May 17, 2022
Regular Meeting Agenda: 6:00 pm Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Fremont County School District Number One
Board of Trustees
863 Sweetwater Street
General Business
A. Call to Order 6:03
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Additional Agenda Items
D. Adoption of the Agenda- Motion carries
E. Approve Minutes - April 19
ME- Question about page 3, salary and benefits package, asked clarifying question
Minutes approved
F. Approve Minutes - May 3
Minutes Approved
G. Recognitions- In Sup report
H. Public Comment
None
Programs/Reports/Presentations
A. Board Member Reports
ME- Literacy PLC- complexity of project, dedication, potential for great change, over 40 staff are being trained in LETRS training.Voxland and Paula are starting a preschool PLC. District will use evidence bases screenings for reading
TJ- Volunteered at 4th day track meet, thanks to Misty Atnip, kids cheered each other on and did great.
B. Superintendent's Report
https://go.boarddocs.com/wy/fcsd1/Board.nsf/files/CECV5B7F0AB1/$file/Super%20rpt%20051722.pdf
WYTOPP- Great participation rates this spring
C. Computer Science Curriculum- Moved to first
Mr. Meyers- Slide show with student testimonials about Tech Club and Computer Science Class, students spoke about their experience and how it impacted them in a positive way
Consent Agenda
A. Approve Expenditures and Pre-Approve Utilities and Financial Report
B. Approval of Surplus/Disposable Property
C. Stipulated Expulsion Agreements
Action Items
A. Policy Review (2nd reading)-https://go.boarddocs.com/wy/fcsd1/Board.nsf/Public
Emily Wilson- LVHS teacher, the nondiscrimary policy goes against what LVHS stands for (every student every day). Deleting the groups from the policy shows that students don’t matter, increase suicide and dropouts, students not speaking or sending letters anonmously shows it will effect them and they won’t feel safe.
Robin Levin- Protect our students from inappropriate behavoir from others. WWII story about an attorney. Raphael Lemkin
Darin B.- Combat veteran- He heard someone saying that students shouldn’t be exposed to veterans, leave wording in policy
Lilly Clark- Young Adult Author- Keep the langauge as it is in the policy, embrace inclusivity, if you want to create divison then remove them from the policy, that’s what you will be doing. Protect our student’s
Liz Tooey- Care for the youth in the community, director of education for NOLS. People don’t learn if they feel threatened, increased anxiety in students, increase bystander training, discrimination, comments made to students
Isabella Jeffrey- PHS student- should not change language in policy, defined “sex”
Annie Topolis (spelling?)- when children leave preschool and go to school they need to be cared for and safe. Policy should not be changed
Joe Frost- takes kids on canoe trips, subs in the school and cares about the youth. He subbed in a study hall room, lots of different students and 2 teacher in the room. There was active bullying in the room he subbed in (the student was being perceived as gay).
Kevin Wilson- Veteran- Why would you want to remove veteran status from this policy. Looks like we are close to a culture war.
Carl Weller- Langauge is still relevant and should be retained in the policy. We want a welcoming environment, looking for diversity and inclusion and we narrow down language we are saying we don’t want them.
Peter Nickels- LMS teacher- you need to be seen as who you are to feel safe and comfortable, keep the language if you want them to be who they are.
Liz?- Organized Lander Pride Picnic- kids say things how they are afraid and not welcome, we need to protect peoples safety, keep the policy the way it is.
Michael Holland- Fremont Counseling- sucicide is part of his work every day,
Annalisa ?- continued reading Michael Hollands data from Fremont Counseling
Ben Browning- LVHS student- Stated policy and removing the wording will not give them the opportunity to be protected or stop future bullying
Jackie Smith- Keep policy as it, it matters alot
Todd Burke- Science LVHS- REad letter from student about taking away protections in the policy.
Kathlene Tilton- In support of the board keeping the policy as written, what is our why? Encourages the board to answer why? Can think of risks to students, staff, and community.
