Belmont School Committee Ratifies Contracts With Teachers Union
BELMONT — Belmont's School Committee has approved ratified contracts with the Belmont Education Association, closing out more than 19 months of negotiation, collaboration and mediation between the district and its teachers, the town announced. The settlement lands the same week Town Hall confirmed a 10-day Red Line shutdown at Alewife and kept the town skating rink closed indefinitely for equipment problems.
TOWN HALL The MBTA will suspend Red Line subway service between Alewife and Park Street for 10 consecutive days, July 21 through July 30, the town said in a service alert — a shutdown expected to disrupt the commute for Belmont residents who rely on the Alewife terminus.
The town's skating rink remains closed after officials cited ongoing humidity and environmental control problems inside the building; no reopening date has been set.
The Belmont Police Department is warning residents about a run of fraudulent emails circulating locally and is directing residents to belmont-ma.gov/BPDAlerts for details before responding to unsolicited messages. Separately, the town posted a service alert for delayed yard waste pickup this week.
Election officials reminded residents they can vote early by mail in all 2026 elections with no excuse required; applications are available online or for download through the town's website.
Public Works crews continue hydrant flushing on "Orange & Red Top" hydrants through late July, working 7 p.m. to midnight as part of the department's annual maintenance schedule, and road work continues under the town's 2026 Pavement Management Program.
SCHOOLS The School Committee's ratification of contracts with the Belmont Education Association ends a bargaining process the district described as more than 19 months of negotiation, collaboration, compromise and mediation. Belmont Public Schools also opened registration for the 2026-2027 school year for new and returning families.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS "Patch AM: Why Belmont Porchfest is moving to August—and needs more performers": Belmont's neighborhood music festival is shifting to an August date, and organizers are looking for more acts to round out the lineup, per Belmont Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/belmont).
"30+ MA Beaches Closed As Smoky Haze Makes Comeback: See Latest Forecast": Wildfire smoke drifting in from Ontario returned a yellow-orange haze to Massachusetts skies this week, prompting beach closures around the state, according to Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/belmont).
"Patch AM: Belmont High grad now leads powerhouse rowing program at Tufts": A Belmont High School graduate has taken over as head of a top-tier college rowing program at Tufts University, Patch reports (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/belmont).
COMING UP The Municipal Skating Rink Building Committee meets remotely Friday, July 17. The Select Board holds a hybrid meeting Monday, July 20, the same day the Shade Tree Committee's Bylaw Subcommittee meets. The Planning Board meets in hybrid format Tuesday, July 21.