Entertainment

Artwork by Watertown Students Going on Display at City Hall

By |

Young artists from the Watertown Public Schools will have their works shown at City Hall in the last half of April. A reception is planned on the first evening of the exhibit. See more information in the announcement form the Watertown Public Schools, below. Come view all the excellent artwork from our K-12 students at the Watertown Public Schools Art Show! The art will be on display from April 15-30th at Watertown City Hall.

Schools

Proposed Watertown School Budget Cuts Multiple Positions, Increases Athletics, Busing Fees

By |

Watertown School officials, with the guidance of the School Committee, have reduced a shortfall of $2.5 million and came up with a budget that would have a $700,000 surplus, according to the presentation made Monday by Superintendent Dede Galdston. The total Watertown Public Schools Fiscal Year 2027 budget is $64.59 million, a $2.48 million or 4% increase from FY2026. The budget provides a level services budget from the current school year, which means that the district provides the same programs and generally includes the same staffing levels, although some positions have been eliminated and others added in the budget. The School Committee will discuss the proposed budget and vote on it at a meeting on Thursday, March 26 at 5:15 p.m. to be held remotely. See details here.

Schools

LEGAL NOTICE: Watertown Public Schools to Hold Public Hearing on Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

By |

The following announcement was provided by the Watertown Public Schools:

Legal Notice

WATERTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 30 COMMON STREET, WATERTOWN, MA 02472 – In accordance with provisions of Chapter 71, Section 38N, the Watertown School Committee will hold a Public Hearing on its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Learning Commons, Lowell Elementary School, 123 Lowell Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472, or via Zoom at https://watertown-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86275618951

A copy of the FY27 Proposed Budget will be available to the public in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools and on the Watertown Public Schools Website, www.watertown.k12.ma.us, forty-eight hours before the date of the public meeting.

Entertainment

Performers Wanted for 13th Annual Watertown MusicFest

By |

The Annual Watertown MusicFest is coming up and musicians can now sign up to take part in the event that supports the music program in the Watertown Public Schools. See more in the announcement from the Friends of Watertown Music, below. Calling all musicians: Friends of Watertown Music invites performers to register for our 13th Annual Watertown MusicFest. Deadline: March 26th — performance slots are limited. Our Annual MusicFest is a fun community event, offering something for everyone with over 40 performances, across 3 stages, to be held this year on Friday, April 10th, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. The variety of performers often includes student musicians, Watertown Public School teachers, local rock bands, established musicians, a vignette of musical theater, and more. Performances run from 5 to 20 minutes, so attendees have the chance to see as many acts as they wish.

Schools

Watertown Schools Looking for Ways to Close $2.5 Million Gap, Deal with Increasing Special Ed Costs

By |

Increasing costs of special education tuition has contributed to the sharp increase in the school budget over the past few years, Superintendent Dede Galdston told the School Committee on Monday night, and for budget for the 2026-27 school year the district will have to find ways to close a multi-million dollar deficit. During the Preliminary Budget overview for the Fiscal Year 2027 School Budget Galdston said the shortfall facing the Watertown Public Schools is $2.5 million, which is based on what she called a level-services budget. The total budget would be $67 million, while the current revenues — including a 4 percent increase in funding from the City — is $64.5 million. School administrators and the School Committee will be working on the budget for the next several weeks, and the School Committee will hold a public hearing on March 23 and take a final vote on the recommended budget on March 26, Galdston said. “So what we need to do is think about our level-services budget, think about what we can do to bridge that deficit so that we are able to balance a budget moving forward,” Galdston said.

Schools

Farm Inside a Freight Container Provides Produce for Watertown School Lunches, Program Praised by Lt. Governor

By |

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll takes a look around the Watertown Public Schools’ Freight Farm. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The white box container sitting in the parking lot of the Watertown Public Schools’ administration building has smooth metal walls on the outside, but inside the walls have a lush floor-to-ceiling covering of green plants. The freight container is not just a teaching tool but also provides fresh produce for students around the district. Known as a Freight Farm, the container is filled with walls outfitted with equipment to water and nourish hundreds of plants, and lights to help them grow. When up to full production it will produce all the greens used in salads and other dishes served in Watertown’s five public schools.

Schools

School Committee Adopts Resolution Supporting, Protecting Immigrant Students & Families

By |

On Monday, the School Committee adopted a resolution which states that the Watertown Public Schools have a “strong commitment to protecting the rights of immigrant students and their families.” The resolution also ensures certain protections including that the Watertown Public Schools (WPS) will not ask about immigration status, will not coordinate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); will not allow ICE agents on to WPS property without a criminal warrant from a federal judge, and will not share student records with ICE without parent, a guardian or a court order. In addition, the resolution said, “WPS ensures that staff will only send students home with caregivers/family members or friends who have been approved by the child’s parent or guardian, and encourages parents and guardians to keep emergency contact information up-to-date by contacting their child’s school.” The School Committee unanimously approved the resolution at the Jan. 26 meeting.