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Watertown School Committee elects Kendra Foley chair; approves minutes and three gifts
Summary
At its Jan. 6 meeting at Lowell Elementary School the Watertown School Committee reorganized its leadership for the year, electing Kendra Foley as chair and Lily Raymond Reid as vice chair, and approved several minutes and three gifts to district schools.
The Watertown School Committee elected Kendra Foley chair and Lily Raymond Reid vice chair during its Jan. 6 meeting at Lowell Elementary School, and named Ian Donahue secretary. The committee also approved minutes from fall and winter meetings and accepted three charitable gifts totaling $3,715.62 to district programs.
The reorganization took place at the start of the meeting. After nominations from committee members, a roll-call vote confirmed the new leadership. Amy Donahue conducted roll calls throughout the session. Chair-elect Kendra Foley told the committee she appreciated their confidence following the vote.
Why it matters: School committee officers set meeting agendas and serve as primary liaisons with district leadership for the year ahead. The committee’s approvals of minutes and gifts are routine but required business that keeps district records current and supports school programs.
Key details: The committee approved the October 21, 2024 meeting minutes with an edit clarifying that a human services study is a City of Watertown study, and approved the Dec. 2, 2024 regular and athletics subcommittee minutes with edits to wording about netting and facilities. The committee accepted three gifts: $200 from Wicked Bagel to the Elementary Diversity and Belonging Council, $676 from Wicked Bagel to the same council (separate fundraiser), and $2,839.62 from Vision Inc., DBA O’Connor Studios, to the Hosmer School picture commission.
Votes at a glance: - Elect chair (nomination: Kendra Foley). Roll-call recorded as unanimous “yes” from members present (listed below). Outcome: approved. - Elect vice chair (nomination: Lily Raymond Reid). Outcome: approved by roll call. - Elect secretary (nomination: Ian Donahue). Outcome: approved by roll call. - Approve Oct. 21, 2024 scope meeting minutes (with edit). Motion moved and seconded; roll-call approval. - Approve Dec. 2, 2024 regular meeting minutes (with two edits). Motion moved and seconded; roll-call approval. - Approve Dec. 2 athletics and extracurricular subcommittee minutes. Motion moved and seconded; roll-call approval. - Accept gifts: $200 (Wicked Bagel), $676 (Wicked Bagel), $2,839.62 (Vision Inc./O’Connor Studios). Motion moved and seconded; roll-call approval.
The meeting proceeded to public forum and substantive agenda items after the reorganization and approvals. The committee set committee officers “for another year” and closed the vote portion of the reorganizational agenda before public comment began.
Looking ahead: The chair said she would solicit committee members about subcommittee assignments and return a recommendation to the full committee later in January.
