Watertown Unified School District

Watertown Unified School District
Address
111 Dodge Street
Watertown
, Wisconsin, 53094-4434
United States
Coordinates43°11′31″N 88°43′28″W / 43.192047°N 88.724491°W / 43.192047; -88.724491
District information
SuperintendentJarred Burke
NCES District ID5515750[1]
Students and staff
Students3,577 (2019-2020)[1]
Student–teacher ratio15.72[1]
District mascotGoslings
ColorsBlue and White
Other information
Websitewww.watertown.k12.wi.us

Watertown Unified School District is a school district in Watertown, Wisconsin, about halfway between Madison and Milwaukee. The school district has about 3,200 students.[2] The Superintendent of Schools, Jarred Burke, has been on a leave of absence since January 2026. Director of Special Education and Student Services Sarah Oudenhoven and Director of Innovation and Technology Jason Bull currently serve as co-interim superintendents during Jared Burke's absence.[3][4][5]

History

In November 2024, the Watertown Unified School District approved a "Gender Support Plan". Forbes and Wisconsin Public Radio reported Watertown's plan for transgender students as "one of the most restrictive" LGBTQ+ policies in the state. The policy requires parents and guardians to be alerted and provide consent before students can identify with new pronouns or a new name that is different from their birth certificate. According to the plan, school staff "may" use the new pronouns and names but "shall not be compelled" to use them. Transgender students will use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their biological sex. They may also participate in intramural sports and extracurricular activities that are consistent with their biological sex. At the time, the district reported approximately 25 transgender students enrolled within the district.[6][7]

In the five months after 2024 elections, five members of the Watertown School Board resigned. Board members who resigned cited "continued disrespect from local board members" and "an 'authoritarian' style of leadership" as reasons for leaving. Superintendent Jarred Burke explained the turnover was due to "inexperienced board members" who were "not 'gelling'" with other members.[2][7][8]

In May 2026, the Watertown School Board voted 7-1, prohibiting the Watertown High School band from performing A Mother of A Revolution!, a 2019 wind ensemble piece by Omar Thomas dedicated to LGBTQ activist Marsha P. Johnson. In response, students at Watertown High School and Riverside Middle School staged a walk-out.[9][10][11] On May 20th, students performed the piece at a special event at a local Lutheran Church to a crowded audience with Omar Thomas as their conductor.[12] This event was unaffiliated with the school district.[13]

Schools

The district operates the following schools:

  • Watertown 4 Kids
  • Douglas Elementary School
  • Lebanon Elementary School
  • Lincoln Elementary School
  • Schurz Elementary School
  • Webster Elementary School
  • Riverside Middle School
  • Watertown High School
  • Summer School

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Search for Public School Districts – District Detail for Watertown Unified School District". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences.
  2. 1 2 Hess, Corrinne (July 1, 2025). "5 Watertown School Board members resign since December". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  3. ↑ Zagorski, Ed (August 23, 2022). "School year ushers in new superintendent". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ Wortman, Craig (January 16, 2026). "Superintendent Leave of Absence". Watertown Unified School District. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  5. ↑ Zagorski, Ed (April 9, 2026). "WUSD: Superintendent Jarred Burke's contract extension ends in 2027". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  6. ↑ Corrinne, Hess (November 18, 2024). "Watertown School District changes transgender privacy, bathroom, sports policy". Wisconsin Public Radio.
  7. 1 2 Greene, Peter (May 8, 2026). "Wisconsin School Board May Silence High School Band Performance Of Trans-Linked Piece". Forbes. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  8. ↑ Ola, Mary Jo (June 26, 2025). "High turnover on Watertown School Board raises concerns amid resignations of 5 members". WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  9. ↑ Lee, Megan; Craig, Denise (May 13, 2026). "Watertown High School students walk out to protest school board's decision to ban song tied to Stonewall". WTMJ-TV. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  10. ↑ Calderon, Samantha; Banks, Jaydon (May 13, 2026). "Watertown High School students walk out after controversial band concert song ban". Channel 3000. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  11. ↑ Lee, Megan (May 15, 2026). "Watertown middle schoolers walk out over school board's ban on LGBTQ-tied song". WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
  12. ↑ James, Jamal (May 21, 2026). "Watertown High School students play banned song at local church". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  13. ↑ Hubbard, Meryl; Selan, Dan (May 21, 2026). "Watertown students perform 'A Mother of A Revolution!' in community concert". WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. Retrieved May 22, 2026.


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