Sixth grade teacher Wade Moor gave a presentation with Ten Sleep sixth graders during the Washakie County District 2 Board of Trustees meeting on April 8, proposing an alternative to the Teton Science Schools that Ten Sleep students will no longer be attending.

The class instead has the idea to go on a summer trip to South Dakota and explore the Black Hills. They will base their travels out of an Airbnb in Hill City, and will spend three to four days traveling and sightseeing in South Dakota, with an itinerary planned with everything from Mount Rushmore to a trampoline park.

The board unanimously approved the sixth-grade trip to the Black Hills.

BUILDING UPDATE

Superintendent Annie Griffin provided another update on the construction of the new Ten Sleep School.

She said, “Progress continues on the new building. The pillars are out front and the wood beams for the front and back entrances will arrive this next week. The downstairs classrooms are taped and textured and starting to be painted. The gym is fully enclosed with a bit of the ceiling needing finished. Doors have been installed on the terraces upstairs. Work is starting on the amphitheater out back. The furniture order is being finalized and colors will be chosen soon. Work still continues on the feature wall with a photograph of Ten Sleep Canyon as part of it.”

PERSONNEL

Regarding personnel items at Monday’s meeting:

•Administrative Assistant Neysha Lyman’s resignation was accepted, effective at the end of the school year.

•Science teacher Dan Cheatham’s resignation was accepted, effective at the end of the school year.

•Ryan Kienzle was approved as a Middle School Track Aide.

•Griffin said that she intends to use $160,000 received in Title 1 funds this year to create a full-time, one-year position for a Title 1 teacher. She said, “As the special education coordinator I have intensive plans regarding how this position can use data to determine and intervene on the exact needs of our K-6 students. I am excited about what this position can bring to our students and staff in terms of math and reading instruction.”

Griffin said that this teacher would work individually with students who were at risk of falling behind in math and reading. She said that she would hold off on requesting approval for the position until she was sure funding was approved.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business:

•The salary schedule was approved, including an increase to the base salary of certified staff of $1,000.

•Anne Lyman was approved as consolidated grant manager.

•Summer swim lessons were approved. Lessons will be June 3-6 and June 10-13, 9:45 a.m.-10:15 a.m.  Participants will be transported to the pool in Worland via bus.

•Driver’s education was approved for the summer; Ernie Beckley will teach May 20- 31 from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

•Trilogy Therapy’s contract was approved to provide speech services for the 2024-2025 school year.

•Pinnacle Behavior Services’ contract was approved to provide psychological evaluations and reports, behavior screenings and meetings for the 2024-2025 school year.

•Fyzical Therapy’s contract was approved to provide services for the 2024-2025 school year.

POLICY

The following policies were reviewed and approved on first reading:

Policy 7.13, Public conduct on school property was introduced. This includes expectations for conduct as well as guidelines for handling infractions.

Policy 6.07, Posters/Notices. Protocol for putting posters up in school.

Policy 6.08, Student Dress – Interscholastic activities. Dress code for students representing the school off school grounds.

Policy 6.09, Make-up Work – Students have one school day for each absence to make up work.

Policy 6.10, Activity Eligibility – requirements for activity eligibility. This will be amended to include a definition for a “half day.”

Policy 6.12, Chaperones of out-of-district sponsored activities. Policy for chaperoning school

activities.