001I want to call our regularly scheduled meeting to order. Um, if you'll all stand and join me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you all for being here tonight. Can we get a roll call? >> Mr. Chair, we have a quorum. >> Thank you. Do we have any changes to >> we are removing action item D um considering an administrative recommendation to adopt a policy um as some of the directive from the board makes that need to be tabled for a little bit. >> Okay. Uh any discussion? All in favor >> I >> and opposed hearing none that it the consent agenda tonight
002includes approving the minutes from the September 9th 2025 board meeting consider payment of bills including late pays and pre-authorization of payroll insurance utilities officials and automatic payments and consider a comprehensive review of all currently district sanctioned clubs as well as any newly submitted club proposals prior to the finalization of the 2627 school year budget. >> I would move that we approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? That will be adopted. The round table tonight, we have the Aspen School update from Mr. McBride. >> Wow, this is fancy. I love it. >> It's red, huh? >> Yeah. >> Stands right out. >> Yeah. So, um, and just checking, do I just push this here to move it forward or >> somebody
003else in? >> What's that? Push the arrow key. Okay. Okay. Perfect. All right. Well, thank you. So, the first thing I want to start off with and talk about um is this symbol that we have for Aspen Elementary. I want to start with the very bottom here where team teamwork makes the dream work. And that's something I firmly believe in that uh to be successful, we have to work as a unified team. That's the foundation of this structure. And the next piece of it, the individual skills and talents and abilities. When I look at that, I'm looking at two things. one, I'm looking at the teachers, their individual talents, skills, and abilities, but that's coupled with the individual talents, skills, and abilities of our kids, what they bring in. And that's going to play into
004all of our our our four pillars here. The one being creativity, the things that kids are interested in, kids want to know and and their own abilities unique. Each of those individual abilities that is a key part of this structure, what they bring and then also the teachers what they bring and can contribute to the kids. The second pillar being executive functioning that's a skill of such as tonight planning to get here tonight. We had to go through a lot of steps that we just take for granted as adults. But these are things that have to be explicitly taught to kids and uh some kids naturally develop it and some kids uh struggle with it and it takes a little bit more time for them to develop. And so that's a a key skill we
005want kids all to have is how do they organize their time? How do they how do they plan for the future? How do they plan for uh things like homework and and so they can schedule things out and feel a little more confident and not as stressed because they're able to lay out their day. The next piece is unity. Our unity within our staff, but also the students working together in small groups. It's part of collaboration, communication, those pieces that are going to help our kids to be successful. And the last piece on this pillar is ownership. ownership of the facilities, ownership of ourselves, ownership of the work that we do. So, so for instance, one of the things that we've taken on is if we make a mess, we clean it up. We don't
006leave it for someone else to come back behind and do the cleaning, right? So, when it comes to lunchtime, the kids are responsible for cleaning their tables. We get those all cleaned up. They do a pretty good job and then our custodians come in and finish the rest. But, um, it's that part. And you know, the thing that's unique about it is they love it. They love taking on that ownership and they love helping out. Uh so sometimes we do have a few tears shed because who was uh considered okay this is the one who was assigned to clean the tables and wait a second that was my turn you know so they are excited to do it. >> Um and so these pillars build us to the point where we want all of our
007kids to be when they move on from Aspen onto the middle school. We want them to be independent, to be able to have the basic skills that they need so that they can be uh successful going from class to class to class, managing their time, managing uh their assignments, and then taking on new challenges such as sports or other activities that they'll be involved in. There's a lot for them to to take on and we want to prepare them for that. So, this is a couple of things that we have. Uh just wanted to throw in a few pictures. The first couple of small pictures here with the kiddos. That was our kinder camp before school got started. Um they did a phenomenal job and I think it's worth every every minute that kinder camp
008helps get the kids established in the in the building. Uh know the routines so when they come they're confident. They know what's happening. Um and they're usually bye mom, bye dad. So and then a little bit of our open house. So a few more pictures of our open house. Um the classrooms that were set. Uh we have some of the kids pretty excited getting started for the for the new year to start. So some of my goals things I want to do is our strengthen our um classroom instruction and so do professional development. Whenever we have a staff meeting I want a big part of that staff meeting to be professional development. What are some of the things we're focusing on? What are the things that we're going to do and improve on in our
009classroom? So we have that every other week. um establish and maintain a win program. That is our absolute focus and uh of getting that program established so we can identify the things that kids need and address those right away. Uh fill in the gaps as they go and as we get this thing moving then it's going to be shorter and shorter amount of time to respond to the kids' needs. So uh the other part is building communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity through a program called explore. Uh each of the teachers have a part of their day where kids have the opportunity to explore different things that they're interested in. Um and I'll show a couple of pictures of those. It could be robotics. Um it could be something uh literature based that they're interested
