001This meeting is being recorded. My mom Sorry. Okay, I'm good. Oh, there it is. I'll make a mess. point to Yeah, >> I don't know the words. confederience. My doctor for two years. >> And then you get the You also want me to get one of these. >> Good evening everyone. My computer says it's 6 o' So, we'll go ahead and call this regularly scheduled March 17th board meeting to order. And our first order of business is to please stand for the pledge of >> allegiance. Thank you. Um, Mr. Harris, would you like to introduce our next guest? >> Sure. Madam Chair, members of the board, audience members, this is Dr. Susan Bulbert. She's our vocal music instructor for middle school and high school students. She's got some members of the eighth grade choir from
002my middle school here to sing the national anthem for us. Oh [ __ ] Rising stars dreaming. Is it not? Thank you Dr. Goldberg and our elves. That was beautiful rendition of national you guys coming on the whole night and enjoy your day. >> All right, next item on the agenda roll call and that Mr. Harris. Madam Chair, before we just confirm the role for tonight, I wanted to recognize and introduce everyone again to Andrew, our new student representative from LBHS. Welcome to your >> Thank you. And also we have our new um newly appointed board member Matt here. So thank you Matt for new things going on. So next item on the agenda is item B approval of minutes from the regularly scheduled order meeting of February 17th. I can make a motion for that please.
003So move second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> We have any additional agenda items. >> Madam chair, I'd like to move for uh to approve the agenda after them. >> It's been moved. We can get a second. >> Second. >> Move seconded. All in favor? I >> any opposing motion carries. Recognitions, Mr. Harris. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Members of the board, I have a lot of things to share. There's been a lot of stuff happening in the district recently. A lot of recognitions in particular. But before we we talk about students, I wanted to recognize our LMS Spanish teacher, Josie Browns, who was recently featured um in the WD Department of Education's educator spotlight in her dream letter. um thanks to a nomination by our original director Dra Meer. So I was
004gonna invite Dra to share a little bit about Mrs. Brown for nomination. >> Thank you. You got that in months ago. So it's really exciting to do this every month and have the educator spotlight. Being in all the schools I could pick a teacher every single day. So um I want to get kudos at all our teachers and all our admin and everyone in this district. Um so I've known Josie for a long time. we work together in this district. Yeah, perfect about us. But anyway, what I wanted to celebrate, I wrote I'll just read what I wrote. Um, Josie Rounds rec I want to recognize her as a world language teacher Atlanta Middle School. She intentionally uses collaborative structures to create engaging learning environments where all students feel valued and supported. Jos's enthusiasm for
005world languages and cultures inspire students to embrace global associations. She goes above and beyond to propel learners to reach their full potential. She also shows remarkable commitment to FBLA and in fact just learn that she's coming home with multiple first and second place state wins with FBLA. I can't tell you the number yet, but many of them. So, I'm very excited. I got to help judge some of the students practice with them a couple weeks ago and I could see where they were going with that. She's fantastic. She's also a track coach, so she never stops and she has that well-rounded student in mind all the time. And so I just wanted to celebrate. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. A few other things here that the Wyoming State Science Fair recently concluded was March 1st
006through the 3rd down in Laramie. We had some students from our district that were competing. Three of whom won first place in their divisions. I want to talk about these because they're pretty name. Um LMS students Chase Hart Pence and Carson Peters were the state champions of their robotics and integrated systems junior did for their project. It was entitled lowcost mobility control system for paraplegics. They're designing ways to make lowcost accessibility options for people with limited mobility. Um they were also nominated by the state of Wyoming to apply to the thermal fisher junior challenge which is the equivalent of the national science fair and only 300 projects are selected for this uh every year. So that's that's huge. They also won a couple different individual awards with some cash attached. So very encouraging for them
007and um very exciting for their project to see what that becomes. In the senior division, uh Bryce Newman of LBHS state championship in the engineering, mechanics and material science division. His project was entitled active dampening against natural frequency failures on a simple structure. So he was looking at uh resonance and structures and he developed a system to actively dampen vibrations that could lead to structural failure or damage. So earthquake preparedness, architecture, all that stuff. That's great to have some some insight into those areas. Um, it's time for our judges to repeatedly comment on the engineering quality and the clarity with which these students communicated their work. So, huge shout out and congratulations to Chase, Carson, and Bryce along with their parents and teachers. Great showing at state science fair. >> Um, our our winter sports
008seasons just concluded and we don't have enough time to talk about all of the great things that happened there, but I wanted to hit some highlights. Want to start by recognizing two wrestlers who honored the WHSA good sportsmanship awards last month. Um both of these were awarded during the duel against the Powell Panthers on February 5th. Uh Ty Williams and Iris Peterson both received the award. Officials reported that both students showed hard work and effort and conducted themselves in a positive way as they competed. Love to hear that. Um wrestling's a tough sport. So when you can show good sports, especially in that sport, I think it goes a long way. Uh in the other sports areas are end of season things. Uh wanted to just recognize by by now you all know that they'll
009be a chess poison swimming swimming and diving team won their 30th consecutive state championship. Um and it was a team effort all the way around. Excellent work by the swimmers coaches and their parents to put up with all the practices and all in demand to the season that pays off. Um boys basketball had a great season as well. They went to the state champ tournament for the first time in five years. uh lost the game in the consolation final, but man, they put in a huge fight with four overtimes. They lost by I think maybe two points, but it was a very very close margin. Um on the girls side, Lady Tigers battled hard and ended the season as state runners up. So that's a great result for the team. It's the first time we've
010been in the championship, I think, since ' 06. on the girls side um on the snow somewhere where there was snow was supposed to be here but the state was inale and our girls team took second in the boys sugar excellent showing especially since we didn't have much snow to practice on this um and then at the indoor track state meet in Gillette girls team took fifth and the boys into seventh place finish um in that 3A meet uh last but not least at the middle school level want to share some shout outs there. The LMS boys and girls swim teams were both conference champs and the Sabres also won their second consecutive state championship and Nord skiing on the boys and the girls side and that was the dominant performance against schools from all
011over the state. They don't really have the we crush all the Casper schools, Jackson. So very very cool for the Sabres. Um we're looking forward to a very successful fourth quarter of the school year. There's a lot more stuff coming up in addition to athletics, but since we're at the point where the winter seasons are ending, I just want to throw those few things out there by way of recognition. So, that's it. >> Thank you, Mike. Can we get one more round of applause for all those people? Um, at this time, we will take public comment if there's anyone from the audience that would public comment. you're seeing anyone online. All right. Programs, reports, and presentations for Madam Chair. Um, I just wanted to share one that I did not go to the district literacy
012meeting this past week as I was busy, but I'm so impressed with the work that teacher Meyer and our teachers and administrators are doing to improve literacy across the district and I am sure they did phenomenal work while I was not there. So, I wanted to give them a shout out. Um, and then I also attended the speech and debate tournament in Lander a couple weekends ago. And if you've not gone to the speech and debate tournament, you should go. It was so impressive. Um, and I know some Lander students did very well at state and we have a couple going to nationals. Um, but was so impressed with the quality and the caliber of everyone presenting. So, thanks to our speech and debate students and the coaches and parents who helped make that happen.