Bill Lee- Amazed we are here and talking about this. This is a political stand not about our kids
Julia Fairbanks- Cares for the health and wellebing of students and staff. SChool board decisions effects more than the school. A policy protects physical and mental well being. Choose to protect all in the district
Willow Wells- student expressing she is tired of fighting to exist, boys barking at her, slurs, you want students to speak, the real question is will you listen.
Darla Newell- Taught in district for year, sucide/depression are up, why are you choosing this now?
Sarah Reilley- stated the CKA policy to protect our kids, we have bullying in our community and you want to change this policy which will not protect our kids. We need to know that the board supports our kids at every level.
Janet- The decisions you make effect lives, the language in the policy helps protect our youth, and I hope we don’t go backwards. Let’s continue to hear the kids voices.
Walt Sealey- Hopefully the stories you have heard make you consider not changing the policy. Equality if a big deal. Discrimination policies are written because discrimination happens.
Marcey- Experiences with bullying of college students
Jennifer Young- Ensuring the safety of students, sucide rates for LGBTQ students and hetero studnets, Title IX
Veteran- Veterans have a vested interest in our youth, policy needs to stay the same and cover all classes, may lead to litigation
George Hampton- Veteran- Serve our county and our community
Beth Hinkle- Students suceed in schools where they feel safe, erasing the verbage of the policy, make students feel welcome, if we want to teach every stuedent, every day, we need to set them up for success and recognize their identities
Jen Wilson- 2 family members who work in mental health, remvoval of the langauge is not needed.
Karen Wetzel- for changing the policy, giving power to to a small group, personal feelings should not come into this
Cathy Browning- not sure why we are here tonight, every child deserves our support, it’s not about politics, its about our kids
Margret Jacobson- It’s about all the kids, not excluding or dividing, creates a victimmized class, teachers and students who are not in those classes have to tip toe around others, new class runs the bathrooms to curriculums
Rachel Price- NOLS strive to create inclusiveness, she has a child who has been through a lot and said it’s different here because people bully me for sexual orientation, teachers or admin do stand up for her, keep the policy the same
Carly- Singling them out only makes it worse, creating division, giving these differences more attention we are giving them a negative connotation. Stop creating an issue that isn’t there.
Nathan Shoutis- Document from students from high school students after threats- read comments from 10 students. Asking board to make public statement to LGBQT students, Jensen to publicly apologize to students, try to learn more about LGBQT community through relationships.
Phillip Strong- Pastor- What does God say? Principles of scripture. Playing into a mindset and not an objective reality. There is hope for LGBQT community, we are here to help children. As a pastor I am one who can help these people, if you don’t change this policy.
Debra East- the list is a to-do list as we have failed as a country, we have a lot of skills we can learn, people can see where harm has been done and when its not fair.
Amy White- Change the policy to only include classes that are protected by state and federal law. No objectivity in these classes, many other classes are protected, where does the adding of protecting classes end?
Andrea Strom- She is for changing the wording, teaching kids to lean on their emotions, if our children grow up thinking they are a mistake, if they taught are what they are is what they should be
8:24pm 10 Minute Break
Dr Barker- Bullying- ask administrators to speak on the steps they take- bullying happens more than once and a balance of power.
J. Morton- Reporitng: By student, family, friends, Safe to tell, couselors. Once they get the info, admin and SRO determine the investigation process, that info determines which route they go, bring students in if needed/teachers, look at cameras. If it’s a repeated pattern, it takes us down a different road, depends on severity. Looking at it proactively or reactively. Look at supports to support the victim and perpetrator. If it’s determiend it is a repeated pattern, determine SRO is involved, possible citation, can be ISS, OSS, extreme circumstances can be expulsion. If SRO is involved he can take it to the county attorney. Proactive with systems within the school- SEL program, peer conflict, “families”, mindset lessons, 4 counselors, Title IV training with staff, potential support group.
