[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6486932,"mediaKeyId","5560401-8567908b5d96c7e481ff9db6b78dad45","parentId",5560401,"title","Board approves personnel contracts, leases, vehicle purchases, meal price changes and facility agreements","audioSeconds",301,"startMs",4286000,"endMs",4587000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560401-8567908b5d96c7e481ff9db6b78dad45&start=4286&end=4587","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560401-8567908b5d96c7e481ff9db6b78dad45/thumbnail_4286000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6486932/South-Dakota/Board-approves-personnel-contracts-leases-vehicle-purchases-meal-price-changes-and-facility-agreements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486932-977f56d382088297f84c44fd2a8dad0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775605507&Signature=Ou8wyBxx-ps7JF22WxecbDeH-Q8DS-c6KtiISbmrhZK2Qw9zBq64E2OFudA8XXeHnU-AF1yWm8pe2D-OOa~jHSVFbi7pT2CBF-uAjTRq2VsQNLVxTZQc8LFawz7XMRtGILhXgEhdDpXiImVQMjOjFo~Jj3CmkGu~9zFeM7c8hiZPYIXqdMJKXJTO~gKhwxeBx7iB~jmmg3OCsH98F5e3R9do-fqZk83BC5D4KNtbOWMN-iy-EDtQ0Pd0si-Miqq0icmEvZTMPEeafKjxlTRZy~7KL3BaVfK8c4PDHHbrQVA1nqyRt5qS9D~HAqoV5I17LBr8UKs196bvicimCfLh9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Watertown School District 14-4","date","2025-08-11T14:57:09Z","article","The Watertown School District 14-4 Board of Education on Aug. 11 approved a package of personnel, property and operational items during its regular meeting. Most motions passed by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tally reported in the meeting minutes.

Key board actions (voice votes; motion-by-motion details below):
- Personnel: the board accepted three resignations and approved a set of contract recommendations and addendums for certified and classified staff and adjunct/corporate education instructors.
- Fleet and equipment: the board authorized purchase of a 2021 Ford F-350 from Watertown Ford Chrysler for $51,189 to support the heavy equipment operator program and approved the purchase of two additional pickups (totaling approximately $50,000) budgeted in FY26 fleet funds.
- Leases: the board approved a lease with Greater Plains Company for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) training maneuver site at 3301 Ninth Ave. SW for July 1–May 31, 2026 for $18,924.04; and approved three month-to-month airport hangar leases with the City of Watertown to support the professional pilot program (two hangars at $240/month, one at $175/month).
- Property and facilities: the board approved surplus declaration and sale/trade of a skid loader from the building trades program; approved a park-and-rec facility agreement with the City for $14,500 for 2025–26; and approved Change Order No. 1 on the Lincoln parking lot, deducting $29,334 from a Dunick contract originally priced at $164,005.70.
- Nutrition program prices: to comply with USDA program guidelines the board approved increasing adult meal prices to $5.25 for lunch and $3.25 for breakfast for the 2025–26 school year.
- Other: the board approved fall athletic fundraising (door-to-door arrow-card sales), three open-enrollment student requests, and multiple second-reading policy approvals.

Votes at a glance (motions, movers and seconds as recorded in meeting)
- Approve agenda — Motion by Jean; second by Carrie; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve minutes (07/14/2025) — Motion by Carrie; second by Jean; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Accept resignations (Item 4.1) — Motion to approve; mover not specified in roll text for that motion beyond standard motion; outcome: accepted (voice vote).
- Contract recommendations (personnel) — Motion by Bailey; second by Rochelle; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Authority to purchase fleet vehicles (Item 4.2.1) — Motion by Jean; second by Carrie; outcome: approved (voice vote). Details: 2021 Ford F-350 @ $51,189 (Watertown Ford Chrysler); two additional pickups totaling $50,000 (budgeted FY26).
- Lease — Greater Plains Company (CDL training site, 3301 Ninth Ave SW, 7/1/2025–5/31/2026) — Motion by Carrie; second by Jean; outcome: approved (voice vote); price $18,924.04.
- Airport hangar leases (three month-to-month) — Motion by Jean; second by Carrie; outcome: approved (voice vote); rents $240/mo, $240/mo and $175/mo.
- Surplus property (skid loader) — Motion moved by Carrie; second by Jean; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Approve bills — Motion by Jean; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Contract recommendations and addenda (later, 6.2) — Motion by Rochelle; second by Bailey; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Park & Rec facility agreement ($14,500) — Motion by Carrie; second by Jean; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Change Order No. 1 (Lincoln parking lot: -$29,334) — Motion by Jean; second by Carrie; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Adult meal price change (USDA compliance) — Motion by Carrie; second by Jane; outcome: approved (voice vote). New prices: adult lunch $5.25; adult breakfast $3.25.
- Second readings of policies (multiple items) — Each motion moved and seconded as separate votes; outcomes: approved (voice votes).
- Fall athletic fundraising (arrow cards) — Motion by Jane; second by Carrie; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Open-enrollment requests (three students) — Motion by Rochelle; second by Carrie; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Adjourn — Motion by Jean; second by (record shows standard second); outcome: approved (voice vote).