013Thank you. >> Thanks, Mara. Anyone else? >> Yes, madam chairman. Um on the Bosei side of things, we've been doing search for uh a new director of that for the last couple of meetings and getting that planned out so we can transition well. But our new director of MOSIS for the area will be Bruce, former superintendent at >> I think Bruce is returning June, correct? A few more months in shop. Well, that's great. >> Anyone else? >> Yeah, just a a quick one. I had the pleasure of phoning in Dr. Gold in the at the door as I came in, but I had a chance to attend the Fremont Symphony Orchestra concert on Saturday night and uh the Lander Valley High School choirs sang some very complicated music. They sang Mozart's reququum um along with
014the symphony orchestra. Um and it was just a really amazing collaboration and I think just speaks to the um quality of opportunities and experiences that our students have and also they sounded amazing. So thank you for that musical moment. >> Real quick Taylor, two two very fast things and I have one question for you. What position you playing soccer? >> I'm a goalkeeper. >> Are you good for you? That's awesome. Good. Uh the other thing sort of building on what I said, I I can't hold the tune, so I just think whenever someone's, you know, up in front, I think it's amazing. Nice job. And thank you for bringing the kids tonight. Uh I when my girls were in choir um they the first time I ever went to state and they sang the national
015anthem. It was unreal because all the people in the stands are singers, right? So it's like the entire place just erupted with this incredible sound emanating from everywhere. So, if you ever have the chance to go to state choir, you ever get that chance, you're passing through or you want to go with the de or whatever, go because it is it is really I kept my mouth shut. >> Matt, anything for you? How are you feeling getting settled and overwhelmed? Good. No, I'm just glad to serve and glad to be part of the team >> and uh look forward to it. >> Great. Um I'll just share a couple things. I was able to go in February and I don't think I mentioned this our last meeting to the family engagement team meeting with Matt
016Jacobson and his crew over at North Elementary. And it was a really great meeting and discussion collaboration with um parents from the community. And there's another meeting in April that I planned hopefully be able to attend. Um, but I open that up to anyone in the community that I guess I should Mr. Jacobson, I guess I should. >> Yeah, we're limited in space. >> Yeah. >> And of course, as far as the board goes, we probably don't want a forum showing up. >> But it's definitely a great time. So, if any board members are interested in going, reach out to me and we can kind of maybe get on some sort of schedule where we rotate. But yeah, it was a wonderful um experience and I was happy to be a part of it. Also,
017um the second grade music concert was supposed to be held last Thursday and um if you know how it is to wrangle what, six sections, eight sections of second graders to get on the bleachers and then have the power go out. Um again, peak staff in Miss Park did a great job. So, shout out to them and shout out for everyone coordinating getting everything rescheduled. It's scheduled for this Thursday now. So, um, hopefully the power won't go out this time. So, that's all I wanted to share tonight. And next on the agenda, super well, we'll see an representatives report for next time, unless you want to be perfect. >> Okay. So, to start, FPLA is going to their state leadership conference at UDub this week. So, I think it'll be tomorrow morning. Um, so there
018they can like present group projects or individual and then they get the chance I think if they place like second or first they get to go to Texas in June for the nationals which is really cool. Um, and then spring sports started last week. Soccer has their first home game on Friday um, against Rollins. So you guys should come out and support us. Um, and then track is headed to Rock Springs for their first game as well. And then I think softball is heading to Cheyenne. Um, and I know it's the first year, but I think they had a really good turnout, something like 35 girls. Um, so it sounds like there's a lot of excitement about there being a team. So yeah, I have a lot of friends that are like really pumped about
019it. Um, and then we also have we had last week there was a prom fundraiser happening at the school and it was a chance for students to like buy pizza and hot cocoa um during our passing periods and lunch which I think raised um a good amount of money to go towards the prom planning which I know student council is working hard at. And then last week we picked our classes about like three weeks ago. So, for next year, so the counselors are just now starting to pull us in and um talk to us about our course selections and so yeah, that's pretty much all. >> Thanks, And I'm impressed that you were already ready for an open. Thank you so much for that superintendent report. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, just to kind
020of echo what Mara was talking about with the speech and debate tournament a couple weeks ago. I got to be a judge at that on Friday and I was one to do that. Never had a chance before making work my schedule, but it was amazing. Uh, just the amount of preparation and skill that these kids um show. LHS students were not competing in their own tournament, but I saw kids from all over the state and uh it was amazing. I wanted to just recognize coach Kenya Heratic for organizing that event, for coaching our students. She's also been helping judge in PP language debates that are going on this week. And uh it's just been amazing to hear her feedback to students and helping them understand the value of being able to communicate, consider their viewpoints,
021and offer your own contrast in a way that's civil and seductive. So, that's a huge huge thing that our kids are learning. I love that. Um, next I'm pleased to report that our district received full accreditation from the state for the 2627 school year. Um, we received an overall score of 95.65, which is outstanding, but I'm mad about the two items they marked us down. I thought was kind of false, but um, we're on the right track. I think the main takeaway. Uh thank you to all the members in the admin team, some of whom are here for collecting all that information and getting ready to upload and for Dedra for running heard on all that to make sure we had everything we needed. Um and then last I wanted to just share that now
022that the 2026 state legislative session is over uh we know that some major changes are on the way with regard to how public schools are funded in Wyoming. We don't have all the details yet. We have some preliminary indications of how generally things might work, how might how they might look. Uh but business manager Travis Swinny and I are areing notes off and trying to figure out uh what those key details are once we get information from the state. It's everyone around all 48 school districts is just waiting on pins and needles to find out exactly how this is going to work with the instructional silo versus non instructional silo and what that's going to mean for our overall budgets. So right now there is a lack of clarity on exactly how it's going to
023work, but I was going to invite Mr. to add any comments you might have to in relation to the that madame chair. Um so we today I was I attended a school finance data advisory committee meeting. what that committee is, it um has representatives from the LSO, from uh Department of Audit, private auditors, and then a few select business managers from around the state. Um so, as Mike mentioned, there's still a lot of questions revolving around how budgets are going to look. Um, as of right now, there's still a lot of unknowns, but a little bit of information that we received today. Um, the new model is being reviewed by the state's consultants, Picas currently. Um after that it will go to WDE for their review and then after that it goes back to the
024school finance data advisory committee um to test and see how things work. Um, and the current proposal right now is to get a budgeting tool out at least to the SIP committee and maybe all business managers that wasn't clear today by the by March 31st. So stay tuned, I guess. But yeah, there's it's there were more questions brought up today regarding silo that I wasn't aware of. So, it's it's it's going to be interesting. >> Madam prepared, uh Travis, I have a question for you. So, we're sort of at that point where we need to do negotiations, salary negotiations, benefit negotiations, things of that nature with with staff and employees. And what I worry about right now is that sounds like we're still bouncing back and forth on how all this is going to look.