010in. It could be um you know a development. So, some of our kids, uh, you know, even speaking of my own son, they they they get into things that are way way above above their head, but they're super excited about it and they work their tails off to try to figure it out because they want to they want to know it. And so, that's one of the the parts and and uh the pieces of of explore is uh taking kids to the next level. Um, and then establishing a guiding coalition so we can build our culture and climate within our school, have that open communication with our staff, um, so that we can share and generate ideas. We want to be a united force as we're working together. So, a couple of our here's our
011instructional coaches. I put their pictures in. They've been doing a phenomenal job. They're taking on uh the wind program and getting that established, getting all of the um all of the testing done, organizing groups, um getting getting the big part of what they're doing is um some of the things that slow down the wind program, um is having all the planning. You have uh right now we're looking at one time period and say we have fourth and fifth grade. We have the three teachers for fourth grade, two teachers for fifth grade, and then we have five paras in there. So when you put all of them together, that's a lot of planning that hap last that has to happen. And they've done a phenomenal job of putting kits together. So it's not just sit and
012get, but it's actually games and activities that they're doing. So phenomenal work. So um as far as accountability for accountability for when we have our students have been assessed and groups have been made it and we've got started with our instruction. um I've walked through today and it was it was great to see the kids engaged um going to the different places in small groups and and learning each of the different basic skills that they've have holes in that they need to be dressed. So, um here's some pictures of our Explorer uh kids were using the Lego robotics. Um the one on the far this is my far right. He made a device that will clamp down on your hand so you can do a handshake. Uh the girls were de working together to build
013theirs. They were just getting started and we have some kids doing some uh physical activity, stretching and so on in the class. Uh so they can do different muscles that they're looking at. Uh so explore can go from health, you know, be a science thing. It could be just about anything. So a couple more pictures of the of the robotics that's happening. So, and that is my presentation. Do we have questions? >> That's exciting to see kids exploring new things and and starting that young. >> Yeah. >> Getting that bug young. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Being able to, you know, utilize, like you said, their critical thinking skills and and develop, you know, there's that robotic hand that you were talking about and that encourages that and and wellness. I I like that. That's
014that's a part of it, too. Um I probably need to come down and partake at that class. Maybe I could become a little bit more member. >> Anytime. We'd love to have you. >> I don't know. >> Yeah. >> So, how you like it? >> How do I like Aspen? >> Yeah, >> I love Aspen. >> Good. >> A phenomenal building. Staff, students. We have a lot of lot of fun. most times I can be out there greeting the kids in the morning high-fiving and uh we we just love it. And so that's one of the things I went to classroom to classroom instead of a big assembly. I went from classroom to classroom to meet each of the kids and said, you know, when you see me just stop and give me a high
015five or, you know, a fist bump or something. And we usually have a few of them that are fist bumping. >> So we have a good time. I love it. >> That is good. >> Thank you. >> Well, welcome to you. >> Thank you. appreciate it. >> We're Yeah, we haven't heard anything bad. So, that's >> All right. >> That's good. >> A good way to put it. >> Yeah. >> Thanks for doing what you're doing. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. We'll move on to board members and staff. Jada, we'll start with you tonight. I know you've got lots to tell us. >> I don't have anything. >> Oh, come on. Thanks, Jaden. Terry, are you >> Oh, okay. For us, >> I'm think you might. >> Yeah. Watching YouTube. Watched a
016lot of football. That was great. >> That game Friday night was awesome. >> And then uh participated in the education that was on uh the meeting. Was that Thursday? >> Yeah, Thursday. >> Thursday at noon. That was very interesting. Learn the history. education in Wyoming. It's awesome. And then uh on the Tonkan committee, I left a uh one of the gals drafted up uh what they come up with what they would like to see done with the with the Tonkan funding and uh so I let let that go around and uh you can read what they've come up with. You can see where we can go with that. They wanted to do a little bit more than just a small area. And so I let them kind of make up some of their ideas and
017we'll see what happens. Put it on the agenda for maybe next next meeting. That's all I got. Thank you. >> Terry, >> I don't have anything this evening. >> Okay. Lunette. >> Um our Northwest Boseies meeting will be tomorrow evening. Um just lots of of things going on there. Our it was in pretty rough shape and we're getting that fixed up and making sure that all of our information and data is safe. Um, it kind of slipped away which kind of happens sometimes when when things don't uh stay in the forefront. So, we're working on that and other than that I don't have a whole lot. Mr. McBride, thank you for being here tonight. We're glad to have you in the district. >> Thank you, Lori. Um, I was in the fall series as well.
018I agree. That was interesting to hear about the the background of education in Wyoming and why it's so important to us in the state. >> Um, and then I um ventured off into a little bit of the legislative session that they had online for some of the committee meetings and that was very interesting to listen in on some of those. So, it'll it'll be probably another interesting session. Sounds like >> interesting in a good way. >> I hope so. Uh, there's there have been uh Yes. I mean, I I think I'm hoping it will be good, but there are a few things that we're gonna have to keep our eyes on. So, >> okay, good to know. >> That's a little bit of football. That's about it. Went down to Evston. >> Jody, >> hi.
