Loss of Credit

WORLAND – Washakie County School Dist. No. 1 upped its attendance standards at its monthly meeting Monday night.

Through the end of the 2014 – 2015 school year, students at Worland High School who miss more than 10 classes must complete a term paper assigned by Principal Kevin Smith in order to receive credit. However, students were receiving up to 30 absences in particular classes and still getting credit for them, according to Smith.

Smith said he hopes the new policy, which will eliminate the potential for receiving credit after recording an excess of 20 absences, will encourage students to attend school.

“It’s part of our accountability process. Students learn when they are in school and parents want their children in school,” Smith said.

Worland High School posted a 71 percent graduation rate last year, according to school documents.

Smith said he will notify parents when their students have reached 15 absences and work with them on a case-by-case basis.

The police will take effect at the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

Aquatic Center repairs

During administrative announcements, WCSD No. 1 Business Manager Jack Stott told the school board that the district, along with the City of Worland and Washakie County may enter negotiations with Groathouse Construction and CTA Architects regarding Aquatic Center repairs.

After the Worland Aquatic Center was completed in 2011, officials immediately began noticing malfunctions in the building.

Stott said that the repairs — which will be paid for by Groathouse and CTA — include replacing bricks on the exterior of the building, repairing issues with the roof and vapor barriers.

Neither Groathouse Construction nor CTA could be reached for comment at press time regarding the costs of the repairs. The negotiation process, during which an independent negotiator will be hired, will hopefully solve how much Groathouse and CTA pay for the repairs.