By AUBREY HAWKE
Waltham Times Contributing Writer
The School Committee unanimously voted to explore implementing metal detectors at Waltham’s two middle schools and its high school. The vote came just four weeks after a threat directed at McDevitt Middle School and in response to ongoing parent concerns.
Mayor Jeannette McCarthy introduced the proposal at the Oct. 9 School Committee meeting.
“Several parents have contacted me and said, ‘Mayor, why don’t [the schools] have metal detectors?’” McCarthy said. “Once before I brought this up to the School Committee, and the School Committee at the time was not interested in that. But I do believe that we should at least explore wands and metal detectors at the middle schools and the high school.”
No further discussion on the matter took place, and committee members unanimously voted in favor of the motion.
In other action, the School Committee also discussed the low enrollment numbers in the high school’s Career and Technical Education program. The enrollment numbers were not made public during the meeting.
“I’m just concerned with the number of staff and the low [enrollment] numbers we have. We had these [staff members] on board last year in order to grow their programs and hype it up and if we can’t do that then maybe it’s either the wrong staff or the wrong programs. We can’t run programs that small,” School Committee member Edmund Tarallo.
Superintendent Marisa Mendonsa said she is working to increase the enrollment numbers, particularly by ensuring the high school schedule supports students taking CTE classes.
Mendonsa and McCarthy both addressed the need to increase student interest and education on CTE programs.
Additionally, the School Committee
- heard presentations from Blake Siskavich, director of the school system’s Fine and Performing Arts Department, and Alyssa Bourque, assistant director of special education for secondary-level schools, about their respective departments. They shared updates on the ongoings of each department, including recent triumphs the departments have had and challenges they currently face.
- confirmed the return of Waltham’s homecoming parade. The parade will take place Saturday, Oct. 26. It will leave Kennedy Middle School, 655 Lexington St., at 1:30 p.m. and move toward Leary Field on Athletic Field Road ahead of the 3 p.m. football game. The Hawks are scheduled to play Newton South High School.
- provided an update about high school tours, with McCarthy noting that approximately 1,400 people have registered to attend tours of the new building this month and committee members saying they would discuss offering more tours in the future.
The next School Committee meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. School Committee meetings are held at 617 Lexington St. and open to the public.