November 16, 2021

Board Meeting 11/16/2021-Disclaimer- Notes from the board meeting are intended to highlight the major events/decisions/tone of the meeting as determined by the LEA representative attending. They are NOT meant to be an exact transcript of the entire meeting. 

Regular Meeting Agenda: 6:00 pm Regular Meeting

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Fremont County School District Number One 

Board of Trustees

863 Sweetwater Street

Board Meeting Notes 11/16/2021 

Disclaimer- Notes from the board meeting are intended to highlight the major events/decisions/tone of the meeting as determined by the LEA representative attending. They are NOT meant to be an exact transcript of the entire meeting.  

1. 6:00 General Business

A. Call to Order

Jared Kail

B. Select Temporary Chairperson

Taylor nominated Kathy, second Michelle

C. Pledge of Allegiance

D. Additional Agenda Items

• Move executive session (4A) to the end of the agenda 

• Stipulated agreements pending guardian signatures

E. Adoption of the Agenda

F. Approve Minutes - October 19, 2021

G. Approve Minutes - November 2, 2021

H. Recognitions

• Share in superintendent report

I. Public Comment

• Margaret Jacobson- Quarantine protocol 

2. 6:10 Programs-Reports-Presentations

A. Board Member Reports

• Michelle- At GPE, volunteering as a reader, enjoys being in the classroom. Went to the LVHS musical, number of students is incredible, staging was great, orchestra, tremendous amount of work. 

• Jared- Veterans event at LVHS and commend Mr. Neuendorf and staff 

B. Innovations Grant/Family Engagement Night

Chris Brown

• Engaging students and families through activities 

• 5 schools receive it each year, $50,000 per school

• Lander has received it the past 4 years

• Use it for “Big”PD, self-guided book reads, quick PD “tech burst”

• Tech Club for 2-3 grade students

• LEGO Architecture with virtual field trips

• LEGO Builders Club for 1st grade

• Parent Night to showcase tech club

• BCE Pilot Tech Club starting in January

• Supporting LMS with buying equipment

• Local Preschools- age appropriate kits they can checkout

           Matt Jacobson Family night

•       Christmas crafts, preschools, parent liaison

• Food, STEM, Mindfulness & Executive Functioning 

• Door Prizes, Tech table, Arts in Action, Pie Toss (Dr. Barker), BINGO

• Board Member needed to read- Taylor Jacobs & Teresa Nirider volunteered

Dec. 9 5-7 PM at Pathfinder Gym

C. Superintendent's Report

• All State swimming and volleyball recognized

• Student evaluation of teachers- Start late Jan. early Feb. 

• Mics and sound system for boardroom is arriving and will be installed when they have everything  

3. *Consent Agenda

A. Approve expenditures and pre-approve utilities and financial report

B. Reporting of Home School Students & Curriculum

C. Stipulated Agreements

D. Approval of Surplus/Disposable Property

4. 6:30 Executive Session

A. Executive Session - 16-4-405(a)(ii)-matters related to employment of personnel

5. 7:15 Action Items

A. Personnel Actions

• Motion passes 

B. Superintendent's Contract

C. Approve new technology position

• Due to increase of technology and devices in the past couple of years there is a need to hire to help with day to day operations. 

• Salary is column C- Classified position starts at $15.06

• Currently we have two IT staff- IT Director and assistive technology

  • Motion Passes

D. Quarantine Protocol

Public Comment- M. Jacobson- The PCR test is not recommended to be used in the way that it is, she says it gives false positives, those long term immunity to COVID or having COVID should be allowed to attend school. 

Scott Jensen- said we are lower in the district vs county. Cases have been declining in the district. Maybe next month change our approach to having the school be responsible for contact tracing and put the state back in control of that. 

            Teresa Nirider- Turning contract tracing over to the state, she will not be in favor due to the state not being able to contract trace in a quick fashion

             Michelle Escudero- Are we looking at a COVID vaccine clinic for students?

Dr. Baker said he doesn’t know at this point. We are offering testing to employees and their families every morning 7-9. 

