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Community providers warn Watertown’s plan to run two 4410 preschool classrooms could shrink local UPK slots
Summary
Community‑based preschool providers told the Watertown board they were not consulted and that low district reimbursement rates plus program competition risk losing hundreds of community UPK slots; providers urged collaboration instead of district‑run expansion.
Community providers and early‑childhood operators criticized the district’s budget plan to add two district‑run 4410 (preschool special‑education) classrooms, saying the proposal was shared with the board but not coordinated with long‑standing community partners. Lynn Petrovski, CEO of ARC Jefferson of St. Lawrence, told the board, “I would invite anyone from the the board to come visit our program at 420 Gaffney Drive and witness firsthand the diversity and the endless opportunities that we offer to our students.”
Why it matters: Watertown has historically contracted its UPK (Universal Pre‑K) slots to community based organizations (CBOs). Providers say district reimbursement for UPK slots has not risen in a decade, while required program standards and staff costs have increased, creating an unsustainable financial model for CBOs that risks closures or loss of UPK capacity in the city.
What providers said: Representatives from the ARC Jefferson and Treehouse Child Care Center told the board they were surprised and dismayed to learn the district was proposing two district‑run 4410 classrooms. “Childcare in our community and pre k as we've known it for the last few decades is in danger,” Manny Burt, owner and CEO of Treehouse Child Care Center, said in public comment. Providers asked the board to increase CBO reimbursement by a proposed 15% this year and to commit to annual increases thereafter; they said the district’s current rates are “60 to 90% lower than the fair market rate.”
District response and process: District officials said they are conducting an RFP process and that state allocations and guidance influence how UPK is funded and structured. Administrators noted the district plans to add related‑service staff (OT, PT, speech, school psychologist) who would serve the new classrooms and also help reduce related‑service wait lists for other district students. The administration also emphasized the board’s legal authority to operate district‑run UPK and described the additions as a response to increased local need.
Board reaction and next steps: Several board members said community partners should have been more involved; one board member said she “felt tricked” when the proposal appeared at a prior meeting. Board members asked administrators to clarify whether the district‑run rooms would displace CBO slots, how enrollment would be prioritized, and whether the district could fund partner increases. Administrators said some details remain in the application and RFP stages and that final implementation would depend on the May 20 budget vote and state approvals.
Ending: Providers urged collaboration rather than competition. ARC Jefferson’s Petrovski asked the district to “optimize community resources that we already share,” while district leaders said they would continue the RFP process and pursue state approval and funding. The public vote on May 20 will determine whether the budget that funds the district‑run classrooms moves forward.
