Watertown school board sets March 25 capital-project vote, approves transport contract and related measures

The Watertown City School District Board of Education voted Wednesday to advance a proposed capital project toward a voter referendum and approved several routine district matters, including transportation contracts and election staffing for the March ballot.

In a series of motions taken without roll-call tallies, the board adopted a resolution issuing a negative declaration under the CFRA type 1 review for the district's proposed capital project and authorized the superintendent or designee to file the paperwork with the appropriate agencies. The board also approved a bond-resolution and scheduled two public hearings on the proposal at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 (Watertown High School library) and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 (District Office conference room). The district set the capital-project vote for Tuesday, March 25, 2025, from noon to 10 p.m., to be held at Watertown High School and North Elementary School.

On the same consent/board-action portion of the agenda the board approved awarding the district's transportation RFPs to First Student, Incorporated. The award covers home-to-school and out-of-district runs, truancy and detention runs, athletic trips, field trips, and summer transportation, according to the resolution presented to the board.

The board also approved a slate of routine personnel and administrative items, including: certifications and appointments (resignations, retirements, leaves of absence and non-instructional and substitute appointments), certification of the superintendent as a lead evaluator for principals under state rules, appointment of extracurricular advisors, an interim daily compensation rate for an interim home services director, and an increase in election-inspector pay for the March 25 vote.

Board members discussed election logistics for the March 25 vote and confirmed the district will obtain an updated voter/resident list from the county before the election, will allow on-site district-only registration under the district's continuous-enrollment policy, and will deploy additional voting machines at the high school to handle anticipated traffic during a same-day music event.

Why it matters: The actions move a multi-million-dollar capital project from planning to a public vote. The transportation award sets the district's pupil-transport arrangements for the coming years and includes provisions the board discussed as relevant to future vehicle choices and fleet planning.

Votes at a glance - CFRA type 1 / negative declaration for proposed capital project — approved (motion carried, voice vote). Referenced law/provisions: Education Law (publication and hearing requirements). - Bond resolution authorizing a voter referendum on proposed capital project (vote date March 25, 2025) — approved (motion carried, voice vote). - Two public hearings scheduled (Feb. 25 and March 4, 2025) and vote logistics set (March 25, 2025; locations specified) — approved (motion carried). - Award of transportation RFPs to First Student, Incorporated (contracts and terms attached to RFPs) — approved (motion carried, voice vote). - Increase in election inspector rates to $15.50/hr and $16.50/hr for chief inspector effective for March 25 vote — approved (motion carried). - Appointment of election inspectors for March 25 vote (named appointees listed in board action) — approved (motion carried). - Certification of superintendent as lead evaluator for principals (annual professional performance review plan) — approved (motion carried). - Interim home services director daily compensation set at $385/day for May 6–May 30, 2025 — approved (motion carried). - Approvals of resignations, retirements, leaves, and appointments across instructional and noninstructional categories — approved (motion carried). - Approval of extracurricular co-advisors for Watertown High School Class of 2028 — approved (motion carried). - Acceptance of a donation (450 cookies valued at $125) from Starch Cafe State Street for a district event — accepted (motion carried).

What the board said: Most items were presented by district staff as routine to implement board direction. Board members asked for clarifications about voter lists and registration procedures and confirmed steps to speed voting at the high school by adding voting machines.

Next steps: The district will publish and post notices as required under state law for the hearings and the March 25 vote, coordinate election inspectors and machines, and file the negative declaration with the designated agencies.