Watertown board approves routine business, personnel changes and authorizes bid for $225,000 welding table
November 11, 2025 | Watertown School District 14-4, School Districts, South Dakota
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The Watertown School Board (Watertown School District 14-4) approved a slate of routine business and personnel actions at its November meeting, including minutes, bills, contracts and hires, and adopted several transportation and safety policies.
The board granted staff authority to solicit bids for a CNC plasma cutting table for the district’s welding program, with the district estimating a $225,000 budget and planning to use fiscal year 2026 Perkins grant funds for the purchase. "We're estimating our budget at $225,000 for that table," an administrator said during the property agenda item.
Administrators also presented financial details for October. The district’s general fund revenue for October was reported at about $1,400,000, which the finance presenter said included state aid, property tax collections and roughly $58,000 in federal Title I funds; the presenter also reported about $72,000 in interest income and a month-end cash balance of $4,500,000.
Personnel motions carried by voice vote. The board approved two resignations, one termination described by staff as resulting from the individual "abandoning the position," and accepted a retirement for Carolyn Helene. The district also approved multiple contracts, mentoring agreements and lane changes and granted authority to hire three positions, including two special-education roles and one family support specialist tied to a supplemental attendance grant.
On policy matters the board completed second readings and adopted multiple transportation- and safety-related policies, including an update to the video surveillance policy (ECAC). The board removed a prior restriction that no audio be recorded and approved the updated policy allowing audio on bus cameras. Other bus and transportation policies also were approved.
Open enrollment requests brought forward were approved; the transcript lists one individual request and two further requests that were approved together (transcript references SEG 1096–1137). Multiple motions were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote across the meeting.
The meeting adjourned after the board's administrative reports and announcements.
The board granted staff authority to solicit bids for a CNC plasma cutting table for the district’s welding program, with the district estimating a $225,000 budget and planning to use fiscal year 2026 Perkins grant funds for the purchase. "We're estimating our budget at $225,000 for that table," an administrator said during the property agenda item.
Administrators also presented financial details for October. The district’s general fund revenue for October was reported at about $1,400,000, which the finance presenter said included state aid, property tax collections and roughly $58,000 in federal Title I funds; the presenter also reported about $72,000 in interest income and a month-end cash balance of $4,500,000.
Personnel motions carried by voice vote. The board approved two resignations, one termination described by staff as resulting from the individual "abandoning the position," and accepted a retirement for Carolyn Helene. The district also approved multiple contracts, mentoring agreements and lane changes and granted authority to hire three positions, including two special-education roles and one family support specialist tied to a supplemental attendance grant.
On policy matters the board completed second readings and adopted multiple transportation- and safety-related policies, including an update to the video surveillance policy (ECAC). The board removed a prior restriction that no audio be recorded and approved the updated policy allowing audio on bus cameras. Other bus and transportation policies also were approved.
Open enrollment requests brought forward were approved; the transcript lists one individual request and two further requests that were approved together (transcript references SEG 1096–1137). Multiple motions were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote across the meeting.
The meeting adjourned after the board's administrative reports and announcements.
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