Mayor Speaks Out on Waltham Schools Parent Meeting

Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy has shed a bit more light on the scheduled meeting over the James Fitzgerald Elementary School.

In a Thursday statement to reporters, McCarthy said, “I am not excluding the press from the meeting, but I want everyone to be mindful of what the meeting is." 

“Normally, this meeting would be held in my office as with any constituent.  However, because I was advised that the meeting would be attended by more than my office could accommodate, it was scheduled at the Waltham Community and Cultural Center auditorium.

I will state ground rules for all at the beginning of the meeting that this meeting will have general issues and constructive suggestions for solutions, and will not be a bashing session of any individual, School Department employee, [School Committee] member or Mayor.”

McCarthy’s statement came after Fitzgerald PTO president Liz McCarthy said the meeting would be closed to the public and media. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12 at the Waltham Community and Cultural Center at 510 Moody St. The exact topic is not yet known, but McCarthy has said it will be about  “stability” concerns. 

McCarthy, on Aug. 6, took heavy criticism from the Waltham School Committee over responding to parent concerns without notifying the committee.