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Board approves settlements, regionalization attestation, personnel and policy items; list of votes
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Summary
The board approved settlements, personnel actions, a regionalization attestation and multiple policy and operational items in a single meeting; vote outcomes were recorded as adopted in open session.
The Watertown City School District Board of Education approved a slate of resolutions during its meeting, including two legal settlements, a regionalization attestation, personnel appointments and changes, policy updates, and a memorandum of agreement establishing a student extracurricular wellness coach.
Key votes “at a glance”:
- Settlement (agenda Item A): The board approved a settlement in connection with index number EF2021-1990 and authorized the transfer of $250,000 from the district’s liability reserve fund and $150,000 from the general fund for payment in connection with the settlement. The board authorized the Board president to execute the settlement. Motion carried.
- Settlement (agenda Item B): The board approved a settlement in connection with index number EF202100001988 and authorized the transfer of $1,750,000 from the district’s liability reserve fund for payment in connection with the settlement. Motion carried.
- Regionalization attestation (Item C): The board approved a regionalization attestation and directed the superintendent to sign and submit the district’s attestation to the BOCES district superintendent. The resolution referenced section 124-2.5 of the Commissioner’s regulations and preserved the district’s right to request amendments to participation in regional initiatives. Motion carried.
- Personnel report and related approvals (Items D, E, G, I): The board approved a comprehensive personnel report including resignations, retirements, leaves, appointments (probationary and nonprobationary), Cyclone Academy staffing, tutors and substitutes. The board approved an amendment changing a part‑time instructional science teacher’s FTE from 0.39 to 0.44 and granted tenure to Lynn Bates (elementary) effective 10/04/2025 and Aaron Kinsella (social studies) effective 10/19/2025. The board approved an extension of a probationary period for an instructional employee to 10/12/2026 under a dated agreement. Motions carried.
- Paid administrative leave (Item F): The board approved paid administrative leave of an instructional employee effective 09/23/2025 (see separate article). Motion carried.
- Memorandum of agreement (Item H): The board approved an MOA with the Watertown Educational Association in effect through 06/30/2026 regarding a student extracurricular wellness coach stipend and role description integrating evidence‑based mental‑health practices with extracurricular participation. The board noted the position stemmed from the Superintendent’s Advisory Council. Motion carried.
- Policies and regulations (Item J): The board adopted revised policy 46.01 (use of credit cards) and regulation 4,504.1 (expense reimbursement regulation). Motion carried.
- Extracurricular advisor appointment (Item K): The board approved Dee Shearer as extracurricular advisor for the newly created Educators Rising at Watertown High School. Motion carried.
- Textbook and library disposals (Items L–O): The board approved disposal, recycling or donation of outdated and unused textbooks and library books from multiple district sites (Knickerbocker Elementary, Watertown High School, Case Middle School, H.T. Wiley Intermediate School) as presented. Motions carried.
- Donations and educational trips (Items P–Q): The board accepted donations from Scholastico Educational Consulting to support Case Middle School’s Get Ready Room and approved several educational trips, including a trip for roughly 180 students to Genesee County Village coordinated with the Daisy Marquis Foundation. Motions carried.
How the votes were taken: For most items the meeting transcript records a motion, a second, and the chair’s call for “All those in favor? Any opposed?” followed by “Motion carries.” The transcript does not include full roll‑call tallies for each item, and when specific vote counts were not read aloud the report below records the outcomes as adopted. If the board provides a roll‑call tally in minutes posted afterward, those numbers should be used for an official vote record.
Ending: The board concluded its recorded resolutions and moved to non‑agenda public comment, continuing a meeting that combined program updates, public concerns and routine governance actions.
