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 overall childcare capacity, and impose new costs on taxpayers.

Multiple parents and early-childhood professionals described the potential consequences. “Displacing over 30 children that are seeking preschool services with the Treehouse would be a massive disservice to the community,” said Rachel Thomas, identifying herself as a Watertown resident and early childhood professional. “Losing wraparound care would severely harm our ability to continue to work.”

Anthony Doldo, reading a press release on behalf of Assemblyman Greg Gray, said Gray “is calling on the Watertown City School District Board of Education to reconsider its pending decision to reallocate universal pre-k slots away from trusted community based organizations” and warned the shift could “destabilize full day services” and increase long-term taxpayer costs.

Emma Boyce, a parent and special education teacher, told the board that community-based providers “do way more than just oversee the classrooms,” citing family connections and supports the Treehouse provides. Several CBO teachers and directors, including a representative from Head Start, said the RFP process lacked clarity and that rates offered by the district are insufficient to run high-quality full-day programs.

Board discussion and district response: Several board members and district staff said the RFP awarded partnership status to the highest-scoring vendors but acknowledged community frustration about timing, physical classroom availability and reimbursement rates. Superintendent Dr. Larry Schmeigel told the board that the district is constrained by building space, contractual staffing limits and legal requirements; he said any change to the RFP or reimbursement rates would require restarting the public procurement process.

A public commenter referenced a FOIL request and said “there were no scores” available; the district legal representative said legal staff would follow up. Dr. Schmeigel and other board members said district administrators will continue to seek additional community spaces, press state officials for higher reimbursement rates, and work with providers to find solutions.

What the board approved and what remains unresolved: The board’s action approved partner organizations eligible to operate UPK in partnership with the district. The resolution did not specify how many classroom slots or which exact classroom locations each partner would receive; district staff said allocations and any use of district space will be determined administratively and reported back to the community. Several speakers and at least one board member said they would have preferred a pause to re-run the process or further community discussion before awards were finalized.

Public-record issues and next steps: Multiple speakers asked the district to release evaluation scores and procurement documents; the board asked legal staff to respond to those requests. Board members said the district will continue advocacy with state officials regarding UPK reimbursement rates and will explore whether the district can lease or repurpose additional space for pre-K programming.

Ending: The vote concludes the board’s formal selection of partner providers under the RFP. Community members and several board members signaled they will press for additional transparency and for district efforts to preserve community wraparound care while the administrative allocation of classroom slots and funding details are finalized.