Watertown School Board Adjusts 2025-26 Calendar Following Mild Winter

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown School Board has officially moved to end the current school year earlier than originally planned, thanks to a winter that saw zero unused snow days.

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen presented the update, noting that the district typically builds two extra days into the calendar to account for winter weather. Because those days were not utilized, the board approved a recommendation to move the final day of school from Friday, May 22, to Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 12:30 pm.

“I’m about to jinx us, everybody,” Dr. Danielsen joked before making the announcement. He noted that while there was one early dismissal day where students did not attend, staff still reported, allowing it to count as a full day.

The last day of school on May 20 will feature a 12:30 p.m. dismissal. Dr. Danielsen added a small caveat: “Should we still have snow days, we would add them back one at a time. But it is April 13th, and so thus, I think we need to at least make an overture so people know what we’re thinking”.