Worland school board seeks more information on girls softball

WORLAND – The Worland school board met Monday night to discuss how the first month of school went, as well as the future of girls fast-pitch softball in the Worland community.

Softball was brought up and discussed by Superintendent David Nicholas, and Athletics Director/Wyoming High School Activities Association Representative Mark Mortimer to discuss what was next for softball possibly becoming a sanctioned varsity sport in Worland.

After the Laramie school board voted to become the eighth school to allow softball to be recognized by their county school board, it is allowed to move on to the WHSAA ballot to become a varsity sanctioned sport, with a first vote coming at the October meeting, according to Nicholas. Nicholas is on the WHSAA board.

With the impression being that softball will unanimously be approved by the Wyoming High School Activities Association, the Worland school board will look to gather information over the coming month to see what participation numbers would be, costs for the program, and how to get certified umpires and coaches for the program, to hopefully put a vote for softball in October or

November.

The anticipated first season of high school softball in Wyoming would start in the spring of 2021.

Also at Monday’s meeting, parents Teresa Deniz and Dustin Vail brought forth a concern regarding a scenario where five students were suspended from the cheer team for social media infractions, and were supposedly suspended for these infractions without substantial proof being provided for the infractions. The parents also believed the suspensions only happened for some girls, while others were let off the hook for similar content.

The cheerleaders were suspended rather than benched for a level II infraction, which includes inappropriate use of social media. Being benched, as stated in the cheerleading handbook, allows a cheerleader to still be able to attend the game in uniform and sit with the coaches, and the girls were not given that liberty.

It is the school board’s policy to not comment on matters and not make decisions on public matters.

Meanwhile, Worland Middle School Principal Ryan Clark and High School Principal Wade Sanford provided updates on how Rachel’s Challenge went at their respective schools last week. See related story.

Clark also updated the board on how the new traffic situation was at the middle school, and how everyone was reacting to new forms of traffic flow for younger students to get across the street safely and not run across in to traffic.

Curriculum Director Jody Rakness gave a presentation on the WY-TOPP (Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress) results, which were published in depth in the Sept. 5 edition of the newspaper. Rakness also reported on how each school in the district were either meeting or exceeding Wyoming standards for growth, achievement, and equity, as well as meeting or exceeding standards for the Every Student Succeeds Act, which replaced No Child Left Behind in 2015.

Praise was given by principals and administration alike to teachers, for such a successful return in test scores. Principals have said they are looking for ways to work with teachers to find out how to get each student proficient in the district.

OTHER BUSINESS

In the Superintendent’s Report, Nicholas referenced that there was a 27-student decrease from a year ago, which may affect the revenue stream for the district. He stated that the first hall of fame inductees will have a meet and greet with the public on Thursday, Oct. 3, prior to a dinner at the country club after the meet and greet.

He also stated that the Worland school board will make a presentation regarding the attendance rates in Worland schools at the annual school board conference in Casper on Nov. 20-22.

The Worland High School Student Council presented information for homecoming week, which can be seen in depth in a story on page six.

The board approved a one-time stipend, which will be distributed to teachers in November, after a surplus was discovered in the budget.

Worland was selected as the Wyoming location for the Kagan tour, a professional development organization focused on improving teaching, this will be the third year the tour has come through Worland.

Business Manager Jack Stott provided an update that the problems in the pool were discovered, and that temporary and permanent repairs should be completed soon. Security upgrades to the front of the high school have been officially moved to the spring and most likely to the summer. The annual auditors came to the school district last week, and the audit may not be completed prior to the October meeting, and the presentation will probably be presented in November.

Don Lanning was hired as the high school housekeeper, and Emily Meyer was hired as a fulltime high school forensics coach.

Josiah Gartrell, who has been an online student since kindergarten, recently moved and met all of the graduation requirements at Worland High School prior to moving. He was granted an early graduation and will receive his diploma.

The elementary schools are doing preliminary testing for the school year, and safety week will take place at West Side Elementary the week of Oct. 7.

A surplus property list was provided to the board, but a date for a sale was not set for the items.

Luke Goncalves was given the WHSAA Good Sportsmanship Award for the Worland vs. Powell game.

Pat Hilmer was given the Wyoming State Literacy Award.

The school board went into executive session, to end the evening, to discuss personnel.