Watertown School Committees Says its Goodbyes and Some Hellos

The Watertown School Committee doled out is share of goodbyes at its Monday night, and even said a few hellos.

Nearing the end of the school year, those leaving the Watertown Public Schools are in their final days. The group includes retirees, those leaving for other jobs and even a School Committee member taking a leave to head to Brazil.

Goodbye to Retirees

The list of retirees at Monday’s meeting was not long, but those on it have long careers in town.

“It is sad to see them go,” School Committee Chairman Tony Paolillo. “We are gong to miss them dearly. A big hole will be left in the Watertown Schools.”

The longest serving retiree is Bill McCarthy who is retiring as principal at the Hosmer School after 43 years in town.

“Billy, we cant thank you for all that you’ve done for Watertown in your 43 years,” Paolillo said.

Also leaving Hosmer this year is guidance councilor Mary White, who has been in the district for 25 years.

Vicky Kherlopian will leave after teaching at the Lowell School for 35 years. She has taught a number of grades, and now teaches third grade.

Nancy Samaria is known as the math guru at Lowell. The fifth-grade teacher is retiring after 30 years.

Another retiree is Ruth Segal, the library media specialist at Watertown High School, who has been in Watertown for 13 years.

Another Goodbye

School officials also said farewell to Director of Business Services Allie Altman, who is leaving after 8 years in the Watertown Public Schools. She has not decided what she will do next.

“I want to thank Allie for her eight years of dedication to the Watertown Public Schools,” said Superintendent Ann Koufman. “That means eight budgets.”

During her time in the district, Altman “renovated” the budget book and put it online, Koufman said.

“She brought the business office into the modern technology age,” Koufman said.

On top of that, she also represented the district on the Watertown cable board and was the H1N1 flu program coordinator.

A Couple Hellos

Monday, the School Committee welcomed interim Director of Business Services David King, who will lead the business office until a permanent replacement is found.

King worked in the business office for the Waltham Public Schools for 34 years, including 28 as the business manager. He retired five years ago, and has worked as a consultant to school districts since then.

How long King will be in Watertown is not clear, but he said he expects it to be about three months.

Watertown will soon say goodbye to Superintendent Ann Koufman, and the School Committee will vote on appointing Assistant Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald as the interim superintendent at its June 20 meeting, Paolillo said.

“It will provide a smooth transition in the district next year,” Paolillo said. “Jean has a strong understanding of the district.”

Goodbye For Now

At the end of the meeting Monday, School Committee Vice Chairman John Portz announced he would be taking a few months off from the board in the fall.

Portz, who teaches at Northeastern University, will be taking a sabbatical and will be working in Brazil.

“I am in a transition at work, and this is an opportunity I would not have again for a while,” Portz said.

He apologized to his colleagues for leaving for four months, but he said he plans to follow what is going on in the Watertown Schools and with the School Committee.

“I will do my best to stay connected, using Skype and other ways,” Portz said.

He also had the option of taking the trip in the spring, but Portz said the fall works better with the school budget schedule.

Paolillo said he much prefers to see Portz come back to the board.

“I encouraged him to take a leave of absence, not leave the board,” Paolillo said. “He has been invaluable on the board.”