019Um, yeah, I actually I I did the same thing. I attended the school recalibration. Um, and I again I was I was it was interesting to see that timeline. I remember going to a national board meeting when I first came on the board and I gave the a timeline for when they started education and the responsibilities of an educator to when it started in the one room schoolhouse to where it is. And man, you guys get you have a list longer than you are tall of things to do. And I wanted to say thank you because of what you do for kids. Um my husband and I, like I said, I mentioned last time, we've been sitting in on or are going in and and volunteering as um help in the lunchroom at Willow and
020it's been enlightening. And if any of you have an opportunity to do that, it's really fun to get a go. And and I hadn't been out on a recess duty and I don't know how long, but I did one today and it was it was really I it was really interesting and super fun. I enjoy the kids. And um then I also we traveled to Green River to watch the football game and then spent the weekend enjoying the autumn colors at the cabin. And then I went to the rainy um game on Monday which was the JV game and watched sat through the first half and and I commend that team both teams for being out there in the downpour of rain. But it was kind of funny and reminiscent of my son said his
021favorite game that he ever played in was in Neona and it was during a downpour like that. It was a grass field and it was really muddy because when you hit somebody you could slide for 15 yards. So we went and watched that and that was really fun. Um outside of that I think that's about it for me. >> Thank you Carl. >> Um not much. I was at the whole day end today. Uh and the student council training and whatnot for portion I guess the west part of the state Evston there was a bunch of schools there I mean there was a ton of kids >> and it was it was fun to watch him for a few minutes just hanging out there >> um scope maybe you know is This is for a
022memorial. I don't know. Seems >> seems larger than what we >> had uh sort of aimed at >> originally intended. >> Intended. Yeah. But that's the way committees go. Um other than that, uh next week is the Wyoming Activities Association Board of Directors meeting. So, I'll be attending that and then uh the school board association board directors are the next week. So, I've got a couple of meetings that I'll be going to to report back to you on. >> Cool. That's it. >> Christina, >> I do have something to know. Um so, I shared with all of you uh our mini PD that is available. I would love if you can come to one, two, three, whatever you can fit in. Um the idea behind that was we have district literacy math PD committees and
023one of the things that they've talked about is how do we leverage the expertise we have in our own building and our own district. We have a lot of uh staff that have training beyond us just bringing in somebody. And so we got this idea together and said, "Hey, we've got these three district level PD days. Let's make them relevant. Let's uh utilize the expertise we have." When we sent out a survey, we got tons of respond uh people that responded back. And he essentially said, "I'd love to teach a session." Right now we have 40 sessions signed up. Yeah, about 40. And you can go on there and you can see all the different sessions and the descriptions of them, which means we can essentially at this point if we offered them for every
024single session, it'd be about 800 people. Um, the initial survey that I sent out to you is to gauge interest. So if we have 50 people signing up for a session, we know we got to offer it more than once. And so that's the initial. Once that initial goes out and we gauge how many people want those sessions, we'll decide how many times we can offer them. I'm going to send out another survey of when those are offered. Once it reaches capacity, it'll be crossed out. It'll automatically do that. There's um an add-on that you can put on Google form that will recognize when you get to that 2025 and then they'll have to choose a different session. But that's our plan. And so, um, right now it's it's been a lot of work, but
025I have a great committee. Honestly, I haven't not done it alone by any means. They've done tremendous job just getting people interested, getting people signed up, and then now asking for staff to start signing up. So, we're excited. We know there's going to be hiccups, but we'll we have two more times to get it right after this one. So, we do have food trucks. We have doselitos. We have the rolling truck wagon, and then eat all day. Um, so that afterwards our staff can go and get a meal right there. It's at RMS. We're going to try to do it all there. Aziz and Brady have been great to work with. We'll get maps so everyone will know their session. They'll once they do their survey, they'll be able to print off the sessions they
026signed up for or have it on their phone, whatever works for them. And then when they go, they'll know where it's at and hopefully it goes off without a hitch. >> I have a question. >> Yeah. So, um, you know, I spend a lot of time with littles during the day, my grandkids. Um, is there any way because I would like to go to them, but I can't attend them, that you could like video them or and then put them out there on a forum so we could watch them at any time. So, when I'm in the afternoons or evenings, >> just a thought. And if you can't do it in the first set of them that you do, maybe by the last time you do these, you'll get, >> you know, you have a
027a handle on things. >> Video library would be fantastic. >> It would be. >> Look at you guys. >> Yeah, >> I know. We're always with the ideas. >> No, I love it. Uh, yeah, I think that some of that will definitely be a possibility. Um, it'll be obviously comfort level for some of them, but I also think depending on what they're using, I think some of the AI could be difficult to video, but why not try it? I think that's a great idea. >> I think it would be helpful. >> And I show Grand. >> Yeah, we did a video cafe um with National Garden Clubs for the same kind of thing and you could go out later and pick up those and it really is pretty cool. The AI could be actually it
