Watertown School Board to Consider Six K-12 Policy Updates on Open Enrollment, Truancy, and Student Searches
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown School Board will consider first readings for six K-12 student policies during its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The proposed updates address nonresident open enrollment deadlines, special education capacity caps, daily tuition rates, international exchange student criteria, home-school transfer credit guidelines, truancy enforcement, and district authority regarding searches and police interrogations on school property.
Policy JFAB: Nonresident Open Enrollment Deadlines and Capacity Caps
Proposed updates to Policy JFAB establish strict deadlines for nonresident students applying to attend Watertown School District facilities. Approved applications for first-semester transfers must be submitted prior to the last Friday in September, with transfers taking effect at the start of the second semester. Applications approved after the last Friday in January deadline during the second semester will take effect at the start of the following school year.
Exceptions to these deadlines apply to students transferring to an alternative school or specialized nonpublic program, students enrolling in a school district after the deadline, or transfers approved due to special circumstances determined by the school board or its designee.
The policy outline permits application denials if a student is under suspension or expulsion, or if the applicant has been convicted of possessing, using, or distributing a controlled substance, including marijuana.
For special education transfers, admission requires a review of educational records and direct consultation between the Watertown Special Education Director, parents, and the resident district to verify appropriate instructional programming, facilities, and required transportation. If capacity or programming cannot be confirmed, the district must convene an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting must be convened. Applications that fail to disclose a student’s special education status will be voided and require reapplication.
Under space limitation guidelines, open enrollment cannot cause any classroom, building, or program to exceed capacity. Special Education and self-contained specialized behavior programs will be closed to open enrollment once reaching 25 percent of capacity.
Policy JFABA & Policy JFABB: Tuition Rates and Foreign Exchange Rules
Under Policy JFABA, nonresident students attending Watertown schools without an approved open enrollment application will be charged daily tuition. The annual tuition rate is set at the student need rate established by the State of South Dakota for state aid calculations. Tuition paid personally by parents must be made in advance on an annual or monthly schedule, with unused portions will be refunded if the student departs before the term ends.
Policy JFABB governs foreign exchange and international students. Foreign citizens will be considered residents if they reside with a parent or legal guardian, participate in an exchange program approved by the superintendent, qualify under state statute, or hold Form I-20 documentation from federal immigration authorities. The school board retains explicit rights to limit total international student counts, require English language proficiency, and restrict participation exclusively to 11th and 12th graders.
Policy JG: Non-Accredited School Transfers and Credit Validation
Revisions to Policy JG set procedures for accepting transfer credits from non-accredited or home-school environments:
· Kindergarten through 8th Grade: Grade placement is determined through interviews with the student, parents, principal, and teachers, alongside potential achievement testing. Final placement decisions rest with the building principal in consultation with the assistant superintendent.
· Grades 9 through 12: High school students must complete an interview and pass a departmental examination for each course seeking credit. Department chairs and staff provide recommendations to the principal, who holds final authority.
· Science Requirements: Science course credits will not be granted without explicit documentation of laboratory experiences matching district curriculum standards.
· Diplomas: Transfer students must be enrolled full-time at Watertown High School for their entire senior year and meet all district graduation requirements to receive a diploma. Appeals regarding placement may be submitted to the superintendent and, subsequently, to the South Dakota Secretary of Education.
Policy JHB & Policy JIH: Truancy Enforcement, Digital Privacy, and Search Rules
Policy JHB identifies the district truancy officer as the official responsible for enforcing compulsory attendance laws, applying penalties, and referring truant students to juvenile authorities. Truancy complaints may also be filed directly with a circuit court judge by teachers, administrators, or citizens.
Policy JIH details the district’s authority to conduct searches and cooperate with law enforcement:
· Property and Device Searches: District staff may search student property, including personal vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles parked on school grounds, lockers, desks, computer systems, and voice mail when reasonable suspicion exists. Lockers remain district property and are subject to inspection at any time.
· No Expectation of Privacy: Users of district-owned property, network infrastructure, or electronic devices have zero expectation of privacy. The district reserves explicit rights to monitor, inspect, copy, review, and store all electronic usage and transmissions without notice.
· Police Interrogations: School officials will cooperate when law enforcement officers seek to question students on school grounds. District staff will make reasonable efforts to contact parents or guardians, except in child abuse investigations or cases where law enforcement requests confidentiality. Search warrants are required for police searches of personal property unless officers determine an item poses an immediate safety threat.
