Watertown School Board Meeting | 5:30 PM | 1/12/26

The Watertown School Board meeting held on January 12, 2026, included several procurement-related discussions and approvals. The board approved financial reports highlighting capital outlay expenditures related to the athletic complex construction and debt service payments. They granted authority to bid on a motorgrader and an anatomy table to support Lake Area Technical College's heavy equipment operator and nursing programs, respectively. Additionally, the board approved two low-cost equipment leases for heavy equipment operator training, totaling $2,000 annually, which would have cost approximately $360,000 if purchased outright. The board also approved bids for two school buses for the 2026-27 budget year, including a 17-passenger bus with special needs accommodations and a 77-passenger bus, with partial funding from a clean diesel grant. A direct sale contract with Johnson Controls was approved for HVAC equipment to air condition Lincoln and Jefferson Elementary schools. The board authorized preschool and driver education fees for the 2026-27 school year. Personnel actions including resignations, contract recommendations, and educational stipends were also approved. The meeting featured a detailed technology update emphasizing the district's use of Apple devices, ongoing staff training, and future plans for integrating artificial intelligence in education.