028could be embedded. Could >> I don't I don't know enough >> because all the keystrokes could be >> and then and then the screen shown on screen. >> You're getting very technical. >> Do we have >> I'm like >> look at these guys. Look at >> they're not even >> Do we have any class? >> That's a big ask. >> Yes. Thank you. I I could tell I can see your expression. >> Hey No, I I like that idea though, honestly. >> And maybe if there's even like high school students that could be >> use that as, you know, something that academically they could be doing for a class that they have. I don't know. Just an idea. >> Well, I appreciate. >> Good idea. >> Yeah. And it's anything that's something we can continue
029to grow and as we get So, no, thank you. >> That's a great idea. Appreciate it. >> Yep. I think that was nice. >> It was hard to pick a session. >> Yep. Top three. >> I know. I'm kind of I'm still down to the Well, that's >> I'm excited. I think staff to be able to number one present, but then also get it from your staff that had under know like they understand what you're going through what are unique attributes of our district. So, what a great opportunity. It's not someone coming in who's trying to figure it out. I mean, they know. >> It creates a collaboration and communication across the district, I think. Great idea. >> And we're using our expertise. >> Yes. instead of paying whatever we pay to have somebody come
030in from Zimbabwe to teach a class. >> Yes. And we originally sent out a survey and it's a lot of surveys, but we sent out one originally to say, "What do you need?" So those sessions were grown from our staff >> and then we said, "Okay, this is what they need." We went back to our math team, our literacy team, which is represented by grade levels from across the district, and they said, "Okay, here's what we can present based on that." So, every we tried to use as much information from our original survey to build those out, >> and then now we'll gauge interest again to see how many we have to offer. As I glanced and went down through with the selection and and actually who they had there doing the present, you know,
031presenters and everything, it was interesting to me to see the wide range of areas and individuals who are offering the training. And I just I really like that >> we have teachers that have a lot of experience. They've been in education a long time and we have brand new teachers. So for them to step up and just that wide range of experience and knowledge and have different >> take on education is phenomenal. >> So I was really proud to see how many people were willing to step up and do that. >> It highlights the expertise that we have that we've built and hired and brought on. >> And we sent people we sent people to all kinds of things. Yes. Oh boy. >> I appreciate you saying that because the idea is one of the
032things that Joanie and I have worked on is now when we send people to national conferences and we've been we have a PD committee that um we developed last year and they go through and and we have a timeline of what >> what is needed >> and then we we have a rubric to decide. So people staff goes in and they put in a proposal and then that committee gets together and goes through that proposal and so really that has made a big difference and what is part of that is if they are selected to go to a national conference they will come back and present at the PD. >> That's that's really great. >> So who is invited to attend those sessions? Is it just school district folks in the board or preschools or
033>> we as of I didn't know what this was going to look like. Um so I kept it within our district. >> Okay. >> Um as we get a better understanding and capacity and things like that, I think we can start expanding that. I just honestly Lori, it was so the whole thing was like, okay, how are we going to do this? >> I just know that some of my staff attended some of the school district when I was with CDS and uh >> Got you. We just don't there was there's very minimal uh funding for training for for those folks and so anytime I think it's not doesn't cost us anything would be that would be wonderful. So would benefit us in the long run. >> It really would help grow the district too.
034>> No, I appreciate that. That's a really really good idea. So thank you. >> Appreciate the feedback >> Roy. >> Thank you. Thanks. Yeah. So, we we had a great turnout at our uh last family night for Native American education. We had over 50 stu parents and students show up. >> Um so, we packed the library at the high school. Uh so, we're very excited to get um the parents engaged and we want to continue that momentum. So, we're having our second family night of the month um next or I guess in a couple days on Thursday. Uh so we are um gearing it more toward literacy. So we're having a literacy bingo family fun nights where the prize if you will will be um books that the students can take home and and use
035in their household. Um in addition to that we'll we'll have a title six parent committee meeting so that we can continue to uh tailor the programming to what the parents wants. Um and so we're really excited about that. uh in I think in a couple of weeks JOM will have their first official parent meeting of the year as well. So, we're just gonna keep rolling with the momentum and try to keep the parents engaged for the for the school year. >> Where is your literacy family night? >> It'll be at Willow Creek. It'll start at 6. >> You know what time it's at? >> 6. Yep. Yep. >> Awesome. >> And dinner will be provided for the attendees at that time. All right. >> Thank you for >> driving that >> and making those things