025Do we have enough information, do you think, to proceed with those negotiations or are we still sort of in them? >> Mr. Madame Chair, I I think we're still in the boat. Okay. Um, I have presented to Mikeos like certified tal salary schedule for our certified staff which that encompasses most of the silo, but there's still questions of different pieces that might be part of the silo that aren't included in right now. Um and then depending on because if you look at look at the LSO's current model that they drafted based on the legislation the instructional resource amount you can find three different amounts right now. So what that it ranges from 15 million or 16 million down to 10. So until we know exactly what that is and then seeing based on our staff
026size if we fit into that silo, there's just a lot of questions >> and and how does do we have clarity on the benefit side? >> No. >> Okay. >> No, that was one of the things that got brought up today. um whether or not um health insurance and re retirement fall into the silo and that's that's totally unknown. Makes sense that it would but >> sense may not be in the equation. >> Yeah. No, >> I have one other quick question. So in this process of review by Pisad and then the Wte and then back to the school advisory committee, is there the potential for significant change or what's the product that they're reviewing? Does that make sense? Madam Chair Eileen, it really comes down to WDE defining things and then taking it to
027the attorney general to get their interpretation and see if they agree. So yeah, I I I can't see that very well. So >> thank you to answer or to speak on a point that you brought up too and Mike Travis and I last week and we talked about if we should go ahead and hold a salary committee meeting and discussions but in our policy and we kind of felt that it's necessary to have that open communication even if we don't know. So the plan is next week those on the committee which I think is Kier and myself I think we'll meet is that next week already yes we'll meet with um those representatives but we won't have much to share um but it's just more of a discussion I guess and then um yeah I
028think kind of to all the staff just kind of having a better understanding what should be expected. We're not directly mad all the work. Um we're hoping for information as soon as possible indicated now saying they'll have 31st that would be great but that's after during spring break at that point and that was the reason for the special board meeting be added on April 7th. We're hopeful and optimistic that we'll have figures by that date and that you all as a board will be able to close on salaries and benefits packages for the home. Um the reason we're really really holding tight to that time frame is by statute we have to offer contracts to our certified folks. Um that's a huge deal. Uh as you can imagine if you're on receive the contract want
029to know do I have a job and if so what am I going to be paid? What is my compensation package? We're working diligently. I'm sure the state's working as hard as they can. There's a lot of moving pieces that go with this model that are ahead to be one more comment. This the silo is really tying everybody's hands. I mean, it's not unlike anything we've ever seen before. Um, districts all over the state are having these conversations with their boards right now. I mean, Mike and I read an article today about different school district that we may have to punt if we, you know, if we don't know everything and possibly rely on reserves to so that we can adjust going forward. Yeah. Tough way to run a district. Yeah. >> Thanks, Madam Chair.
