Watertown School Committee Rejects Bid to Put No-Confidence Vote on Agenda

WATERTOWN — June 22, 2026 — Watertown School Committee fields sharp criticism of special education plan, tables no-confidence motion. At a June 22 meeting at Lowell Elementary School, eight public speakers challenged the district's draft special education improvement strategy as process-driven and lacking measurable student outcomes, with parent Liza Gimbard warning that "the district could complete every action item, declare success, and still fail to improve outcomes for students." A motion by Member Amy Lisa Capocha to place a vote of no confidence in the director of student services on the next meeting agenda failed 2-4, with four members voting present; the committee cited a pending June 25 executive session on a personnel complaint as grounds for delay. The committee also approved $117,356 in non-aligned salary adjustments on a 6-1 vote and unanimously transferred an estimated $269,000 FY26 budget surplus to a prepaid FY27 tuition account. Armenian language program advocates pressed for expansion from a 0.4 FTE to a 0.6 FTE teaching position and three class periods, noting the program's teacher had resigned; Principal Jacob Ozzi confirmed a candidate is being considered and a community listening session was scheduled for the following day. Watertown's DESE special education determination stands at 71 percent — in the "needs assistance" band — for the second consecutive year.