WCSD#1 Board creates budget committee as cuts likely next year

WORLAND — The Washakie County School District No. 1 Board heard a report about possible 10% cut from the state funding model.

During Monday’s regular board meeting, Superintendent David Nicholas discussed with the board the importance of the upcoming budget and the potential cuts that may be coming when he brought up a letter from Senator Dave Kinskey (R-SD22) and Representative Albert Sommers (R-HD20). The letter informed the board about the upcoming recalibration to the state’s school funding model.

The letter outlined three different scenarios for the district to look at which highlighted different ways the district can save money should they see a 10% budget cut from the state this upcoming year, which is anticipated.

The district sent a response that included how the budget cuts would impact the district, but the district is not likely to know the true impact of cuts until the session occurs Nicholas said.

“It will be a main topic for the next nine months every month,” School Board President Don Bryant said.

According to Nicholas, a budget committee was created that is made up of certified and classified staff along with some parents as they felt information regarding the budget should not be held on to and that the teachers and staff in the district deserve to know what is going on.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business at Monday’s board meeting:

•The board looked at initial calendars for the upcoming 2020-21 school year, but did not make any decisions as they will seek input from teachers and staff first.

•Activities Director Aaron Abel said that spectators who want tickets for the playoff game in Cody this Friday should contact him immediately. He also said that there is a change in the postseason for viewing games on the NFHS network, as postseason content is not free on the site and does have a fee that is associated with it.

•In the business manager’s report, Stott said that he had not seen the preliminary report for the yearly audit yet but there is still a chance that it will be on the agenda in November. Stott said that the next project for security in the district is the school entrances to the elementary schools.

Worland Middle School Principal Ryan Clark reported that attendance is slightly down from last year at about .9% down to this point but is realistically about the same as last year because most of those are because of quarantines.

West Side Principal Bruce Miller said that the fourth grade will be having two Veterans Day performances at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the Worland Middle School Auditorium.

•South Side Principal Ken Dietz discussed the reaction to a positive COVID-19 test that was reported at his school a couple of weeks ago, and said he did not receive any calls as he feels the community is comfortable with how the school is operating with their guidelines.

•An East Side Parent Teacher Organization meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at East Side Elementary. Nov. 9 will be a regular school day for East Side to make up for their delay to the school year after positive COVID-19 tests.

•Curriculum Director Jody Rakness said that buildings are working on improvement plans but they may be tougher to formulate this year as the district did not do WY-TOPP testing in the spring. She also talked about how the district is waiting for some Chromebooks and how the district is finally getting a one-to-one system for technology as the school is not on a rotation like most districts are at this point.

Nicholas told the board they are preparing to celebrate American Education Week from Nov. 16-20.

Three new classified staff were approved — Kim Files as a part-time East Side para-educator, Stacie Jones for part-time East Side life skills para-educator and Kindell Pierce as East Side part-time para-educator.

The board entered into executive session to discuss personnel prior to adjournment.