030That's all I have. >> All right. Before we go into presentations, I'm sorry that as the board chair, I think I can do this. I I forgot to mention something in board member reports. Um, I had the pleasure of also last week going to the LHS pre high school orientation. And I just wanted to give a shout out to the middle school and high school for making that transition for the eighth graders. They did a great job before the orientation of meeting with students and kind of giving them a game plan of what to expect in high school. And then the orientation meeting was great for parents. some of the students had the opportunity to go into the um box gym and just see the different classes and see the different teachers and different clubs
031and organizations. So, um being new to the high school realm, that was really great to see and little emotional for me. I won't lie. Um but just kudos and shout to everyone that was involved and all the teachers that stayed over in doing that for those new incoming freshmen. All right. And now we are on to presentation. >> Madam chair, members of the board, as you'll recall, we had our first in this district, Wyoming teacher of the year, state teacher of the year for 2025. We had a whirlwind year in that role, getting to do a lot of fascinating things, learning a lot, and she wanted some time with you to share some reflections and takeways from her time in that role. >> Yeah, madam chair board, thank you guys so much for giving me
032this time. I thought it was kind of fitting because if you were like me this time like last year's like what is teacher of the year? It's like an award and then I found out there's this whole calendar full of stuff which was really cool and also pretty intense. And I wanted to share with you what that investment like looked like because we haven't had one before which is cool and I'm confident that we can that we can have one again. Like there's I look around our district and I just see so much excellence and that's part of what the representation looked like to me. But the process was really twofold. There's the national cohort. So it's me and all the other state and territory teachers of the year that that participated in going to
033the Google headquarters campus for professional development Washington DC and space camp which doesn't seem like it's going to be super relevant but it really was. uh and a couple other things that boiled down to professional development like on steroids. So things that were really applicable directly to my classroom when I came back, but also those other things that you you want your staff to get um but they're not necessarily on the agenda. So things like um like professional relationships and so now I have this cohort of people that are all expert educators in their own right that I have on speed dial to collaborate with on stuff um and who are facing totally different challenges than what we face in Wyoming and kind of vice versa. And then also the representation piece. Um so just
034like anytime we go anywhere we're representing our state and our school and our district. And this was a cool opportunity to continue to reinforce what I what I thought was true before and what is still true which is that Wyoming is on the cutting edge of stuff and particularly in lander we are we are leading that charge even more. So, it was just another way that I got to uh to carry that banner into all of those different spaces. And part of that was advocacy and that really translates to the state level, which was a word that at the beginning of my term of service made some people pretty darn nervous because in the packet they're like, "Pick a platform, go for it." I'm like, "I'm a social studies teacher and I know how this
035goes." And so, what do we mean by that? And so one of the things I wanted to do with the role that I I think was successful was take it from this thing that I'm going to try to accomplish in a really finite amount of time that has a really specific purpose and also has the capacity to be either partisan or polarizing or or something. And in Wyoming like we don't really have to do that because we're crushing it so hard. And that pointed me to a place of gratitude. Like I'm so glad that I work here and I'm grateful for that. But also, I'm proud to be part of the reason that we are that way. And Fremont County is a massive part of the reason that Fremont County one is a massive part
036of the reason that we are that way as a state. And so changing it from this idea that I'm going to pick one like silo thing and I'm going to carry that and just see where it lands in a year. um and and changing that to really be more of a point of of celebration and a mouthpiece for what's going on and education because that was what happened most of the time was that advocacy for me looked like conversations and sometimes that was I got the microphone I love that so let me add them in the legislature because that's my thing but it was also people who had a bunch of big questions in the produce aisle of Safeway and and that had that was an area where where the role was really serviceoriented because
037lots of people came to those conversations with either preconceived notions and preconceived notions are rarely all that positive about education or what it is to be a teacher and educator in Wyoming and in Lander and and to be able to fall back on so much of what we do that I wasn't a stretch to to give some clarity to those moments and I think that was such a major component of advocacy that that doesn't end in a year and so the investment in that I think is is not just and in the role is not just something that happens now. Um it is also something that will continue to evolve. I'm not 100% sure what that looks like, but I I'm confident that it's positive. So, I wanted to say thank you to you guys
038um for for the support. Uh it is I don't know why a district wouldn't be pumped about it, but but not everybody was the experience of some of my colleagues in the national cohort. So, I've received nothing but hype and support and logistical things from from the community and from you guys and I really really appreciate that. And I wanted to give some specific shoutouts as well. Um, you know, without the support of my department like boots on the ground making sure the sub plans actually get done when I'm gone this would would not have been as successful. So, Jeremy Ailio were absolutely phenomenal. the finalists like Cammy Castrea who had helped me prepare for the interview with first place and Christy Nelson. They were instrumental in this process. And another huge shout out that
039I think needs to happen is is to principal Brad back there. Um because many of you probably know this, but maybe not everybody. My like first job out of college was here was Lander. And back to the days there was like 40 applicants for a social studies position. I'm pretty sure he called me a wildcard resume at the time because I was so new. Um, and without that vote of confidence, this would have never happened because I wouldn't have been mentored by the amazing educators that have happened. I wouldn't have the support of the community like this just it wouldn't have happened. And that's not to mention all of the mentorship and the conversations around those larger scale stakeholder data conversations. What what is what is a NAPE score? Why do I need to know
040what it is in order to have a intelligent conversation in a in safe way and how to think about those conversations that are policy related and and to have an administrator that has your back to do to do the day-to-day sub plans. It was a lot of time out of my classroom and that was taken in stride in addition to all of those other things. So, I just wanted to give that big shout out to you um and to our team here in 311. The the takeaway for me is is we're still crushing it to claim success. Doesn't mean to claim perfection, but it does mean to lay the road to continue growing and doing the things that need to be done for our kids. Because when we say trustee scholar, everybody here knows a
041name. When we think of who can help us at Ace Hardware pick out the best paint, it's that successful professional kid who was in my senior class last year or military success. Like that's what makes us great. Um, and I'm so thankful for what the opportunity has done for me now and what it will do in the future. And I just look forward to the very next state teacher of the year coming up in Tiger Country. So, thank you guys very much. >> Any comments for Morgan? Any questions? >> Want to hear more about Space Camp? I got it. >> Madam Chair, I would just say, you know, Morgan was was very gracious in thanking people, but I think the thanks all should go to Morgan. Uh, not just for representing us in such a
042great way, which obviously you did, but also for the work that you do with our kids, which is the most important thing, and we appreciate it very much. >> Agreed. We're very honored and proud to have all of you and we hope to keep it that way. Thanks. All right. Next item on the agenda is actually the executive session. So we will need a motion to go into executive session regarding matters personnel and student. >> Second. Um Matt, just a quick point of discussion. Um just just for an and for Matt in case they're not aware, when we approve the uh when we approve the agenda, simultaneously we approve the consent agenda. So we don't actually go through the consent agenda. That's generally something we don't have to discuss. >> Okay. move. Second favor. Just
043note when the executive executive stipulated agreements is irrelevant to any action items. >> Okay. Can I get a motion to return from executive session? >> So move. >> All in favor? >> I motion carries personnel action. >> Madam chair, I'd like to move to approve the personnel actions as presented. Second. >> Okay. Discussion. So, um Jared, would you like to move to approve the personal actions renewals and venture coaching recommendation? >> Yes, madam chair. Thank you. >> All right. Any discussions on these items? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. Next item is consideration of approving the presented second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Consideration for approval of six home games. Motion this for discussion. Second discussion. >> Yeah, Madam Chair, I'm just curious. I haven't seen
