Fremont #1 School Board meeting 02-17-2026

001to go up on the forest. >> But the archaeology project Where's that >> to call this regularly scheduled board meeting for February 17th Fremont County School District order. And the first order in this is the pledge of allegiance. Thank you. We have all board members present in person tonight. Thank you all for being here. Um so we just need a motion for approval of the January 20th and the February 3rd, 2020. Second. All in favor say I. Any opposed? Motion carries. And any additional items to the agenda tonight? February second. All those in favor. >> Mr. Harris recognition. >> Madam Chair. Um, three items briefly here. I don't know if you've all heard at all about Baldwin Creek Elementary's bring a grown up to music class. Uh, that happened a couple weeks ago at the

002beginning of this month. That's a chance to have parents come and get involved in music class. Wilson puts the song on. Um, three different days and depending on your grown up choice, usually a parent. Um, but there were also some kids that didn't have someone who could come and we had some people in our office that were able to go in and kind of like hang out with a kid music class which involves being very humble and group and dancing a lot of fun. If you've been to Mr. Wilson's performances, you kind of know what you're in for at the same time in the classroom. So, I just wanted to recognize Mr. Wilson and Greek Elementary for that opportunity to bring the guests in and parents especially. So, that was cool. Um, also wanted to

003congratulate our LHS boys wrestling team. They recaptured the gravel for the gold trophy, defeating Riverton in the duel last Thursday. Uh it's been a few years since has brought that trophy home. So pretty stoked for those boys and their coach parent as well. And then last but not least, I wanted to recognize Haley Peters, one of our school nurses, and Alicia McConnell, who's our food service director, for their work on last week's wellness wheel. Not sure how many board members are familiar with that, but twice a year we do a a weekday early out where the staff get together and who's from a slate of activities the Haley and Elisha selected and they had to organize leaders locations and the idea is to promote health and also fun camaraderie within the district. So you pick

004an activity, it can be anything from spin class to um walking to uh doing an art class to batten which is what I did poorly. Um but yeah, it's it's a really cool thing and they they were really instrumental in doing that and uh it's obviously in addition to their regular duties that >> and that m were you able to >> I was able to go sing the pirate song. All right. Um, public comment. Any public comment from anybody in the audience or online? Okay. Seeing none, we'll go to um programs reports and presentations, board member reports. I attended the regional science fair competition in Riverton about a month ago and there were several lander students there who had phenomenal projects. Um huge thank you to those students to Mr. Hart Pence and to the

005parents who I know also helped to make that possible. >> Anyone else? postings. We've done our search for a new director there and are continuing on that project with the interviews on next Monday and hope to have somebody new started in that position. >> Thank you for your role in that. I'm sure that's been a lot of extra work especially during season. Um, I didn't even think about doing this tonight, but uh, last weekend um, someone who remained analyst, a friend of mine's daughter, um, took her own life. And I just want to talk about and just mention how important it is and how critical it is that our district continues to support um, our kids who are going through so many difficult things right now. the the our counselors, um our therapists, everyone involved

006in mental health in our district, our teachers, lunchroom folks, their bus drivers, everyone that that reaches out and lends a hand to kids, um gives them a hug, pat on the shoulder, sees a kid that's uh alone in the lunchroom and goes and sits with them having a hard day in class. um that is critical um so important what we do as a district. So thank you to all the folks in our district that that lend a hand in helping our kids through these emotional crises as they Mr. Harris superintendent report. Um, thank you, Madam Chair. Just a couple of quick notes. Um, the state legislative session started on Monday 9th. Um, so obviously school finance recalibration has been a big part of what we're focused on there. It's a budget year, but this fits

007in with the the overall budget focus. Um, the House's version of the recalibration bill, you probably heard failed introduction, which is bit of a surprise, but the Senate's version, Senate File 81, didn't pass introduction. Um, and it was referred to Senate Education. That committee met yesterday and passed a flurry of amendments. At the end of that committee meeting, um among the most notable were proposals to base funding on a two-year rolling average. Currently, we're on a three-year rolling average. That's an improvement, we believe, over what was um initially proposed, which was just going to be the previous year, which would subject the districts to some pretty good fluctuations from year to year. Um so, the compromise amendment right now is a two-year rolling average. Um, another amendment would require an external cost adjustment every year,

008which is kind of nice instead of whenever. Um, they would like to with an amendment study the potential move of school districts to the state's health insurance program, which I also personally happen to think is a wise move since we're not really sure how much that would cost. We hear some good testimony from um, personnel from administration and information, which manages that employee group insurance program. Um, so that got um into the amendment and then kind of on the on the point that Mr. Kale was just making, they decided through the amendment to include nurses and elementary counselors in the funding formula for next school year rather than putting that off until 728. Um, so those were just some of the positives that I pulled out of that. We still don't uh know exactly how

009it will affect Fremont one. We don't have a a spreadsheet yet in the legislative service office. That would be really handy to start plugging some number in and see where it stand. Um but again we're very early in the process. Uh Senate File 81 went through appropriations today around lunchtime and it passed that committee with the amendments in place. So now the bill's going to the floor of the Senate for for a deliberate deliberation full Senate. So um there probably more changes on the horizon but that's that's kind of where things stand at the moment. Mr. Sweeney and I are listening intently with these these big meetings and any of the debates on the bills. So, we try to stay a breast of things, but like today when there's something that happens at lunch, sometimes

010we don't always get it in real time. Um, but while we're talking about some financial items, I want to turn it over to Mr. Sweeney briefly to talk about some changes that the W recently let us know with regard to our current funding for this year. Madam Chairwoman, chair, members of the board, I have a little bit of uh bad news to report. Um, so I don't know how many of you have seen the various tabs of the funding model spreadsheet, but it's it's huge. Um so buried within one of the tabs they had the middle school um classified as a high school and they found that area's been in there after they let me know I got in there looked and went to previous years then for some reason they had it classified as

011a high school for the last two or three years. Um so they've sent us a letter with a technical correction. It is now classified as a middle school, but it changes our funding for our groundskeepers >> on how we're funded for groundskeepers. So, it's a technical correction for this year's guarantee of about $106,000. So, we're going to lose that this current facility. So I just want to let everybody know about that >> middle schoolers need graphs less than high school >> based on the classification of the school, the square footage like site acreage >> on the middle school currently. So there's we have that football field. Is that considered obviously part of the middle school north? And so but size >> what's that? >> Thank you for being >> Yeah. >> Any questions for Travis?

012>> Thank you guys. I know we had to keep this meeting short since we had some other things to go over tonight. Um we'll go into the North Elementary discussion item and then after that discussion item we will pause. We'll discuss the process for the board candidates and then we'll take adment so those candidates can be um relocated into the room um >> all right demolition Mr. here. >> U Thank you, Madam Chair. So, our project manager from the state construction department asked that we include an agenda on tonight's agenda on an agenda item on tonight's agenda related to the potential demolition of this former North Elementary School building. Uh just another opportunity for any public hearing, any any public discussion on that proposal. Um there is still is no timeline for exactly when that

013might occur. Um, I did want to mention also that if and when demolition is scheduled, we have heard from some members of the community about different items that they'd like to preserve from within North Elementary and Queen and everyone I've spoken to about that would be highly in favor of saving some of the artwork and other things that historic or um aesthetic value from the property. So, a lot of that stuff is affixed to the interior walls with screws, which should be easy to remove and then relocate to museum or some other private collection potentially. So, um, that's not anything that we're just going to throw in the garbage if this we do receive funding for the demolition. Uh, Mr. Sme, I don't know if you have anything else to add. Madam Chair, it's just

014a requirement by the school facilities to open it up to the public, say that we did it, and then they can take that information to the school facilities commission to possibly get approved for this. Thank you. Um maybe with that in mind at the end of this meeting we'll open it up for another public um comment if there's anyone that would like to add anything else. I know um we don't have a time frame on this and do we know the funding model, Travis? Is it like would they would they help with the entire demolition? Is it a portion? Can you share a little bit more about that? I know you shared with us before, but since we have more members for new people in the public. >> Yep, Madam Chair. Um yeah, they're going

015to seek to get full funding approved for demo as best as obeyment. Okay, so that puts us to the next item on the agenda, which is our interviews for our board of candidates. We are very grateful for the 13 initial candidates that we have. Um, two weeks ago, we met in executive session and um looked at everyone's resumes and letters of interest and whittleled it down to five candidates. And so, we appreciate you five being here tonight. Um, we look forward to learning more about you guys and who you are. So, at this time, um, we'll just take a short to get those four candidates into the other room and we're going to go in order alphabetically. So, Mrs. Adams, you'll be first up that works for you. So, if you want to take a

016couple minute break or if you're ready, we'll I guess just have candidates sit up front to have notes or pin whatever you need. And um >> where where do we want the other >> Yeah, Mr. Harris is going to just across the hall. He'll be in there. And then also for public we have um a few questions just about the candidate and then each board member will ask a um question and then you'll have a timer either my evil time will be two minutes just because candidate nine potentially nine to 10 question it's kind of like the school board candidate forum will time it for two minutes so everyone has a um fair share as far as sharing their voice and having their thoughts. So, all right. Thanks, guys. We'll just take a couple minutes.

