Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
October 19, 2020
MINUTES of MEETING
BOARD of TRUSTEES
CROOK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #1
Preparing Today for Success Tomorrow
CCSD#1 will prepare & empower all students for successful, lifelong learning through effective teaching.
CALL TO
ORDER The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Crook County School District #1 was held in Hulett, WY, Monday, October 19, 2020, at the hour of 6:00 PM at the Hulett School.
ROLL CALL The meeting opened with the following present: Chairman Brian Marchant; Trustees Thayne Gray, Dena Mills, and Ken Rathbun. Trustees absent – Marlene Edwards, Rick Gill, Keith Haiar, Heith Waddell and Chase Williams. Administrators present – Mark Broderson, Superintendent; Sandra L. Neiman, Director of Special Education (Zoom); Robert Wiegel, Hulett Principal; Teresa Brown, Moorcroft K8 Principal; Kirby Baier, Moorcroft High School Principal; Brian Hartwig, Sundance Elementary Principal (Zoom); and Jim O ‘Connor, Sundance Jr/Sr High School Principal.
VISITORS No visitors asked to address the board.
BOCES/BOCHES No report.
ARRIVAL Trustee Williams arrived at 6:04 PM, during the Superintendent’s Report. His arrival constituted a quorum, which allowed action to be taken by the board.
SUPERINTENDENT Mr. Broderson reported:
o The school district has fifteen COVID-19 positive cases - ten staff and five students.
o There have been multiple quarantines of staff and students due to exposure outside of school; the district is operating under Tier 2 of its Smart Plan.
o District enrollment is down 33 students (2.76%).
o The free breakfast & lunch program for students has been extended to June 30, 2021; this has led to an increase in meals served in all three communities.
o Friday, November 6 is a staff development day; we have scheduled Sarah Ward as a presenter; the session will be held at Moorcroft High School from 8:30–2:30 and will cover executive functions skills and strategies for teachers.
o Climate surveys were sent to all staff, parents, and students in grades 6-12; I will share the results at the November board meeting.
o Surveys were also sent to employees asking for input regarding the anticipated budget cuts.
o A retaining wall is being built on the west side of Sundance Secondary.
o He will sign papers on Tuesday for the purchase of adjacent property to Sundance Secondary.
o He shared a Google document folder with board members that contains artifacts related to the November superintendent evaluation.
APPROVAL of
MINUTES Motion was made by Trustee Mills and seconded by Trustee Rathbun to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting. Motion carried.
ADOPTION of
AGENDA Motion was made by Trustee Rathbun and seconded by Trustee Gray to adopt the agenda. Motion carried.
ARRIVAL Trustee Haiar arrived at 6:13 PM during the Financial Report.
FINANCIAL Motion was made by Trustee Mills and seconded by Trustee Rathbun to approve the financial reports. Motion carried.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION None.
CONSENT
AGENDA Chairman Marchant asked if any board member would like any item removed from the Consent Agenda.
Motion was made by Trustee Gray and seconded by Trustee Williams to approve the Consent Agenda.
To approve the bill listing and to issue warrants in payment thereof.
To approve a 2020-2021 special education related services agreement with Alzada Elementary School District 56, Montana.
To approve the resignation of Gail Mayer, Moorcroft K8 Part-time Custodian.
To approve the retirement of Bonnie Ehresmann, Moorcroft head cook, as of 12-1-2020.
To approve the 2020-2021 hiring of Colleen Schrock, Moorcroft K8 Part-time Title 1 Para.
To approve 2020-2021 EWC Adjunct Instructors:
1. Hulett: Derrick Backen, Josh Willems
2. Moorcroft: Debra Harrison, Jade Keffeler, Stephen Richter, Felicia Sams, Travis Santistevan, Lona Tracy
3. Sundance: Julie Cross, Lisa Dutton, Stephanie Grubb, Todd Hickman, Lance Hofland, Jennifer Jungwirth, Nick Olson
To approve a Sundance community education non-credit instructor and class: Doug Carter, Honey Extraction.
To approve 2020-2021 extra-duty contracts:
1. Hulett JH Girls’ Basketball Coaches: Tom Maupin, Rebecca Maupin
2. Hulett JH Wrestling Coach: Derrick Backen
3. Moorcroft JH Boys’ Basketball Coaches: Joe Kissack, Matt Albertson
4. Moorcroft JH Girls’ Basketball Coaches: Kade Myers, Jenni Gill
5. Moorcroft JH Wrestling Coaches: TJ Bartell, Cameron Braden
6. Sundance JH Boys’ Basketball Coaches: Lance Hofland, Jett Schloredt
7. Sundance JH Girls’ Basketball Coaches: Missy Gill, Kassie Clements
8. Sundance JH Wrestling Coaches: Skylar Carsrud, Nick Olson
To approve 2020-2021 isolation requests:
1. Rolene Halbmeier
2. Diana Wood
To approve 2020-2021 requests to home school:
1. Tom & Helen Coronato
2. Otto & Demarest Schlosser
3. Joshua & Rebecca Throckmorton
4. Brian & Anita Tope
Motion carried.