036happen. >> And between now and when I see you at the next board meeting, um we are taking a a handful of uh staff members to the National Indian Education Association Conference in Spokane, Washington. Um, and this is part of uh identifying a part of addressing the the priority of getting more staff developments in Native American education for our staff. So, this time around it'll be primarily focused on the high school level. Um, so we'll take a group of students, a group of staff there to learn more about educating high school students um in culturally relevant ways. And so, we're excited to do that. It'll be it'll it'll butt right up against our next PD. So, at a future PD, we'll we'll come back and present to the staff and share the knowledge that's that
037they >> Oh, good. >> That'd be great. >> That would be great. I'd be interested in that. >> Agenda. >> Okay. >> First people to sign up, right? >> Joel, do you have anything for us? >> Nothing. Okay. Um, I'm excited about the mini PD stuff. Uh, we were talking with Jod and she was talking about she went to what meeting was that that you went to? >> I went to a national superintendent conference >> and they talked about AI. Correct. And I was going, man, we need to get that in front of people that can use it. And I really think it's important that we engage with AI in the school district. Um, it's kind of scary like you alluded to or said, uh, but it's not going away. >> So, it's not >>
038our kids are just going to be that much farther behind the longer it takes us to note this that now in in courts briefs have been stricken because people will just have AI trap briefs. >> Oh boy. >> Oh man. And then they they don't review them. Of course, AI is not thought I mean it will just take cases that appear to follow a certain chain. >> They don't really hold that. >> So they've had several cases struck in the 10th circuit as a reason. >> So it is kind of a I mean it's double-edged sword >> convenient that it's too easy to begin relying upon it completely. you get in someone gets in a pinch on a particular project and I think it's real easy just to you know let it take over but
039it it cannot reproduce human thought yet >> hopefully that never happens. >> Yeah, we do have a group of six staff members that are going to the FETC conference and that's it relies heavily on a lot of technology. AI is going to be a big one and so that group that's going will also be presenting at the this are going afterwards but they'll present the next one. >> What is the FETC >> please? >> The future of education technology and >> what is it? >> Future education technology conference. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> But so we do have six going for that and they'll be presenting some of the newest stuff. >> Okay. >> Cody, >> my turn. Uh so tonight we have our Mercer study >> um on as an action item and
040I was asked um by the state facilities commission because we feel really confident I will be at Thursday's um facility school facility commission meeting. I will attend that in Lander. Um just uh to talk about the process and the um Shelby Carlson feels very confident that the commission is on board with it. But the the big deal will be on October 27th when we go to the um select committee meeting in Casper. So I'll be doing that. And one of the things that I'll presenting be presenting is the history of the whole Mercer study, the whole project, including the TAC demo back to 2019 um when we started the first Mercer study for the district, which I wasn't here for, but I h I do have a copy of it and I read it. And
041so, um, basically in a nutshell, I'm not going to bore you with my full information, but in a nutshell, in 2019, um, they did a diagnostic initial remedy for the Mercer study. Um, and it revealed large amounts of unfunded square footage. And then it came up with the recommendation to remove TAC which then led to the wrestling room addition and the moves that we did and the renovation of Frontier Academy or alternative school which became Frontier Academy and then special services going to the career center and then Bosey's moving to rendevous um etc. Then we did our two-year reconfiguration plan that happened a little faster than any of us probably thought it was going to. I think when we first started talking about it we thought it would take a little bit longer but the
042community was on board with it. So we rolled um we closed Ashgrove and sold it with that um we're now at a K5 configuration for all three schools which led us to request another Mercer study because the facility that our K5 is in is a junior high >> and was originally built as a junior high. So explaining that whole process to that select committee will be very important for them to understand that we did this um in order to alleviate our excess square footage but at the same time it became more than just a capacity issue. It became a building usage issue um because that building isn't necessarily designed for the use that we're doing at this point in time. So the current Mercer study came up with several plans. If you remember, I very
043quickly uh we touched on that they had added frontier and the fact that they had found that there was some issues with capacity there, but then we asked for that to be separated out so that we could move faster with the elementary study. So, we went back to a focus just on what our needs are to make a K5 elementary school. We looked at renovating um several different renovation options for rendevous. They looked at um renovating Jackson and doing an addition to Aspen or Willow Creek and they looked at um building a new school. So, as we were presented with last week, the most cost-effective remedy is for us to build a new school in that same area using the property that we already own as a district um to keep with the neighborhood school.