017>> What kind of would be a really good day? really good like in this area >> to um like I was calling the pothole and there's a pull off. >> Yes. Like right in that Yeah. >> Yeah. If you park there and it's I think state trust land your little gate >> and walk >> Yeah. Go walk that way. Turn up into the rock. on. >> Don't tell anyone. Check it out. >> Wait a minute. No, you guys. >> So, you plan ahead now. >> You're a professional. You did your job. Yeah. >> Great. Sarah, thank you. Sarah Adams, thank you for being here as a candidate. And we'll just start with some background information. So, if you could please tell us a little about yourself and what skills and experience you believe to bring

018to the board. I was a home educator for 19 years. So, that's the first area. Um, I'm a teacher. I had to plan curriculum. I had to deal with students of multiple ages. So, I know what it's like to be in the classroom. Teaching isn't the hardest part. It's um getting kids to be willing to learn and dealing with um all the behavioral issues. I love learning. I love teaching. Um I love being with my children, planning curriculum. That's the first part. Um being a parent, I'm in the trenches every single day. Um your story, Jared, I I know. And I think parents are I'll speak for myself. There's an incredible amount of fear and anxiety I think as a society coming at us but also within us as parents and it's difficult to own

019that and admit it and ask for help. Um, so I come at this experience as a parent with openness and willingness and honesty about what it takes on the day and age to be a parent, but also recognizing that what lands at the door of the schools every single morning is not a product of the schools. It's a product of society and and a big part of that is the family parents. Um second or thirdly I am an academic and I have extensive research and academic um background in theory around leadership quantitative qualitative data analysis. I conducted my own research um in my dissertation. I'm a qualitative person but I will tell you all research is inherently biased. I know how to read it simply because the person doing the research is the one that

020crafts it. You can't get bias out of research. I know how to research. I know how to read research. I know how to look at research. And that's a strength that I bring to this board as well as leadership ability. And with that, my two um second question, why do you want to serve as a trustee for the remainder of this term? Uh I thought this would be easier than campaigning, but I imagine the past two weeks were easier than campaigning. Um, I love this school district and I didn't love it when I I was a very successful home educator just for the record, but I did have a child that was not proficient and I called my caras um and I couldn't get through that phone call without crying and it still makes me

021cry. I did not expect to fall in love with public education. I have many prejudices against it. And um the administrators sitting behind me, I respect and admire greatly. The teachers who um encounter my children every single day. The schools that my kids have been through um across the board, Pathfinder is the only school that I don't have personal relationship with. I admire greatly. I love these schools. So, I want to pay back what these schools have given to me and to my children and to this community. Uh, I don't believe that change happens without love or pain. And I love these schools and I have deep gratitude for them. That's it. And I'm leaned in hard to the how of what these schools do. And I'm constantly amazed and impressed with what I see

022happening in this school district. I have immense gratitude for it. So, what I bring to the board is um diving deeper and leaning more into the what and the why of what we do here and that long-term looking forward and planning because there's a lot of change on the horizon. There's a lot of complex part problems coming down the pike and that are already in the front door and walking around the halls um and in the community that that are coming into the rooms and into the schools. They're kind of the playgrounds for what's happening. and I have the field and the ideology and the understanding and the theory to tackle those. Again, there's my time. >> Great. Last question on the background and then we'll have each board member share their questions. What time

023commitment and availability can you make for meetings, committees, and community events? So, I would say uh in the lost art of volunteerism, it's not a word you hear very often. I didn't I I thought of the board for many years actually and still had young kids um that and was in school so I didn't have the time to commit to this. I also didn't feel like I knew the schools well enough. I had enough of an understanding of leaning in because you can't unless you know something well I don't believe you have the right or the ability to come in and say that you know what to change. I believe that I know these schools and love these schools and have relationship with these schools well enough to not change them but to support them.

024Um, and so my kids are older. I have the degree and I'm not waving that around as holding that over anybody. Um, I'm very proud of it and it has given me an incredible amount and it was an investment and I bring that to the board as a service. So yes, I and I believe in the lost art of volunteerism. My kids were asking me last night, why I would why continue to do things that I don't get paid for. Uh but I do believe that the most important things in life we don't get paid to do. And the fact that so much of what we do reducing to a monetary value is really means that we're really losing a lot of value around what's really important. So, I'm all in. I have time. I

025understand the time commandments and I might actually get annoying, but that's not around um trying to manage or manipulate or take over people's jobs. I really want to support and get to learn and get to know. I have a I do have a growth mindset and a learning mindset. Um and I want to bring that to the board. Thank you. Next, first question. What would your top priorities be to support and enhance a successful school district? We are no longer dealing so much with um tame problems in education. We're dealing with a lot of complex problems. So, we have to break out of traditional hierarchical linear thinking mindsets. And um we have really strong I think in the school district technical mindsets. Um Travis Sweeney seems to be really phenomenal at his job. We have

026technical masters. So um we have to be able to learn how to wrestle with complex problems and that requires new paradigm shifts and new mental models around how to deal with things. I would love to invite in systems thinking um and learning how to look at data so that it it it can help us understand a problem better instead of reinforce our own thinking about something. So data says this therefore it proves my idea as opposed to how can we get into the data and let it reveal to us what's actually happening in the situation. So this idea also around policy research before policy making. So um we create policy to look at not only is it addressing the problem at hand but how is it affecting the people that the policy um like um

027not only is it addressing the problem but the people at large that the policy is affecting that maybe aren't even being affected by the problem. what what's happening to those people and then let's assess the negative impacts of pol of the policies that are being put in place and let's do all of that before the policy even gets rolled out like let's start asking these questions so that that happens before policy even comes into play and as you can see I'm I'm getting lost in the thinking there might so I don't know if I answered your question but there you go mine is somewhat similar but maybe a little little easier Um, can you describe one strength that you see in our district and then one improvement that you would suggest for our district? >>

028Um, I'm going to try not to cry. The strength in our district is in our in our personnel and in the investment in the heart that we have in our district that every single day when my kids walk into the district, they have an administrator look them in the eye and tell them hello. um that this is not a district of people who are checked out. That this is a district of people. This is not like a public school district. Every that administrators know my kids's names. That they know every kid's names in the school district. That you have a teacher who can look at my kid who blew off a star test and say, "I knew that you blew that off." and not not come at them like why did you do that in

029a punishing way that this is not a district that punishes this is a district that builds relationships. Um I'm worried about teacher burnout. I'm worried about the lack of gratitude that we have about the hard work that is being put in in the buildings. And I'm worried about everything that's coming at students outside of the buildings and how we can help them become wholeer, better people so that they can succeed in life and how they can learn to love learning because learning sets you free. That's really what it's all about. I also All right. I think Sarah, um, you've kind of addressed some of this, but I'll ask it again in case you have more that you want to elaborate on as a specific question, but how do you define the respective roles of educators

