Watertown panel backs $500 bus fee, fewer runs

School Committee · Meeting of March 31, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown School Committee's Budget and Finance Subcommittee voted to recommend a $500 bus fee and a scaled-back busing plan for next year. Members Kendra Foley, Rachel Kay and Lisa Kaposha backed "Scenario 3," one shared morning bus for the Hosmer Elementary School and middle school plus separate afternoon buses, cutting the district's projected subsidy to about $121,120 from roughly $306,620 under the status quo. The optional rider fee rises from $300 to $500, with the family cap increasing from $475 to $750.

The panel also discussed raising Boys and Girls Club transportation fees from $200 to as much as $430 per student. A club representative, Gary, called the proposed arrangement "a no-brainer" the organization would make work. The full School Committee votes on the recommendations April 13.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Watertown's community access TV: School Committee meeting, March 31, 2026
• The complete report: 904 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of March 31, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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