044this kind of thing come through before in terms of something we have to approve. I'm just wondering why this requires board. >> You ask question. The reason is the board to approve um with the understanding that it would be a JD with only So that was the reason we just thought like for transparency sake and you saw a softball game going on somewhere in town that home game like um so Mr. George has details on exactly what's under consideration here. Um, so if you recall in October, I went home and I really had no idea, no handling the budget yet. And so at the time I really wasn't comfortable dedicating funds or any officials for home games. At this time we've gotten through lots of drug testing which is part of the proposal drug testing
045and I'm I'm 100% confident we can handle three days at home six home games without regular bank. Um, we heard from an tonight about the softball fall numbers. Can you fill us in a little? Is that all from our students or did we end up collaborating with other districts? I know we have had a couple discussions >> pretty much the entire county wind. Yeah, pretty much the entire county. >> So, yeah. >> And not to put you on the spot, but could you remind us did what was is there some sort of agreement? Um did we talk about like is there when that happens as far as like with the budget, you know, is there an agreement as far as they cover costs or is it all pretty much covered under us and there's really
046not a lot of overhead cost? Um I don't recall exactly or I don't know exactly how how it works with our with our agreements with other schools and that I'm still trying to get a handle on that. >> Sure. >> I know there's some some funds that come our way with pay to play that those types of funds but I don't know if there's an exchange between schools district. >> Okay. Thank you. I just I remember that Mr. already said prior to your um time about you know if we were going to go out and so that's great that we have so many girls going out to any other questions for Mr. George or >> I just have one. Yes. Um I just was wondering where are they using I heard we might be using
047>> um so working with the city the uh North Park is on the docket. Thank goodness for the weather for next year. Um and since it's been dry we can actually use the ones down by the high school this year. Um and still looking at some fencing to make those appropriate size. obviously was working on moving the fences back and forth and um I think they just met with the lighting company today. >> Oh, okay. >> Thank you. >> So, are the fields as they're configured now too big? They're a little too big. There's no ditch size which I know sounds backwards about those are much larger than we could have a home run derby in north or we could have doubles for days. >> Any other questions? >> Thanks. >> All right. All those
048in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Did we ever make a motion? >> Okay. I'm going to pick. >> Motion get over. Our discussions are okay. Motion carries. Approval for monitor donations. Consider donations from the Lord Foundation for portable nets at Bill Bush Stadium for $18,450 and scanners for the Land of Middle School $6,597. Mr. Harris, can you actually Let's get that mentioned. Also consider donation of the 2011 Subaru Outback district's auto mechanic program for $3,00 Awesome. We get a motion for >> discussion Mr. Harris about the scanners. >> You bet. Madam chair, the scanners would go with our medical school. We had some other scanners that weren't quite what we needed to use those effectively. So better compatibility. Also, once again, thanks to Lord for their generosity. That's cool. I'm sure they
049appreciate that. And I know those nets at the stadium will be a huge hit because a lot of kids will be hit. Great. All those in favor signify by saying >> I motion carries. Laura, can I request that you want to appreciate that? We definitely need to give them as many things as we can before >> John and Jean for the same. Oh, that's from Oh, great. >> That's not from what I see. >> Can I email you? I'll email you later. Who they are? >> Thank you for clarifying that. >> Discussion items, policies for first reading. Mr. Curious. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the board. So, there are seven policies here. Two will be combined with the proposal for first reading that most reporting child abuse. Um, but I'll just kind of
050go alphabetically if I'm okay with P having to do with inventories. Um, if you pull up the first reading draft, all we had before was basically that section in red that's now bottom. Uh, our business manager Travis had a meeting recently in Cheyenne. We were talking about district policies with this policy built on the recommendations that he received at that meeting. You can keep kind of see how far RV um minimum capitalization value for equipment is 5,000. Look above page one last fixed asset significant value 5,000 is kind of old school figuring. So and this is just much more detailed also howtories work and all that sort of stuff. So much better policy. >> Any questions for Mike or policy? >> Madam Chair, GCBA is the next one alphabetically. It's entitled certified staff salary schedule.
051Um I'm proposing that this would be deleted. It's a one-s sentence policy about something that we do automatically. under statute you can't run a school district with no salary schedules for teachers so I don't know that there's any point to have this so the call library >> okay next one would be GCNC and this is a new policy draft based on some some input from board members. Uh varsity coach conflicts of interest. Basically, this outlines some requirements about varsity head coaches who serve as a head coach or a similar role with another club sport. Includes students of the same age participate or participate in the same sport on school sponsor team at high school level. So basically what we're saying is if you're going to teach you're going to coach varsity sport, you can't also
052coach a club sport in the same sport for the same kids of the same age. Um there can be exceptions made at the discretion of the ad for varsity coaches who involve are involved in club sports. It's different than the one they teach at the high school level or coaches who teach or coach individual based club sports like wrestling, boys game, swimming, track and field, those types of things. So really looking at primarily the team sports with this just to make sure that there's no undue influence at the varsity level because of a player or a coach's involvement at the club level. Um and then the second bullet point there talks about exactly what's meant by that term with regard to this policy. >> Yes. Um, given the intent of the policy, do would it
053make sense for us instead of having to make exceptions for individual club sports if we just call that out in this policy and say it only applies to team sports? I mean, I don't see I mean, I I can understand the team sport aspect of this. I just don't see where there's conflict when it's an individual sports based on timings based on you know scores for diving those kind of things and I don't I don't necessarily know where the conflict would be that but if you certainly I think that's a great yeah I don't know if the word exception is necessarily appropriate word choice I think um differentiates team sports to individual is important and so maybe there just needs to be something there but I agree that I think the concern being individual sport
054because they're time based or based more than a team sport that can be tricky so yeah I open a board search or So one thing about that is there although those are individually based sports one of the things that I was thinking about putting together this draft was um there are so many occasions for individually based sports where there are decisions that can be made like with regard to relay teams who wrestles in a particular way usually wrestle but you don't want to be in a situation where coach goes oh I know this coughing practice I don't think he's doing well I think my kid wrestle at one point or whatever So there even though there are individual theyations that complain as well that's not not >> okay do we when we send individual athletes
055to like state do we limit the number I mean do we you know are we only allowed to send x number of kids to to state qualifying usually it's something. >> So that might be another situation. Okay. >> Are you okay with that? >> Yeah, >> I do have another topic to bring up though. This a much much bigger topic that I'd really like to see us consider with this uh with this proposal. And let me just say over seven and a half years on the board now, I know that I haven't known every coach and I know that I haven't had every player, but I can say that almost every time that I'm aware of that, we had a coach that would coach their kid, their their child, it would create issues. Right now,
056I'm not saying the coach was um at fault by any stretch, but sometimes the issues were in spite of the coach doing their very best to try to stay out of right. You'd have a a student that was an awesome athlete take the court and then that student had to deal with the fact that everyone around them were saying, "Well, the only reason he or she is on the court or on the field was because mom or dad was coach." um the coach and people fall out with the same kind of problems even though they're trying to do their best. Uh and even other kids on the team are looking around going, "Am I not in that spot because I'm not good enough or am I not in that spot because the coach is keen?"
