[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6604634,"mediaKeyId","2987490-01f92a342c7d18914a5feb7df7eba7ca","parentId",2987490,"title","Watertown School District board approves personnel moves, contracts, construction changes and vendor bids","audioSeconds",4755,"startMs",175000,"endMs",4930000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987490-01f92a342c7d18914a5feb7df7eba7ca&start=175&end=4930","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987490-01f92a342c7d18914a5feb7df7eba7ca/thumbnail_175000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6604634/South-Dakota/Watertown-School-District-board-approves-personnel-moves-contracts-construction-changes-and-vendor-bids","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604634-3e9fed8f2ba8eb48574f8567ca967c37/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141793&Signature=XFEYB5d5GFjhMaOWoC65zE3137fwrLAmFoxNwPStdVQtMkODDjqtExeGjOxtSFmWZ5gImbjGkjRCt7-9GzPnbxj4c5vJ8ir5jFs~dXHywdmz8wUHiepSXde2UM7rY-pywRA4ME30qxTDFBbgcQ4E1dBrdAZQL4jaaRf-5ZXiNkEPlbUnLnw5tdWvh2AcrbrGYrjk98orNrQ1g8Op~0VIhhAJ3yzERuEQNsFL7JYiu4YjRcNk~wajSmi9WSFVICow2~jmLQ0AvsHiAJnEDX1ab4FZAyCv78iJqyiL~pByEIUozZgqpcRWRR3Ogrxkvf31JZX0pXhgEUyKeSJ6mNW9KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Watertown School District 14-4","date","2025-04-15T00:20:53.077Z","article","The Watertown School District 14‑4 board approved a slate of routine and project‑related actions during its April meeting, including personnel retirements and resignations, equipment purchases and leases, construction change orders and vendor contract awards.

Key formal actions approved (motions, movers/seconds when recorded, and outcomes):

- Agenda approval (with amendment that no action would follow executive session because negotiations were incomplete). Motion recorded and approved (mover: Iverson; second: Carrie; outcome: approved).

- Minutes of March meetings approved. (Motion by Laura; second by Rossman. Outcome: approved.)

- Personnel actions: retirements for Kim Diaz and Amber Case approved (motion by Rossman; second by Iverson). Multiple resignations and three non‑renewals were also approved; motions listed movers and seconds in the record and votes were approved.

- Contract recommendations and addendums (part‑time, temporary and adjunct contracts; mentor teacher apprenticeship; family support specialist hires and administrative moves) were approved (motion and second recorded; outcome: approved).

- Surgical technology construction: six change order modifications to address a main sewer line and piping were approved. The board packet reported the six changes total $15,967, bringing the project contingency to $255,884 and the surgical tech remodel cost to $981,380. (Motion: not specified; outcome: approved.)

- Strategic Advisory Council appointment: Corey Ravenberg, chief of staff for Summit Contracting, was appointed to the Strategic Advisory Council for a term through March 2028 (motion by Iverson; second by Laura; outcome: approved).

- Equipment and facilities actions:
• Motorized overhead crane system for the building trades program approved at a bid price of $225,000 (funded with state grant dollars). (Motion by Iverson; second by Rossman; outcome: approved.)
• Resolution to surplus an aligner with sensors (auto program equipment beyond useful life) approved. (Motion by Iverson; second by Loewer; outcome: approved.)
• Six low‑cost equipment lease agreements (heavy equipment operator and ag equipment) with Transsource and Titan Machinery were approved to support instruction (motion by Iverson; second by Rossman; outcome: approved).

- Johnson Controls HVAC/installation contract: the board approved an installation contract of $1,400,000. Previously approved equipment contract was $278,000; together the approvals bring the project total to $1,700,000 — noted as $428,000 below the previously estimated not‑to‑exceed price of $2,100,000. (Motion by Iverson; second by Laura; outcome: approved.)

- Athletic facility change order: Change Order No. 5 added $89,000 to a field/athletic project for conduit rerouting, concessions casework and minor sprinkler/door adjustments; the construction contingency was reduced to $433,000 and the adjusted contract was reported as $10,900,000. (Motion by Iverson; second by Rossman; outcome: approved.)

- Vendor bid awards: Prairie Farms (dairy products) and Bimbo Bakeries (bakery products) were approved as vendors for the 2025–26 school year (motions recorded; outcomes: approved).

