WORLAND — With a design firm hired last month, work has begun seeking input on the plans for a new Ten Sleep School.

Ten Sleep Administrative Assistant Neysha Lyman said the school board hired Arete Design Group out of Sheridan after a special meeting Oct. 25. She said the company has teamed up with Fielding International, “an award-winning international education design firm,” according to their website. “We design school facilities for today and tomorrow with one primary goal in mind — to improve learning.”

In a letter to parents and the community, Superintendent Jimmy Phelps wrote, “Arete Design Group will be in Ten Sleep for about five days starting [Monday, Nov. 8]. They will be meeting with parents, students, staff and other stakeholders in order to understand our community, its unique attributes, and the most important aspects of our school/community relationship. Please plan to attend the community engagement meetings.”

The board has divided various components of the design into six groups. They are asking for those interested in becoming involved to please sign up for an area of interest.  A link to the sign-up form can be accessed on the district website or Facebook page.

The groups are student services, support services, secondary classrooms, elementary classrooms, athletics and aesthetics (look and feel).

He added in his letter, “Our desire is for all stakeholders to have an opportunity to be involved in the design process. When the new building is completed, we want everyone in the community to truly feel that it is their building.”

Lyman said the board and the design firms want to know what the community, school staff and students feel is important in their schools.

There was a community meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

The final community meetings with the design firms will be Thursday, Nov. 11, one from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Daily Bread, 408 Second Street. The final meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the school cafeteria. Lyman said the firms will report on some of the things they have heard from the community as well as answer questions and get more ideas.

Lyman added that anyone interested in signing up for one of the committees is welcome as there is no deadline.