Watertown School Committee Chairman Tony Paolillo Will Not Run for Reelection

Long-time Watertown School Committee Chairman Tony Paolillo will step down at the end of his term, after a dozen years on the board.

Paolillo, who has served as chairman for 10 of the past 12 years, said he went back and forth on his decision over the past few months before finally deciding that it was time for him to leave.

“It’s been good. It was a tough decision and it took a bit of thought,” Paolillo said.

With the Watertown Public Schools coming off a tough budget process, a teacher’s contract to be settled and the search for a new superintendent about to start, Paolillo said there is work to be done.

“I feel I am not leaving the district in the best situation, but hopefully we will resolved a lot before I leave,” Paolillo said.

Paolillo is confident that the current board members and new ones will lead the Watertown schools well.

Eileen Hsu-Balzer and Christopher Beach will run for reelection, Paolillo said. Three challengers have taken out papers to run for School Committee: Michael Shepard, Julie McMahon and David M. Stokes.

He has also been comforted by the involvement of parents this year during the tough budget talks.

“We have an active group of parents in town, which is a good thing,” Paolillo said. “It was a difficult budget year, and they weren’t happy with us at times, but it’s good to see parents active in the process.”

The increased participation and passion shown by parents this year made the decision easier for Paolillio.

“I know there will be someone with the same passion as me to step in,” Paolillo said.

Looking back, Paolillo said he believes he and his colleagues on the School Committee have brought the Watertown Schools a long way.

“When I first got on the board the superintendent who had been in town for many years had just left and there was a real divide at the time,” he said. “I think all of us on the board helped turn around the Watertown schools.”

He also credited Superintendent Steve Hiersche for “calming the waters” for the school system.

Paolillo said he felt it was time to let someone else step up and lead the schools.

“I will miss working with my colleagues and I enjoyed working with the people in the schools,” Paolilllo said. “It was a tough decision, but it’s a good one.”