Board approves retirements, resignations, hires and at least one leave of absence

The Watertown School District 14-4 Board approved multiple personnel actions at its May 13 meeting, including a retirement, a slate of resignations, contract recommendations for new hires and a requested leave of absence tied to association leadership duties.

The board accepted one listed retirement (a staff member identified as Joan in the meeting record) and approved a variety of resignations presented on the board’s personnel list; the administration noted an additional resignation (Ashley Holloway) that should be considered part of the packet. The board also approved a set of contract recommendations that included classroom hires and the appointment of Aaron Kanowski as assistant principal at the intermediate school; staff noted several hires derived from the district’s pair-to-teacher program.

The board approved a requested leave of absence for a staff member who is in line to assume the presidency of the South Dakota Education Association (SDEA) after the current president announced an early departure; administration said the leave is covered by an existing memorandum of understanding with the local association.

Board members discussed alternative-education staffing and social-studies curriculum concerns raised during the personnel discussion; one board member asked for additional staffing for Arrow Success Academy (the district’s alternative/at-risk program) and pressed for coordination between English and social-studies curriculum during upcoming revisions.

Ending: Human Resources will process retirements, finalize new contracts and implement the approved leave in accordance with the MOU.