[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6358962,"mediaKeyId","2210561-687b28aa0d1050b16624f4d6cf753468","parentId",2210561,"title","Board reviews transportation RFP; First Student sole bidder proposes five-year contract with higher rates","audioSeconds",255,"startMs",4997000,"endMs",5252000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2210561-687b28aa0d1050b16624f4d6cf753468&start=4997&end=5252","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2210561-687b28aa0d1050b16624f4d6cf753468/thumbnail_4997000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6358962/New-York/Board-reviews-transportation-RFP-First-Student-sole-bidder-proposes-five-year-contract-with-higher-rates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358962-81ae325b252ff9a40295e3b849a4fa7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775114805&Signature=O0dNkwaH7htx-YJE0n7Ka8JRTCyoeSKHWW~rT2aviCcxDuAjk54zRdo584FGKN-wMhB9Rz6Jj9u0SI6hQYxfNiFDpsHKCPR-svqxZAV70unmFDS7vjkx~uEtK-gJZHuymJZdf0hZg46~4-NUiz6pLNtLZU-Nt-xL9MD6OG8EN-B-Lkxdc9hESsvZe8C1awV3OIwwNr7ks~JAVgCOOUjGXEAi7wwL5zoFGz4A-22~MJDYVjqMDSqVY6MP~aDYUpaz0lrwRR2A0l0mqKpVCn9Q7Vp4PDyHnYrz8EUji~gXq-J~l2T7lV4o0XTb-ifOjSnLU2zmboxyLLx7w00Jz8KjTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-29T13:49:36Z","article","The Watertown City School District board reviewed the results of a transportation RFP and discussed awarding a five-year contract to First Student, the only vendor to submit a proposal. District staff said the contract would run through the 2029 school year and would incorporate services the district requested, including a tardy bus to pick up students who miss morning routes, activity and summer-school coverage, Cyclone Academy transportation and health-shuttle service.

Brian, First Student’s local representative, and Kara, the district transportation coordinator, joined the meeting to answer questions. Kara said the company scored well on the district’s rubric (First Student’s rubric scores ranged in the 85–88 range; the state threshold is 65). Ben and district staff noted the proposed contract reflects a roughly 13% increase from the last five-year agreement, driven in part by the company’s consumer-price-index pricing and increased operating costs.

Board members pressed about fleet life and electrification. Brian said the new buses purchased under the proposed contract would be diesel and that the district would be “grandfathered” with brand-new diesel vehicles until state electrification requirements kick in for later model years; he added First Student is a national leader in bus electrification and would help the district access grants and plan infrastructure when replacement becomes necessary.

The board also asked about driver screening and safety: First Student representatives said driver hiring includes federal- and state-level background checks and random drug testing; the company reported random testing frequencies and noted testing is performed through certified vendors, with some local providers (including pharmacies) used for sample collection.

District administrators recommended including the contract award on the Feb. 4 board agenda for formal action and said the five-year term provides predictability for budgeting and aid estimation. Board members asked about service hours for late buses and athletics; transportation staff said activity scheduling is coordinated with the athletics office and that the district added late elementary routes this year.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","01/28/2025 WCSD BOE Meeting at Knickerbocker","oneSentenceSummary","District staff recommended awarding a five-year transportation contract to First Student, the only bidder, which proposed a roughly 13% price increase but added services including a tardy bus and Cyclone Academy routes.","taxTitle","WATERTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",49388,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6358968,"Watertown district outlines $110 million capital project, urges March 25 vote",1328,1480000,2808000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2210561-687b28aa0d1050b16624f4d6cf753468&start=1480&end=2808","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2210561-687b28aa0d1050b16624f4d6cf753468/thumbnail_1480000.jpg","/articles/6358968/New-York/Watertown-district-outlines-110-million-capital-project-urges-March-25-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358968-b0f8bde3acb9cbdc345ae347d3cc2037/orig.mp4?Expires=1775114805&Signature=E8zPHIWI9khUj~HR-TrdVtPL-30qhPt1rLPjX-bz3zFq4~V7-KNPQplAFnDrUFJ21HvDPYwDR7JYhTMRbTV9B3y58JTDZMA9QnEKb5z-6cOtc35ZiC0PQ9JgN-cI~FO8Rl5Dl9W19wkUXyg0ks61ddAcVcBiTM4aQOLAk0ourQ39DH7j9VzI91obyEBnjYrqHVfOsUd0FUiySkGVywGtqXPSrKmY8QYnMikaO31PyNk~-JzplSk49D~JFPzOZ2oLiJQOmpOiWuadclvNiMJXqnWoumVgO4vAujulWdJcRXLXzO6eOL0bURqhSDnyfZZ0QgKBbHv2CWuYaQkCSu0ovQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Watertown City School District officials and outside consultants presented a $110,000,000 capital project proposal on Jan. 23 and urged community members to vote on March 25. Jason, a King & King project representative, described the plan as focused on “warm, safe, dry” priorities: replacing heating systems, repairing roofs and improving secure entries and fire alarms across the district.

