Watertown board approves universal pre-K partners after heated public comment over slot reallocations

The Watertown City School District Board of Education voted to award universal pre-K (UPK) program partnerships to eight community-based organizations following an RFP process, amid public objections about reallocating classroom slots to district-run programs.

The board approved the list of approved partners as read into the record by district staff: Little Luke's Child Care Center; Watertown Family YMCA; Facility Student Association of Jefferson County (Jefferson Campus Care); Community Action Planning Council (CAPC); First Step Daycare, Inc.; Bright Beginnings Early Learning Center (ARC of Jefferson–St. Lawrence); New Day Children's Center; and The Treehouse Child Care Center. The motion passed on a roll call that recorded Tina: yes; Randy: no; Foley: yes; Jason: abstain; Melanie: yes; (one additional yes recorded). The motion passed and the resolution was adopted.

Why it mattered: Parents, teachers and local officials urged the board to preserve community providers' UPK slots and criticized the district for perceived lack of transparency and process. Speakers said moving slots into district control would reduce wraparound care, shrink…