Looking to the future, the Watertown School Board has approved a new automotive technology program to be offered at Lake Area Technical College.

The program, approved at Monday’s meeting, will prepare students to maintain and repair electric vehicles.

The program is offered to third year students or current technicians who wish to achieve certification.

The board was informed that the electronic vehicle maintenance and repair program had been well received at the state level and requested that new courses could be implemented as early as fall 2022.

Several letters of support for the region’s new dealer program were presented. One was from Scott Driscoll, president and owner of Watertown Ford Chrysler.

“We are already seeing an increased demand for technicians with the training and skills to service these vehicles, and this will only increase in the future as these are highly skilled positions that pay very well,” it reads. letter.

Bob Scherbenske, the owner of Scherbenske Auto Repair Inc., has also written in favor of the program.

“Electric vehicles have been around in one form or another since the invention of the automobile. As an industry, we have seen the technology and sales of electric and hybrid vehicles increase in recent years,” it reads. letter. “The demand for highly skilled technicians in this field will only increase. Young technicians must be fully prepared for future demands for the auto repair workforce.”

A list of courses for the program was presented to the board. The administrator Jean Moulton was interested in the list of compulsory courses.

“It seems that a background in science and math is an important feature to enter this program. In fact, they have to take a three-credit math course. Basic math probably wouldn’t help if you have to do math. and arithmetic quickly, ”she said.

Watertown School District Report Card

The 2020-2021 achievements report was presented to the Board of Directors. Using the Smarter Balanced test, the school district can determine how K-12 students performed in various subjects and how they stack up against other districts.

The report also listed teacher demographics relative to state, showing years of teacher experience and level of education. The report shows that teachers have an average of 13 to 15 years of experience in the Watertown district. The state average is 14 years old.

The report showed that the state average for teachers with master’s degrees was slightly higher than in Watertown. In the district, the lowest percentage of teachers with master’s degrees is in grades 9 to 12, at 28%. The overall statewide average is 37%.

The district’s average ACT scores are higher than a state’s national averages, according to the report, and Watertown’s graduation rate is 97%, one of the best in the state.

“We are consistent at the state level or above,” said Darrell Stacey, deputy superintendent.

Language arts and math are tested using Smarter Balance. Science has also been tested in the past, but a new science curriculum is being released so students have not been tested this year.

“I looked at other schools in other districts that are equal in size to us,” Stacey said. “If you had to compare us, we are fifth in language arts compared to other major school districts and fifth in math. In 2019, the last time we wrote this report, we were second in Language Arts and Mathematics and third in Science. ”

The report showed that 58% of graduate students planned to attend a four-year university and 29% a technical college. The number of students heading to college has declined over the past five years and more are heading to colleges or technical schools.

Moulton responded to concerns about college preparation in high school. She said there was less emphasis on college preparation than before and the district offered fewer crash courses in college.

Next week is American education week

Next week is American Education Week. The Watertown School District plans to celebrate with special gratitude.

“This week gives us the opportunity to celebrate public education and honor all of the people who make a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education,” said Olivia Forman, high school math teacher.

Forman is also the 2021-2022 President of the Watertown Education Association.

Forman also informed the board that throughout the week, articles would be published in the Watertown Public Opinion written by people in the school district thanking staff for all they do.