044So that um is the recommendation and that is the action item that we have is for um the board if they so agree to move to have consensus with um that and it's written in there. I don't know the exact wording. So do you have any questions for me on the Mercer study? It's actually been a pleasure to work with the state um in designing this. They have really gone forward on our behalf a lot faster than I thought that they were going to. They see that we are working with them handinand and trying to do what's in the best interest of our taxpayers and also what's in the best interest of our students. So, um I don't know, Shelby, do you want to add anything to any of that or >> uh Thank you,
045Superintendent. I don't think so. I think you did a very nice job and um I appreciate that history that will help us as we uh move forward with a select committee if we uh get concurrent and can move a project forward. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I take I take any questions if anybody else has questions. >> Anybody have question? >> Just uh so it's 42 million for a 280 student building. Is that >> Did you hear he's asking is it 42 million for a 280 >> student building? >> So it's 220 students >> and um the construction total is basically 30 million 29.9 million. It cost us about 3.2 million to do the design. Um So the cost is 33.1 million is what we have in the in the request. We did remove the
046demolition although it shows in the cost estimate and I believe it was 1.6 million or thereabout. Um we did remove that because we want to wait until the Mercer study for the Frontier Academy completes and we know what that is. So in case um that building becomes an option, it's still available, we will go back and ask for demo funds um in the future if the decision is to go ahead and demo the old rendevous. So you're looking at about $33.1 million for the new 220 student school. >> Thank you, >> Shelby. This is Lynette Jeff. I just want to say thank you for all your work and your committee's work on this. Um it's a lot to take in and but it's amazing um information. So thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >>
047Okay. So um that's the first thing that's up on my agenda is to do that. um the frontier move um at I sent out an email letting you know that we decided to move forward with that because of our staffing needs and it it will better meet the needs of our students and staff all around. So we have an amazing um like Christina has mentioned and you have mentioned not only our teaching staff and you know amazing but our maintenance staff our custodial staff some of our teaching staff instructional coaches have pitched in to help with this transition and then we were short staffed a little bit and people rearranged their schedule. I think Roy took some shifts, Christina took some shifts. I was out of town, so I didn't, but I would have taken
048some shifts just doing some coverage um to make sure that we were meeting the needs of our kids in those programs. Um and I'm met with the Fremont County superintendent and we talked a little bit last week about the Boseies and um all of us were in agreement that that mental health and behavior support is something we do need from the Boseies. not saying that we want to take away the CTE component, but giving that extra option is important to us. And so they're all going to be talking to their boards about that and we're going to come up with a proposal for that um which could truly help support this um Jackson school if that's what it ends up being after another Mercer study is done if that's the direction we go. So um
049those are those are good things that are happening and you know I appreciate like Mattlair and Cindy I can't remember Cindy's last name. Mills. Thank you. >> I don't know why her last name left, but they are really working hard to support this transition and cleaning the building and getting it ready for kids to be in >> in an unexpected time. So, so that um that is great. Uh I was I did want to mention that while it is only September, um October is right around the corner and our board evalant evaluation will be coming up. So we probably want to start thinking about work sessions and times that you want to get together to start doing those things. I do still want to adjust how we do those. Um and I talked with Terry
050and Bruce about that. So, I will give you a updated this might be a more productive tool for us and help us grow more than the current tool that we're using and I plan to have that for you before we go forward with our processes this year. >> Thank you. >> Um, >> yeah, I don't think any of us really like the tool we're using now. >> No, it's not actually. It's just >> cumbersome. >> Yeah, good word. >> Well, it doesn't give you I feel really good feedback for you. >> Right. Right. >> It doesn't. >> And that's how I feel about it, too, is it's um so we would like we're working on our evaluation process. Christina had a meeting with all of the administrators last Tuesday and talked through some adjustments that
051we made to that. And I'd like to make it for the principles as well because their tool is >> awkward. >> Just as awkward. So, um >> would be nice to have something a little more universal as well too. >> Yep. So, um that is all I have for this evening. Okay, thank you. >> So, we have an opportunity for the public to comment or to address the board of trustees regarding action items on the agenda. Um, so if anyone would like to address the board or make a comment, feel free. >> I know you want to make a comment. Go ahead. Well, we're glad we're happy you're here. >> Yeah, we don't usually have spectators, so >> yeah. >> Okay, >> you're right. >> No one wants to speak. >> I will. >> Okay.
052>> I'm Megan Richardson. I'm the social worker at Aspen and I just want to say thank you for hiring Mr. McBride. He is so wonderful. He is out in the building. He's just It's just a breath of fresh air and I'm just really thankful for him and thank you for hiring him. It's been a really great great start to our year. So, thank you for that. >> Well, thank you. Thank you. >> Thanks for coming. Thank you for being here. Glad >> to tell us >> supporting Aspen, right? Like, >> yeah, that's right. Go Eagles. >> That can sometimes be a tough thing to do to stand up there and say thanks for, you know, >> thank you. >> I appreciate that. >> Good. Good. We're glad. >> Thanks for tier. Um I was here
053at the last meeting. Um but I wanted to thank you all for um your consideration and your thoughts about the Interact Club. Um and I hope that um we can get a decision and continue to keep moving forward. But thank you all for um your consideration. >> Thank you. Thank you, Tony, for speaking. Thank you. Thank you for being here. >> Anyone else? >> All right, we're going to move on to action items. The first one is to consider an administrative recommendation to approve an outofstate travel request. >> Mr. Mr. Chair, I would move the board approve the Riverton High School FCCLA students to travel to Washington DC in November 2025 for the FCCLA capital leadership conference as per policy. Second, >> any discussion? My only discussion is they kind of come to the meetings
