Watertown-Mayer Public Schools — Transcript
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Student Achievement and Extracurricular Recognition
Community Engagement and City Partnerships
District Financial Overview and Funding Challenges
Staffing and Educational Program Expansion
Infrastructure and Curriculum Development
Votes (8)
Acknowledgement of Donation, Contributions, and Fundraising
Moved by Mr. O'Neal [0:23:44] · Seconded by Miss Danielson [0:23:44]
Superintendent Scheler presented a list of numerous donations from community organizations and individuals, totaling significant amounts for various school activities like gymnastics, FFA, robotics, health services, BPA, and boys soccer. These contributions support student programs, equipment, and training, highlighting strong community support for the district.
Second and Final Read of District Policies Requiring Review
Moved by Mr. Felt [0:25:21] · Seconded by Miss Nateton [0:25:21]
Two policies, 615 (testing accommodations for students with IEPs, 504 plans, and LEP) and 701 (school district budget establishment), were brought forward for their second and final read. Both policies had undergone internal review by relevant district teams to ensure readiness for approval.
Resolution 26.15 (Termination of Nonrenewal of Teaching Staff)
Moved by Mr. Burns [0:26:30] · Seconded by Mr. Felt [0:26:30]
Superintendent Scheler introduced Resolution 26.15, related to staffing adjustments, specifically the termination of nonrenewal for two probationary teaching positions. The board was asked to vote on this by roll call.
Expansion of English Language Learner Position for School Year 2627
Moved by Miss Nathan [0:31:39] · Seconded by Mr. Burns [0:31:39]
The administrative team recommended expanding the current part-time English Language Learner (ELL) positions into one full-time, district-wide (PreK-12th grade) role. This is in response to an increase in EL students, particularly at the preschool level, and aims to improve service delivery. The position is projected to be fully funded for FY27 through state e-funds and compensatory dollars, with future funding dependent on legislative decisions.
Expansion of the District Literacy Lead Position for School Year 2627
Moved by Miss Danielson [0:34:10] · Seconded by Mr. O'Neal [0:34:10]
The board considered and approved the expansion of the District Literacy Lead position from a 0.5 FTE to a full-time role for the upcoming school year. The administration cited significant value in the position's impact on English language arts, teacher collaboration, and reading adoption efforts. This expansion is fully supported by state literacy incentive aid, preventing any impact on the general fund.
Creation of the Elementary Intervention Teaching Position for School Year 2627
Moved by Miss Gets [0:37:05] · Seconded by Mr. Burns [0:37:05]
A new full-time elementary intervention teaching position was approved. This role will be cost-neutral by reallocating existing intervention time from the expanded literacy lead and EL teacher positions. The decision to place this position at the elementary level was based on data showing the greatest need for intervention support, particularly in math, and to streamline operations by keeping it in one building.
Girls Soccer Co-op with Mayor Lutheran
Moved by Miss Schultz [0:42:36] · Seconded by Miss Danielson [0:42:36]
The board approved a motion to form a co-operative agreement with Mayor Lutheran for girls soccer, aligning with an existing boys program. This co-op is expected to benefit both schools by providing a larger pool of athletes and maintaining Class A status. Discussions included the current low participation from Mayor Lutheran, the future impact of younger students, and the structure of the co-op agreement which typically lasts two years before annual review.
Grades 6 to 8 Language Arts Curriculum Approval
Moved by Mr. Burns [0:48:35] · Seconded by Miss Gets [0:48:35]
The board approved the expansion of the 'Arts and Letters' language arts curriculum from K-5 to K-8. This decision followed extensive research and positive feedback from other school districts that piloted the curriculum, which was praised for its rigor, student engagement, and increased writing opportunities. The curriculum is budgeted for FY27 and aims to provide consistent instructional models across elementary and middle school grades.
Notable Quotes (13)
So again, many wonderful donations. Again, very appreciative of those. Thank you.
Again this policy needed another month of April to kind of just review ran it through the lens of um district um teaching and learning director Mr. you um and uh Miss Payeyton in terms of the IEPs and the 504 plans um and it it uh is ready to move forward.
Each year in the spring we have to make some adjustments to our staffing. Uh resolution 2615 um related to the termination of nonrenewal of the teaching staff. Um both of these uh teachers are uh probationary teachers.
Our numbers have also expanded. Uh we have right now about 20 students in the district that receive EL services. um that is up and where we're starting to see uh our first increase is at the preschool level.
the position will be fully funded through our state e funds and some of our compensatory dollars um starting in next school year.
we've just really seen the value of this position and the uh impact that it is making uh in terms of really working side by side with teachers and and committee members uh in the English language arts area specifically um and in terms of testing and just moving that whole literacy piece forward.
The first year we weren't sure how it was going to go, but this year uh the literacy uh position, the literacy aid, uh would fund it fully so we would not have to tap into the general fund um to to do this move.
this is where it kind of all comes together for another position in terms of interventions. Um, so how we're judging this basically is we're taking the part the the 0.5 position of the literacy lead which you just approved. So that part of her day was intervention. The other part of her day was the literacy lead. So we're taking that half plus the additional half of the time that our EL teachers um had in the intervention side and making that into a full intervention position.
The needs really were evident to be at the elementary for this position. Um, and again, I know we've looked for more math support there. Uh it probably be a little bit of both.
It would match our current co-op with the boys program. Right now, our boys program is with Mayor Lutheran. uh we would still remain in class A 44 athletes or 44 students below the cutoff for double A. So it's something that um I think would benefit both schools and to keep things a little bit more consistent as far as working with um Mayor Luther.
And on the benefit side, it gives us another pool to draw athletes from or draw participants from.
They had piloted over I think four different curricula. They had piloted a unit from each of them and said by far this one was the most rigorous, most engaging and the students liked it the most.
The rigor is really amped up with writing. Our our third grade staff has said our kids have done more rigorous writing than they've ever done before.
Ordinances & Resolutions (10)
Policy regarding testing accommodations, modifications, and exemptions for IEPs, 504 plans, and LEP students.
Policy concerning the establishment and adoption of the school district budget.
Resolution related to the termination and nonrenewal of probationary teaching staff positions due to staffing adjustments.
District document undergoing a major update and revamp to streamline processes and improve cost recovery for facility use.
District's guiding plan, with an update focusing on the 'People' component, involving annual satisfaction surveys for students, staff, and parents.
A three-year pathway, funded by an MDE grant, designed to support paraprofessionals in becoming licensed special education teachers.
Extended School Year plans for approximately 27 students registered to receive special education services in July.
New curriculum, 'Arts and Letters', approved for adoption to extend and align with the existing K-5 curriculum.
Informational item discussing potential adjustments to activity fees and ticket pricing for the upcoming school year due to new ticketing platform costs.
A $2.3 billion state fund, with a proposed constitutional amendment to change its disbursement model to an endowment-like structure, potentially doubling annual district payouts.