The Watertown School District is proactively addressing the needs of elementary education. The intent is to enhance educational opportunities for all students and empower them to succeed.

Step 1) Close an Attendance Center

During the November 13, 2023 School Board Meeting, the Watertown School District Board of Education decided to close Roosevelt Elementary at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

FAQ's:

Will this affect class sizes?

Class size policy will remain the same. K-3 grades have a cap of 23 and 4-6 have a cap of 26 students. (Click to see the Policy)

How does this affect services such as counseling, therapy, and SPED?

A reduction of attendance centers with the same number of support staff will allow for additional service minutes due to reduced travel time and shared staff.

The most common shared staff include PE, music, art, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, nurses, counselors, and school psychologists.

When were parents informed?

There was a parent meeting at Roosevelt Elementary School April 24, 2023 discussing the future of the facility. Parents were informed that Roosevelt was identified as the school for closure after the 2023-2024 school year and the School Board was assessing next steps for the attendance centers. Kindergarten is not at the Roosevelt Elementary School this year because of the incoming class size.

Other meetings discussed this first step January 30, February 8, and March 20, 2023.

Why was this decided now?

State statute requires a district to notify patrons of a school's closure by December 1st of the preceding school year. Administration is carefully vetting a new option for elementary education for all students as a continuation of the 2022-2023 project.

What will happen to the building?

The school district has no programming needs for it during the 2024-2025 school year.

What will happen to the staff?

At this time the administration is evaluating how students and staff will transition to another elementary school.

Roosevelt Elementary Parents

Where will my child go?

At this time the administration is evaluating how students and staff will transition to another elementary school

When will I find out where my child will go?

A recommendation is anticipated to be approved in spring 2024.

How will my child get to school?

The in-town bus transportation system will be expanded to accommodate the closure of Roosevelt Elementary.

Step 2) Make a Recommendation to the School Board

Modifying the elementary schools addresses the needs of staff and students. Administration listened to the community, parents, and the school board during the 2022-2023 school year and has a new option to meet needs. Staff are carefully vetting this new option for elementary education.

A committee with representatives of teachers, parents, community members, 2 school board members, and administration met this fall to discuss elementary schools' attendance centers. Administration addressed the following with the committee:

Balanced Class Sizes

Available space for staff and program needs

Speech and Occupational Therapy

Nursing Services

Elementary SPED Services: Junior Kindergarten, Alternative Education Program, Reverse Inclusion Preschool, Title I Preschool, Structured Learning Center

Early childhood available in Watertown

English Language Learning

Ability to respond to fluctuations in birth rate (Click to see Department of Health data)

Staff Travel Times

Staff Collaboration

Title Services

Academic Interventions

Step 3) Initiate the New Plan

After the School Board approves a new plan, this page will be updated with further information for parents and the community.