Watertown School District approves supplemental budget, combined election agreement and 2026–27 calendar

The Watertown School District 14-4 Board of Education approved a supplemental budget, a combined-election agreement with Coddington County and the district’s 2026–27 calendar at its December meeting.

The board voted to adopt a supplemental budget that adds revenues and appropriations across funds, including a $64,945 supplement for an attendance grant in the general fund and $50,365 to support special education staffing. Lake Area Technical College (LATC) fund changes in the supplemental included $178,350 in state aid, $567,000 in state equipment grants, $36,000 in Perkins grant funds and a $229,000 lab grant contribution; LATC expenditures identified in the supplemental included equipment purchases and Student Center renovations. Administration said the changes are partially balanced by a $400,000 reduction in the reserve for future years. The motion to approve the supplemental budget carried on a voice vote.

In a separate vote, the board approved a combined election agreement with Coddington County. Under recent state legislative changes, the school board portion will appear on the same day as the state primary; administration warned that voters who live in other counties but inside the Watertown School District will need to travel to the county polling location to cast the school-board portion of their ballot. The district plans targeted communications to explain the logistics before the June election.

The board also adopted the 2026–27 academic calendar. Key changes include a Tuesday start on Aug. 25 to secure nine days of instruction before Labor Day, two built-in snow days, a Wednesday dismissal on the last day of school (May 26) and graduation scheduled for the Memorial Day weekend.

Other business approved by the board included routine personnel actions (resignations, a retirement and contracts and addendums), approval of bills and multiple policy adoptions at second reading, including policies on student conduct on buses, activity-bus scheduling, extracurricular activity transportation, non-school group transportation and food management.

Votes at a glance (motions passed): approve agenda; approve minutes (Nov. 10); accept resignations as presented; approve contracts/addendums; approve office lease for LATC MTS; approve authority to purchase CNC fiber laser table; approve architectural services for a proposed trades center; declare surplus welding equipment (vertical mill) for sale; approve bills; approve retirement of Jolene Sutton; approve additional resignations; approve contract recommendations/addendums; approve termination as presented; approve authority to hire a 1:1 paraeducator; approve supplemental budget; approve combined election agreement; approve 2026–27 calendar; approve multiple policies at second reading; approve open enrollment.

The meeting ended after administrative reports that included a legislative update: the governor’s budget proposed a 0% K–12 increase within a larger set of statewide budget items, and the administration flagged potential property tax and student cell-phone bills at the state level. The board adjourned without setting additional votes.