[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":55,"_73":55},"mediaId",6087958,"mediaKeyId","2886422-40a8e71a4f82aa4d9c69992f2ae7fe25","parentId",2886422,"title","Watertown board approves security ballot proposition, capital-reserve increase and other routine measures","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5487750,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2886422-40a8e71a4f82aa4d9c69992f2ae7fe25&start=5487&end=5487","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2886422-40a8e71a4f82aa4d9c69992f2ae7fe25/thumbnail_5487750.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6087958/New-York/Watertown-board-approves-security-ballot-proposition-capital-reserve-increase-and-other-routine-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087958-72bceb286692f380b8de52aef0a580af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176069&Signature=P-LtsVPZAm4EVtRyN-y47CYYvbtMd9JFY620U5YZ5q6gMS7249s8szf4z~uGl6Setl5a-etnA7RG3BYrqGqSilk958RgmcAIBT8xGB5Hc6Nbhh1r6WbQTWaZECeV778AQt1JbjE9gCHt71AP-Gnl6bUQBYz4SLci6j4OKc6~0u1H3cY9IoIPc6GfWwsxfkGf17j98gW51O5HP0tasYk2EAeo2r-O7iombSRfk3oZjYWC5tdCsqgX96gAPUOEZ4pMlidVpbdECinR1duv~bd54EKRiI6hXjeg9jXTOb18x7WXUSHxoINMwY-J2dQGB4bs5i9E8tKdE3BEaGcCS~8Uig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-05T16:37:08.867Z","article","The Watertown City School District Board of Education voted to place a security upgrades proposition on the May 20 ballot, approved increasing the district's capital reserve authorization, scheduled the public hearing and budget vote, and approved several routine contracts, studies and appointments.

Security proposition: The board resolved to place a proposition on the May 20, 2025 ballot authorizing up to $500,000 for security system upgrades, including purchases such as open-gate metal-detection units and a handheld radio system, with funding to come from the district's IT reserve fund. The resolution to put the question on the ballot passed; the board clarified that this vote was to place the proposition before voters rather than to expend funds directly. Administration noted some radio purchases may receive partial transportation aid (transportation-related units are roughly 90% aidable), but radios themselves are not entirely aidable.

Capital reserve increase: The board approved amending a previously authorized capital reserve proposition, increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 so the district may capture interest earnings on reserve funds and maintain flexibility for future building work after the current $110,000,000 project. The motion passed unanimously.

Election scheduling and canvass: The board set the annual public hearing for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, and scheduled the budget vote for May 20, 2025, between noon and 9 p.m. at Watertown High School and North Elementary. The board also accepted the canvass of the March 5, 2025 capital project vote: Proposition 1 passed with 678 yes votes and 138 no votes, per the inspectors' reports delivered to the clerk.

Other approvals and appointments: The board approved a Franklin Hamilton BOCES feasibility study on district-owned versus contracted buses for $8,321.06; authorized a facilities-use agreement with the Watertown Family YMCA through June 30, 2026; affirmed the nomination of William Miller for Area 5 Director with the New York State School Boards Association; and approved the appointment of Michael Platt as per diem director of facilities, effective April 1, 2025, at $150 per day.

