By CHRISTIAN MAITRE
Waltham Times Contributing Writer
The HVAC and refrigeration program at Waltham High School needs new materials after the incorrect supplies were ordered. The new supplies are estimated to cost $28,000.
Chad Mazza, the assistant superintendent for finance and operations, told the School Committee that the materials the program had received weren’t usable within the HVAC and refrigeration course.
Some of these supplies can be repurposed by other departments, but Mazza said new stock needs to be purchased quickly for the class to be taught properly.
According to Mazza, the incorrect materials were ordered because there was no available HVAC and refrigeration teacher to request the correct supplies at the time.
Mazza and Mayor Jeannette McCarthy will attend the next City Council meeting to work on securing funds.
Committee members voted unanimously in favor of allowing Mazza and McCarthy to address the City Council but offered no comments on the improper ordering of the materials.
Committee members John Frassica II and Margaret Donnelly were not in attendance.
Updates from the physical education, health and wellness department
Heather Metallides, director of the district’s physical education, health and wellness program, came before the committee during its Dec. 18 meeting to update members on the department’s progress and challenges. The committee regularly hears such presentations from the district’s program administrators.
She shared the following information with the school board:
Rick Vittum, a physical education teacher at Waltham High, was named teacher of the year by the Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. “He’s a personal trainer, and he brings his expertise to the table in the beautiful brand-new fitness center at the Waltham High School,” said Metallides.
One challenge Metallides mentioned was not having designated spaces for all of the programs within the physical education curriculum.
Committee member John Tarallo asked Metallides why students were pictured doing yoga in a science lab during the presentation.
Metallides explained that educators teaching the yoga, mindfulness and meditation course have had to share spaces with other departments due to the high attendance in the course, with more than 700 students signing up for the class.
When McCarthy asked if the department needed more space, Metallides replied that school administrators are managing the best they can with reduced classroom space for the department in the new high school.
High school robotics team receives $1,000 donation
Ansys, a software development company with an office in Waltham, donated $1,000 to the high school’s robotics team. According to Superintendent Marisa Mendonsa, the donation will help pay for robotics equipment and team uniforms as well as cover event fees for tournaments.
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