The proposal matters because the district says it can use state building aid and its capital reserve to complete the majority of work without increasing the tax levy. Ben Maslona, who presented the project financing, told the board the district’s high building-aid ratio (93.1%) and available reserves make a no-tax-impact vote feasible: “If we do a $100 worth of work in a building and it’s aidable, you get $93 back on that,” he said.

Consultants described scope items for each building: high school parking and drainage work, track replacement, steam-to-hot-water boiler conversions and fire-alarm replacements; Middle- and elementary-school roof, window and masonry repairs; secure entry vestibules; ADA upgrades; masonry restoration; and hazardous-material abatement where renovations disturb older materials. Jason said the package focused on infrastructure rather than “a lot of frills.”

Ben provided a budget framing: about 94% of the $110 million is estimated to be eligible for state building aid. He said the district will also leverage capital reserve funds voters previously authorized and time the new debt to replace older debt that will expire, producing a combined financing picture that aims to avoid a tax increase. He also noted potential energy-efficiency savings from new systems could be additional upside to the district’s operating budget.

Board members and staff asked questions about project limits (maximum cost allowances for each facility), how hazardous-material abatement will be handled, and FEMA-related issues on sites that also face mitigation work. Dr. Larry Schmeagle, the district superintendent, said the district submitted more than $8,000,000 in property-damage claims to FEMA and is coordinating with city and county officials on mitigation funding and alignment.

The board was invited to review presentation boards and a purple binder of supporting documents placed at members’ tables. District staff said the next public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 25 and reminded residents to vote March 25.

Provenance: The presentation begins when district staff invite King & King representatives to present and includes the finance discussion and Q&A later in the meeting.","District consultants presented a $110 million capital project that focuses on upgrading aging infrastructure—boilers, roofs, windows, ADA access and secure entries—saying the plan can be funded with state building aid and reserves without raising local taxes. A public vote is scheduled for March 25.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6358954,"Board approves contracts, donations and personnel items; several surplus and calendar items cleared",1071,3880000,4951000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2210561-687b28aa0d1050b16624f4d6cf753468&start=3880&end=4951","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2210561-687b28aa0d1050b16624f4d6cf753468/thumbnail_3880000.jpg","/articles/6358954/New-York/Board-approves-contracts-donations-and-personnel-items-several-surplus-and-calendar-items-cleared","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358954-34971f69c1f728f843cc346607c46637/orig.mp4?Expires=1775114805&Signature=CDjL4KCMO4S5OE-u2NAihnXyMUez5mmKPU-Er2xh8nGtluEEEbJXaMPsB22Ht0eqh9xtyoqm0eYx2noIvYlHHkNWuf~oMiZPDoCXaxIzZjnMHw0KsLAzMzEajoG3wDVU4vS3RIav0i3fb1A9IxTGrEb90E1WK~l4781krpBAYMvUyjsrHUyvGQ2upvd0XsOKJtDOl71PnN9KjqdyhYtTI4mi~MiFUNoHXCVGi~VaJvJC5AJfOq0oM-rziiyul2xx-U6yuKV3zlqTSZLJyy8x9I7vlqN1DrPodjwu2kHKPcSSB1xrgXEqtVfXAFDCkqERdQDyxWrBUOiIjbxUywk4Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Watertown City School District Board of Education approved multiple resolutions and routine items during its Jan. 23 meeting.

Key procurement approvals included two Gato Flooring contracts: a Wiley School stair repair not to exceed $19,250 and restoration of the high school auditorium stage floor for $43,092. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Children’s Home of Jefferson County to station a coordinator at the high school; the MOU carries no charge to the district, board members were told.

Personnel actions approved included a list of resignations, retirements and appointments (instructional and noninstructional, substitutes, tutors and coaches) presented by Superintendent Dr. Larry Schmeagle. The board also approved the discontinuation of a probationary appointment effective Jan. 17 and an administrative-paid leave for a noninstructional employee effective Jan. 23 (personnel details were part of the personnel packet).

Donations approved at the meeting included: $300 from QuickMed Urgent Care to support a youth event; $50 from Movement Mortgage; an anonymous donation of weight-room equipment; 40 winter coats from the Watertown City Fire Department; $1,300 and $1,500 grants from the Northern New York Community Foundation’s Safe Schools endeavor for human-trafficking awareness and an early-childhood “Buddy Walk” project; and $1,000 for supplies for the food-for-families program. The board also accepted the transfer or disposal of outdated clinic vision and hearing machines, two decommissioned vehicles (a 2009 Thomas bus and a 2008 Ford truck with plow) and 21 obsolete copiers and printers.