What the board did not finalize: Placing the security proposition on the ballot does not authorize spending; actual purchases would follow voter approval (if adopted) and standard procurement. Board members discussed recurring costs of radio systems (replacement batteries, annual software/maintenance fees) and suggested voters and the community be informed of ongoing cost implications.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/01/2025 WCSD BOE Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Watertown City School District Board approved placing a $500,000 security upgrades proposition on the May ballot, increased the capital reserve fund authorization, scheduled the budget hearing and vote, and approved several district contracts and appointments; the board also recorded canvas results from the March capital-project vote.","taxTitle","WATERTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",49388,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6087963,"Watertown board upholds superintendent; retains 'I Am Leo' in eighth-grade health curriculum",5284,54870,5339185,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2886422-40a8e71a4f82aa4d9c69992f2ae7fe25&start=54&end=5339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2886422-40a8e71a4f82aa4d9c69992f2ae7fe25/thumbnail_54870.jpg","/articles/6087963/New-York/Watertown-board-upholds-superintendent-retains-I-Am-Leo-in-eighth-grade-health-curriculum","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087963-158d211b61d6df296095b9a8c944d85a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176069&Signature=KCEjfQ1snVVxRRUTTEvRTaFW0rDqK8U1wB15u2rAqmtJd7zNFwhcoKa3p08C7k2QWzCCqrgC9zBcrMgnePszvvA6kkOZH8mG0SYwQtmlslrw6aLefSaEELbjgNHhJCMWJRnYUOYsjJWmoBFtN9ob2aIbvxpiLwn7yGu6EZGwyFwfoxhTFje3REdx9CRTGimK5UeVvCi5VI4x9xLGCQ8OvPvvH35L01lAY9gScjM9s05nV4kpDqlQYUk1SQiDkIGh2PMftTXjhDfk1AtulpDOogpT2cO4tZkxHlA~o6L6ouA0nmII8zgYJmduEQPVmS8gq0IDbH-e6Ng70TDIJxjwWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Watertown City School District Board of Education voted to uphold the superintendent's decision to retain the article \"I Am Leo\" in the eighth-grade health curriculum after reviewing the review committee record and the superintendent's written decision.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment for and against the assignment, and extended board discussion focused as much on whether the district followed its own review procedure as on the content of the article. Board member Millie Smith cast the lone dissent, saying the district did not follow policy in handling the complaint.

Why it matters: the item put classroom representation of transgender students, the district's curriculum-review process and the board's role as an appellate reviewer squarely before the public. Supporters argued the material supports inclusion and mental-health prevention; opponents and a dissenting board member raised procedural concerns and objections to specific language in the assignment and its accompanying quiz.

Public comments: Several parents and community members urged the board to keep the lesson. Ebony Holmes, a parent, told the board the district must \"place dignity, inclusion, and respect at the center\" of educational decisions and asked trustees to \"show these students by their vote that they matter.\" Ryan Pitomi, a community member and district rebranding volunteer, said removing the assignment would be \"an act of erasure.\" Janelle Michael Hooper, a licensed clinical social worker, said, \"Lessons like I Am Leo are nothing short of suicide prevention.\" Opponents, including Annie Horton, argued the material should be left to parents and said surrounding districts are not using the assignment.

Board review and debate: The record shows a community member filed a challenge to the assignment; the district convened a review committee under Board policy 8.302 and Regulation 8.302.1, which recommended retaining the materials. The superintendent reviewed that report and issued a written decision to retain the material. The community member appealed the superintendent's decision to the board, which sits as an appellate body limited to the record before it.

During discussion, a board member who voted No said the committee did not offer the complainant an informal conference and did not address the specific objections in the complaint (including concerns about \"indoctrination,\" certain quiz items tied to the reading, and the opportunity to make an oral presentation to the committee). The speaker said the original complaint was filed Oct. 17 and that the appeal reached the board on April 1, citing the time elapsed as part of the procedural concerns.

Vote and formal action: Pursuant to board policy and the record before it, the board adopted a resolution to uphold the superintendent's decision to retain the challenged materials in the eighth-grade health curriculum. In roll call, the majority voted to uphold; Board member Millie Smith voted No.

What the board did not do: The board acted as an appellate reviewer and did not remand the decision back to the review committee or instruct removal of the material. No new curricular removal or restrictions were adopted at the meeting.

Looking ahead: Board members said they will review language in policy 8.302 and Regulation 8.302.1 to clarify the role of optional informal meetings so future complainants have clearer expectations about the process.

","After public comment and extended debate over process, the Watertown City School District Board of Education voted to uphold the superintendent's decision to keep the 'I Am Leo' article in the eighth-grade health curriculum; one board member dissented, citing procedural lapses under board policy 8.302.","actionData","errors"]

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Watertown board approves security ballot proposition, capital-reserve increase and other routine measures

Watertown board upholds superintendent; retains 'I Am Leo' in eighth-grade health curriculum