- SDHSAA membership resolution for 2025–26 was approved (motion recorded; outcome: approved).

- Several board policy second readings (BCA, BCB, BDD, BE Scribe, GBGR employee criminal background check edits) were approved as presented.

- Calendar revision: district end of school date was moved up by one day to Thursday, May 22 (motion by Laura; second by Rossman; outcome: approved). The change reflects use of one of the two built‑in snow days.

- Open enrollments: eight kindergarten open‑enrollment requests for next school year were approved (motion by Rossman; outcome: approved).

- The board concluded business and moved into executive session on a recorded motion (motion by Iverson; second by Laura).

Where the record did not name a mover or provide a full vote roll call, the minutes show unanimous “Aye” responses; the board noted four members present with one calling in. No contested roll‑call tallies were recorded in the meeting text provided.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Watertown School Board Meeting | 5:30 PM | 4/14/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Watertown School District 14‑4 board approved personnel actions, equipment purchases and construction change orders at its April meeting, including a $1.7 million Johnson Controls project total and multiple vendor and lease agreements.","taxTitle","Watertown School District 14-4, School Districts, South Dakota","taxId",65997,"location","South Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6604640,"Watertown district outlines ESL screening, instruction and migrant program; about 140 students now enrolled in ESL",580,3138000,3718000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987490-01f92a342c7d18914a5feb7df7eba7ca&start=3138&end=3718","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987490-01f92a342c7d18914a5feb7df7eba7ca/thumbnail_3138000.jpg","/articles/6604640/South-Dakota/Watertown-district-outlines-ESL-screening-instruction-and-migrant-program-about-140-students-now-enrolled-in-ESL","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604640-a5044f84f2701bb750aa2df5eaedbb00/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141793&Signature=GW3FS8m0WxdMCj7yWuKYCWeGoG9VQOtVUBbHjJW60J3B~EKT3JyN-l1CMYowAnhvSVLQk9S0rXyT5Xh5a9efIV91IPWWUbjGzCy5MRXWakuWeDU5e073s9rsPKMKl3nOUliRe8LtvGY-voKP6mIby9bASZmjIX39BzGJ7UjgHXYmxQry8F9JGy5T2H2pjzvUaTGq4qQZNeN1SwXFZDZsGI1QnxaRrFC0FwP1~Mws2Htabq8TqwfzUHECarXApyv579NifqJldQqV6dxXrk8xVPHVsQK5EY7XPazRn79M9WReVKNVAS459RXrOwdcz5aM-MiovrwZ8KUq8sm0UmdEdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Becca Briggs, principal at Lincoln Elementary and director of English as a Second Language (ESL) for Watertown School District 14‑4, presented an overview of the district’s ESL and migrant programs, including identification, instruction, staffing and exit criteria.

Briggs explained the district’s screening process: every student who registers completes a home‑language survey and those who indicate another primary language are screened in listening, reading, writing and speaking. \"We provide a home language survey,\" Briggs said, noting kindergarteners are screened only for listening and speaking in their first semester. If a student does not score a 5 or above on the screener they are placed in the ESL program.

She said the district currently has about 140 students qualified as English learners spread across grades and sites (Lincoln Elementary, intermediate, middle and high school, plus Sunrise Colony). The district has three full‑time ESL‑endorsed teachers and paraprofessionals who support classroom instruction. Briggs described \"sheltered\" classes at the high school (sheltered English and sheltered Algebra 1 this year, with sheltered geometry to be added), where content teachers tailor instruction and scaffolds for lower‑proficiency students.

On assessment and exit criteria, Briggs said the district administers the statewide ACCESS English proficiency test each February (listening, reading, writing, speaking). Students must score a 5 or above to exit; recently an alternate pathway was added that allows a combined exit with an ACCESS score of 4 plus a qualifying Smarter Balanced ELA score. Briggs said some newcomers or students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE) can take five to seven years to reach exit criteria.

Briggs also described the migrant program, which is administratively separate from ESL. Migrant status applies to students (ages 3–21) who move within a three‑year window for agricultural work; the district currently has about 15 migrant students. She outlined the Department of Education eligibility interview (Certificate of Eligibility) used to confirm migrant status, and noted many locally identified migrant students eventually disqualify after three years because the regional agricultural work patterns differ from those in states with seasonal harvest migrations.

