Watertown School Board Approves Major Equipment Investments for Lake Area Tech
- Steve Jurrens
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown School Board greenlit several equipment purchases and lease agreements for Lake Area Technical College (LATC) during its Monday night meeting, aimed at bolstering the school’s nursing and heavy equipment programs.
The approved items, which include a high-tech medical simulation table and heavy machinery, are slated to support students at both the main Watertown campus and regional locations.
State-of-the-Art Training for Nursing and Heavy Equipment
The board granted authority to bid for an Anatomage table, budgeted at $107,666. This advanced equipment, funded through FY26 Perkins funding, will be utilized by the nursing program at LATC’s Pierre campus.
During the discussion, board members praised the technology as a vital educational asset. The table serves as a state-of-the-art alternative to traditional human cadavers, providing students with highly detailed 3D anatomical visualizations. LATC already utilizes two such tables at its main Watertown campus.
Additionally, the board authorized the bid for a motor grader to support the Heavy Equipment Operator program. Also funded by Perkins grants, the equipment is budgeted at $115,000. While officials noted the grader likely would not be new at that price point, it will replace or supplement older machinery currently in use by the program.
Strategic Leases Save Taxpayer Dollars
In a move described as being “good stewards of taxpayer money,” the board also approved two low-cost equipment leases from TranSource. The college will lease two 2024 model wheel loaders for the Heavy Equipment Operator program.
The terms of the lease are:
· Duration: 12-month term.
· Cost: $1,000 per unit per month.
Administrators highlighted the significant cost savings of the agreement, noting that purchasing the two units outright would cost approximately $360,000. The lease allows students to train on industry-standard, late-model equipment at a fraction of the capital investment.