057Right? So I just think it creates tremendous conflict of interest. I'd like to see us consider as part of this policy. Um, only for team only for team sports. If if you have a child that is going to participate in your sport, you're not allowed to coach. But I know in a in a in a community like ours, it's small. Sometimes it's hard to find good coaches. I give I get that. And sometimes I think coaches that put a lot of invested a ton of time in district all of a sudden they have to give up their position because they got a kid coming up through the ranks. I get that too. I mean I understand that it would be a controversial and difficult but I just think that it would be something that we
058should consider as >> it is it is controversial for sure and difficult. Um, I agree with you that during my five years on the board, a lot of issues have stemmed from perceived or real um, issues with bias. And and and you're right in the point that it's not always it often works to the discredit of the individual that earns that position that they're still getting that stigma of your only office because you're whatever that might be. um which we've heard it from multiple sports. I I hesitant in some ways because there's you know situations where one bad you know one bad might ruin the batch but um you know if it's in policy and it's something that it's just the way it is. I mean, maybe that people will just accept it and it's
059easier because it's a policy and maybe it wouldn't be as big of an issue as we might think it would be bringing this, you know, about to policy. Um, my other thought is I do think about situations where we and we've seen it both ways where a coach came in new with a new athlete and that is different different for me than you know someone I think of um Stones who's been our basketball coach for years and of course his boys are going to play basketball and in you know five six seven years you know that seems unfair to me that he's worked this whole time like you said and and pretty much brought this community and created this robust program and in this way you get all this time and effort and now you
060know you don't get to but maybe by that point he'll want to be a spectator and watch and you know not have to coach them I don't know um so it is hard to think about one particular situation or couple particular situations and I think if we do look at this and I'll get everyone else's feedback on this we probably would to kind of just I would say if we bring it again as first reading I feel like there'd be too many changes to bring it as second reading if we go that route and that way we can have further discussion and it'll be open to the public to see that proposed changes. So um with that I'll open it up to any other board member that has comments and thoughts on that. >> Madam
061Chair, Mr. Kale, my concern with both of these is just making sure we have a big enough pool to actually hire qualified coaches and also recognize that some people may coach at the club level or the middle school level with the hope to become a high school coach and if they think they can't be a high school coach when they're kid like I wonder what the other trickle down ramifications are. Um, yeah, I support the policy and I just want to make sure we don't write ourselves out of being able to hire coaches. And I'm curious if there's a a middle ground of could you be a coach, but >> an an assistant coach or a coach at different level than where your kid is playing or an assistant coach has to help with the
062team rosters of who's on varsity. Um, and then I also I'm curious about the like in our district will team coaches be like, well, why do individual co coaches get to do whatever they want? Um, yeah, generally I support this, but I just want to be wary moving forward that we're not preventing ourselves from being able to hire people. um in my looking at the assistant. >> Madam Chair, on that uh on that point, if we do move forward with something like that, I'd like to get administration state to particularly our AD's perspective on it as well as as Mr. Harris. Um I mean, I'm I'm this is the first time anyone's here. Uh because I was just reviewing this policy. >> Yeah. Um but I would I would like for us at least the
063admin considering whether that would be appropriate change to this policy. >> I already boy. Um it's a tough question. It's tough being a being a coached kid. Um they've never been in that position. That's that's a tough position to be in because you want to you want to please your coach and you want to please your dad, you want to please your mom or the other coaches or whatever they whatever they are. Um it it's also not just hard to be a coach kid, but if you're fortunate to have have a mom or a dad that was a player and wasn't a coach, right, sometimes it's even worse because then you have full leash to get your kid. Okay? And that that's a difficult situation to be in too. um people that that have played
064at an upper level opportunity or or college or even pro sports and that sort of stuff, they know the amount of dedication it takes to be exceptional at any sport or any discipline. Um and it takes a lot of hard work. It is hard on the coaches and it's hard on players, too. I mean, it's not it's not a will. It's tough on both sides of that job. I think we have to have have integrity by our coaches. Um I know coaches that have their kid didn't get to start till they were a senior because they weren't quite ready yet. And the coaches know that. The coaches know that. And it's a hard thing for them too. They got to go home with their kid and say, "You're getting there, son. You're getting there." Right?
