TORRINGTON – Goshen County School Board convened at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the central ministration building to discuss a variety of topics on the proposed agenda.

The meeting quickly began with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a short discussion regarding the adjustments.

During the public forum, Rebecca Cochran spoke to the board about Critical Race Thinking (CRT) and the proposed approval of the renew of district and building student intervention programs. 

Cochran explained that PEBC, a company used for student intervention, supported CRT and she asked the board to reconsider the renewal of the program for the 2023-24 school year. 

Tony Goulart spoke on the same issue. 

The motion to consider approval for of offering contracts for the 2023-2024 school year which offered contacts to Andrea Brunsvold, Brooke Flaherty, Hallie Murphy, Shelbie Hanlon and offered a pending certification to Jimi Courtney. 

The board accepted the resignation of Mary McCarty, John Watson and Arianna Watson. 

The board also carried the motion to rescind the resignation of Melodie Foos.

There was a short discussion on the consideration to approve proposed revisions to district police 5131.21 (Student Discipline Consequences 6-12). 

“The new language in here [policy 5131.21], in the second paragraph said, the board, the administrators and teachers have a joint responsibly for maintenance of student discipline and I am confused here because I didn’t think the board was actually the ones that enforce the discipline that was maintain by the superintendent, teachers and principal because we are not in the hallways,” Chris Alexander said.

The board conducted a brief discussion into the wording of the approval. 

Kramer stated that the clause ‘the maintenance of’ was added when the proposal was in committee. 

“I somewhat disagree, I think the board does play a huge responsibility when we are talking about explosion, but really I’m talking about semantics,” Kramer added. “If the board has hesitation in relation to that, I think they can adjust that how they feel fit. I do believe that explosion is a significant tool that we have use and on a yearly basis the board has had to make very difficult decisions around explosion hearings so I do believe that is the appropriate statement but if others on the board would be more comfortable with some other language I would certainly be open to that suggestion.”

“Our responsibility is from reviewing policy, writing policy to having the meetings for explosion so we are in a partnership with our administrators and teachers to that extent,” Carlos Saucedo said.

A motion was made to remove the clause ‘the maintenance of’ from the policy which changes the policy to the board, administrator and teachers have a joint responsibility for discipline. 

Continuing the discussion of a 20 credit, our diploma plan for the Goshen County School District high school students the board carried the motion after a brief discussion on apprenticeship and internships, and how they will affect transferring students in and out of Goshen County. 

Kramer provided a bit of background on how the new credit diploma plan will line up for continuing education. 

“In order to get into different colleges, it is not centered around credits, but instead courses and around the ACT prep,” Kramer explain to the board. “One of the things that would be very important in getting the very best ACT score is, taking a course and having a full understanding of things like algebra and geometry as opposed to things that are not part of the ACT like sports history.”

The approval of the revision to district policy 5127 graduation requirements carried after a brief discussion. 

Another one of the other topics on the agenda heavily discussed at the meeting was the renewal of district and building student intervention programs, and professional development for the 2023-24 school year.

Alexander made a motion that the school district considers voting on five of the six intervention programs separately. The board carried the motion to renew contracts with Renaissance learning, read naturally, Xello, Zearn and LexiaCore 5 however they tabled the motion to renew the contract with PEBC to be discussed during the July board meeting. 

“I would reference to possibly get more information individually from teachers who received those services and employees who have received those services in regard to professional development,” Kramer advised the board. 

The board went on the carry approval for the purchase of Sphero Robot Blueprint Build Kits and Lenovo Tablets.

Also approved is the bid received for Southeast School’s waterline that will supply the school with water even in emergency situations. 

In the superintendent’s report, Kramer reported positive drug tests were down to .9% from the 2.1% positive tests for last year. 

There will be a special meeting to conduct a board work session for district strategic planning with Wyoming School Board Association on June 21 at 6 p.m.

The next GCSD board meeting will be held on July 11 at 7 p.m.