Watertown School District holds listening session on future of elementary schools (Audio)

January 30, 2023
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–The Watertown School District held the first of two “community listening sessions” Monday night as the district explores the idea of potentially closing one of its five elementary schools.

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Danielsen tells KWAT News declining enrollment is driving this discussion. The elementary schools are only being used at two-thirds of their capacity. But Danielsen says it goes beyond capacity, to include things like programming changes….

A second listening session will be held next week, on February 8th. Danielsen explains what will happen after that…

Danielsen says it’s hoped that any closed school building could be re-purposed in some way…

Danielsen hopes to have a recommendation for the school board to consider at their May meeting.

If an elementary school closes, it would not happen until the 2024-25 school year.