Dear Community Members,
There was a recent Watertown Daily Times “Voice of the People” submission that I would like to address on behalf of the Board.
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, the Board was scheduled to be at Latte Donatte from 10:30–11:30 a.m. Unfortunately, neither the Board nor the administration had a representative in attendance, and a cancellation notice was not posted. We sincerely apologize for this oversight.
Due to several administrators and Board members being out of town, combined with the need to coordinate communications following the school cancellation on Friday, January 12, 2026, and the designation of all activities as optional on Saturday, January 13, 2026, the posting of the cancellation was inadvertently missed. We regret this error.
We are encouraged to hear that members of the community want to engage with us to learn more about the district’s needs, and we look forward to future opportunities to do so. To date, the Board has voluntarily participated in numerous engagement activities, including:
Informal “Burke’s Briefing” sessions with the Superintendent to discuss the referendum and answer questions
Attendance at school events such as Lincoln STEM’s Literacy Night, the Schurz Elementary School Carnival, and parent-teacher conferences across multiple buildings
Availability at community locations including the Farmers Market, Watertown Public Library, The Marquardt, and the Senior Center to meet with residents and discuss district issues
While we unfortunately missed this particular opportunity amid extreme weather disruptions, one scheduling failure does not negate months of outreach, documentation, recorded meetings, and published materials.
I would also like to address claims that the Board lacks transparency, is not taking fiscal responsibility seriously, or is delaying decisions regarding building composition for next year. These claims are inaccurate.
The Board has continuously discussed referendum planning since the $7 million referendum failed in April. Even that referendum was presented with the understanding that building closures were being explored independently of referendum approval. The Board intentionally delayed final closure decisions until we had clarity on what level of support the community would provide.
The Board voted to move forward with the $4.5 million referendum at the December 15, 2025, meeting—well ahead of the deadline. At the January 26, 2026, meeting, the Board held a discussion on school closures, and listening sessions for both affected schools are scheduled during the first two weeks of February. We are moving as quickly as policy allows and ask the community to work with us as we follow the required process.
These decisions are informed by the School Perceptions Survey, the 2024 Master Facilities Study, the MDRoffers Enrollment Study, and the district’s Strategic Plan. To say there is “no plan” is simply incorrect.
The author also stated: “Explain why the school district could be taken over by the state with no say at all if this referendum doesn’t pass.” While it is technically true that state takeover is possible, it is extremely rare, and WUSD is far from such a scenario. If the referendum does not pass, the Board would instead need to consider a combination of deeper cuts and deficit spending until the district can achieve a balanced budget. Borrowing funds for operations would further exacerbate financial challenges by requiring the district to pay interest rather than earn it on fund balances.
The community should be proud of the significant fiscal measures the district has taken to reduce the burden on taxpayers, including:
Transitioning from a self-insured health model to an insured provider, saving approximately $4 million by locking in low rates for three years
Utilizing federal COVID funds for curriculum purchases and instructional improvements
Using federal COVID funds for HVAC upgrades originally planned in the 10-year capital improvement plan, removing that burden from the local tax base
Strategic investment management with Baird, which generated significant interest earnings, allowed early debt payoff, saved taxpayers money, and contributed to lower mill rates for the past three to four years
Intentionally under-levying during the final year of the 2018–2023 operational referendum to ease the impact of property reassessments
Choosing not to capture any additional revenue from reassessments by holding the levy steady
A demonstrated history of fiscal restraint that has resulted in fewer operational referenda than many comparable districts
As a result of these deliberate actions (which takes planning), the mill rate remains significantly lower than it was in 2022–23 and would remain so even after a successful $4.5 million referendum.
No one disputes the importance of public education, or that these decisions are difficult. The Board remains fully committed to working toward a successful referendum and collaborating with district staff to make WUSD a destination district. The Board’s actions reflect that commitment, not indifference. The reality is that maintaining an unsustainable structure would eventually erode educational quality for all students. Addressing that reality now is not a lack of vision, it is an effort to preserve one.
Sincerely,
Craig Wortman
WUSD School Board President