MOU As recommended by the superintendent, motion was made by Trustee Rathbun and seconded by Trustee Haiar to extend the current Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Hulett and the Greater Hulett Community Center, Inc. The MOU allows alcohol to be served on GHCC, Inc. premises during the month of July and during the annual Old West Invitation Turkey Shoot. The GHCC, Inc. was not able to host events serving alcohol in the summer of 2020 due to COVID-19. Motion carried.
AG BARN BID Motion was made by Trustee Williams and seconded by Trustee Rathbun to accept the bid of Four Aces Fabrication, Sundance, WY, to build a steel ag barn, with spray foam insulation, for the amount of $81,585, at the Moorcroft High School property, with additional dirt work, electrical, water, and concrete not to exceed budgeted funds available for that line item. Motion failed.
Motion was made by Trustee Williams and seconded by Trustee Rathbun to accept the bid of Four Aces Fabrication, Sundance, WY, to build a steel ag barn, with spray foam insulation, at the Moorcroft High School property for the amount of $81,585, as well as to authorize Moorcroft High School to procure services to complete dirt work, electrical work, water lines, meter fees, concrete, and miscellaneous buildings items not to exceed $40,000. MHS Principal Baier informed board members that Hugh Jenkins, MHS ag teacher, had commitments from several local businesses and residents who agreed to donate labor and materials to this project. Motion carried. A copy of the bid tabulation is attached and becomes a part of these minutes.
ADD LUNCHROOM
POSITIONS Motion was made by Trustee Rathbun and seconded by Trustee Mills to approve adding part-time lunchroom/kitchen aide positions at the elementary lunchrooms and to authorize Superintendent Broderson to hire individuals for any other temporary, non-permanent positions, as needed to follow COVID-19 precautions. These positions are meant to be temporary and to end when the pandemic does. Superintendent Broderson will notify board members as such circumstances arise. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Trustee Haiar and seconded by Trustee Williams to approve hiring Tom Adams and Randy Evans as part-time lunchroom employees at Sundance Elementary. The hiring form will be corrected to specify the men share one position which consists of two hours a day, four days a week, for a total of 8 hours a week. Motion carried.
REVISE POLICIES As recommended by the superintendent, motion was made by Trustee Gray and seconded by Trustee Mills to approve a revision to Policy GAA – Fingerprinting & Background Checks. The revision to the policy is an addition to the beginning of the second paragraph as follows: Criminal History Record Information (CHRA) will be viewed only by the superintendent or a designee. The misuse of CHRA may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination”. A federal audit on CCSD#1’s fingerprinting procedures was conducted by the Division of Criminal Investigation. The policy revision is to correct an audit finding. Motion carried. A copy of the policy is attached and becomes a part of these minutes.
As recommended by the superintendent, motion was made by Trustee Rathbun and seconded by Trustee Williams to approve the revision to Policy GDBD – Support Staff Leaves and Absences. The same protocol for witness or jury duty is followed for all employees, certified or classified, so the support staff section will now read exactly as the professional staff section. Motion carried. A copy of the policy is attached and becomes a part of these minutes.
NEW POLICY As recommended by the superintendent, motion was made by Trustee Gray and seconded by Trustee Rathbun to approve the first reading of new Policy KIB – Sex Offenders on School Property. An error was noted in the second paragraph and will be corrected for the second and final reading next month. Discussion was held about the last paragraph and the meaning of the italics. It was determined that this paragraph comes directly from the Wyoming statute identified in the Legal References portion of the policy. Motion carried. A copy of the policy and its guide is attached and becomes a part of these minutes.
RECOGNITION Chairman Marchant used this time to recognize the two trustees who will complete their terms in November. He presented Dena Mills (10½ years) and Keith Haiar (8 years) with a thank you card and gift certificate and commended them for their time and commitment to CCSD#1. Chairman Marchant said it had been a privilege to serve with them. Trustee Mills expressed appreciation of her fellow board members. Thanks, Dena and Keith!!
Crook County school board members want to recognize the following for their performance or accomplishments:
o Sundance Secondary seniors who paid for and presented a classmate with glasses that correct his color blindness! Superintendent Broderson said this is one example of the great kids in our school district!
o Sundance Secondary industrial arts teacher, Todd Hickman, applied for and received a $25,000 grant for upkeep of IA shop equipment. Congratulations, Todd!
DISCUSSION Supt. Broderson asked board members to review a letter to the Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration about the impacts to CCSD#1 if there is a 16% reduction in school funding next year. He asked them to take the letter with them, read it, and offer suggestions or revisions before Friday, when the final version of the letter will be mailed.
Discussion was held about Policy GDBE – Support Staff Vacations & Holidays and a proposed revision. Input from building principals was also considered.
ADJOURN-
MENT Motion was made by Trustee Mills and seconded by Trustee Rathbun to adjourn the meeting at 7:09 PM. Motion carried.
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Chair Clerk