C. Wall- Echo what Mr. Morton said, fostering positive relationships with students and have someone in the building they can trust, bullying outside of school over social media and gets very complicated and hard to determine who it is, restorative conversation, 7 mindsets
B. Nuendorf- Do not igore acts of bullying, report back to Safe To Tell, working with the city of lander to take care of the dispatch calls out of school
AC-R- DB- OCR investigation a few years that was dropped and then popped back up. There were some things that needed changed coming from OCR and legal counselor.
AC-R (1st) OCR investigation prompted changes brought forward the suggested changes. includes input from our legal counsel clarification pieces removed should and shall throughout this. replaced with 'may'. changes teacher to staff member throughout, clean up failing to report within 60 days period (60 days added) to have expedient manner. those changes based on OCR requirements, legal counsel, and input from
approve as presented.
ME - page 3 - top his should be him (change) under appeal - both the charge party and the respondent SHALL have the right
Friendly amendment (agreed)
Motion by Taylor Jacobs, second by Scott Jensen.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Michelle Escudero, Teresa Nirider, Kathy Hitt, Jared Kail, Brett Berg, Scott Jensen, Taylor Jacobs
AC and AC-R potential amendments-
C as presented
DB - change to be like AC-R
ME - #3
AC - SJ modify AC by removing actual from para #1 modify 3, 4, 5 various lists defined in several different policies. master list kept in AC
Tjacobs second
Scott - routine matter to review policies. appeared other changes were warranted as well. students should know every student in our district is valued and you do matter. You matter to me and every person on this board. inherent worth regardless of what struggles you have - every person in this room had a voice - crowd bullied this gentleman because you didn't agree with his views. We take it seriously in this district. misunderstanding if this language chanrges in this policy - that students and staff would lose protection - no reason is allowed to bully anyone for any reason at all. When it happens we act on it. You are safe. As members of this community be tolerant of that. discrmination is not the same as bullying necessarily - unaddressed it could become a discrmination issue. in general - bullying is not the same as discrmination - we don't want systems of power. We don't want to deny learning opportunities for our kids. We don't want encourage division of our community - because they aren't listed then they don't matter. do propose we reduce our list to t hose defined in state and federal law. Employment law covers veteran status, pregnancy, nobody's protection is lessened.
Committed to excellence in this district - unfair accusations that our administrators don't react and we don't discrminate to any child for any reason.
Taylor Jacobs - appreciate your interest minority - you heckeled room full of adults and you weren't respectful of those in the minority. vast difference in opinions - we have people being disrespectful. We are here for our kids and we love our children.
Izzydiscminration policy does divide people into categories.
KH - emotional topic but look at laws - case laws times have changed and things have evolved. We did not foresee we'd have this discussiona bout trans or binary or any other group. We have to look at case law - if something has been appealed then it is what is followed. Case law says these groups are identified as part of the discrmination policy. Our attorney said leave it in. OCR said indeed it needs to be there.
DB - he recommends we keep it in there. He did not say you have to.
KH - look at case law and if we need to change the way it is - now listed as sex, (sexual orientation, generder and pregnancy) no WY laws cover this. Go with what is national
TN - bullying exists no matter we lok like or who we identify with. We as parents don't start when we are little acceptance of all. this policy will not keep children safe because they are different. students matter - where are the rules - why is it just sexual orientation - gender identity. Furies - what if this young person wants to do something different - when we do add that to our policy.
ME - goal of this AC policy - create a system structure for our students to achieve their potential. Create an environemnt for our staff to do their best work. admins need clear direction to do this. admins said this list was very helpful in assisting with building changes. Poistiivity with having a more clear list of protected classes for our leadership for our community. don't see harm by having specific language. LBGQT community is at civil rights juncture - we need to collectively recognize this group at this moment in time. Veterans are discriminated against. We need to really recognize them.
BB - heard every student, every day - district motto. This additional classes do not say every student, every day. List does not say every student every day. Not in favor of anything that is going to cause divisions amongst our students and staff. Everyone should have the same level of respect regardless of the protected class.
