Watertown Delays Middle School Start Time, 4-2
The Watertown School Committee voted 4-2 to delay an 8:30 a.m. middle school start time for one year, citing a lost athletic field.
School Committee · Meeting of March 2, 2026
WATERTOWN — The Watertown School Committee voted 4-2 to delay an 8:30 a.m. middle school start time for one year, citing a lost athletic field. Members Lisa Kapolcha, Jessica Middlebrook, Kendra Foley and Amy Donahue backed keeping the current 7:45 a.m. start through 2026-27; Rachel Kett and Sheila Christian voted no. The superintendent estimated roughly 900 student-athletes per season would be affected if school let out later, with the Victory Field Oval reconstruction eliminating practice space.
Parent Ben Johnson urged an 8:30 a.m. start, citing sleep research, while staff member Brian Donato said "93% of the staff" who signed a letter wanted to keep 7:45 a.m. The panel also rejected school choice participation for 2026-27 and accepted a $35,000 state grant and roughly $30,000 in donated work boots.
In the full story:
- The Full Story
- Why It Matters
- Key Motions & Votes
- Source
- Watertown's community access TV: School Committee meeting, March 2, 2026
- The complete report: 916 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of March 2, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.
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