Notes on vote records: the meeting transcript records voice approvals (“All in favor, say aye”) for each motion; the minutes did not include a roll-call tally or recorded individual yes/no votes in the transcript. Where the mover and seconder were announced in the transcript, they are listed above. If a motion’s mover/second were not specified in the transcript excerpt, the entry lists the meeting phrasing as recorded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Watertown School Board Meeting | 5:30 PM | 8/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","At the meeting the Watertown School District 14-4 board approved multiple routine and substantive items including personnel resignations and hires, fleet purchases to support career programs, lease agreements for training and hangar space, a parking-lot change order, adult meal price increases and fundraising and enrollment items.","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},6486937,"Watertown schools begin multi-year curriculum rollout; social studies adoption prompts staff concern",1989,1068000,3057000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5560401-8567908b5d96c7e481ff9db6b78dad45&start=1068&end=3057","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5560401-8567908b5d96c7e481ff9db6b78dad45/thumbnail_1068000.jpg","/articles/6486937/South-Dakota/Watertown-schools-begin-multi-year-curriculum-rollout-social-studies-adoption-prompts-staff-concern","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486937-fe02e503ece2ba83b781b12fdb551c58/orig.mp4?Expires=1775605507&Signature=ill-~YvEiU1DVULL1GbgoHSjdDWLnqexwoKRWpIQ8-lV0jybhI0T68j9m0VmIGoX~FYmLZMicDU2ENYEDZ-ohB88qWchzroo7u8hT6bBLr2WgN7rqH0TvWDaFJFm4e3DXoZTYXGkJbIBhz2SeSeYWpVVLxYQm7rLiSK7qm9QCpqOe0cZXZPQi7acug7D0iCKu6Za7EmY5FGGatB7mb11Xg5ylu7hYBJCn3Zboh70UNZrjc~000PWLocw~bYdGTb2t4HD0XmPGKR1RlBJSXbVpX9ZGkDi-ILwN0w32YlvngDhQ~vIk1K2gy~-RGTiGI63d6~sxxELDYzR~TWBkz4dpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Watertown School District 14-4 officials on Aug. 11 outlined a multi-year curriculum rollout that will carry major changes in math, social studies and English language arts across the district, and described teacher training and materials purchases intended to support classroom implementation.

The district’s curriculum director, Tricia, told the school board the district follows the state adoption cycle and is aligning purchases and training to a seven-year cycle so materials and professional development cover the life of each adoption. “We try to make the major purchases that will last the life of that adoption,” Tricia said, adding that curricular work includes selection of textbooks/materials, curriculum maps, pacing guides and common assessments.

District leaders said the 2024–25 year was a math implementation year (illustrative math at K–6; McGraw Reveal and ALEKS alignment at secondary); 2025–26 will include a social studies adoption and technology standards work; English language arts will be the next intensive adoption period. Tricia said the district has emphasized the “science of reading” and phonics work at early grades while starting the ELA adoption with writing and vocabulary instruction to get the most immediate classroom impact.

Why it matters: the state social studies standards differ substantially from the district’s prior materials and will change which topics are taught at which grade levels. Tricia described the social studies standards as “significantly different” and said the district is sequencing content to avoid overlap and to ensure depth at each grade. She described plans for “review/preview” monthly teacher meetings to prepare classrooms and reduce implementation burden.

Implementation details and supports
- Elementary: the district plans to use Studies Weekly for K–6 social studies, plus an early childhood/junior kindergarten adaptation and monthly review/preview meetings led by teacher reps and instructional coaches.
- Middle school: course sequencing for U.S. history and world history has shifted; the district held alignment sessions with 7th, 8th and 11th grade teachers to set boundaries and emphasize major concepts.
- High school: the district adjusted course sequences, created an Intro to Statistics, a college-algebra pathway, revised Algebra II, and added a South Dakota Native American Studies course (available for upperclassmen and required for incoming freshmen). The district reported “good response” and multiple sections for new electives.
- Professional development: the district offered summer coursework, workshops, and credit-bearing online classes for staff (including writing, vocabulary, behavior and intervention topics); mentor and SIOP training continued; instructional coaches and curriculum reps will support in-year work.

Board concerns and staff sentiment
Board members pressed for clarity on course offerings and competitiveness with other state high schools. One board member warned that other area districts offer advanced/AP or honors sequences (AP Human Geography, AP World History, honors options) that Watertown will not match under the new universal-standards structure unless enrollment and demand change. Tricia and other staff acknowledged teachers and families are “nervous” about the changes and said the district has drafted a common parent letter describing grade-level focuses and transitions.

On testing, Tiered instruction and interventions
Tricia described the district’s multi-tiered system of support (Tier 1: core instruction for all students; Tier 2: targeted interventions; Tier 3: intensive interventions or special education evaluation). Interventionists met over the summer to align their work with new Tier 1 content to provide timely supports for students who need extra help.

Context and next steps
Tricia said the district will continue the work through the school year, produce sample materials and bring textbook samples for committee review where appropriate, and purchase licenses and training in the budget year allocated to each adoption area. The board will revisit first- and second-reading policy items next month; social studies and ELA material selections and fuller implementation plans will be reported back to the board as they are finalized.

The presentation included references to state and national guidance: the district cited South Dakota Department of Education standards, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (for fiscal reporting context), and recommended teacher resources such as Studies Weekly and the SIRS Discover database for elementary lesson planning. Tricia said the district will keep communicating with families and staff as the rollout proceeds.","District staff described a multi-year curriculum implementation covering math, social studies and English language arts and outlined classroom supports and materials purchases. Board members and staff said social studies changes are substantial and some teachers and community members may be uneasy as the district begins the new school year.","actionData","errors"]

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Board approves personnel contracts, leases, vehicle purchases, meal price changes and facility agreements

Watertown schools begin multi-year curriculum rollout; social studies adoption prompts staff concern