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Board approves adding pre‑K to transportation policy as district readies UPK expansion
Summary
The Watertown board approved a revision to policy 501 to add pre‑K transportation and the superintendent announced plans to open additional UPK classrooms (two at Knickerbocker and continuation of two 4410 programs at North Elementary); three‑year‑olds were not added due to DOT/licensing costs.
The Watertown City School District Board voted on June 1 to approve a revised Board of Education policy 501 (student transportation) to include pre‑K students in the district's transportation policy.
Superintendent Dr. Larry Schmiedel told the board the district plans to expand universal pre‑K (UPK) access by opening additional classrooms next year. The district will add two classrooms at Knickerbocker (one for 3‑year‑olds and one for 4‑year‑olds as presented) and maintain two existing 4410 pre‑K classrooms at North Elementary; the superintendent said the district will move two current teachers into those classrooms rather than hire additional staff. He also said the district is considering offering transportation to four‑year‑old UPK students and that the board agenda included action on that transportation addition; three‑year‑olds were not included because DOT and licensing costs would be significantly higher.
During the meeting the board approved the policy revision by voice vote; the motion to revise policy 501 carried with no recorded roll‑call tally in the transcript. The superintendent said the district is reviewing funding sources and will bring specific board actions for implementation as needed.
What happens next: the board's policy change allows the district to offer transportation to pre‑K students within the existing K–4 transportation parameters; the administration will return with implementation details and any budget considerations.