030and parents in students education? And how should the school board balance professional authority of the educators with parental rights and involvement? I know this is going to upset people, but it's kind of like the Spider-Man movie. With great rights comes great responsibility. Um, in systems thinking, um, I don't know if you guys have heard of systems thinking. It's a different kind of mental model for change in organizations. Bnee Brown is embracing it. She's a huge sociologist. So is Esther Purell, who's a relationships expert. It's kind of the wave of the future in a lot of ways around organizational thinking. Unless I can see how I'm embedded in the systemic function both problematically and positively I cannot be an agent of change. And even that word problematically and positively but if you talk to both sides

031they talk to you honestly about how they're making a positive impact or no impact at all. The reality is if we're a part of the system, we're impacting the system in some way. Even if I never have a conversation with anybody in the system. So with great rights comes great responsibility as a parent. And again, I often feel like I'm drowning as a parent. So how can parents be supported better? But also how can I become more aware of a parent as a parent of the immense responsibility that I have as a stakeholder albeit more of an external stakeholder in this in this school district and the impact that I have on my child's learning and the investment that I get to participate in in what this school district does. the school board. Um, again,

032it's the what and the why. If I can go back to the what and the why and focus on that as a school board member, that will help steer the shift. >> My turn. Sarah, what's your understanding of our current budget and what recommendations do you have on our budget plan? I will be remiss if I say that I have any internal knowledge much of the budget. I will say that the recalibration talks have been very concerning to me because it I'm going to get into a hot seat. It it concerns me that it feels like we have a state legislature that isn't listening um to the needs of of public education. And I don't know um I don't know how to remedy that. Increasing class size is concerning. Um, so how can we get

033what we need to support public education and um and that we live in a country that we live in a country that values education and that believes that every child should be educated. Something that I love that I love so much about about public education, but about what I see happening in this school district is that we that we give every kid a chance and that many many of these people fight really hard for kids to get the best chance possible. And um I've heard some say they're drains on the system budget-wise. I'm sure that that's concerning and hard. I don't know how to have I mean I'm not privy to those conversations. I'm sure that those are hard to um but again these are complex problems where you have to ask better questions. There

034are no linear solutions to them. Um but it's it's having uncomfortable tense conversations and um looking at it from many different perspectives and not giving up. >> Hi. >> Hello. >> Um what do you feel is the proper role for public school educators relative to controversial political religious and social issues? >> Great question. I appreciate it. When we when we get into those trenches, we get too small. Education is too important, it's too important of a matter to us for I believe um for the lens and the focus to get too narrow in those areas. We need to get bigger and education is too important to get lost in those confines. That's all I have to say on that matter. >> All right, thank you. >> All right, that's the last one. Um, let's see.

035I'll finish this on how do you mind if I go back to Jared's comment? >> For me, I'll give myself one minute. I will say that there is a spiritual component to the human person that we have driven out of the public sector that is not religious or political or any of those other things that you named. And I think that our children are perishing because we have canceled. There's a void in the spiritual realm of who we are as human individuals and it belongs. And I I'm not going to drive that home if I get admitted to the board. But it's physical, emotional, intellectual. there is a spiritual component to all this that um they that data has been able to prove that has that is going to be more and more I think

036a continuing part of the conversation and I'll leave it at that. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Oh that is okay. That was beautiful. Um, how will you work to represent to the best of your ability all students, all families, and all staff in the district and not just those who you are most familiar with? Yeah, getting out of the silos in the echo chambers of our own thinking um is difficult. Um, I guess I'll say this. Lander has been a very difficult place for me to live. So, I'm not a part of an in crowd. I'm more a part of the outcrowd. And that's why I love the school district so much because um I don't even say that I'm a part of the in crab of the school district, but the school district

037welcomed me and I feel like it welcomed my children and um to be looked in the eye and was told hello when often you I you walked through so many places and no one would look you in the eye and say hello to you is a very difficult experience. to have. Um, so I guess I'm um I have had to I I don't I I guess I'm more one of these people that have felt very rejected by the society of Lander. So, I have a pretty diverse group of people that I associate with and many of my ideas around who was safe and what was safe and hanging with a homogeneous group have been pretty blown out the water because of what I've experienced here. And I I I like that and I hope it

038continues and I think I'll bring that to the table. Thank you. Um, do you have any questions for us? >> Thank you very much for your time and for your interview. >> Thanks. >> Do I need to leave? Okay, perfect. I'm not sure we're far enough. >> Yeah, right. So, it's on the >> Yeah, just Matt. We're just first going to start with some background information. So, if you would just tell us about yourself and what skills and experience you bring to the board. >> Okay, great. So, several of you know me. Um, been in Lander for a very long time. My family's been in Lander and uh so my background, can you guys hear me? Okay. >> Okay. My background is pretty large family of five kids growing up and uh they all went

039to lander schools went through um graduated LBHS. Myself, my wife did. My kids, my three sons did as well. Proud graduates of Glen Valley High School. Um after that I I did 15 years of sales calling on facilities directors. Primarily our biggest business segment was schools and hospitals. So I got to to learn the the the school facility side of things, maintenance. Um my dad was maintenance director the school. He helped build two schools here. um Ler Middle L School and Dan Peak Elementary. My father-in-law was a principal here was Dennis Oman. So we got a lot of history here. My brother started as a math teacher at the high school and then ended up as a superintendent in Gillette and that's what he does right now. And uh so all those are I guess

040helpful things to have a perspective been a student been a parent heavily understand facilities appreciation for what principles and superintendents might go through. Um after that uh I've been administrator of Fremont 38 for about 14 years and I think that might be useful to the board. and I'm the technology director there. So, of course, I know the technology field pretty well and uh probably in the more recent years um helped out in the business office when they had some turnover personnel and they needed somebody to take on impact aid which is a huge revenue source for schools. Getting feedback. >> Oh, no, you're good. That was the text. So, perfect. We'll just stop you there. Sorry, I forgot to reiterate that at the beginning, so my apologies. Um, next question. Why do you want to

041serve as a trustee for the remainder of this term? >> Yeah, I'm just ready to give back. I've been here long enough, got a lot of roots in Lander, get a lot of relationships with people in the community. I think it can uh be a good resource with myself background working with people, building rapport, building relationships, being a good team player and uh ultimately the reason I'm the technology director at Fremont 38, I want kids to succeed. I want to get I want to see them have opportunity to grow, flourish, and excel academically. >> Perfect. Thank you. What time commitments and availability can you make for meetings and community events? >> Yeah, so my my three sons are graduated. My last one just graduated in May. He's attending CWC trying to go into physical therapy.

042My other two kids are out as well. The first one is in the Air Force serving in Japan and my middle one's in college in Missouri. So I'm at a different stage in life. that time and hopefully some experiences uh that should be valuable to the board. So I'm available. >> Great. >> Thank you. You're up. >> All right. My question for you is how will you work to represent all students, families, and staff in the district and not just those who you are most familiar with? >> Yeah. also representing uh the entire community realizing that your own personal views aren't the only views and just to be available be a good listener um I'd say being in a sales background I wasn't the smoothest of speech but I was really good at building rapport

043with people and value working with a team as a team I think I can contribute to that uh pretty So, so I think being open, being approachable and realizing that one's own. So, >> thanks for being here, Matt. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Um, what do you feel is the proper role for public educators relative to controversial, political, religious, and social issues? Yeah, to repeat that. I'd be happy to. What do you feel is the proper role for public school educators relative to controversial political, religious, and social issues. Okay. So, proper role. So I think as far as controversial issues, some of those things are definitely sensitive to navigate, but focusing on um data research and what staff recommends as far as action or non-action on different things is a good starting point. We

044have professionals that work in our schools and uh rely on what they would say and try to just remove your own biases from those uh board actions. So public educators, the best thing is bottom line is what's best for kids. Not shortterm reactions, but long term what's best for students? >> Thanks, man. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Matt. Um, what is your understanding of the current budget and what recommendations do you have? >> I don't know if I know your current budget here. do in our school district. I think I looked up, see if I guessed right, Mr. Sweeney. I think it was 37 million. Okay. Hey, you know, some of those percentages probably are similar. Um I think from my background in technology where I was going with some of these experiences I also

