Parents demand transparency after Case Middle School art materials; board approves paid administrative leave

Members of the public pressed the Watertown City School District Board of Education on student safety and transparency after parents said students at Case Middle School were exposed to sexually explicit images shown in an art class.

At the board’s Oct. meeting, several speakers described middle-school students as uncomfortable and shaken after classroom material they said was inappropriate for 11- and 12-year-olds was shown over several weeks. “Parents and students deserve to know what review and approval processes were in place for this material,” said Jesse Roberts, a resident, who reminded the board of the oath each member took to protect students.

The parents’ calls for accountability included a specific demand for termination. “Administrative leave is a temporary measure used to pause or investigate, but the facts are here,” said Stephanie Boyanski, who identified herself as a parent of students in the district. “This is a line that must not be crossed when it comes to safety, dignity, and psychological well-being of our children.” Heather Trainham, a Watertown graduate and parent, said the teacher had “prior knowledge of the explicit nature” of the images and that alternatives (blocking the site, changing the lesson) were available but not used.

Kevin Todd, president of the Watertown Education Association and a district teacher, urged the board to follow due process and current law. “Under state and federal law, the district must conduct a full and fair investigation,” Todd said. He warned against treating unverified online claims as fact and said employee privacy rights limit what the district can disclose.

The board also took formal action on personnel. The Board of Education approved a resolution placing an instructional employee on paid administrative leave effective Sept. 23, 2025. The resolution was moved and seconded during the meeting and was adopted after the board voted “all those in favor… Motion carries.” The board did not provide a public roll-call tally during the meeting transcript. The resolution text presented to the board reads: “Resolved that upon the recommendation of [the] superintendent of schools, the paid administrative leave of an instructional employee effective 09/23/2025 is hereby approved.”

Speakers and members of the community repeatedly called for clearer district policies and more timely communication to families after incidents occur. “Transparency is not an option, not when it comes to our children,” said Chris O’Neil, a community member who also published reporting on the incident; he urged the board to release information the public has asked for rather than forcing families to use FOIL requests.

Several commenters emphasized protections for both students and staff. Paula Fiesmal, a resident who has previously raised concerns about transparency, pointed out perceived inconsistencies in how speakers were allowed to name staff members and said community trust is eroding when the board does not provide clear statements about whether policies were violated.

The board did not discuss the specifics of the personnel investigation in open session. Multiple speakers noted that state and federal privacy laws, district procedures, and collective bargaining rules constrain what the district may disclose about personnel investigations, an argument made by Kevin Todd on behalf of the teachers’ union.

The board did not announce a timetable for releasing further information about the investigation during the meeting. Members who spoke later thanked community members for their feedback and said they take comments seriously; one board member asked a commenter to email outstanding questions so the member could respond.

Ending: The district’s superintendent and board indicated the matter is under review in accordance with applicable procedures; parents and community members in attendance said they will continue to press for more transparency and clearer safeguards for classroom material. The board’s explicit approval of paid administrative leave was the only formal action tied to personnel discussed in public session during this agenda item.