City Government
School Committee & Superintendent
The Superintendent
Dr. Marisa Mendonsa
About 5,729 Waltham students start their day in this district, and one person answers for all of it. Dr. Marisa Mendonsa has led Waltham Public Schools as Superintendent since July 2024. She runs a system of 11 schools, including the new Waltham High School on Lexington Street, proposes the school budget, and sets academic priorities. The Superintendent is hired by the School Committee and reports to it, serving as its non-voting secretary while the committee evaluates her work each year.
| Role | Superintendent of Schools |
|---|---|
| In office | Since July 2024 |
| District | Waltham Public Schools, 11 schools |
| Office | 617 Lexington Street |
| Phone | 781-314-5440 |
The School Committee
Waltham’s School Committee has seven members: six elected at large to oversee the schools, plus the Mayor, who serves as ex-officio chair under the city charter. The Superintendent sits with the committee as a non-voting secretary. The committee sets district policy, approves the school budget, and hires and evaluates the Superintendent who runs the schools day to day. Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy chairs the committee, and Debbie Coleman serves as vice chair. One elected seat is being filled following a resignation in January 2026.
Jeannette A. McCarthy
Debbie Coleman
Tammy Wong-Bigelow
Sabrina Shams DeJoannis
Edmund Tarallo
James Zanghi
One at-large seat is currently vacant and is being filled. Watch the district website for the appointment or special election that fills it.
The District at a Glance
- Enrollment: about 5,729 students across 11 schools.
- High school: the new Waltham High School on Lexington Street, one of the most expensive public school buildings ever built in Massachusetts.
- Languages: about 23% of students are English learners, reflecting Waltham’s large immigrant community.
- State data: DESE district profile for Waltham Public Schools.
Meetings & Participation
- When: the committee meets in public session, and agendas are posted on the district website.
- Public comment: residents may address the committee. Check the agenda for sign-up details.
- Watch: meetings are carried by WCAC community media and available to view afterward.
- Subcommittees: much of the detailed work on budget, policy, and facilities happens in subcommittees.
Sources
Waltham school committee (walthampublicschools.org). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your schools
School Committee. Start times, the school calendar, bus routes and stops, the phone policy, athletics and activity fees, and anything in the student handbook. It sets district policy, and the total size of the school budget is voted by Town Meeting, or by your Mayor and Council in a city.
Your principal and your superintendent. The principal for how a school rule works day to day in your building. The superintendent for how the whole district runs. The School Committee hires exactly one employee, the superintendent, so a question about any other staff member goes to the district, not to the board.
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