045filled in and uh help in the business office with impact aid. So I um learned where some of those revenue sources come from. Uh, as far as the state foundation guarantee comes from WD reports like the 100A, the 620 transportation reports, the 602, 652. Anybody, anybody mind getting me a drink of water? So brought my model with me. So I think uh that's helpful to understand. Um far as the budgets 80 85%'s usually personnel. Yeah. Much better than I can talk. uh have an appreciation for uh audits have been involved in us for a number of years. We just went through an impact audit. I did last year since I was in charge of it for the last three years because we have turnover. I'm going to hand it back to the business office um

046after this year and just do whatever is needed. Been part of several state audits. Our district of Fremont 38 gets audited every year because we take federal money so it's pretty extensive every year. Um have a little bit of understanding on the title programs from the federal government which impact aid as part of title 7. So hopefully that answers some of those questions. >> Thank you. >> Right. Well, thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. >> What would you describe as one strength of our district and what is one improvement that you think our district could make? >> So, the one strength what I see when kids come out of Ner Valley High School and they've gone through grade school, middle school, high school, I'm proud of my kids. If you had your kids in my

047schools, I think we do a fabulous job to create opportunity for our kids to teach them high level of academics and be ready for success outside of school after graduation high school. So, and the other portion was point improvement. Um, I don't know that I picked one thing out. I don't know any specifics. There's always room for improvement. I would just say it's just like change. Um what one thing would you change? Not necessarily anything spec specific. Keep doing the things that work well. And a word I like to use is pivot um to support students in whatever they need. question. >> You was gonna say that. >> Okay. So, what would your top priorities be or priorities be to support and enhance a successful school district? Well, as a a board member, I know

048there's a proper role as board members and we have our place and that's not running the school as an administrator. of the superintendent given that charge to do that and to interface with the board but um as a board member just to be there for governance oversight. Um can you repeat the question? I want to finish it. I had another thought. >> What would your top priorities be to support and enhance the school? >> Right. Okay. So the the other thing I'd say is just learn the proper roles of the board members and board members. So there's some resources on the WSBA website on what the role would be for board member and just gear it up. Learn what one should do. Stay in your lane. Let the professionals in school do their job. Support

049where you can be open to needs. be an active listener. So that's Thank you. >> All right. Now I have a closing question, too. Um Matt, how would you um how should a school board balance educators professional authority with parental rights and involvement? balance parental rights involvement with professional >> like school employees, educators, balancing that with >> Yeah, I think we need to listen to parents. Parents, community have something to say as we all do. Um, and that's I think part of being an active listener is realize that other people have things to contribute. And uh you should seek that from people in the balance. Um I think most people just want to be seen and heard. So it could be could be other scenarios where people are coming to you. Of course I don't

050know what that's like to be a board member, but um just be an active listener. Try to support the needs of the students as we see them. Let parents be parents, too. And uh and I'd say focus on giving kids the chance to succeed academically and support them in >> Thank you. Do you have any questions for us? >> Um yeah. What do you see as the best fit for somebody to fill the position? What's the highest need for any of us? >> Um, that's a great question, Matt. I don't know. I mean, we're all individuals. We have to work collectively as a board. So, you know, we all come with different ideas and thoughts and backgrounds. And um you know, we're not looking to quote replace God because he's not going to be. But

051I think just knowing that um someone that advocates for their community, advocates for students, um can have difficult conversations because we definitely have those. Um and at the end of the day, respect each other. And I don't know, I'll let you guys else. >> That's right. Well, there's no, you know, mold are perfect. We're just all here doing what's best for our students, >> right? >> What's that? >> It's a great question, but >> yeah. And can I comment about that? >> Yes. >> If you select me for the role, I'll I'll say that I would be open try to be a good team player. I am a really good listener as you can tell. this speech. Um, but in sales, I was really good at listening to these and working as a team. So,

052thanks for the opportunity. >> We appreciate you being here. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. I have not come up with system the There you go. That's very >> um thanks for being here today. We're going to have just a reminder two minutes for each question and I'll ask a couple background questions and then board members will go ahead and ask the question as well. So if you could please tell us about yourself and what skills and experiences you bring to the >> Thank you guys for having me in tonight. Um I appreciate the opportunity to present myself. Um my background is in engineering. Um I um have spent the last 20 years uh working in product design, product development, running businesses, starting businesses. Um and I I don't as I mentioned

053in my cover letter, I don't come from an educational background, although education's always been hugely important to me and it's really opened up opportunities for myself and for my family. Um, I am interested in this role to try to translate what I've learned in the corporate sector, in governance, in management, in working with and being on corporate boards to a school board. Um, I've seen what works well, what doesn't work well. Um, in terms of personal background, I live here in Lander. I'm married. Um, have three kids, twin daughters in kindergarten peak, and a son who's in second grade. Uh we moved to Lander in 2020. My wife took a position as a clinician at Wing River Cares where she now acts as the clinical director. Um it's been an amazing move for us. We

054were drawn here by the space um natural environment. We spent a lot of our previous years in urban settings. Um we were drawn to the strong community, the strong sense of family and found that what we wanted have found here. Um, going further back, I was raised as a military brat. I was in service. So, I spent my whole childhood most of my adultic um and did not want that experience for our children. So we have moved here um and are you know obviously with kids just entering the public school system with health stability of the school system um is usually important to us personally um and education in general is usually important to us. So, um, if I can play a role improving the strength of the school system, um, improving student outcomes for

055all of our kids, our friends kids, that's certainly worth my time. >> Perfect. Thank you. Um, second question, which you kind of touched on a little bit, but why do you want to serve as a trustee for the remainder of this term? Um I think broadly obviously um again I'm interested in in improving the school governance. Um as I understand the issues at hand um there are some fiscal issues we have to address. I think we heard about that at the beginning of the meeting around you know less money than we have available. That is the area where I have a ton of experience on the managerial side, governance side, building and managing budgets, um, understanding the trade-offs and digging in, getting into the multiple tabs and spreadsheet. Um, I think they're asking the board.

056So, I think I know those are near-term issues um that we would need to address if if I was to join the board. Um, so that was one core issue. Um, and just in general, again, I'm new to a schoolboard setting, so wanting to understand um, and be uh, kind of a real learner. My professional career has been spent asking questions, learning. Um, I wouldn't come into this with a specific agenda. I really want seeing what issues are at hand that the board is trying to address and my best to learn, contribute to school system. >> Great. Thank you. What time commitment and availability can you make for meetings, committees, and community events? >> Um, I'm very flexible. I work from home uh for a company I run that's operates in multiple states. So, I

057have a immense amount of flexibility in my time. I don't travel particularly that much for work. So, it's of no issue. If you asked me six years ago when I had sixmonth old twins, I would have had a different answer, but kids get remarkably easier as they as they grow up. So, this is a good time for tori. I'll start us off with our questions. Um, what would your top priorities be to support and enhance enhancing successful school? Um, as I mentioned, I think um, fiscal uh, fiscal responsibility, making sure that that financially um, the district is on good footing is usually important to me. Um, and so I think I can contribute well there. Um, from a like curriculum standpoint, um, I have like a strong belief that, uh, curiosity and confidence are kind

058of meta, um, attributes that, uh, could always be included and would be hugely important for, you know, all the generations of kids that are coming through our school system. And so if there's a opportunity on the curriculum side to look at how that can happen in that community, I see it. Um, you know, our kinder gardeners do show and share, which seems like a funny thing, but I meet plenty of young professionals that can't stand up and talk about themselves. And so I do see this stuff already happening. And so the more opportunities we have for that, it doesn't have to be just for college age kids, our collegebound kids. Everybody needs to present themselves, storytell, have confidence. Um, and so I think there's that is like a a meta topic that is very important.

