Watertown School Board Approves Policy Updates, Facility Agreement, Adult Meal Price Increase and Fall Athletic Fundraiser

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown School Board worked through a substantial list of policy updates, personnel actions, and operational approvals Monday night, addressing everything from student safety and facility rental fees to adult meal prices and the annual fall athletic fundraiser.

The discussion spanned Agenda Items 5.4 through 6.5 and included detailed explanations from Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen and Business Manager Heidi Clausen.

Six Policies Presented for First Reading, Including Safety Updates and Fee Adjustments

Agenda Item 5.4 – First Reading of Policies

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen presented six policies for first reading, noting that several were housekeeping items tied to the district’s ongoing effort to align its policy manual with the Associated School Boards of South Dakota (ASBSD) model policy system.

Two Policies Recommended for Deletion

Danielsen recommended deletion of:

·         JLCD – Administering Medication to Students

·         JLF – Reporting Child Abuse/Child Protection

He explained that the district has already adopted updated versions of these policies under new file lettering.

“We’ve already adopted new ones… we’re just deleting the old ones in place,” Danielsen said, emphasizing that the change is organizational rather than substantive.

Policy JLIB – Student Dismissal Precautions Updated for Safety

The most significant change came in JLIB – Student Dismissal Precautions, where new language was added to address situations in which an impaired adult attempts to pick up a student.

The updated policy states:

“In no case shall school personnel authorize the release of a student to any person whom school personnel have reasonable cause to believe is under the influence of alcohol or another substance.”

Danielsen said the change was necessary because principals have already encountered real‑world situations where adults arrived impaired.

“This has happened,” he told the board. “We wanted to have that in policy, so it gives our principals the authority… if someone arrives to pick up their child and they are obviously under the influence, we are not releasing them.”

The policy also authorizes staff to contact law enforcement when necessary.

Policy JKAB – Using Schools as an Advertising Medium

This policy was presented as a standard review item, with no recommended changes.

Policy JRA – Student Records

Also presented as a review item, with no changes recommended.

Policy KFB‑B – Facility Rental and Usage Charges

Business Manager Heidi Clausen presented detailed updates to the district’s facility rental fee schedule, which applies to:

·         Civic Arena

·         DD Miller

·         Auxiliary gym

·         Middle school gymnasium

Clausen said the district is proposing a $5 per hour increase across facility groupings to better reflect operational costs.

She also highlighted a new 5% admission fee for events held in the middle school gym — a fee already in place at the Civic Arena and DD Miller.

“We have quite a bit of usage at that facility,” Clausen said. “We’re looking to align that there as well.”

Custodial overtime fees were also updated:

·         $30 per hour added to rental charges for weekends and after 8 p.m.

·         Clausen said the increase reflects overtime costs and the additional staffing required to maintain facilities during high‑traffic events.

All six policies will return for second reading and action at the September meeting.

Park & Rec Facility Agreement Approved for 2026–27

Agenda Item 6.3.1

The board approved the annual facility agreement with Watertown Park & Recreation, which outlines district use of Park & Rec facilities for the 2026–27 school year.

The agreement totals $15,000, covering access to recreational spaces used for physical education, athletics, and community programming.

Motion by Lohr, seconded by Moulton, passed unanimously.

Adult Meal Prices Increased to Meet USDA Requirements

Agenda Item 6.3.2

Business Manager Clausen presented updated adult meal prices required under USDA federal guidelines.

The adult lunch price will increase to:

·         $5.35 per meal

Student meal prices were previously set at the July 13 meeting.

Motion by Moulton, seconded by Lohr, passed unanimously.

Four Policies Approved in Second Reading

Agenda Item 6.4

The board approved four policies with no changes from their July first readings:

6.4.1 – BDDC Agenda Preparation and Dissemination

Motion by Moulton, seconded by Lohr.

6.4.2 – BEC Executive Session

Motion by Lohr, seconded by Moulton.

6.4.3 – IGA Basic Instructional Program

Motion by Moulton, seconded by Lohr.

6.4.4 – JHCDB Epinephrine Auto‑Injectors and Nasal Spray

Motion by Lohr, seconded by Moulton.

Board members joked about the complexity of policy lettering.

“It might be easier than saying the actual policy,” Lohr said.

“That’s why I taught social studies, not science,” Iverson added.

All four policies passed unanimously.

Board Approves Annual Fall Athletic Fundraiser

Agenda Item 6.5

The board approved the annual Arrow Cards fundraiser, which supports fall athletics.

Danielsen reminded the board that district policy requires approval for any fundraiser involving door‑to‑door sales.

Motion by Lohr, seconded by Moulton, passed unanimously.

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