DB - supreme court decisions - Title IX employment issue - prohibits discrmination based on sexual orientation an d gender identity. they are protected per say - DB.
ME - ask for legal advise on this. specific to school law
KHh - took our actual and perceived based on his decision.
TN - passed this policy in August 2019 - Fremotn Counseling indicated still high amount of mental health needs, concerns, but this policy has been in place.
JK - whether or not offices at federal level have adopted this language. OCR - does not list those on their website. Federal level, state, or state education level indicate these classes in their policies. Bob Stock is the specific reason they will not be discrminated against. We do not have to include thsoe rights in order to protect them. We set policy - this is not a partisan board - we run as community members. We are not removed from politics in setting policy. Look to our national legislatures who have not included those languages in their statutes.
Jamison Thatch - instances shared of discrmination by our students - this policy was in place. Question is how are we enforcing this to be effective. Not sure of the solution.
SJ - discrmination - complaint - one in the district. Discrmination reported hasn't risen to the level of complaint. THere has been alot of bullying that has been unreported. When it is reported, then it is addressed. Chagning the language will not stop bullying.
TJ - clarification - no complaints since adding this from OCR
Remove items
modify 3, 4, 5
motion includes all of the above, but not #2 change verbage - remove and strike actual perceived from OCR - AC only
change to modify just first para TJ - so, gender, veteran, marial and pregnancy which matches federal law
vote
4-3
no - KH, ME, TN
SJ - AC modify paras 3, 4, 5 to remove list of protected classes and reference (strike long list)
BB second
SJ - list of protected classes listed several times, have a list of proteced classes we reference -
ME - need clarity.
TJ - leave it???
JK - in policy AC - we would have 4 paras that repreat those same classes
SJ - haven't had a clear list. reference list
Vote
motion failed
SJ, JK - yes
TN, ME, KH, BB - no
Motion to adjust a; re;ated [p;ocoes policies to have exact same list as AC
TJ, TN
Vote:
BB, 6 yes
SC no
Motion
SJ modify BFE - by removing items
table and move to first reading at next meeting
Motion by Scott Jensen, second by Brett Berg.
Motion Carries
Yes: Michelle Escudero, Teresa Nirider, Kathy Hitt, Jared Kail, Brett Berg, Scott Jensen, Taylor Jacobs
B. Personnel Actions
Motion carries unanimously- Motion by Scott Jensen, second by Taylor Jacobs.
C. Accept Monetary Donation From Fremont Motors
Accept donation from Fremont Motor Company in the amount of $12,654.84 for the LVHS wrestling program.
TS - donations for purchasing wrestling mats. Local vendor graciously donated this money for the mat.
Motion by Brett Berg, second by Scott Jensen.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Michelle Escudero, Teresa Nirider, Kathy Hitt, Jared Kail, Brett Berg, Scott Jensen, Taylor Jacobs
D. Review Safe Return to School Plan
To accept the review.
DB - ESSER requires us to do this. Changes off WY department of health website. Must be reviewed as to where we are at.
DB - share survey results******
Cites vaccination clinic - don't know. determine before school gets out.
Motion by Scott Jensen, second by Taylor Jacobs.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Michelle Escudero, Teresa Nirider, Kathy Hitt, Jared Kail, Scott Jensen, Taylor Jacobs
No: Brett Berg
E. Accept Bid for Fencing
Is there a timeline for this?
TS - through the summer. Replace fence at BCE and put in gates.
Motion by Kathy Hitt, second by Teresa Nirider.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Michelle Escudero, Teresa Nirider, Kathy Hitt, Jared Kail, Brett Berg, Scott Jensen, Taylor Jacobs
F. Accept Bid for Interior Indoor Lock Upgrades
nterest from administrators thinking about putting in electronic door looks in classrooms and some other doorways. Improve security - being able to change some things if there were an active shooter.
Funding - still have money from STate, major maintenance security,
300 doors district-wide. integrates with current system.
Motion by Scott Jensen, second by Teresa Nirider.
