School board hears various reports

Hot Springs County School District’s Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, June 19, starting the meeting with a report from Carolyn Conner, administrative director for NW BOCES.

According to Conner, a new focus for them has been sharing with legislators the reasons behind the cost increases for the program to school districts.

Conner said with cuts to monies normally received from the Department of Family Services, those shortfalls are now having to be picked up by the districts placing students with NW BOCES.

Two openings on the Recreation District Board were filled with the re-appointment of Kim Smith to the board along with the new appointment of Brandon Deromedi, starting July 1. Both openings were for five-year terms.

The board accepted the resignation of Shayla Upton as Lights On RWE site coordinator and the resignation of Dara Culp as Title I paraprofessional.

David Ruff was offered an initial teaching contract for the coming year as a special education teacher. Amanda Bridges was also offered an initial contract as an elementary teacher.

In spite of bid requests being posted, business manager Chauncy Johnson said he has not received any proposals to supply the district’s dairy needs for the coming year.

Johnson has reached out to the Wyoming Department of Education for help in obtaining a bid.

The second and final readings of the transportation handbook and the TMS and THS activities handbooks were approved by the board.

The board also took their first look at the student handbooks for all the schools, giving approval for the first reading. A second reading will be done at the July board meeting.

Board member Danny Pebbles, a member of the district’s building committee, reported the district has started the process for replacing the roof at TMS. Actual construction would not begin until summer of 2019.