065Son wants to be there. It's difficult. So, I think it's a really, really, really hard thing for us to do. I I think at the same time that we have administrators in our schools that are highly competent in advising uh coaches, players, um what we're trying to get our kids the opportunity to do and experience and and we really put a lot of faith and and trust in in those folks that are taking care of our kids. That's that's part of their job. I know the administrators in our district and I know they're not going to let a kid get abused by a coach because they'll stop that heart. So, I think it's really tricky. I don't I don't know the answer to it. Um, but for those of us that have lived through those
066kind of things, it's tough on both sides. >> And yes, please. >> Um, I just had one little thought. I mean like I've grown up with these words. My mom has been my coach before and then I also have had like teammates and their parent is the coach. And one thing I noticed and it's just a very small thing is that when um an athlete has a coach that's their parent, they can almost treat them different. Not because it's like they're being mean or they can like yell at their parent, but it's like they they have that confidence to be a little more like rejecting of what they have to say or like they just would when it like you have a coach that an athlete isn't connected to at all and then their parent
067um and they can just treat their parent different. And I've seen it and I've probably even done it to my mom when I was little when she was my coach. But I just think like sometimes athletes when their parent the coach think that they have like or not even think they just can treat them a little bit different and it's not just like a strict thing it's like they can be a little with it and do you think and just to ask further question that do you think that affects the other players because they see the way that player treats their coach and maybe isn't very respectful to their parent and they think they can get away with it and like does that cause strife or frustration with those other teammates. >> Yeah. I mean,
068I think like there's always I mean, I'm on a team right now where there's daughters and a father like coach, but there's always talk about it. Like whether it be when I was playing U8 soccer or now varsity soccer, there's always talk, oh, like what Jared was saying about she's always on the field because her dad or even she's not playing because her dad doesn't want to make it feel like or the coach doesn't want like it to seem that he's playing his daughter just because of the connection they have. And so I think there's always like a little bit of talk and like the other teammates notice it. So it's always something to consider. >> Thank you. That's great to hear from student athlete. >> Um yeah, I I'm reluctant to take the step
069of prohibiting that relationship through policy. Um I agree with Mike that that's a really tricky um relationship for families to maintain and I agree with Mara too that our pool is very limited. Um and I would hope that through the vehicle of kind of education and communication that our AD and our administrators would be able to communicate with our coaching staff and be clear about expectations. um and kind of promote an environment where people can share the decision making, maybe pull in more of the assistant um coaching staff and not have to kind of limit our options. It just that seems like a pretty um a big step. So >> yeah, I I I am also a little um concerned about adding that as a policy to mandate that um for for a few reasons.
070Um that people have stated, but I think that um you should, you know, when people are building a program, you want a program that's built, you know, Bruce Gley coached his kids and he's created a legacy that's we're still three years strong. And so I think that looking at building a program is more important than who necessarily is coaching and coaching their kids because you want to keep that program going. So having somebody who's got a program that's working and having to step down because their kids now in high school, it's not fair to their kid to have the best coach or the other kids on the team. Um, that being said, I think we could probably have maybe some more expectations of coaches on that and maybe be able to have that be in
071their evaluation part of it. That's going to be a concern. And if there's kids on the team, you know, they're going to be using their assistant more um and utilizing them in that respect. Um, and you know, I just get concerned because we have we have kind of a culture where parents rescue their children all the time. They don't always want to hear that their kids the best. And so I think that we feed into that and you know sometimes they're not the best player or maybe sometimes they're messing around at practice and see that or they're you know not doing something that the coach wants them to do and now they're blaming it on because their kids you know the coach is you don't see everything all the time. >> Yeah. >> And so
072I would hate to take that away good coaches. I agree with all those points except for that one also though could go the other way that people are perceiving the good old boys club where because it's coach's kid they're not pulling that weight they're not going to practice or working as hard um so I have the suggestion um let's proceed with this um varsity and club sports policy as presented unless there's any to this particular one I think that the um coaching policy or consideration of that we need to get feedback from admin and the ads and principles and it's it is drafted a little different since it's talking about um children and and you know coaching and child relationship versus this one that's looking at that dynamic of equity across you know one club
073program where it's they're trying to you know um so I think they're a little I I understand how you're trying to combine them maybe to keep it easier but I feel like they're kind of two things to be honest. So, um I think this one is kind of aiming more at what we have talked about recent concerns. Um and then I think let's get feedback from admin if that's a consideration. If they feel like you know what we think this is a problem too but we haven't direction or if they say no you guys need to but out and let us handle it we say okay. So um I think Jared if that's okay with you and everyone else proceed that way. That's perfectly fine for me. The only reason I wanted to bring put
074it in this one um is just mainly because at the time varsity coach conflicted interest I thought it fell under that but we could either amend this one later or it could be a separate you know we could look at it completely separate >> maybe Mike could we rename it varsity coach um I mean because yeah that's this is one conflict of interest that could arise but maybe varsity coaches coach ing. I don't know. Maybe something that has more of a club because for this situation seems like we're directing it more directly to sports. >> Madam Chair, may I suggest club coach conflicts of interest? >> Great. And if that's the case, not a lot of changes, we could bring this up. Madam Chair, my only my only concern with that potential change is that
075we have no club. >> We'll let you >> I'm certainly not too worried about theology. >> All right. Anything else with that policy? >> Mr. Harris, off to the next. >> Right. Thank you, Madam Chair. Members of the board, this one should be pretty easy. Also, I think this is another one that's for deletion. Um, it talks about our community being full of rich resources and we should take advantage of our potential for rich learning opportunities by for children by using community instructional resources. I think if there's any district in the state that's doing this well, it's probably us. We're in the top small percentage of districts that do this well. I'm not sure that it needs to be a policy. I think at every building in our district all sorts of different content are
076so I'm not sure policy it's almost written recommendation policy to me I don't think it's necessary >> I would also say that I'm pretty sure all of our work so hard on getting that community involvement probably didn't even know that this was a policy that existed so it wasn't like they were they were likely Yeah. Comments, >> madam chair, members of the board. So the next one alphabetically would be JHG JHG-R1. This is the old policy structure or format where there's a policy and then regulation. But we're proposing to do here to combine these into just a simple policy. So starting with JHGR1 that will just be deleted and then the important elements from that regulation embedded into GHG which is what you see on that. Basically, this has just been updated to match current
077practices. Um, you know, previously it was basically on on regulation. The principal is the only one called when there were suspected abuse or neglect. Um, now it just reads anyone anyone can and should report that, but they coordinate with school. That's always the superintendent prize. Previously, there was a written report that was required. I I certainly don't need a written report. I appreciate a heads up when a principal has a situation where um they or their staff have to call the FS. Um but then have some otherwise authorities in law enforcement. So that's really the gist is just to streamline and combine clarify some things. The point I want to make just about these last few policies with Matt being you on our board and just a reminder um when when Jenny and Mike and
