Watertown-Mayer Public Schools — Transcript
Monday, July 20, 2026
Story
Watertown-Mayer Board Approves FY27 Budget With Rare Deficit
Roofing and Facilities Maintenance Funding Strategy
Roofing Project Bid Approval and Implementation
District Policy and Handbook Updates
District Governance, Elections, and Staff Tenure
Educational Program Development and Staff Support
Community Partnerships and External Relations
Votes (13)
FY28 Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Plan and Updated Roofing Bond Resolution
Moved by Mr. O'Neal [00:33:41] · Seconded by Mr. Burns [00:33:41]
The board discussed and approved the FY28 LTFM plan, incorporating updated costs for the roofing project ($5,695,450). A key element was structuring the bond to ensure tax neutrality while intentionally preserving future debt capacity for potential indoor air quality projects up to $15,650,000. The plan aligns with MDE requirements, allows for state credit enhancement application, and sets parameters for the bond sale in July 2026.
Approval of Roofing Bid Resolution 26.19
Moved by Miss Danielson [00:43:40] · Seconded by Mr. Felt [00:43:40]
The board approved Jackson Associates as the lowest bidder for the district-wide roofing projects, totaling $5,695,450. The contractor presented an aggressive schedule aiming for completion by November 2026, significantly earlier than the contractual September 2027 deadline. Discussions included mitigation strategies for potential classroom disruptions, noise, and safety concerns during school hours, as well as cost adjustments due to newly identified wet insulation. The board acknowledged Jackson Associates' past positive work with the district.
FY27 Proposed Budget
Moved by Mr. Burns [00:50:49] · Seconded by Mr. O'Neal [00:50:50]
The board approved the FY27 budget, which projects a deficit spend of $423,071, primarily impacting the unassigned fund balance and bringing it close to the minimum 10% policy. Key factors contributing to the deficit include a projected 46-student decline in ADM (resulting in $350k less state aid), increased special education expenditures, and new costs from the Paid Family Medical Leave Act. Discussions acknowledged the challenge of rising expenditures against decreasing revenues due to enrollment.
Acknowledgement of Donations, Contributions, and Fundraising
Moved by Miss Gatskco [00:54:19] · Seconded by Miss Danielson [00:54:20]
The board acknowledged and approved various donations totaling over $12,900 from community organizations. Notable contributions included funds for the Royals room, $7,571 from Resource Training and Solutions for floral design class equipment and a floral cooler, and multiple donations from the Royal Soccer Booster Club, WTO Lions Club, and American Legion Post 121 supporting unified sports and girls' soccer and basketball teams.
First and Only Read of District Wellness Policy 533
Moved by Miss Gatskco [00:55:53] · Seconded by Miss Nton [00:55:54]
The board conducted a first and only read for Wellness Policy 533, driven by findings from a recent food service audit by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The policy was updated to explicitly designate the district nurse, Miss April Gezinger, as the district wellness coordinator, aligning the policy with MDE's requirements.
Approval of 26-27 Parent Student Handbooks (Child Care and Early Childhood)
Moved by Mr. O'Neal [00:59:43] · Seconded by Mr. Burns [00:59:44]
The board approved the updated parent-student handbooks for the childcare and early childhood programs. The childcare handbook included procedural changes and a new section on appropriate dress. The early childhood handbook's major change was the closure of Door 2 (the preschool entrance) for security reasons, directing parents to use Doors 1 or 4 instead, after discussions with instructors and parents.
First Read: Watertown-Mayer Facilities Handbook
Moved by Mr. Felt [01:18:27] · Seconded by Miss Schultz [01:18:28]
The board conducted the first of two reads for a revised facilities handbook aimed at clarifying rules, improving cost recovery, and ensuring reasonable community access. The proposed changes address an annual $41,000 deficit in facility use by eliminating 'capped user' agreements and rebates, phasing in fee increases (e.g., $6/hour for elementary courts, $10/hour for high school courts), and streamlining the approval process. The new approach also emphasizes marketing higher-revenue events and will be discussed with local associations before final approval.