059>> Sorry Jeff the timer. All right. >> Anything else besides a good >> I'll let you keep rolling. Um, given the experience of your kids so far in our district, what's one strength that you've seen? And you mentioned a couple of things. And also is there any improvement um that you could pinpoint or specify? >> Um I think the clear strength would be the teachers. Um we've been really impressed with the different teachers our children have had. Um particularly um how much we seem to love our children and I think the parents took off to the first time in early elementary school. You just never know. um and our daughters and son who are the teachers um also from the administrator side and the other instructors that aren't their classroom teachers, they all know our

060kids by name. Um so I think that personalization of the student experience has been wonderful um and key. Um, if there's one thing for improvement, and I probably sound like a full person saying this, but seems to be like maybe too much screen time um, in the educational process, but I don't want to critique that because I don't fully understand how it's used. And I also appreciate that like software tools can really customize learning in a way that's hard to do with a teacher in front of 15 to 20 children. So, um, but otherwise, we've been very happy with experience so far. Sorry, that's a great comment about the screen time. That's not good, but I agree. So, um, my question is, how do you define the respective roles of educators and parents in students

061education? And how should the board balance that authority between educators and their and parental rights and adult Maybe that's the go question. Um I would say broadly that um my children are raised by like almost like a triangle. Uh there's the community which included friends, um neighbors, church, all the coaches, um there's school and then there's parents. Um, I'm not an expert in like natural legal aspects of this, but I think um I think depending on a specific issue, we're going to have to develop parent rights. Um, but I do think that is the responsibility of all three of those branches to contribute to the successful development of our children. Um, and I guess it's even more as a parent, potential board member, I'm dependent on that. Um, and if one of those breaks down,

062it creates issue. Um, from a board perspective, um, obviously like our your role as board members is not individual education or, you know, individual pedological decisions, but setting policies and governance. Um, and I think the board also acts as the interface from parents and the voters into the school administration. So I think that there's like a critical role to play to represent the folks that elected you. I appreciate that the person this is not elected not elected. Um but I understand that you are reflecting the opinions of parents and you have to take that in consultation with the laws and regulatory framework. Um, what is your understanding of our current budget and what recommendations do you have? Um, my broad understandings that there are fiscal and financial issues. Uh, I see debates in the that

063are shared out. I don't know the details specific budget in terms of specific recommendations. Um I think I can't give a specific thing to do. Um you guys are having to address um funding, state level funding issues, enrollment issues um that are impacting uh funding. I appreciate that. And you have um I think I read through the infant culture survey. It seems like people are generally happy with the environment, but they want increased compensation. You're having to address high cost of living, raise insurance costs. And so there's attention there. There's a lot of programs that cost money. There's the issue with the swimming pool. Um who's funding that? Um I don't think these are going to be this or that decisions or trading off like you know giving the pool fund teacher salaries more. Um

064I think just you know look at the budget more broadly. Um as a board I I would presume that Mike and his team would come in with recommendations. We look at what what the board want to achieve um and then make informed educated decisions about what trade-offs have to be made. Um, so I don't right now I don't have enough information about all the tradeoffs like this almost every line item in the budget can be evaluated. Um, you know, specific example the swimming pool from what I read is a $800,000 year operating budget. Why is it why is it why you know is there ways to trim that and still keep the facility serving the greater population? I think you can just go through every single line item in the budget and eval do the

065deep dive evaluation of of where can you save money what traits do we have to make >> I'll tell you Jeff if uh you think too much screen time makes you an old man this guy's George Washington >> I barely get on >> I So, you're not alone. I'm thinking that screen time is a bit of an issue here and there. Um, let me ask you this question. What do you feel is the proper role for public school educators relative to controversial, political, religious, and social issues? Um, obviously we've had a fair share of these come up in our town that you guys have had to address in the last couple years. Um, I think a lot of this is set at the board level, but that's I think it probably better to set at

066the board level then leave it to individual teachers to address. Um, my understanding is a lot of the controversial issues that have surfaced. Um, the board actually had its hand forced in many regards based on Wyoming changes to Wyoming state law. Um, and so I think the role of the board and the administration is to comply with the law and then look for ways um to make the law work within the needs of our community. Um and for example, I think uh my understanding of how the board addressed say the conceal and carry law was just that you had to comply with the gunree zone rules and then you layered on some additional training um that you know the collective board deemed more specific to the needs of this community. Um, and so I I

067would anticipate that that is the rule, comply with the law, um, and then address within the freedom that you're given, uh, address that specific issue that that fits within the needs and desires of the community of you. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Thank you, Jeff, for being here. Uh my question is how will you work to represent to the best of your ability all students, families and staff in a district and not just those who you are most familiar with? >> Um yeah it's a good question. Um I again if I go back to my like professional background u I spent 25 years working to design new experiences new products um for people that are not me. Um so I think there's a plenty of tools when it comes to uh qualitative and quantitative

068research methods to understand the needs of you know in this case the needs of different students needs of different families um and then you put yourself in their shoes and understand their lives and then design an experience that fits them. Um and so I think it's requires empathy uh for all the different families in this town, all the different children, uh their aspirations, their needs, um their social views and beliefs. And that's, you know, I think that's what's incumbent upon this body to do is to, you know, take a step back from one's personal views and try to represent the views of the community. I think you can only do that with an active. >> Okay. Thank you, Jeff. Great job. Do you have any questions for the board? Any kind of family? Great. Perfect.

069Not very quick. Thanks for being here. Just a reminder, two minutes per question. Jenny's got a little timer, so listen carefully. Sometimes it's here. Um, could you please tell us about yourself and what experiences you have to Use the mic, I assume. Real close. >> All right. My name is Daryl Michael. I have lived in Lander since 2015. Uh I came here as the assistant principal at LVHS. Did that for about five years, then transitioned to uh Fort Washington. I was an elementary principal for three, middle school for one. That was enough for me. when I transitioned over to Fremont 14 Wyoming Indian and I'm currently the special education director. So components that I bring to the table I think I have a you know a big breath of experience before I came to Lander

070I was a school counselor did that for seven years and uh down in Rock Springs. So I did my sentence down there, got released out and get to come up here. So uh I think having a breath of K12 ministry of experiences is a unique perspective and I think it can help um add color and commentary to different discussions and policy discussions uh that the board may have. >> Great. Why do you want to serve as a trustee for the remainder of this term? >> So there's three main reasons. Um the first one is I' I've chosen to make public education my career. So I am a defender of the policy of public education. I think it's essential for our country and I think it's essential for setting up kids for success. Um the second

071part is having some buy into the community and and having experience in the district. You know, it it's a tough climate out there uh in the country and public education often gets to uh you know beat on a little bit. So I think the other part is celebrating. This is a good school district. There's great teachers here. amazing kids and there's a lot of successes that we can scream from the the mountain tops here. The third part is um may get a little emotional but I drive my daughter to work or to LVHS and I I saw on the billboard you know the graduation 94% 94 or 91 I forget it was really high number huge cause for celebration I'm here for the 9%. Those families will never cross that threshold to come into a

072board meeting. I'm here for the 9%. I'm here for to advocate for them because most often they don't have advocates. So, I want to make sure that they have every opportunity to be able to succeed and to graduate across that stage with a diploma. >> Um, last question on the background and then we'll go into board member questions. What time commitment and availability can you make for meetings, committees, and community events? >> So, um, pretty flexible that way. Um, I have the privilege of going to the board meeting every month at Fremont 14. Uh, that's on a different date than this month. So, lucky me. So, signing up for multiple board meetings is insane. Make sure there. But yes, availability is there and I think it would be task. >> All right. You me tearing

073out there. Thanks for being here, Darl. Uh, my question is, how will you work to represent to the best of your ability all students, parents, and family families and staff in the district and not just those you're most familiar with? >> For sure. Good question. Um, I think it all starts with listening, right? You know, I have a lot of experience with a lot of angry parents. And the common thread, they just want to be heard. You know, I've been called a lot of names. Most of them not favorable, but they're upset because you're working with the most precious thing in their life, their child. And if you keep a calm head and just listen, you'll be able to help everyone. Then part of it is we have to go out and make sure that

