Watertown School Board Approves New Bus Pickup and Drop-Off Sites, Ends Boys & Girls Club Stop
- Steve Jurrens
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - After weeks of public discussion and parent concern, the Watertown School Board voted Monday night to approve new pickup and drop‑off locations for five out‑of‑district school districts that bus students into Watertown. The decision formally ends the use of the Boys & Girls Club as a drop‑off site for Florence, Henry, and Waverly–South Shore buses.
The vote came under Agenda Item 6.6 – Consider Transportation Requests, following a detailed explanation from Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen, who outlined the history of open‑enrollment busing, the legal requirements under SDCL 13‑28‑45, and the district’s safety concerns at the shared parking lot between Watertown High School and the Boys & Girls Club.
Background: Growth of Unapproved Stops at Boys & Girls Club
Danielsen told the board that when he arrived in 2017, four districts had approved pickup sites in Watertown:
· Waverly–South Shore – Boys & Girls Club
· Castlewood – Odyssey 8 Movie Theater
· Florence – South Dakota Army National Guard Readiness Center
· Henry – Maas Ice Arena
A fifth district, Hamlin, requested a site for the first time this year.
He said that during COVID, one district received permission for a single family to use the Boys & Girls Club as an additional stop. That exception later expanded into a second unapproved stop, and a third district began using the Club without any approval at all.
“What has happened with the outlying districts is they have turned it into a pickup drop‑off point,” Danielsen said. “That has created a safety issue… some kids go into the Boys & Girls Club, others dart out and run across to the oncoming cars.”
Danielsen emphasized that outlying districts do not provide supervision at the Club, and Boys & Girls Club staff are inside receiving children.
“I do not feel it is the Watertown School District’s responsibility to supervise other school districts’ transportation,” he said.
Traffic Increase After Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex Opening
Danielsen said traffic around the high school and Boys & Girls Club increased significantly after the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex opened in fall 2025. Watertown’s own buses already navigate the lot to drop off students who attend the Club.
He said the district must consider safety at the pickup point itself — not the distance students may walk afterward — when approving locations under state law.
Parent Concerns Reiterated During Public Input
During Agenda Item 5.1, Florence parent Jackie Jacobson again addressed the board, questioning why the Boys & Girls Club drop‑off was eliminated and whether any traffic studies or documented incidents supported the change. She urged the board to either revert to previous arrangements or work jointly with surrounding districts to find a compromise.
Jacobson said the change could increase traffic rather than reduce it, since families would now need to transport children to the Club themselves.
Board Members Cite Safety, Legal Requirements, and Need for Proactive Action
Board members thanked Jacobson for her respectful dialogue but said the district must follow SDCL 13‑28‑45 and prioritize safety.
Board Member Roshal Rossman said misinformation had circulated in the community and appreciated Danielsen’s detailed background.
“I don’t personally want to make a decision based on something happening and someone being hurt,” Rossman said. “I would rather be proactive.”
Chairman Jon Iverson acknowledged Jacobson’s concerns but said his responsibility is to Watertown students.
“If I were in your shoes, I would probably be making the same speech,” Iverson said. “The reality is my responsibility is to Watertown students and Watertown School District.”
Iverson continued, “I realize that, like for the Waverly South Shore, that’s a bit of a distant — I mean, it’s 24 miles. That’s not as ideal as you said, but the ideal was not a good situation. You’re also talking to somebody who went to a country school, and it was uphill. So I grew up walking a long distance. So 24 miles is in my mind a comfortable distance.”
Approved 2026–27 Pickup and Drop‑Off Locations
The board unanimously approved Danielsen’s recommendations:
· Castlewood – Odyssey 8 Movie Theater
· Florence – South Dakota Army National Guard Readiness Center
· Hamlin – Prairie Stop (Highway 212 & Highway 20)
· Henry – Maas Ice Arena (Henry’s request to also use the Boys & Girls Club was denied)
· Waverly–South Shore – Gracepoint Church (approximately 0.4 miles east of the Boys & Girls Club)
Danielsen noted that the walking distance is similar to what many Watertown Intermediate School students already walk to reach the Club.
Vote
The motion to approve the transportation requests was made by Jean Moulton, seconded by Roshal Rossman, and passed unanimously.
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