Schools weigh fees to close $2.5M gap

School Committee · Meeting of February 9, 2026

Watertown School Committee reviewed a preliminary fiscal 2027 budget with a $2.5 million gap and weighed reinstating athletic fees to close it. The district said it needs $67,091,629 to maintain level services, an 8 percent increase, while the city has signaled roughly a 4 percent increase to $64,590,018. Staff proposed using about $5.2 million in special education circuit breaker reimbursement and $750,000 in prepaid tuition savings to help close the gap.

Committee member Lisa Kapoja said she "would be uncomfortable" calling the proposal level service given unfilled positions. Separately, the district reported that blocking YouTube and limiting Instagram on student Chromebooks sharply cut non-educational site use, though IT Director George Hughes was absent to answer technical questions. The committee also approved a $50,000 state grant and accepted $970.31 in gifts.

In the full story:

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• Watertown's community access TV: School Committee meeting, February 9, 2026
• The complete report: 846 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of February 9, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.