054about as much as we do. >> I think it's awesome. >> I'm not complaining. I want them to >> come back and tell us again what went on. >> Absolutely. >> I was I was impressed with their presentation last time. >> Um all in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Hearing none, we will approve that travel. Consider an administrative recommendation to approve change orders. >> Mr. Chair, I would move the board approve the two change orders for the Riverton High School auditorium project from the state construction department with Top Office Products, Inc. of Sheridan, Wyoming. Both change orders are for FF and E components in the total amount of $34,910. >> Second >> discussion >> that pretty much supply the building or the >> So, we have a wish list that's a little bit larger
055than that um that um Ed and I will be going through. I think we've talked about it a couple of times and now that this has been um this list has been approved through the state department, we'll go through the rest of our list that will have to come out of our district funds. >> So for clarity, what's FFN? >> I don't know what it stands for, >> the stuff that goes in it. >> Fixtures. >> I knew it was furniture, but >> fixtures and is it equipment? >> Wow. We paid attention all day for the win. >> For once I was right. >> Make those things up. Is >> that a deduction on somebody's taxes? That's >> a Yeah, >> that is a deduction on their tax. >> All in favor? >> I. >>
056Any opposed? Hearing none. We will approve that change order >> and consider an administrative recommendation to acknowledge and accept the Mercer study recommendation. >> Mr. Chair, I would move that the board um concur with the stasis design team recommendation scenario number A1, construction of a new K5 elementary school to replace the existing rendevous elementary school as the most costeffective remedy. >> Second >> discussion. >> Um I you know I have heartburn. Uh it's whenever you're dealing with the state and the legislature, it's always so, you know, we've got a finite dollar that we get. >> Yep. >> And then inflation >> reduces its effectiveness. >> Then inflation does this. So it it all of a sudden goes from that 220 which seems like a very small building to me >> uh >> does seem small
057>> and the word cost effective is another word I don't like. I'd rather be education effective and the terms in the stud uh when they were explaining it to us in a more modern uh upto-date so they're prescribing the education methods that they're that we need to change to. So local control is no longer in the it's all about money and we've been driven by facilities since I can't say when it's it's we're always driven by facilities. We make decisions about student learning based on buildings sometimes more than best practices in education. Uh, and when a state entity tells us that they're telling, you know, that they are building a building that will teach our kids better, I have some push back on that and have a bunch of wonder. Uh, so I can't really
058support it. I I won't vote against it, but I don't know if I can vote for it. >> So, I guess my question to you would be >> I'd like a >> what would you see different? What would you like to be different about it? >> I just don't know. I didn't How much of you What do you know about these practices? How many rooms do we need for when How many rooms do we need for uh SEAL? How many rooms? How much space do we need for the things that we do that will go away because the facility won't >> Won't support them. >> So my understanding is that that isn't even talked about till the design phase. They give us this square footage and this dollar amount and then we are able to
059determine what our needs are within that. Um, when I spoke with the state, they were very flexible and I pointed out that our needs are very unique because we are at a 20% special education or 21% I believe. And I think they pointed that out that they actually added 20,000 square feet or more to the building for that because we pointed it out. And so I think I'm just pleased that we're at the first stage of getting through to get a building and then when it comes down to the design, I think we'll have that ability to negotiate because if we decide it's more important and Nicole's been at the table for for these as well. If we decide it's more important um to have instead of having the modern common area space to have
060uh an intervention classroom then that is up to us to determine at the time >> and and then then my concern also is that shrink shrinking finite dollar that's what happened to the uh auditorium. >> Yeah. So Shelby, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you build in a build that in because of the into the cost? Wasn't that built in because we knew that we wouldn't be building right away? >> That's correct. If you were to look at the um at the document, um there was the pro the 2025 cost was 30.9 million. Our estimate and what we're moving forward to the select uh to the select committee and the governor uh that will go on to JAC and the legislature is 33.1 million um to accommodate for inflation uh while the project is
061designed and then uh before we can go out to bid um we did add additional square footage um due to the special needs um that was actually ext extra square feet. And and Jod's correct, we um you know, we hire a consultant that understands educational programming. Um Stasis spent a lot of time working with the district and and how they use their educational space. But once you get into the design process, one of the very first things you do is work with your consultant on the educational programming that you need to put in your school. And then you work within um the that square footage that we have established. And in general, what we see um is that the square we're very generous with the square footage we give. Um we actually have one school
062that's under construction right now. It was designed for supposed to be 40 kids and they'll have seats for 99. Um, so you know, it all the the the local control is all there and the district has a lot of control over how they use that square footage and and to your point, they're the educators. We're not. We're builders. Um, but we put um all that, you know, into the cost and the budget and then we allow the district to do that through the design process. >> So when when the Mercer study was has taken place, I just kind of want some clarity. so I understand it um a little clearer myself and it was we looked at declining enrollments right um and we know that that's what it looks like but things can roll through
