Watertown Schools Land Huge Federal Grant for Wellness Program

The Watertown Public Schools will receive nearly $400,000 this year from a federal program to create the Wellness the Watertown Way program.

The Department of Education awarded the Carol White Physical Education Program (PEP) Grant - a three year grant that could bring in $600,000 over three years, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald.

This is the second time the district has been awarded a PEP grant, said Donna Ruseckas, Director of Wellness and Extended Services. The district also got it in 2009.

"We are very excited, in these difficult times of low budgets in Education across the county," Ruseckas said. "We are very, very fortunate to have won the PEP Grant!"

The first year Watertown will receive $391,269, which will go not only to the schools but also to the Watertown Boys & Girls Club and the Watertown Recreation Department.

Follow Patch for more on the district's new Wellness Grant.