Watertown School Board approves contracts, fees and policies; adds social‑studies credit in 4–1 vote

Watertown School District 14‑4’s board of education on a regularly scheduled meeting approved a series of contracts, purchases and policy changes and set several student fees as part of routine business. The board also voted 4–1 to add a one‑half credit in social studies to the district’s graduation requirements for incoming freshmen.

The board accepted a December financial report presented by Heidi (finance presenter), who told members that the general fund had received the first substantial portion of 2023 taxes payable in 2024 totaling $420,000 and that the fund ended the month with about $7.3 million in cash. She said capital‑outlay receipts included $219,000 in December taxes and that the district expects $5,000,000 in capital outlay certificate proceeds in January to support the athletic complex project. “The construction contingency was approved at just over a million dollars,” Heidi said when summarizing a related change order later in the agenda.

Why it matters: the approvals and fee settings affect next fiscal year’s capital plan, classroom services and student access to programs. The change to graduation credit requirements will apply to the incoming freshman class and requires the district to ensure course offerings align with the added requirement.

Key approvals and actions

- Contracts and purchasing - Approved a materials‑only contract with Johnson Controls, via Sourcewell, for engineered chillers for McKinley Elementary in the amount of $278,660 to support the district cooling project slated for the next fiscal year. Motion by Moulton; second by Andersen; motion approved. - Approved the purchase of a 71‑seat school bus from Harlow’s through Sourcewell for $142,030. The bus is in the district’s five‑year capital outlay plan and is anticipated to arrive in October 2025. Motion by Agerson; second by Hult; motion approved. - Approved a change order (No. 7) for the Archway…