Final Resolution: Motion Carries
Yes: Michelle Escudero, Teresa Nirider, Kathy Hitt, Jared Kail, Brett Berg, Scott Jensen, Taylor Jacobs
A. Autocross Discussion
Discussion about Autocross being able to use the parking lot at LVHS. More information needed.
6. Administrative Details/Reminders/Future Plans
A. May 20, PHS graduation @ Pathfinder High School, 6:00 pm
B. May 22, LVHS graduation @ Bob Carey Memorial Fieldhouse, 1:00 pm
C. May 27, Last Day of School (1/2 day for students)
D. June 7, Board meeting @ 6:00 pm
Regular Meeting Agenda: 6:00 pm Regular Meeting
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Fremont County School District Number One
Board of Trustees
863 Sweetwater Street
1. General Business
A. Call to Order 5:59
B. Pledge of Allegiance
Before moving on to additional agenda items it was brought to the audience that the agenda item to discuss the ACR policy was moved off of the evening’s agenda and will be moved.
**May 17th focus on ACR policy - asked for those who came to comment save comments until May 17th when there will be more time.**
(The ACR policy is the nondiscrimination policy where it has been proposed to take out the protected classes of gender identity, veteran status, and pregnancy)
C. Additional Agenda Items
None
D. Adoption of the Agenda
Motion carried
E. Approve Minutes - March 15
Motion carried
F. Approve Minutes - April 5
Motion carried
G. Recognitions
none
H. Public Comment
No comments about agenda items
No comments about non-agenda items
2. Programs-Reports-Presentations
A. Board Member Reports
ME - Pride and Prejudice play was amazing, the entire production. Wonderful performance.
On 26th of april Documentary at community center (regarding suicide prevention) at 6pm, my ascension fremont county suicide prevention - about a young woman survivor of suicide attempt
City Council meeting attorney for the city spoke about a case in Gillette that spoke about public meeting rules, Michelle commented on how well the school board follows the public meeting rules. Ask the board to work on attachments to the agenda, to be consistent that they be added pre-meeting.
No other reports
B. FBLA report on results for LVHS & LMS
LVHS students reported on results of LVHS and LMS FBLA competitions
15 people are going to nationals in Chicago
C. Accreditation Report
Joel Dvorak presented Wyoming District Peer Review
Majority of areas of measurement were strong or exemplary
Adequate in direct measure of adequacy and differentiation
Lander has lead the state in standards based grading
Lots of kudos from the Wyoming District Peer Review!!
WDE has the final submission - it should be out to the school board hopefully this week to be reviewed and gone over.
D. Superintendent's Report
One item from Mrs. Meyer
Regarding Hunter’s Safety, Meyer handed out the booklet on the program. Mrs Schell at game and fish - there will be Hunter’s safety at Lights On this summer. Still getting information on it this summer for 5th and 6th grade.
Mrs. Wall: 2 weeks in June, last day will be field day at the range. Open to 20 students. Registration will be sent out to parents. Will report back in July/August to let the Board know how it went. Lights On will take on the cost for students to do the course. Instructors are volunteers.
Incident at High School last week. A student set something on fire, it was a lighter and a clump of plastic nearby. No evacuation was needed and no fire alarms were set off. Admin spoke with a former fire investigator, a smaller incident like that was well taken care of by the school admin. This is an example of an incident that social media got hold of and made it bigger than it was. Review ALICE protocol about evacuation and how a fire alarm can be pulled to lure people out of the building to be shot (secondary attack, not evacuating for a small fire was the right choice at the time (Jensen)). Police were notified at the time. There was smoke and the sensor did not register as necessary to set the alarm off.
TJ discussed communication protocol, the challenge lies in that we allow students access to their phones. The school communicates greatly on small issues but is quiet on issues like this. Barker - where is the line for communicating to parents. Smaller things taken out of context can get blown up. It is a gray area. The incident seemed to be taken care of and not needed to be communicated to parents. TJ - should it be included on the weekly post that gets sent out. When there is a lockdown situation with things flying around on social media - it would have been in the district's favor to address it to the community.