063and can change differently and when you get to that like this is the beginning stage my question would be you said that the local control and the flexibility is there would it be at that time that those educators would be able to walk through all the buildings again walk through look in the classroom see what we have there. See what we're doing. Seeing how many kids are there and if that amount of square footage in those classrooms available are really going to fit what what our population is and can become. >> It's all a trend line right now. It's all a negative trend line >> which is like 70 kids a year for the last three years. >> So that negative trend line is what they are looking at, >> right? >> So they're not
064looking at that that trend line's going to change. But my like said when I don't know I guess maybe my concern is I don't want to have to over stuff the sardine can >> that's >> and up and up the you know what I mean that's that's where I was coming from. >> And how many of these you know that building that you were this talking about that uh is being built right now. What how close was it to the bid estimate? you know, it uh did come in a bit high over the bid estimate. Um we worked pretty hard with that district um to to cut costs and um cut some of those things back. Um it still ended up needing to dip into some of the unanticipated funds. So when we um did
065a project on every project because you any of you that do construction know you always encounter certain things you don't plan for whether it's in your foundation or whatever. There is 6% unanticipated funds that are put there to help us um you know adjust to those unforeseen needs if they occur. You know we don't use them very often. our cost estimates are usually uh pretty good. I think there was a question regarding the enrollment um as well and I was having just a little bit of trouble hearing but as we it did projected declining enrollment that is pretty much across the state right now we are seeing declining enrollment almost everywhere and this is really a nationwide trend uh birth rates are just down nationwide. That being said um every year we and agency are
066required to run two schedules for the annual report that goes to um the select community and school facilities, our commission and the legislature and the governor and we look out eight years. So if there is a turnaround in your enrollment and you know the influx comes, the uranium really takes off, those types of things, the minute that uh enrollment starts to project up and we use a 10-year cohort um trailing data to look at, the minute that starts to turn up, that will change that enrollment projection. And when it shows out eight years that you're going to be hitting 100%, that then triggers us to come in and do another most cost-effective remedy study to address capacity. >> The other side of that is that we're taking money now out of the education fund for
067buildings, which used to be taken care of by coal bonus money. And so the projected deficit in the school foundation is now in the uh 30 you know 2030 budget will be in a negative. So uh it it it it's uh it's complex for us that are actually doing kids where you're building buildings. We have to worry about some of these things that are unpredictable, but trend lines tell us that that's going to happen because you're now dipping in using facility to to get your facility money almost 300 million this year out of the school foundation fund. And I know that's a political uh problem, >> but >> it's not solved. And we you've been talking about all these bills that these guys are talking about and this is a budget session. What the heck?
068They're talking they should be working about their budgets rather than this minutia of of things that aren't anything about and they didn't even pass a budget last year. So that's why I have so much quandry about what the state gives us. And I know you can't address some of that. >> Yeah, >> I'll quit. Thank you, Shelby. >> You bet. >> Thanks, Shelby. >> Any other discussion? All in favor? >> I >> Any opposed? Hearing? None. We will move forward with that recommendation. Um, consider an administrative recommendation to accept a grant. >> Mr. Chair, I would move the board accept the Fremont County Bosey's preschool grant in the amount of $10,000 for the 2025 2026 school year. >> Second >> discussion. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Hearing none, we will accept that
069grant >> and consider an administrative recommendation to offer a contract. >> Mr. Chair, I move the board offer a contract to Kelly Guard as a Riverton High School assistant cheer coach effective for the 2020 school year. >> Second >> discussion. >> She's an ever ready battery. >> She is She just goes, >> "Oh my god, she just goes and goes and so does her husband." >> Yeah, >> we're fortunate. >> I assume that's means that's an endorsement. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Hearing none, we will offer that contract. So, we have some information items. The 2025 annual Wyoming School Board Association conference is November 21st or 19th through the 21st and notify Jada if you want to go before the 15th of October. I want to go. >> I do too. >>
070Thank you. >> Who doesn't want to go? I won't go for one of the nights. I'll probably go the first one. It's just I have >> I'll stay for >> I have a training session for continuing that I have >> Oh my lord. You can come later, right? >> It's three days. >> Oh jeez. >> I know. I about >> you. You scheduled that wrong. >> I did. >> She was She was a person. >> Okay. I'm not going either. I have littles. >> I want to go. It's my favorite thing to do every year. >> It is. I'm I'm teaching him every day. He He knows his alphabet and his numbers already. There's only two. I'll have to find out if they'll let me what days they'll let me leave for during open enrollment.
071So, >> okay, sounds good. >> Yeah, they're killing it. >> It's always you can do some >> It's kind of a busy time for me. So, >> revised policy 5305, classified professional and support staff work agreements and compensation. Classified staff changes. We have some resignations. Special services era Shauna Little Shield. effective August 5th. Willow Creek Parah Kaylee Macaulay effective September 5th. RMS Parah Leah Williams effective September 26th. Transfer uh Alexa Noland to Aspirin Aspen Perah new hires Bin Karen Wells as a bus transportation bus aid. >> You missed the line. >> He missed the line. Oh, >> I jumped one, didn't I? >> Yeah, you did. It's okay. >> Uh, Bin Gardner as a Willow Creek parah. Eliza Anderson as an Aspen daycare assistant. Karen Wells as a transportation bus aid. Jacob Waldger as a
072maintenance floater custodian. Grayson Beasley as a maintenance floater custodian. And there's a separation notice in the executive content. How's our enrollment doing? >> 56 >> down better than the 70 that I quoted. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. >> All right. Anything else for the good of the board? >> I believe so. >> Hearing nothing. >> All righty. >> Well,