Watertown board reviews NYSERDA grant, transportation study and approves calendar, personnel and donations

Superintendent Dr. Larry Schmeagle told the Watertown City School District Board of Education that a Watertown-related NYSERDA grant of $2,500,000 was reported in local media but clarified there had been miscommunication between NYSERDA and the governor’s office about that award and how the funds would be routed. He said the district is awaiting a transportation feasibility study on whether the district should operate its own buses and noted that, if contractor First Student secures grant funds, the financial benefits would flow through contractual arrangements rather than direct district receipt.

"Even if a district does not own their own buses, the contractor…is legally able to apply for the same grant money that a school district can," Schmeagle said, and he added the cost difference between electric and gas buses means potential savings could be realized through contract adjustments if grant funding offsets higher vehicle costs.

The board approved multiple routine items: the 2026–27 academic calendar (noting alignment of February and April breaks with BOCES and a Sept. 3 student start), a personnel report covering resignations and appointments, and an employment agreement for an identified contract period of 07/01/2026–06/30/2029. The board also approved an amendment increasing a literacy coordinator stipend to $2,000 effective 12/22/2025.

Donations accepted included $500 from the Northern New York Community Foundation for Educator Rising, $2,000 for district STEM programming, an anonymous $1,210 donation to Watertown High School class of 2028, $158 for a Case Middle School pancake breakfast fundraiser, and $2,913 from the Robotics Educational and Competition Foundation to support aerial robotics competition expenses.

The board approved a 4.25% increase to the superintendent’s compensation effective 07/01/2025, described as consistent with increases for other district employees. Several public commenters urged the board to finalize a formal vehicle-usage policy for district vans and SUVs to reduce transportation costs; one former board member, Laurie Converse, said a policy dating from 2001 had not been updated and recommended the district consider using vans rather than buses for some trips.

Schmeagle also pushed back on what he called misinformation about UPK enrollment, explaining state caps limit UPK3 enrollment levels and that the district had capacity for UPK4; he said $1.2 million allocated for two classrooms also funded additional psychologists and therapy services that benefit elementary students beyond classroom construction.

Following business, the board voted to enter executive session twice during the meeting — first to review an employment contract and later to discuss the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property — actions recorded as motions that carried by voice vote.

No roll-call tallies were recorded in the public transcript for the votes referenced above; minutes note motions carried.