074we have things in place to where we're reaching out to that 9%. That aren't crossing the stage, that aren't going to come in to a building. And that could be because maybe they had a terrible school experience and the school's triggering. They didn't like their principal, so by heavens, I'm not going to like this principal or that teacher was awful to me, so yeah, I'm not going. So, you have to have some kind of mechanism in place where you meet people where they're at and not expect them to come to you. Hold on a sec. Taking notes. Okay. Hi, Darl. >> Um, thanks for being here tonight. >> Uh, question for you. What do you feel is the proper role for public school educators relative to controversial political, religious, and social issues? All comes down

075to policy, right? There's policies that govern the conduct of all the employees, guiding the conduct of board members. The important thing about policy is you're making really important decisions when the stakes are low. But if you don't abide by policy, that's when you get in trouble. When you're making decisions on the fly and you're knee-jerking things, you have to be able to use that policy as a protection and have a thorough and deliberate process to develop policy to make sure that all voices are heard and make sure that that policy is going to be representative of all the stakeholders. If you have sound policy, a lot of these issues can be managed relatively well. It won't be easy because there's high tensions with certain things and the political climate is what it is today. But

076if we listen, have strong policy, and have a really deliberate and thorough policy developing process, we can get through it. >> Thanks, Jo. Michael, easiest question. Uh, what's your understanding of our current budgets and what would you recommend we do? I was waiting for a multiple choice question. So, you know, the budget part is I've had an opportunity to do a lot of well, a couple WDE peer reviews. So going out into other districts and going through that process and um one of the things that was really stuck out especially in relation to today is the roles of the board and one of those making sure that the strategic vision right obviously big important part then the policy important part but they really harved on resource allocation and having that being directly tied to that

077strategic vision. So Mike, I don't know the numbers of the district. You know, the budget part not terribly familiar. Won't even try to snowball it. But I think the important part is making sure that the resource allocation is directly and tightly tied to what we say is important and where we want kids to go. You know, I think the budget will get in trouble when there's a deviation from that. Thank you. >> Okay. Um Darl, how do you define the respective roles of educators and parents and student education? And how should the school board balance educators professional authority with parental rights and involvement? Yeah, it is pretty. Um, >> so how do you define the respective roles of educators and parents in student education? And then how should the board help to balance the authority

078of teachers first parental rights? >> Sure. So the legislature did part of that for you, right? So there's obviously legislation, then there's policy to help do that. Um, education is somewhere everyone has a vote. Parents have a vote, kids have a vote, parents have everyone have a vote. Educators do too. We have to make sure that we're supporting the teachers. Like that's paramount, right? A and it can be done through these potentially tough issues. You know the golden rule and the thing that I've counseledled teacher after teacher about what would you do if that was your kid? And I think if you have that simple bearing of well should I call home or not? My answer is always would you want to know if you were that parent and the the question answers itself. So

079I think if you get away from that aspect and it can't become us versus them we can have disagreement. We can have conflict conflict that's fine have those tough conversations. I think the two can coexist, but I think it all starts with that really the listening part. Then really the support is coming from what would you want if that was your own kid? You know, I think that would really solve a lot of the questions. What is one strength that you see currently at work in our district? And what's one thing that you would seek to improve or change? You know, I I'm a little biased. This is has nothing to do with Megan. You do a great job again middle school, but I have a lot of familiarity with the high school. Um, I

080think the high school had high demand on students and they're rising to the occasion. Those kids are learning at high levels. Those kids are becoming successful and the diploma at LHS means something. That's something not every school can say across the country. that when those kids walk across that stage, they've met a certain set of standards and there's a certain set of skills that we can say these kids got it. Super important, right? One thing to improve is that the other part that's a tough one, right? Uh part of it is I don't know the intricacies to which the district's dealing with. I've been removed you know I have opinions as a parent you know I mean but it's one case study right that's one anecdotal thing overall I mean there is of course things

081to improve what they are I'm not quite sure to be honest but I know the part of you you can't just stop moving you know I know that the high school isn't cool with the 94% graduation rate. They want 100%. And they're going to do the thing. So, I know that the district and I know that's the same thing down at Game of P. They want all their kids proficient. Same thing at the middle school. So, I think that's something that's super important to kind of realize that now we're moving in the right direction, you know, and I don't think the strategic vision has lost its way. Perfect. All right, second to last. What would your top priorities be to support and enhance a successful school district? >> One more time. >> What would your

082top priorities be to support and enhance a successful school district? My top priority if I was, you know, a successful person would be getting trained up as a board member. You know, there's a lot of training that's available and there's a lot of intricacies to the board itself. I have my opinions, but to say that I know the role of the board member, I ain't gonna try to buffalo on that one. I don't. So, That's the first place I have to start is getting the training to make sure I fully understand the left and right parameters to that or seat then starting to kind of move out from there. Um yeah, I think that's that's where I would start and I think knowing the role and a good place to start. >> Hey, last question.

083Do you have any questions for us? >> Nope. Okay. Well, thank you very much for your time and appreciate >> I can be a You don't want me to kill. Oh yeah. Um just appreciate you having to be the last one. I'm sure that's a little ning. So um we just a reminder of each question two minutes long and we'll do some background questions and then each board member will have a question for you. Um so I'll start with please tell us about yourself and what skills or experiences you bring to the board. Yes. >> Um, a little bit about myself. I grew up here in Lander, Wyoming. Um, my husband and I both graduated from Ner Valley High School. We attended the University of Wyoming and chose to move back here to raise our

084kids. Um, we have three children. Two of them had graduated in the district here. One is still in high school. um we have just as I've been involved with their education I guess in the school district as long as they started kindergarten all the way through going and you know just helping in a classroom reading every week um helping with field trips or just I just have always enjoyed being involved um with the school as they got older I got a job in schools um I was a pair at first at Wallen Creek um had a good experience there and then a family concern science job opened up at the middle school and I got that job. I loved teaching there. I loved the kids. Um I really enjoyed what I did. Um I just

085for personal reasons I needed a little more flexibility as my kids got older and traveled to different states for school and things. It just that was the only reason that I left the district. I didn't leave on bad terms. I had a positive experience um as a parent and as a um staff member and I know a little bit more about me how much I don't have minutes don't I can talk forever so I better just cut it short. Um I love this community. I love raising kids in the community. I love um just being a part of it in different ways whether it's volunteering or going to events at the schools sports at the boring anything were involved in a lot of stuff my kids were so great um well you kind of touched

086on some of that but why would you want to serve as a trustee for the remainder of this term when the opportunity you know came up obviously wasn't something I was planning before then because we didn't know that this was going to be open but I just thought that it would be a great way for me to still have impact um in the school without being, you know, teaching in the district because obviously you can't be on the board if you're working um there. So, I just thought that it would be a good way for me to still be impactful to the community and to the students and to teachers and just everybody, all the stakeholders involved in the school system. What time commitment and availability can you make for meetings, committees, and community events?

087Well, I'm a little more flexible with my stuff. I only have one kid at home, and it's a big difference when you go from 3 to one. So, I am fairly available for most I'm available on Tuesday evenings. Um, community events. I like to go to them anyway, so I I'm pretty wide open. >> Thank you. Yeah. U what would your top priorities what would your top priorities be to support and enhance a successful school district? >> Um I obviously one of my ones would be student success and supporting students in all aspects. Um one priority I think is very important is nutrition. Um I teach that but I can also just think it's very important. I think that it is a passion of mine to be able to make sure that kids have the,

088you know, food that they need and the proper nutrition to be able to be ready to learn and to, you know, just be able to um focus on what they need to focus on and not worry about being hungry. And I think we do a good job of that. But that would be a priority of mine is just making sure priority making sure that kids are fed. What was that? What was the rest of the question? Sorry. and then um successful and so support and enhance. Um so supporting students um in I guess like I said in everything that they whether they are going to go to college or go to the trades or go to the workforce just making sure that you support them to be well-rounded citizens and to be able to feel

089confident in going whatever path that they choose to go. whatever programs or resources that we have to develop. Can you share one strength that you see in our district and suggest one improvement that you think they could make? Um, one strength that I do see is I feel that the community around us really does care about the schools, but they care about children, students, staff. I feel like we have a caring community there. As I said, you know, growing up here and being involved in a kids school, there's a lot of parents and a lot of community members that care about this, you know, I guess the district, schools, kids, everybody's involved. And just with the programs and they get older at the high school that they have different community programs that, you know, offer

