Teachers say they’ll trim extra activities

The march last Thursday from Watertown Middle School to Town Hall was the latest expression of teachers’ frustration since the School Committee rejected a negotiated contract in April. The teachers union had already ratified the contract, which was hammered out after 18 months of negotiations and the involvement of a mediator.

The School Committee released a statement in response.

“We as a School Committee are saddened by the job action proposal from the WEA leadership as we continue to work toward an agreement. Any of these proposed actions will have a deleterious effect on the education of our students,’’ School Committee chairman Anthony Paolillo stated. “The WEA leadership needs to understand the difficult financial times we are facing as a town, and as a state and a nation. Watertown is not an island immune from the national economy.’’

Watertown’s budget for next fiscal year is still in flux, with unresolved special education funding from the state making more cuts possible.

The Massachusetts Senate has proposed reimbursing towns for special education costs at an amount lower than what the governor and House recommended.

If the lower amount is approved by Beacon Hill, Watertown would have to cut an additional $200,000 from the proposed $38 million budget for the year starting July 1, Paolillo said.

Right now, the proposed budget would eliminate three to five full-time teaching positions, dramatically increase bus fees or eliminate busing, and increase activity and athletic fees, officials said.

School Committee members voted against the new contract on April 4, citing the need to save teaching jobs. They were poised to cut more positions if the teachers’ contract was ratified.

The rejected contract would have given teachers no raise for this school year, a 1.5 percent raise next year, at a cost of $287,000, and a 2.5 percent raise the following year.