Finally, the board retroactively amended the 2024–25 school calendar after a Jan. 21 snow day: Jan. 23 was designated a testing day for grades 9–12 and a regular instruction day for grades K–8.

Votes on these routine resolutions were taken during the meeting’s consent and action agenda; where roll-call tallies were not read aloud, motions carried with board assent. The district placed several building- and finance-related items on future agendas for additional review (including the transportation RFP for Feb. 4 and the capital project public hearing on Feb. 25).","At the Jan. 23 meeting the Watertown board approved multiple procurement contracts (Gato Flooring agreements), an MOU with the Children’s Home of Jefferson County, personnel actions, donations to school programs, disposal/sale of surplus equipment and a calendar amendment to account for a snow day.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6358957,"Knickerbocker principal highlights reading and behavior pilots; students present Scrub Club",979,101000,1080000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2210561-687b28aa0d1050b16624f4d6cf753468&start=101&end=1080","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2210561-687b28aa0d1050b16624f4d6cf753468/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6358957/New-York/Knickerbocker-principal-highlights-reading-and-behavior-pilots-students-present-Scrub-Club","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358957-7facf39487d5167421971aac1fe5a189/orig.mp4?Expires=1775114805&Signature=gQ-Yt-JnrfPyjDrti7lCmJrPlBEbXEHqG3jvzXCM6NMRilTZ9tT6NtUFcYQCmQvXIpnBKqP2vnO~QEz1dTkDFAZyLlfu7UjV2vVh2n~OjvERTz8R6q0M-EudZTqk8qSxnO9CQhgRSTpvmIHycl4v2uFNJ~9rwg0rXHs8~Ia2i8p8hYN2m-HMcGklEqcr3seoCP6MZ0y6dvlha~mgwdO5IJYqlTdBOCNwdounCKle1SyKOHu8EoX9WtDwsaoGuwdhtHVnzznT3sk6QI4rkauMBV9PY7rKwfGee6fhoOZJZpXCAjZp1tU0S4ieYRz~Esn56pKCNu3Ps0XhL7bV1yJJHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ashley Barnhart Berto, principal at Knickerbocker Elementary School, reviewed building successes and pilot programs during the Jan. 23 board meeting, citing small preliminary gains on fall-to-winter DIBELS benchmarks and several targeted interventions to support reading and behavior.

Barnhart Berto described a tiered behavior support pilot (PBIS Tier 2 check-in/check-out) for about seven students, a PACS self-regulation pilot across 12 classrooms and a planned rollout of a 6-step reading lesson protocol (grade 1–4) supported by the Reading League. She said staff will use shared intervention groupings—pulling the 12 students who need the most intensive support—and rotate remaining students among teachers to match skill needs.

On data, Barnhart Berto said DIBELS results show a mix of students at and below grade level but “early preliminary results of the data are showing small growth.” When board member asked if specific numbers were students or percentages, she clarified that the figures shown were student counts, not percentages.

The board also heard from Scrub Club, an after-school program that teaches children about medical tools and careers. Staff members and second-grade students described fall sessions that included hands-on activities (blood-pressure cuffs, reflex hammers, bandaging) and a field trip to Samaritan Medical Center. Student presenters said the club met twice weekly, tried medical tools, toured the hospital and heard from health-care professionals. The club leaders thanked the board for approving the program and noted that after-school transportation helped make attendance possible.

Barnhart Berto and teachers highlighted school improvements such as a fully fenced playground for student safety, “welcome” entry passes to soften late arrivals, PBIS assemblies that draw families, and hallway curriculum supports tied to the Uply program.

The principal said kindergarten teachers will begin their portion of the 6-step lesson plan after February break and that the district is tracking spring benchmark data for further results. School staff encouraged the board to tour student artwork posted in the building on their way out.

Provenance: The program report and student presentations occurred during the board-and-staff report portion of the meeting.","Knickerbocker Elementary Principal Ashley Barnhart Berto reported early literacy and behavior pilots (6-step lesson plan, PBIS tier 2 check-in/check-out, PACS) and preliminary DIBELS results showing small growth. Second-graders and staff described an after-school Scrub Club that visited Samaritan Medical Center.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reviews transportation RFP; First Student sole bidder proposes five-year contract with higher rates

Watertown district outlines $110 million capital project, urges March 25 vote

Board approves contracts, donations and personnel items; several surplus and calendar items cleared

Knickerbocker principal highlights reading and behavior pilots; students present Scrub Club