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Board hears state funding hit and no new safe‑schools money; SRO costs under review
Summary
District leaders told the board the recently concluded legislative session likely reduces compensatory funding by about $58,000 for Watertown‑Mayer and did not deliver expected safe‑schools funding. The district will evaluate options, including finance-committee review, before deciding on pursuing a school resource officer.
District administrators informed the board May 18 that initial budget runs from the recently concluded state legislative session show an anticipated reduction in compensatory funding of roughly $58,000 for Watertown‑Mayer, and that a hoped‑for safe‑schools funding allocation did not materialize.
"We are going to see a reduction of about 58,000 according to these initial runs," Mr. Scheler said, adding that staff are still trying to confirm details and the reduction appears tied to enrollment adjustments. He said the legislature did include funding for a threat‑detection reporting process but did not provide the safe‑schools dollars the district had anticipated to help with potential School Resource Officer (SRO) costs.
Board members noted the multi‑year cost of an SRO is substantial. During discussion a figure in the range of roughly $200,000 to $280,000 over three years was cited as the estimate under consideration; administrators said they will bring the issue to the finance committee in June to determine whether the district budget can absorb such a commitment alongside other priorities.
Administrators emphasized the district’s existing safe‑schools funding currently supports a high‑school counselor and that any decision to pursue new campus safety staffing would require careful budget tradeoffs. The board asked staff to return with more detailed budget scenarios at the June finance meeting.
