GOSHEN COUNTY – Goshen County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees convened for their first meeting of the new year on Jan. 12, where they welcomed the board’s new student representatives: Bree Coxbill of Southeast High School, Tyke Stokes of Torrington High School and Ryland Fuller of Lingle-Fort Laramie High School.
In his report, Superintendent Ryan Kramer informed the board of a reduced number of COVID-19 cases following Christmas break. As of press time Wednesday, GCSD is reporting two active cases districtwide.
“We’ve had some really good numbers in relation to our attendance, our COVID positivity rate and COVID active cases,” Kramer said. “This is very different from what we were experiencing just a month ago.”
Kramer said GCSD employees will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 5, as K-12 education staff are part of phase 1b of Wyoming Department of Health vaccination priority. The district will not require employees to be vaccinated.
The district will also extend the COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) policy, which gives employees 10 days of leave to quarantine due to COVID-19 positivity or exposure without using sick leave, until March 31. Employees will be able to receive both doses of the vaccine before then, Kramer said.
The board briefly discussed potential budget cuts that could come down during this state legislative session. Kramer said he’s discussed them with administrators, examining the current funding model, projected funding and what various cuts would look like at the district level.
Some districts have provided reduction notification to nontenured teachers, Kramer said, but GCSD is not making any such moves in case cuts do not occur.
“We’re going to approach the next eight weeks, watching very closely,” he said. “I think we’ll know a lot within the first four weeks, what direction will need to be taking.”
Enrollment is down at GCSD, from roughly 1651 to 1580. School funding is partly based on average daily membership (ADM). The loss of 70 students could cost the district $1 million in funding with a loss of 70 students, according to Business Manager Marcy Cates.
“If we’re talking about percentage cuts but we’re also showing this decrease in our ADM, we’re going to get hit twice,” said Board Chair Mark Jespersen.
Lincoln Elementary School Principal Nyana Simms addressed the board on Wednesday, asking them to approve a contract for a professional development program called Kagan for 30 staff members.
Simms told the board her staff consists of primarily new teachers who are requesting professional development.
“There was a time when we had a plethora of facilitators that helped do a lot of our staff development, especially for new teachers, and we no longer have that gift that we were able to use several years ago,” she said.
Though the training is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19, Simms said she will work out a plan with substitutes and keeping classes covered, without losing academic time. The contract with Kagan was approved as part of the consent agenda.
The board discussed the THS parking lot surface reconstruction project set to be completed this summer. Cates recommended the board vote to approve the option that would repair both the main parking lot and the drive loop.
They discussed the difference between asphalt and concrete, and eventually voted unanimously to use concrete, which has a longer lifespan and can be less slippery in the winter. Cates said in a conversation with engineers, they indicated concrete could last roughly 30 years.
In other business, the board approved three staff resignations and to approve a two-year contract for Kramer as district superintendent. They amended District Policy 5150.5, regarding no student activities night, to limit Wednesday night activities to no later than 6 p.m., unless the superintendent approves an exception. The board voted to table revisions to District Policy 5153 on student suicide prevention.
The GCSD board will meet for a work session on grading revisions on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at their central office. The next regular board meeting will be Feb. 9 at 7 p.m.