090service products for kids and just helping them be a part of the community in different ways. And I feel like that's a very strength, a big strength that this district has is the community support that there are caring people that care about our kids. And you said an improvement. Um, I think that one improvement, um, just off the top of my head that I'm thinking would be I think we do a great job of preparing students to go to grow up and to graduate and you go to college. I think that we have a community here that has a lot of um trade jobs and a lot of different areas where we could more intentionally help kids get certificates in areas they don't have a college that they could partner with different um contractors or

091electricians or plumbers or I think do a good job. Like I said, I just feel like we could make it more intentional and structure it. They could actually get certified in a trade or part the beginnings of a trade. We do break credits and things but improve that part. >> Okay. Mine's a long one so repeated to do that so you wouldn't be the only one. Um, how do you define the respective roles of educators and parents in student education? And how should the school board balance professional authority of educators with parental rights? >> Um, can you repeat the first part? I >> No, you're fine. Sorry. Um really it's kind of the same thing but how do you define the role of educators and parents in education and then how should a school board

092be involved in that relationship between um educators, authorities and parental rights. Um I think that parents um are obviously a child's first teacher. They're the people that you know that will teach them before they go. So I do feel that parents should have a voice in their in their child education. Um I feel that it should be also I feel also that educators should be respected because they have a role too to teach that's their job and that we should support them. So I feel that by clear communication and transparency between the two and just making sure that the main focus is the success of the student and what's best for the student they can work together um in that way and that the board's role um would be to make sure that our policies

093in place and make sure it's clear your expectations of what a parent's role and what teacher's role is in child's What's your understanding of our current budget and what recommendations would you have for the state? >> My understanding of the current budget right now um of how it's funded with the flexibility of the block grant funding that we have and the hopeful we kind of have control, more local control in the school board to be able to allocate the funds that we get to put them where we best see fit. Um, if we need more counselors or different teacher, whatever, wherever we can best use the taxpayers money to make good decisions with that money and to put it to the best use for our district for ourselves. That's what that's my understanding of it.

094Now, you said what would be a recommendation? I guess the just to continue being responsible with the money that we have and I don't have a I don't have a recommendation I guess um if I know with the legislature and all the things that are happening that just making sure that the board is making informed decisions with what they are given and what's best for the best use of the money that they have. All right, Brian, thank you for being here tonight. Uh, what do you feel is the proper role for public school educators relative to controversial political, religious, and social issues? Um I believe that the role of educator in that um is to educate and to inform um students of if there is a debate or the or if it gets brought up

095um depending I guess if more of those topics I feel like sometimes if you maybe in a government class or think of educators roles to facilitate conversations I feel that they are they should be neutral control as far as um helping students to think for themselves, to find correct sources on those topics and to be able to make informed decisions and teach them how to find information and not tell them what to do or how things work. You know, I don't feel that that's the job of educator, but just to help inform, teach them to be critical thinkers on their own. >> Thank you. All right, second to last question. How will you work to represent to the best of your ability all students, families, and staff within the district, including those who you are

096less familiar with? >> Um, I feel that I am an approachable person and I would continue to be that way and ask questions and communicate. um ask for input ask what I mean there are a lot of stakeholders in the education system and just make sure that I am you know asking people's what are your thoughts and it's okay if they're different and it's good to have diversity and just making sure that I listen to everybody and just keeping students at the center of that I'm not I guess but um the assistance gonna answer a little bit. >> Yeah. >> Do you have any questions for us? >> Thank you for your time and um yeah, if you guess we will just have the last one if you want to stay in here. >> Probably

097be good to bring everyone in to the next steps. So yeah, thank you. All right. Well, we thank all the candidates for their wonderful interviews. Um, we are going to have a difficult decision as we make an adment right now. Um, and go into executive session for further discussion. Um after that time we'll come back out and hopefully we'll be able to make a motion to vote on a candidate. Um if we are unable then I guess we are able to hand it off to the county commissioners for statute. So um that means that it could be a long night of debate and discussion um especially with such a high quality candidate pool and so many good and um people representing and willing to um take this seat. So we appreciate you all. We appreciate

098your families as well for, you know, giving you the uh go-ahhead to make this decision. It's not an easy one. Uh being a board member is it's a lot. Um it has wonderful benefits, but it's also has its challenges. So, we thank you guys for you like how I get to tell you that before. But we thank you for your willingness to serve and um we'll try to be respectful of everyone's time but also realizing you guys realize this is a hefty decision. So um we need a motion to adjourn into executive session. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. Any oppos? Who do you think >> I said yet? more votes. >> It's the way this Hey, we need a motion to resume. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >>

099Okay. I'm going to hand it over to Mr. McConnell. He wants to make a brief full announcement. >> Okay. >> Um, first off, you know, tonight we had the opportunity to interview folks that wanted were willing to be on the board and wanted to serve the community more and participate in this system. Uh, as a board, we're very grateful to have the quality of people that came out trying to fill the position that we have. We feel very fortunate that we're able to do that. All of you guys are highly qualified and very impressive. Not easy to not easy to go through and discuss and pick one individual person to do things. Everybody's got a lot of talents. Uh the one thing I would definitely ask you guys to do is that all of that

100when the election season comes up next uh fall and this summer, don't be afraid to stick your neck out a little bit and and take again advantage of that opportunity to help serve the district and serve our students and teachers and staff and help uh our schools be the best they can be, which we think we're getting pretty close to being really really great what we do at Landon High School and Fremont County District. school number one and our schools are talked about statewide. When I go places, that's the first thing they want to know is how you guys doing this, how you doing that. And so that's good to be part of an organization like that. So, Madam Chairman, I would like to move that Matt erys the vacant physician on the county school

101board. >> We have a second. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All right. Motion carries. So, um, thank you candidates and thank you Matt. And sounds like, um, you get your first chance in the limelight tonight because it sounds like you to come up and take a picture with us. >> Well, Most of you are back there. >> Another photo. Oh, yeah. All right. Big smile on the three. One, two, three. Slightly closer. One. Got it. Perfect. One more. Okay, thank you. >> Hold on. I'm sorry. You all want to Photoshop the shine off my forehead. Not the gray. >> All right. Next item on the agenda is personal actions. Can we get a motion to accept lead? Let's see. We have a couple together. We need a

102motion to consider the following personal actions and administrative recommendations for the 2026 2027. >> Second. >> Okay. Moved and seconded. All in favor? Sorry. Okay. Um, next item is early notification type. And Mr. Gris, can you fill in the board on this one? >> I'd be glad to. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so as we talked about at the start of the meeting, there's just a lot of unknowns right now when it comes to school finance um with the state's funding model and also our average daily numbering depth in terms of student numbers continually decline. Um, so Mr. Sweeney and I thought it would be prudent to propose an early notification statement. Um talked earlier with the board chair about this as well. Um similar to what the district has offered in the past. This

103year since we're under a little bit different circumstance uh with recalibration, we thought we'd propose a $2,000 stipen for those who notified the district of their intent to resign at the end of the year or at the end of their contract year. Um, however, we'd like to introduce a new parameter this year where in order to be eligible, the employee has to have started prior to this school year. So, sometime during the 2425 school year or earlier so they're not just jumping in and jumping out with stipen when we not even completed a full year. Um that's the idea is just to understand that we may need to reduce staff because of declining enrollment and if there are other changes to that also necessitates reductions this will help us do that without a reduction of

104force possible. >> So moved. >> All in favor? >> I motion carries. All right. We have couple floweries. Yes. handful of secret I apologize you guys there's so many different codes here that um after the last meeting after first reading I was asked to combine a couple so on the bright side we're reducing couple of redundant policies so uh the first one is EACC which is student conduct on buses which shares uh JFCC also as a partner policy They kind of do the same thing. I think EAC was an older version and then JFC FCC was probably added later even though it does pretty much the same thing. Um JFCC-R1 can be deleted as well since everything from that regulation has been now rolled into the AFCC policy. So JFCC can now stand alone. Um