            Jared Kail- Numbers are very low and looking good

E. Approval of the Education Workforce Stabilization Payment

• $1000 per semester for certified and classified employees for 4 semesters 

• Cost is $366,o1o per semester, $1,464,040 for 4 semesters

• Taylor Jacobs- Agrees with it but thinks we should vote/discuss it each semester. Should there be a differentiation between staff

• Michelle Escudero- If someone is hired in the middle of a semester, what is the protool?

  • Dr. Barker, if they are here on the date of payment, you get paid

  • Teresa Nirider- Some are dedicated, some staff this job is just a stepping stone? She suggested we say if you are here after a year, you get a payment. Dr. Barker said 25-30 employees would not get it this year. 

  • Kathy Hitt- thinks we should approve it and look at it again at semester like Taylor said. 

  • Jared Kail- With ESSER funds, are you worried this would deplete them so we can’t use them on other things? Dr. Barker responded with No. 

  • Scott Jensen- With leftover ESSER funds, have you had discussion on what to use them for? Dr. Barker replied with trying to hire additional staff, reaching out to staff for suggestions but this spring we hope to have a larger pool to hire. Scott asked if a larger incentive would help with that?

  • Michelle Escudero- We know our school doesn’t pay as much as other schools in our county? Dr. Baker said it helps, some districts do pay quite a bit more but he thinks this will help. Michelle- Can you use ESSER fund for sign on bonuses? Dr. Barker responded yes he thinks so but isn’t sure. 

  • Taylor Jacobs- Would this be all staff including those on an improvement plan? Dr. Barker Replied yes, it would be all staff. 

  • Brett Berg- I am in support of this and not concerned about individual who get hired in april and quit in may. I’m in favor to support those teachers that have been in the district for 20 years. I support this 100% and thank all the district staff for being here during this trying time. This is a way to say thank you, we should pass this. 

  • Michelle Escudero- HOw did we come up with $1000? Barker stated that Travis would have to answer that. 

  • Scott Jensen- He agrees with Brett and a great way to say thank you for the past 2 years. He thinks we should approve all 4 semesters so there is no doubt it’s coming. He thinks a larger amount would be more appropriate. 

  • Brett Berg- Said approve it at the $1000 number and discuss with Travis about a higher amount when he is back. 

• All in favor- passed unanimously 

F. Approval of WSBA Delegate Assembly Voting Member

Motion passes

G. Accept Ellbogen Foundation grant (Meritorious School Award)

• Based on % of staff who are National Board Certified

  • Motion Passes  unanimously

H. Accept LOR Foundation Grant (High School Choice Reading Initiative)

• Motion Passes unanimously

I. Policy - Fiscal Management (second reading)

• DJ, DJ-R: Motion Passes

• DJB, DJB-R: Motion Passes

• DLC, DLC-R: Motion Passes

• DN: Motion Passes

J. Policy - Student Board Representative (second reading)

BBAB: * 

• Change to 2 students (instead of 3), 1 LVHS, 1 PHS

• Sophomore, Junior or Seniors can apply

• Bret feels that it should not be a popularity vote and the board should decide. Dr. Barker talked with student’s and they felt a vote would be the best. 

• Michelle proposed to change one of the questions

  • Motion Passes

6. 8:15 Discussion Items

A. 2022 Draft Board Meeting Schedule

• Will vote next month on this

B. WSBA Resolution votes

• Curriculum for Primary Grades- Affirm 

• Suicice Prevention Training added to Health Standards-Affirm

  • Scott prefers we have local control and not state mandate

  • Teresa said Wyoming is one of the top for suicides and thinks it’s great the state is wanting to do this. 

• Recruitment and Retention of Extracurricular and Cocurricular staff (coaches)-Affirm

• Race Theory-Keep local control

C. Rename field at Starrett

• Propose to rename it Starrett Field

• Scott proposes maybe naming it after someone 

• Teresa thinks it should be names Starrett Field

• Executive Session @ 8:05

7. Administrative Details/Reminders/Future Plans

A. November 17-19, WSBA Conference

B. December 14, Board meeting @ 6:00 pm

8. Adjournment

A. *Consent Items Disclaimer