078the team pulled all these policies over from um diligent assembly a lot of the adoption dates were lost and so you'll see the original adoption date Christmas last year not the case we don't even know when these were previously we just picked that date. So, just to clarify, this isn't a policy that we looked at two months ago. We're looking at revising again. So, just wanted to make that clear. >> Sorry. >> Any concerns on this one? >> No concern, Madam Chair. One question I do have is just um maybe it's a maybe it's just a buzz word issue, which is mandating. I kind of wonder if would it be worth adding that more mandated should state of Wyoming in this policy or is that just unimportant or madam chair Mr. I'm not sure it's
079necessary. Basically, any anybody in the state of Wyoming is a mandated reporter. Educators, nurses, healthare professionals are especially uh but yeah, we're not going to look the other way. If there's any suspect there, I think that's something that's drilled into the heads of educators. We're going to notice on board. >> Madam Chair, superintendent Harris, there are just a handful of typos in the last highlighted green sentence. Um, I think that sentence needs an or or a nor before the comma. Parentheses need to be closed. And I think that should be conveying messages. your jealous. >> Don't forget Any other moving on? >> Okay, the last one madam chair will be school contacts with non legal parents. Um, this just had a lot of superfluous information here. parents not a date information about for example non-custodial
080parents need to request their rights know that's not how we do things at schools uh non-custodial parents as long as their parental rights are still intact to get all the same information as parents custody so this just kind of updates the language there to reflect that reality um slight policy update their reference to J's replace J not that long ago within the or two. So yeah, we'll deal with nonial parents in an equal way as customs or comments. >> Madam chair, I do have one quick question and that truly is just a just an inquiry and a question. when we do get a court order or something along those lines that we have a parent who is not to receive information or have any contact with child, how do we handle that? I mean, how
081do we kind of keep that front of mind in the school so that we know that we're not going to step over that boundary accidentally and Mr. Taylor campus so people are authorized to record see a flag that custody issues or records or any Great question. As far as sharing information, the teacher sharing information. Okay. Moving on vote member. >> Thank you, madam chair. So with Scott Jensen's resignation, he was the the board's direct or the Fremont County Board of Cooperative Higher Education Services, not to be confused with Fremont County OC's, which has to do with career and technical education primarily. Uh so this is someone that we work with closely with CWC and other superintendents or other board reps I'm sorry stakeholders in with CWC to talk about range of issues like dual concurrent
082enrollment things like that that affect higher education and it's interface with madam chair um I would be happy to serve as this replacement however I'm not sure if I would be a conflict of interest but say to teach several CWC goes students including lander or Fremont own students through the CWC goes program. So great question I don't even really know was was working. So I don't think so. >> Madam chair, I wouldn't think so just because Mar wouldn't be making any any decisions, right? It would be bringing us information to share. >> Yeah. And in that respect, I think you'd be a fantastic candidate just because you have the knowledge background. I mean, I'd be happy to do it. I'm not committ right now, but I think you would be much better at it and
083more qualified than Mr. Harris, Madam Chair, I don't need to do it. Check with her employer to make sure they don't pursue the conflict. >> I can check in with my employer. >> Yeah, I'll do that and I'll report back to you all at the next meeting. >> Okay. Okay, great. So we will meeting. Thank you for this guys. Special education consultant report. >> Thank you madam chair. So Mindy Clancy our director of student services was hoping to be here tonight to to provide this info but she's unable to attend. Um she did leave me some highlights from the executive summary from the report that I wanted to share with you. So we're we're obviously looking to improve results for all students. For students with IEPs, individualized education programs, that's a particular concern is additional
084challenges in many cases that make it difficult or more difficult to achieve in the general curriculum. So we're looking for ways to improve those results for these students and then find ways to make our services more effective and efficient. That was the reason we voluntarily asked for this external review just to look at a lot of different things. service provision staffing um programs if you want to call it that like skills programs versus behavior resource and that um one thing we noted in looking at this is that we have really high rates of regular classroom placement which is great meaning students with individualized education programs are in the regular classes at a high rate high percentage of the time um which is great because they're getting exposed to general curriculum however we do see a
085pretty performance gaps uh gap in comparison with those who don't have IEPs. And when you look at other school districts of similar size, that's also notable. We're we're getting kids into the regular classroom, but their results are not where we expect them to be. So that's that's one of the things we're trying to tackle with this this consultants report. Um, and then in some cases, students appear to need more specially designed instruction than what's indicated on their IE. So if they're not achieving, is it because we're not providing enough or the right types of services? So can we provide more of these instructional services instead of more instructional supports which kind of leads to the next point. We we have a lot of instructional support personnel or pair professionals. Um actually much more than what
086the state recommended for special adapting guidelines 42 and the guidelines act 26. Is that wrong 42? Not necessarily. But are they are they prepared to do their roles effectively? are they clear on exactly what they're doing with each student throughout the school day to make sure that their services are supportive but not replacing the students need to authentically learn and demonstrate their learning. Um and then we're also recognizing through the report we need to have a more effective collaborative planning process between special ed. Um, we have a lot of collaborative team meetings meetings, I'm sorry, but a lot of times special education teachers may not be able to be a part of those collaborative plan planning meetings or team meetings. And so, can we do things to improve that communication and coordination so you teachers
087know what students with IEPs are working on individually and then special ed teachers know what the general curriculum is going to be focused on so they can kind of reinforce, support each other for the benefit of the students. And then the last piece that's kind of an emphasis point maybe answer that also is can we improve training for our special education staff better just to improve retention and get them in the flow supporting students and helping students meet their goals with more regularity. So that's those are the main pieces that were contemplated in the report. We're going to have a meeting with the admin team on April 9th to discuss the report in greater detail and then as board members can expect to get further information from director C myself principles how they're roll out
088some of these potential improvements changes in special education to hope again get better results for our students. Any questions for Mike? We thank you for that preliminary information on there. Next closest computer upcoming event reminders. We will tenatively still hold a date for the special board meeting for April 7th um to look at salary and benefits for 20627 unless things change otherwise. So if so I will email you and we'll plan another date and then our regular scheduled board meeting of April 21st 2026. No other events or reminders. Um, for the salary sessions, I'm not able to wonder reached out and said that she would be able to. And honestly, I mean, it's up to you, Mara. The reason I had you on I wanted to make sure you were on any so I stepping
089in. I just thought it would be nice to have one of your ID. To me, that's a lot of work for you to come to when we don't have a lot of information and you're not planning on being on that committee. So, I'm only Okay, great. If you're okay with that, dying to >> Yeah, we'll just Okay, that one. What he's doing?