Notice of General Election (2026)
Moved by Miss Gatskco [01:20:00] · Seconded by Miss Danielson [01:20:01]
The board approved a resolution for the general election in November 2026, which formally calls for the election of three board members to four-year terms. This is a standard annual process to prepare for upcoming board vacancies.
Notice of Filing Dates for Board Positions
Moved by Mr. Felt [01:21:52] · Seconded by Mr. Burns [01:21:53]
The board approved a resolution outlining key filing dates for individuals interested in running for school board positions. The filing period runs from July 14th to July 28th, 2026, with a $2 filing fee due by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. The district office will have new affidavit forms available for candidates.
Designation of District Official with Authority (Iowa)
Moved by Mr. Burns [01:22:54] · Seconded by Miss Gatskco [01:23:01]
The board approved the annual resolution to re-designate Miss Heather Huan as the district's 'Identified Official With Authority' (Iowa). This re-certification is a routine administrative process.
Southwest Metro Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Resolution
Moved by Miss Schultz [01:24:43] · Seconded by Mr. Burns [01:24:44]
The board approved the annual resolution for its contribution to the Southwest Metro Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) account. As Southwest Metro cannot levy for its own buildings, its 11 member districts contribute proportionally based on their usage. Watertown's contribution increased this year due to a rise in its usage from 3.1% to 3.8%.
Southwest Metro Safe Schools Resolution
Moved by Mr. Burns [01:25:40] · Seconded by Miss Danielson [01:25:40]
The board approved a resolution for its contribution to the Southwest Metro Safe Schools levy, similar to the LTFM resolution. Watertown's contribution increased slightly this year, aligning with its increased usage of Southwest Metro services (approximately 3.8%).
Recommendation for Tenure Status
Moved by Miss Danielson [01:27:14] · Seconded by Mr. O'Neal [01:27:14]
The board approved tenure status for 10 staff members across the elementary, middle, high school, and CLC. This recognition is for teachers who have either completed three years of service in the district or one year of probation if previously tenured in another district, and who have been offered a fourth contract. The superintendent read the names of all recommended teachers.
Notable Quotes (19)
What you're really trying to do here is structure the roofing bond so that we can fit up to six 15.65 million and still remain tax neutral related to that debt decrease. And so what you're doing tonight doesn't obligate you to anything, but we're structuring the first bond so that you have space.
The goal for today is let's get the roof thing figured out and get that nailed down and structure the bond in such a way that it leaves us some room to address the stuff and so we don't lock ourselves into something that we're not able to do that. So that's the bigger picture.
Jackson Associates is the apparent low bidder... they did present a pretty aggressive schedule. The bid documents allowed work to start on anytime after July 1 of 26 and be complete by September 1 of 27. Uh giving them flexibility. Um they intend on completing everything uh by like the end of November of this year.
Numbers are slightly higher than what we originally budgeted. Uh during the bid process, uh Mr. Thompson with Garland ordered some infrared scans of the roof and unfortunately we discovered significant amount of wet insulation that has to be replaced though that wasn't included in the original budget amounts. So, but we did confirm when Mr. Thompson I spoke with Jackson uh we did confirm that um they fully accounted for replacing all of it in their in their number.
estimated end of year ADM projected to be 1,377, which is down 46 compared to end of year FY26. So in dollars, that's roughly 350,000 in less state aid uh than we had in FY26. So that's a big hit.
So probably the first time we've had a deficit presented for approval in a while. Um but with those class or student enrollment dropping at 46 and expenditures continuing to rise, um they've uh kind of crossed paths there in FY27.
This was a neat opportunity um uh that Spencer Rogan, our instructor, was able to get another grant through our resource and training as kind of the facilitator. But as you me as it's noted there, the floral design class is a new class that she's offering. And um the hope there is to do more of that floral work where you know we could certainly have some um fresh cut flowers um that could be delivered uh to folks in the community certainly for some of the events that we host here.
Uh your wellness policy is not in alignment. So in order to get our our audit passed and through we had to make one very simple adjustment and I'll just pull it up here briefly. Um basically it's really stating who is your wellness coordinator in the district. You can see in green um we we've named the district nurse as the district wellness coordinator. So um uh Miss April Gezinger will be taking on that role.