105again those changes that were incorporated there from first reading um have to do with feedback that we got from our transportation director and drivers to just kind of modernize the policy but nothing of substance changed from the first reading other than to combine those two JOCC's. >> Mr. Harris, um, for just documentation for assembly and our records, do you think it's acceptable just to make one motion to approve all of these or do we want to break these work on just making a motion for the deleted ones or how does the board feel important these particular policies? >> Motion on the deleted one. So, can we get a motion um on the table to um delete policy C or JFC1? JFCC1 and EAC. >> So, move a second. Second. Any discussion on those policies? >>

106All those in favor of those three policies say I. I >> motion carries and we'll get a motion for policy JF married and pregnant students. That's a awkward meaning. >> There it is. It is and um based on the feedback that that I gathered last month during first reading that title is proposed to be changed to married and or pregnant um different things. So that seems to make sense. And then in the body of the policy, the way this was worded originally under the the version that's currently active under point number two, it had girls who wish who become pregnant and wish to remain in school will be permitted to do so with the approval of their physician. So that um probably to modern year sounds backwards. So the wording has been changed so that

107it's the reverse that's the expectation and that physician restricts school activities. That would be the exception. So, we're expecting if a girl is pregnant to stay in school unless her doctor told us that she can't. And in that case, the school would make arrangements to continue her education program. And this more closely matches what happens in practice anyway when we have a student who needs to be gone due to pregnancy. >> We get a motion to approve this policy. So thank you. >> Any other discussions on this one? >> I have a question for because topic number one states students who marry shall report the marriage to the principal since this is an issue of ch it's a change in guardianship that is the concern. Is it does it make more sense to just say

108if any student undergoes a change in guardianship that should be reported to the principal? That would be a more inclusive statement. There's probably other ways to have a change in guardian than just being married and might clarify why we're asking about marriage status. Madam Chair, Miss Gans, I think that the only other change guardianship would be an adoption or a transfer of rights when the student reaches age of majority. I think those are already kind of contemplated in state statute and other policies as well. Um, but we could certainly revise this to include a reason why we are asking students to do that if they're married. I maybe yeah it sounds like those other issues are maybe already but I like the idea of um stating funding about manification or gardening should change because of

109these things students who marry shall report and if someone can come up with wordage which I usually we could just move to approve I think if we just did a comment at the end of principal and said if this changes >> I'd like to make the motion to amend the motion uh the original motion with the wording that Karen just suggested. >> Second. Um yes m the amendment would read point one would say students who marry shall report marriage to the principal if this changes legal guardianship I guess a little bit more understanding that's been brought up >> who made the original motion >> you oh >> could I suggest this would be friendly friendly >> know Jenny knows who made the original motion >> who wasn't >> it was me I would like to

110make that friendly friendly motion, I should say. Is there a Is there a second? >> I seconded the second one. >> Moved and seconded and second. Um, can we get a vote? All in favor say I. I. >> Okay. policy JFCA student address. >> Madam chair, members of the board, so this just like it did in first reading, there's no changes from first reading, but it just refer back to each school's handbook, which the board reviews and approves handbooks every spring anyway. So that seems better than case policy respond. Second. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Okay. Motion carries. >> Policy JFC student contact. >> Madam chair, members of the board. Uh again this one incorporated JFC-R1 which is proposed for deletion and for deletion in an earlier motion tonight. Um

111again just refer schools handbook the best source of information about behavior and things like that. >> Okay. Can we get a motion to approve? >> So move >> second. All those in favor >> I >> All right. Last one. Policy JFCC student conduct on school buses. >> Madam chair members of the board. So this one again that regulation that was previously deleted stand alone at this point. Nothing changed from first reading. >> We get a motion. >> So move >> second favor. >> Okay. Motion carries. You keeping up. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. We are done with policy review. Item E, approve monetary donations. >> Madam chair, members of the board. So, um, Principal Megan Park was approached by HDR Engineering about a potential donation towards this all kids bike program which provide um,

112bikes, helmets, other safety equipment and curriculum for PE teachers to use to help our youngest kids learn how to bike safely. Um, so this would this donation if approved would fund the purchase of strider bikes and a bunch of helmets and other things that would be used to help kids learn those skills. generous donation. >> I'll make the motion to approve that donation. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Madam chair, just a real quick question point of work. Is it are we uh still sending out? >> I was just >> be willing to do that last >> week. Is it the >> Yeah. >> Thank you cards on these donations. Would you mind doing that? >> Yeah. >> Thank you. We appreciate that. >> Okay.

113Item F, approve addition to LHS fly fishing club. Approve addition. >> Chair, members of the board. So, this is a a proposal for a fly fly fishing club at LBHS to be sponsored by Dean Sha and uh if you look at the proposal further on, it doesn't they're not asking for any district funding. This would all be from fundraising and things like that. I think it's travel or anything like that. They did mention a fly fishing competition at Casper, but they would fund race for that on their own. They're anticipating maybe two hours per week. um the required number of student signatures there. Although at least one is indecipable looks like mine regard. Um but it to me seems like something that I could support. I did indicate my preliminary approval for this page four

114there opportunity for especially right now finances. It's great that they're fundraising. So I think it's great. We get a motion to approve this. >> Move to accept. >> Second. All those in favor. >> Discussion real quick. >> No, that's okay. Madam Chair, Mike, has this I know that we have some um specific policies around clubs. Did you have does this comply with those? >> Madam Chair, Mr. Yes, it does. So that if you're thinking of JJ that has to do with the club of a political and religious philosophical nature, this is more of just an activity or a hobby. So yeah, it should be fine and we can do that with those other policies. I was Yeah, I was thinking more of, you know, we made those changes, I know, to the middle school policies

115a while back. I just wanted to make sure that this complies with with everything. I assumed it did. Just wanted to double check. >> Madam Chair, I believe it does. Okay. Thank you. Sure. Sorry. Um, all right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> A motion carries. >> Last action item for this evening. Stud student board representative. >> Madam chair, members of the board. So, um, tag did some convincing taking um and she was able to inspire six LBHs students put in as applicants for the student board representative vacancy that we have. Um, the winner of that election was Andra back here in the corner. He's going to be waiting the whole evening. Um, she put together a great application if they're attached to the agenda. Um, I just support consideration of her

116candidacy. Well, we appreciate you applying and sitting here last, but definitely not appreciate your willingness to be on the board. And um if we can get a motion on the table to approve. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> I'm thrilled. >> Those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Well, we look forward to you joining our team. Have a seat. next to Karen and you'll get a flashy thing and we'll be in touch as far as like I don't remember you previously on board and all that so we'll be in touch and we really are excited to have >> mad and in the past Kathy was sort of be on so we'll have to work out some details coordinate in touch with eligible. >> Madam Chair, >> yes. >> While we

117still have a media with cameras in the room, I wonder since we have two new board members if we should get a photo of >> that Mr. I think we should do it. I think we should have a monthly. >> We're dragging this out. We got Yeah. >> Okay. One, two, Okay. Upcoming events and reminders. February 22nd and 23rd, we have the WSBA legislative forum in Cheyenne. Do we have any board members that are considering going or interested in going? Sure. I'm registered to go. I'll be there. Anybody wants to car? Well, if you're interested, please reach out to Jenny and she can get you registered. I'm going to try my best, but I'm not sure if I can work. Um, and then we have our regularly scheduled board meeting for March 17th. And any

118last minute? Oh, public comment on um is there any public comment for that last ais number one? So, where do we find all the details? I know this has been an ongoing process. Where do we find all the details about normal? >> So, great question, Lisa. So, right now, we don't we just had to do this as part of a process to send back to the state. We don't have a timeline or any information. Um, as soon as we get any information, we'll make sure we post it on our website and everything, but I mean, this could be two years out, it could be 10 years out. We really have no idea. It's just part of the process is we're going to be accepting state funds that we have to Right. Thank you. All right.

119And with that, we will address. Thank you all. >> Thanks.