School Committee Update, September 2026

Welcome back! The 2026-2027 school year is underway, and with that, the Watertown School Committee now looks ahead to a busy fall. 

As we returned from summer, Superintendent Galdston shared her plans to retire at the end of the 2026/2027 school year. If you missed Dr. Galdston’s letter to the community, you can read it here. This school year will mark Dr. Galdston’s 10th year leading WPS; we are incredibly grateful for her steady leadership.

With that, our Committee will now launch a search to find Dr. Galdston’s replacement. We have sent out an RFP (request for proposals) for firms to assist with the search process. We plan to interview the firms at our October 19th meeting. Watertown is a wonderful community and we anticipate this opening will draw significant interest. We will look for the right firm to bring us the best candidates possible from a deep pool of applicants. It is our goal to hire the new Superintendent by February or March of 2027.

During the summer, our schools continue to be extremely active places of learning. Assistant Superintendent Peña shared an update on summer programming. In recent years, Watertown has significantly expanded the number of children who have participated in summer programming. We were happy to hear about the academic and wellness offerings and thank all our staff who made this summer another memorable experience for Watertown’s students.

The use of and access to technology in schools has been a key area of discussion over the last year; in Watertown and across the country. In the spring, we approved a new personal electronic device policy that restricts the use of personal electronic devices in schools. And, the district is also reviewing and evaluating the uses of educational technology in schools. This work is grounded in clear expectations for when and how technology supports learning. At the elementary level, that means implementing new K–5 guidelines to reduce screen time and ensure devices are used purposefully. This year, the district will develop guidelines for grades 6-12 that reflect how technology use shifts naturally as students get older. As part of this effort, the district will be rolling out the GoGuardian Parent Mobile App which will give Middle and High School families visibility into their children’s most used sites and the ability to manage internet access on school-issued devices outside of school hours.  

It is hard not to be filled with immense pride following the opening of the new Watertown High School. In less than 10 years, Watertown has rebuilt or renovated four of its five school buildings, with the city now weighing cost estimates for a potential Watertown Middle School project. All of these projects have been completed without a Proposition 2 ½ override. None of this would be possible without the unwavering commitment of our community. You have ensured that our students and staff have the best learning environments possible. Thank you for all that you do to support our schools. And, these projects also don’t happen without the partnership and trust between the district and the City. Our elected and administrative leaders have worked hard to establish relationships built on trust and commitment that have allowed for these incredible improvements. 

With gratitude,

Kendra Foley

Chair, Watertown School Committee