Worland school tiered volunteer policy advances

WORLAND — The Washakie County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees moved forward with a new policy regarding a tier system for volunteers.

Superintendent David Nicholas told the board at Monday’s regular meeting, “This isn’t to deter help. We absolutely cherish our volunteers.” He said the policy helps our administrators keep track of who is in the building.

The board first discussed the meeting at the August meeting. During the August meeting, Nicholas said that there would be no changes with parental volunteers helping in the classroom with direct teacher supervision.

“When we move down to Tier 2 and Tier 3 we have more separation from the teacher and more responsibility to the volunteer. We just feel a responsibility when we finally get into Tier 3 that we’re doing background checks, which we pay for; just to make sure we are doing our due diligence to make sure the people in front of our kids are run through the checks,” Nicholas said.

He said under Tier 2, there is a more serious approach “administrators must ensure that these volunteers are never left with students outside the presence of an employee. Now when you get to [Tier] 3 we’re letting the volunteer be alone, they’ve had the background check, and that’s the difference.”

“We think this is just good business to layer this up a bit and be a little more thoughtful in what we’re doing. I will tell you that we have not had any trouble in the seven years I’ve been here, I just felt we needed to add some layers for our building principals,” Nicholas said in August.

The policy, which has the support of the administration and the district policy committee, will require three readings before going into effect.

At Monday’s meeting, board members Dean Dupree said he was concerned about the language where volunteers may be excluded for convictions of driving under the influence or minor in possession.

Nicholas said the language is “permissive” and does not automatically exclude volunteers with alcohol-related convictions. He said the district has people working and volunteering who have had past convictions.

“We still have to apply judgement,” he said, adding that the timing of the offense is a factor in making that decision.

Board member Anna Venable said that specific potential exclusion involves just volunteer drivers, not coaches.

The policy was approved on a 6-1 vote with Dupree opposed and Don Bryant voting via teleconference.

ANNUAL LEAVE

The board also approved changes to the annual/sick leave policy on first reading.

The current policy gives employees 11 sick leave days when employment starts.

The current policy states, “Employees shall be able to convert one sick day into annual leave during each of the first three years of employment. These days shall not be cumulative. Beginning the fourth year of employment, employees shall be able to convert up to five of the current year’s sick days into annual leave. A maximum of five annual leave days will be allowed in any given year.”

The change would strike that paragraph and allow new employees to convert up to five sick days into annual leave the first year. Employees would still be able to accumulate 90 days of sick leave and only five annual leave days.

Nicholas said at the August meeting, “I just think the responsibility for how to manage those days should be on the employee as well. It’s a little bit too big brother to me.”

Venable asked why the district separates sick and annual leave.

Board member and former school principal Joe Bishop said sick leave was first set up to cover problems that arose of a health-related nature during the school year. Annual leave days were added so employees could take a day off for non-medical reasons such as hunting.

Otherwise, he said employees were calling in “sick” to have a general day off.

He added, “I want my classroom teacher in the room as much as possible. We don’t want something that’s easy to use.”

When asked if the district has denied annual leave days, Nicholas and several principals replied yes.

First reading was approved unanimously.

Nicholas said the policy committee is working through questions that arose last month regarding bereavement leave and redefining a family.

During the August meeting district teacher Jacque Pike said the current definition of family leaves out siblings, grandchildren and foster parents.

Alisa Martin said at the August meeting that she would also like to see some bereavement leave.

The current board policy states, “Persons desiring leave for reasons such as funerals, weddings, children’s activities, community service, military leave, political activity, etc. will be expected to utilize the annual leave available under this policy.”

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business Monday:

—The board agreed to have a resolution, developed by Nicholas, Business Manager Jack Stott and Curriculum Director Jody Rakness, sent to the Wyoming School Board Association prior to the convention in November.

The resolution states, “In light of an improving economy, Washakie County School District No. 1 encourages the Legislature to temper any proposed cuts with increased usage of the Legislative Stabilization Fund [the rainy day fund].”

Nicholas said, “That, frankly is the governor’s message too. I just think if more districts reinforce that ... we anticipate some cuts but they don’t need to be as severe as this year.”

He said the CREG (Consensus Revenue Estimating Group) report was “more favorable. And it’s OK, we used some reserves in our salary to get through the year.”

—The board recognized Devon Mercado who received a Good Sportsmanship Award from the Wyoming High School Activities Association for conduct during the Worland vs. Buffalo football game on Sept. 8.

—The board received introduction to two new Worland Middle School special education teachers — Shelley Bailey and Diane Davis.

—The board heard a report from the student representatives regarding homecoming activities that begin this Saturday at 8 p.m. with the burning of the “W” and continues next week. The representatives also noted that the W Club has been going to the elementary schools a couple of Wednesdays a month to play with students prior to the start of school.

—During discussion of bills, Dean Dupree asked about the electricity at the middle school and high school. Jack Stott said heating pumps at the middle school use a lot of electricity and the high school is “just a big building.” He said the district as a whole spends about $28,000 per month on electricity.

Stott said looking energy efficiency is a “process that we can look at.”

—The board approved a National Honor Ensemble out-of-state trip to Orlando, Florida, in November.

—The board approved having the Wyoming School Board Association Executive Director Brian Farmer come to the next board meeting Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. to conduct a primer for what is the role of the school board.

—Activities Director Mark Mortimer said the high school had the first round of drug testing and there were 12 negative results, which is a positive thing for the district.

—Prior to adjournment, the board went into executive (closed) session for a student matter.