Briggs said ACCESS results will be available May 6 and the district will review which students exited the ESL program. Board members asked clarifying questions; Briggs answered and the board received the report.","Director Becca Briggs described the district's English‑learner screening process, instructional approaches (sheltered instruction/SIOP), testing and exit criteria, and the migrant student identification process; the district reported about 140 English learners and 15 current migrant students.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6604644,"Lake Area Technical College unveils ambitious 10‑year Master Campus Plan, estimates $100–$120 million cost",3057,1492000,4549000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987490-01f92a342c7d18914a5feb7df7eba7ca&start=1492&end=4549","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987490-01f92a342c7d18914a5feb7df7eba7ca/thumbnail_1492000.jpg","/articles/6604644/South-Dakota/Lake-Area-Technical-College-unveils-ambitious-10year-Master-Campus-Plan-estimates-100120-million-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604644-a4a1d75342ef224e8421f8dd0337648a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141793&Signature=NjUFjEtQhuJBUEhFuqSa09Bircm8w1nscwbtkmch~bQ2hTeRFIu10UszAJjJ7Nb8GcIiMOs-wtO9scsJUHQ1Grr7z8gaz804mtVyUT9OtSF36k8d8pSqNzUoEHRgU5zmf91GCzYqWw0pY1Rc9BGFw9z402Era3sPyVqWmrB5oh62zFlJgNPC-ITUHGhMc2KsHtLA0YsmbGHjAWWuz7fQFZjjrL~IxCwR5Ct89R5xtH4uFiN-bp~Yn-AmbU2RTXvuwURZkSH7k~C4Pzj51da~hguPdGaBuLh-4AFsyzAmC8QsW17L5tDGywC-5t7bMGS6pKw6TJ8VbROFYpSfE~uOww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","President Sanderson, president of Lake Area Technical College, presented the college’s 10‑year Master Campus Plan (through 2035) to the Watertown School District board, outlining phased construction and renovation projects aimed at expanding technical lab space and student services.

The proposal seeks to align campus facilities with regional workforce needs and grow enrollment. \"The estimate, to construct facilities to expand our opportunity to grow our graduate number and to address maintenance needs across campus is ballpark somewhere in the $100 to $120,000,000 range,\" President Sanderson said. He told the board the plan is ambitious and will require multiple funding sources and sequencing to be feasible.

The plan emphasizes five phased projects and additional opportunistic projects that can occur in any order. Early-stage actions include replacing an aging maintenance/cold‑storage “red shed,” locating a centralized Student Services Center in the 500 Building, and relocating computer information systems programs into the Archway and the 900 Building to free space for renovation. A major proposed move is removing the 200 Building (built in 1987) and replacing it with a Public Safety Training Center to house programs such as medic/fire/rescue, law enforcement, an associate of social work, and childcare technician programs. The proposal also includes a Construction Trades Center, expanded aviation technical space, program hubs for student study and activities, and measures to improve campus safety (lighting, crosswalks, parking).

Sanderson said the plan is intended to support a long‑term enrollment target of about 3,400 students by the end of the 2030–2035 period, which the college estimates would increase annual graduates. He noted the recent record enrollment (2,707 students in January) and said the college seeks steady growth in both traditional‑age and adult students. On student fees and facility ownership, Sanderson explained that student maintenance fee structure will change after July 1: \"$8 per credit at the state level after July 1 and $1 locally,\" with the $8 earmarked for state‑owned facilities and the $1 for locally owned buildings.

Sanderson described funding as the next step: the college must identify grant, state, and local funding sources and sequence projects according to availability. He said there is no finalized timeline and that costs will rise if projects are delayed. He stood by for board questions following the presentation; no formal board action on the plan was taken at the meeting.

The board and presenters emphasized that the plan balances new construction with deferred‑maintenance needs, and that private partnerships (for student housing) and state grants will be important to execution.

Next steps described by Sanderson include assembling funding scenarios, refining phasing, and coordinating with industry partners and donors to match program growth with labor market needs.","President Sanderson presented a phased 10‑year Master Campus Plan for Lake Area Technical College to expand labs, centralize student services and grow enrollment, with a ballpark construction estimate of $100–$120 million and no funding package yet finalized.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Watertown School District board approves personnel moves, contracts, construction changes and vendor bids

Watertown district outlines ESL screening, instruction and migrant program; about 140 students now enrolled in ESL

Lake Area Technical College unveils ambitious 10‑year Master Campus Plan, estimates $100–$120 million cost