watertown have taken out papers to run for elected office with less than a week before the deadline for candidates to be certified. Several candidates have officials made the ballot in November by having their candidate papers certified, while more than a dozen have taken out papers to run for office. The races with the most candidates are for Town Councilor At-Large and the four-year School Committee seats. Candidates must gather 100 signatures of registered Watertown voters, and they must be certified by the Town Clerk’s office. The signatures must be submitted to and certified by the Town Clerk by 5 p.m. on Monday, July 31, and the Town Clerk has until Aug. 14 to certify the signatures.

Elections

Candidate for 2-Year School Committee Seat is a Parent and Teacher

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The first candidate for the two-year School Committee seat has been certified to be on the ballot, and the first-time challenger has experience as a Watertown parent and as a teacher in another school system. Lindsay Mosca will run for the School Committee seat being vacated by Candace Miller, who announced she will step down because she is leaving town. The two-year seat will be on the Town Election ballot in November, but will be separate from the four-year School Committee seats. Mosca sent out the following information:
I have lived in Watertown with my husband, Justin, since 2005. Our two young children, Jennie and Jacob (5 and 7 years old), attend the Lowell Elementary School. I teach mathematics at Lexington High School, and my husband is an engineer at VHB in Watertown.