TN talked about the necessity of communication from breakout sessions at conferences about getting ahead of the rumors. This is a good example of that whatever the district would have done would have been better than letting the social media spread the information. When does the board set the expectation about getting something sent out to the community?
Barker stated that we can do better. Questioned that if we sent out for everything do we desensitize? What is the threshold? Discussion will occur.
Anytime there is a lockdown that would be good to communicate? - LVHS was on a stay put, which is used for a variety of reasons including medical reasons, protection of privacy for students, etc. Lockdowns can be used for a variety of reasons also. It is also fairly common to have the alarms go off and the school be evacuated for reasons that are not urgent (chemistry class, culinary class) and those are not reported either.
TN asked about using the facebook page to communicate a statement acknowledging to validate what students are saying to parents when something like this happens.
BB - if we are going down the rabbit hole, we should focus on being accurate as opposed to being first.
JK hesitates regarding the board making a policy, should leave it to the administrators to communicate.
Topic done
3. *Consent Agenda
A. Approve expenditures and pre-approve utilities and financial report
B. Stipulated Expulsion Agreement
4. Action Items
A. Personnel Actions
Clarification about MTSS coordinator position (multi-tiered systems and support), using ESSER funds. Systems and support - building systems and researching resources and interventions, utilizing coaching of the teachers, etc.
ME brought up the petition of another music teacher, Barker brought up that it is funded by ESSER funds so it is likely a temporary position.
Motion passed unanimously
B. Policy (2nd Reading)
1) GCQC - Resignation of Professional Staff
Added some penalties for later resignations, after certain dates. Board is allowed to waive those if requested by staff members and the board approves. Left in the stipend for early notice. Resigning before May 15 is acceptable. Afterwards there would be penalties.
ME - Certified staff members and administrators - does it need to say that? Later it says “teacher and administrators” - need to make it consistent. A few locations where there is inconsistency - need to make sure the wording is consistent.
BB - does there need to be reference to this policy in the contracts? Notifying the staff members that this is a possibility? Barker will reach out to legal to verify.
Change wording of “will get a stipend” to “may get a stipend”
Motion carries
2) JFCD - Activity Transportation
Barker to point out changes - add a discussion if it were to change does the wording make sense as it is presented on the screen? “Including he student him or herself”
Motion dies for lack of 2nd.
The understanding of changing the policy was if a parent wants their student to drive themselves to/from an event. Then it moved to a parent designee. Counsel's recommendation was that the clarification was needed for what a designee means - anyone that the parent choses? Adding that a parent could designate the student. JK - brought this up due to an ambiguous case, needing to clarify for administration.
SJ clarified that potentially what we are discussing is that the district just needs to know how the student is being transported.
Change wording to include “including the student him or herself”
Motion carries 4-3
Permission slip will be brought back with new wording. Taylor requesting to add a third check box
C. 22-23 Salary & Benefits Package
Discussion: giving steps and lanes, no increase to base, Sweeney did some number crunching about moving from 2 tier insurance to 4 tier insurance which would increase the family cost. Staying with 2 tier, employee retirement and district contribution stayed the same.
The National Board Certified benefit stays the same.
Motion Carries
5. Discussion Items
A. Strategic Scorecard
Barker and the board went over it step by step. The information is linked below.
6. Executive Session - Personnel
A. Executive Session - 16-4-405(a)(ii) - matters related to employment of personnel
Meeting was ended prior to moving to executive session as no action items were going to come out of the session.
7. Administrative Details/Reminders/Future Plans
A. May 3, Board meeting @ 6:00 pm
B. May 17, Board meeting @ 6:00 pm
C. May 20 PHS graduation @ PHS, 6:00 pm
D. May 22, LVHS graduation @ Bill Bush Stadium, 10:00 am
E. May 27, Last Day of School (1/2 day for students, full day for staff)
8. Adjournment
A. *Consent Items Disclaimer