Don Bryant recognized for 30 years on the Worland school board
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Sean Mortimer
(Left to right) Washakie County School District No. 1 board members Duana Whitlock, Sarah Lungren, Brett Argeris, Don Bryant, David Tommerup, Terri Logan and Jonathan Hake celebrate Bryant recieving the Champion of Education Award for his 30 years of service on the school board.
WORLAND – The Washakie County School District No. 1 board meeting Monday began by recognizing Don Bryant for serving 30 years as a member of the school board.
Bryant received the Champion of Education Award from Superintendent Tawn Argeris to celebrate his devotion and commitment to education. Board members and administrators shared stories of Bryant's direct involvement in ensuring that Washakie County School District No. 1 youth all receive the best education possible.
Duane Whitlock was also recognized for serving eight years on the board. Monday was his final meeting as his term ended Nov. 30.
YELLOWSTONE TRIP
Students from classes taught by Tim Barrus, Pam Greek and Brandon Vickers gave reports from their Yellowstone trip. Aside from taking in the sights of Yellowstone National Park, students also did field work on projects about the park for the classes they represented on the trip and presented their work to the board.
Projects in the fields of art, history and several disciplines of science were carried out at the park.
One art student drew inspiration from the Old Faithful geyser to create a glass art piece. Another photographed their journey through the park and their encounters with wildlife. One other shared their landscape drawing.
A history student detailed the historic relationship between bison and Native Americans. A group of students made a report on John Colter, a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition and the first American to explore Yellowstone.
Astronomy students photographed celestial bodies and calculated the latitude of their location using the North Star as a reference. A geology student found petrified wood and learned about how it is formed. An anatomy student learned about the differences in form and function of skulls of various native Yellowstone animals. Biology students studied the extremophile bacteria that give the park's hydrothermal features their unique colors.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business Monday night:
•The topic of a new school calendar for the 2023-24 school year was also discussed, with input from teachers presented to the board. No decision was made, but it will be decided on during the December meeting, which will be Dec. 13.
•The retirement of Randy Durr was unanimously approved by the school board. His retirement will be effective at the expiration of his contract following the end of the 2022-2023 school year. Board members remarked on the positive impact he has had on Worland students over the years, especially with his annual class trips to Washington, D.C.
• New coaches were hired including Tracey Wiley as the assistant eighth grade basketball coach; Nathaniel Nelson as the assistant high school drama coach; Brandon Vickers as the assistant seventh grade basketball coach.
•Bids are being advertised to renovate the roof of the West Side school. Charlie Cauffman said that he hopes for the project to be finished before students return for the spring semester in January. An automatic gate for the high school shop parking lot was also discussed.
•Jonathan Hake was appointed as a new representative for the Recreation board.
•Athletic Director Aaron Abel discussed girls wrestling, a winter sport newly sanctioned in Worland. Abel said that the athletic department is learning through experience how to best accommodate this new sport. There are currently five athletes on the team.
