Worland to continue with adaptive learning

WORLAND – Superintendent David Nicholas and the Worland school board announced that Washakie County School District (WCSD) No. 1 intends to finish the school year, unless directed otherwise from the state, on their current adaptive learning plan. The current plan has been approved through the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) to last through the end of the year.

“There is no plan to come back this spring, brick and mortar, for all of our kids,” Nicholas said.

However, Nicholas said that addendums may be submitted by teachers to the district, which will then need to be submitted and approved by the Washakie County Health Officer, WDE and the Wyoming Department of Health. Special Education Director Kim Sanford plans to submit an addendum to bring in special-education students who require closer instruction and cannot access their education due to their “disability area” or because of internet connectivity issues.

This plan includes the screening of students for fevers, the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE), no more than five students at a time, single bathroom use and the disinfecting of learning equipment that is used during instruction once students leave.

The board approved a plan to begin a slow reopening/test of school reopening, by approving summer school to begin in a limited capacity with an initial session beginning June 1 and ending June 26, with another session occurring August 3 through August 11. The plan for summer school would have to be approved by the WDE before holding the sessions.

The board approved a change to fourth-quarter grading, changing from a grading scale of A-F to a scale of pass/incomplete/intervention, which the board understood would affect students for the next three years regarding Hathaway Performance Scholarships if they were to stay in state. The board felt it was better to change the grading to this system to not lower or base students grades based on their connectivity to online classes.

The board approved paid leave for staff from March 16-April 3 in order to maintain consistency for the yearly audit.

GRADUATION

Graduation was a long debated topic, as Kara Anderson came forward to talk to the board about her plans to hold a parade honoring graduates. She has been planning the parade with senior parents, and brought the idea before the city council last week. The council expressed concerns regarding social distancing and tabled the matter until their May 5 meeting.

In a plan that has been formulated between Worland High School Principal Wade Sanford, Assistant Principal Brian Gunderson and others involved with the senior class, seniors would come in and pick up their senior gowns and diplomas starting May 4 and take a picture to memorialize the moment.

The plan would also allow the valedictorian, along with school board President Don Bryant to record their speeches and create copies of the graduating class and speeches to be distributed to every student. In this plan, a mock stage would be set up and allow students to have themselves recorded and have their names announced and to receive their diploma. This video would be released on graduation day to media platforms to acknowledge the seniors in a public manner as well as the disks being distributed.

Anderson brought forth an idea to have seniors come down Big Horn Avenue at the time of graduation on May 17 at 2 p.m. and in coordination with the radio, KWOR, announce the seniors in alphabetical order, with the valedictorian in front. The radio would also broadcast the valedictorian’s speech, along with Bryant’s and other administrative speeches on the radio as well. The parade would follow the same route as the homecoming parade, and give graduating seniors the opportunity to ride with immediate family down the street and be celebrated by the public.

The board approved the parade and video plans, with allowances for changes to happen dependent on state restrictions. The parade now needs approval from the city council.

A list of 92 graduates was approved for graduation pending successful completion of graduation requirements.

The board approved a new football coach and the first softball coach in program history which can be read on B1, along with a complaint brought forth regarding the coaching situation for girls basketball.

More will be written regarding the Worland school board meeting in next week’s issue of the Northern Wyoming News.