Dear Watertown Area Community Members,
As leaders of the Watertown Unified School District (WUSD), we are committed to keeping our community informed regarding important decisions that impact our students, staff, and families. We are reaching out to share information regarding the district’s long-range facilities plan and the upcoming operational referendum question that is included on the April 1, 2025 general election ballot.
The WUSD is addressing the challenge of declining student enrollment, similar to many other school districts in Wisconsin. Simply put, we have more building space than we need to serve our current student population. At the same time, rising costs, an antiquated state funding formula that doesn’t keep pace with inflation, and other unfunded state mandates have made it increasingly difficult to provide the high-quality education our students deserve.
As part of our long-range facilities plan, the district’s administration is recommending the closure of the LEAP (Lebanon) Elementary School building after the 2025-2026 school year. This recommendation has not been made lightly. We recognize the deep connections our students, families, and staff have with that location, and we are exploring ways to continue LEAP’s outstanding programming within another school building. The WUSD Board of Education will make the final decision on the closure of the LEAP building at a meeting later this spring. We are committed to keeping our community informed throughout this process.
In addition to discussions around long-range facilities planning, the district has decided to move forward with an operational referendum. This referendum is necessary to maintain the strong traditions of excellence in the WUSD while also embracing innovation and transformation in education. Without additional funding, we will face unpopular decisions concerning programs and services that directly impact our students. We want to be very clear: the need for additional funding through the operational referendum is important for our students, staff and community. These immediate funding needs are connected, but separate from our long-range facilities planning process.
We encourage all community members to seek factual information regarding the referendum and its impact on the future of our schools. Please visit our district website at watertown.k12.wi.us, attend upcoming meetings, and reach out with any questions. Most importantly, we urge you to make your voice heard by voting on April 1, 2025.
Together, we can ensure that the WUSD remains a place where students thrive, teachers inspire, and our community stays strong.
In Community & Education,
David Schroeder, President, WUSD Board of Education
Dr. Jarred Burke, Superintendent of Schools