Watertown board approves Lake Area Tech fee package, trading lab design and rad‑tech program application
April 14, 2026 | Watertown School District 14-4, School Districts, South Dakota
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The Watertown School District 14‑4 board on April 13 approved several Lake Area Technical College (LATC) items intended to expand workforce programming and keep the campus aligned with rising operating costs.
Trustees voted to adopt the college’s 2026–27 fee package after staff noted the State Board of Technical Education raised state tuition $4 to $134 per credit. LATC proposed keeping local campus support and maintenance fees steady while setting program fees for a new dental‑hygiene program at $1,732 per semester and adjusting fees for 12 existing programs; staff said the average program increase would be about $107 per semester and that the median change for a typical student would be roughly 2.9%. The board approved the package to take effect July 1, 2026.
The board also approved a $14,000 architectural and engineering contract to design an ag commodities risk‑management "trading lab" after LATC said it received a $229,000 grant from the CHS Foundation to implement the space. College staff described the lab as a hands‑on trading and risk‑management classroom that will serve agribusiness, ag production and livestock students and be available for business and financial services classes; CHS is expected to fund furniture and technology for the room. Trustees then approved authority to bid for an estimated $200,000 construction project, with a timeline that would put construction from summer through September and the lab open for fall 2026 if schedules and bids align.
On workforce training, trustees voted to forward an application to the State Board of Technical Education to add a radiologic‑technology (rad‑tech) program. LATC told the board it collected 10 letters of support from regional healthcare facilities and anticipates an accreditation plan with cohorts of about 14 students per year (14 first‑year and 14 second‑year students for 28 total) if clinical placements and fundraising materialize; the college said a 2027–28 start is possible but contingent on industry and facility support.
Votes at a glance (selected):
- 2026–27 fee rates (state tuition increase reflected; program fees changed): motion carried.
- CHS Foundation grant acceptance and $14,000 design contract for trading lab: motion carried.
- Authority to bid for trading lab construction (~$200,000): motion carried.
- Approval to advance rad‑tech program application to the State Board of Technical Education: motion carried.
Board materials show LATC staff proposed the fee changes to cover inflationary costs such as insurance, compensation and contracted services. The college said campus fees would remain unchanged and that changes would be communicated to students as fall 2026 enrollment begins. The meeting record indicated routine seconding and unanimous vocal approval on these motions. The board adjourned the LATC portion of the agenda and moved on to remaining district business.
Trustees voted to adopt the college’s 2026–27 fee package after staff noted the State Board of Technical Education raised state tuition $4 to $134 per credit. LATC proposed keeping local campus support and maintenance fees steady while setting program fees for a new dental‑hygiene program at $1,732 per semester and adjusting fees for 12 existing programs; staff said the average program increase would be about $107 per semester and that the median change for a typical student would be roughly 2.9%. The board approved the package to take effect July 1, 2026.
The board also approved a $14,000 architectural and engineering contract to design an ag commodities risk‑management "trading lab" after LATC said it received a $229,000 grant from the CHS Foundation to implement the space. College staff described the lab as a hands‑on trading and risk‑management classroom that will serve agribusiness, ag production and livestock students and be available for business and financial services classes; CHS is expected to fund furniture and technology for the room. Trustees then approved authority to bid for an estimated $200,000 construction project, with a timeline that would put construction from summer through September and the lab open for fall 2026 if schedules and bids align.
On workforce training, trustees voted to forward an application to the State Board of Technical Education to add a radiologic‑technology (rad‑tech) program. LATC told the board it collected 10 letters of support from regional healthcare facilities and anticipates an accreditation plan with cohorts of about 14 students per year (14 first‑year and 14 second‑year students for 28 total) if clinical placements and fundraising materialize; the college said a 2027–28 start is possible but contingent on industry and facility support.
Votes at a glance (selected):
- 2026–27 fee rates (state tuition increase reflected; program fees changed): motion carried.
- CHS Foundation grant acceptance and $14,000 design contract for trading lab: motion carried.
- Authority to bid for trading lab construction (~$200,000): motion carried.
- Approval to advance rad‑tech program application to the State Board of Technical Education: motion carried.
Board materials show LATC staff proposed the fee changes to cover inflationary costs such as insurance, compensation and contracted services. The college said campus fees would remain unchanged and that changes would be communicated to students as fall 2026 enrollment begins. The meeting record indicated routine seconding and unanimous vocal approval on these motions. The board adjourned the LATC portion of the agenda and moved on to remaining district business.
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