The one key change that's in there that we did add was um we added uh quite a section about appropriate dress. Um we we we ran into more and more issues with that this year. Um, again at at at that child care level surprisingly.
The one change that I'd like to point to in early learning is that we um for the last few years, door two... we saw more and more people, miscellaneous people we'll call them, coming in that door and it really raised it really raised a concern even though it was only open during certain times. We time we timed that door.
We want to make sure that we still have reasonable access for our programs, our local programs, so that they they can utilize our gyms. We want them in those facilities. We just can't run it at a $50,000 deficit.
It's not just it's not just raise the rates. That's not what this is about. It's about trying to do it better, try to do it more efficiently, and try to market it to some more of those some more of those people that that are willing to use our great facility.
This resolution uh calls for the election of three board members for four-year terms. Um it's just an annual uh process that we have to go through when um folks are uh up for reelection.
This is another resolution that we do annually with uh when we're up in election season, but um it uh notes u some key important dates for filing uh for uh board positions. Again, July 14th, 2026. Uh, and it runs for a week and will close on July 28th, 2026. Again, there's the the common expensive $2 filing fee.
This is the annual um resolution in which we designate uh Miss Heather Huan as our uh district authority to um do the the identified official with authority in the Iowa. Um so we approve um to uh reertify Heather as that individual.
An organization like Southwest Metro cannot levy for any of their um their their buildings or for their safe schools. So, uh they rely on their 11 member districts to do that levying. and it's done proportionally to the amount of usage that each district uses um per year.
It is up a little bit this year just because our usage was up. I think we went from 3.1% out of the um 11 member districts which is still very minimal. uh I think we went up to like 3.8 this year. So um the increase in usage will subsequently show an increase in our levy uh contribution back to Southwest Metro.
Again, similar uh language here in terms of um our contribution back to their safe schools levy. Um our district again is right around that uh 3.8% um usage. So, we had a slight increase in on our contribution this year due to that uh increase in usage.
This is always an exciting uh piece of of the June meeting is that we have a number of staff this year that are moving to tenure status. So again, they have completed three years in the district or uh if they came from another district and were tenured previously, they have one year probation in order to be tenured. Um so uh and that offered a fourth contract, I should add.
Ordinances & Resolutions (24)
The Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Plan for Fiscal Year 2028, requiring board approval for state submission.
A project included in the LTFM plan, with updated construction bid amounts.
A legal document prepared by Peter Martin related to the LTFM plan and the roofing project.
A required spreadsheet from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) for financial planning.
A required spreadsheet from the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) detailing anticipated expenditures.
A required document from the MDE to be signed by the superintendent after plan approval.
The official resolution approving the bid for the district-wide roofing construction project.
The financial plan outlining revenues and expenditures for the Fiscal Year 2027, requiring board approval.
A district policy under review, updated to align with MDE requirements regarding the designation of a wellness coordinator.
Updated handbooks for childcare and early childhood programs, including procedural and policy changes.
A revised handbook outlining facility use, fee structures, and procedures for community and external groups.
A resolution formally calling for the election of three board members in the November 2026 general election.
A resolution outlining the key dates and fee for filing for school board positions.
An annual resolution to re-designate Miss Heather Huan as the identified official with authority.
An annual resolution approving the district's proportional financial contribution to Southwest Metro's facilities maintenance.
An annual resolution approving the district's proportional financial contribution to Southwest Metro's Safe Schools levy.
A comprehensive study identifying potential projects, particularly for indoor air quality improvements.
The governing body for high school athletics and activities, whose policy changes affect district coaching and programs.
State legislation enacted on January 1, 2026, creating new costs for the district's budget.
A literacy instruction framework referenced in the context of special education professional development.
A book selected for a book club for para-professionals, focusing on behavioral support.
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, which high school ELA assessments are being aligned to.
A non-partisan MSBA initiative aimed at promoting public education.
A $2.3 billion state fund for which the MSBA is advocating a constitutional change to an endowment model to increase school revenue without taxpayer impact.