Lungren takes over chairman position for Dist. 1 board

WORLAND – The Washakie County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees came to the end of an era when former chairman Don Bryant who has served as the board’s chairman for 20-plus years was not nominated to continue at the position, instead the board decided to solely nominate trustee Sarah Lungren to take over the position of madam chairman of the school board.

Lungren takes over the position halfway through her first term as a board member as she was elected for the first time in 2018.

Other board positions are Duane Whitlock for treasurer, Terri Logan for secretary and David Tommerup for vice chairman. New members Brett Argeris and Jonathon Hake will join Bryant as trustees of the board for this upcoming year.

The calendar for the 2021-22 school year will look a little bit different as the board approved an option to begin school after Labor Day on Sept. 7, 2021, rather than begin in the middle of August like in years past. With a later start there will be a later release date at the end of the year, the last day of school is scheduled for May 26, 2022.

Other important dates include the semester ending on Jan. 14, 2022, rather than before Christmas break which is set for Dec. 22 through 31. Instead of a full spring break next year, there will be no school on March 11 and April 15 for Easter. Other days off include Oct. 15 for fall festival, Oct. 22, Thanksgiving break on Nov. 25 and 26 and President’s Day on Feb. 21.

Board policy 1.15 pertaining to the reduction in force for the district was officially approved on third reading. The policy will now officially include performance as additional criteria for retaining staff on top of the previous criteria of the reduction being done based on a “seniority and certification basis.”

The board passed a change to board policy 2.13 regarding medications in schools on first reading. The changes to the policy will provide clarification to responsibilities for medications as well as create a better “paper trail” for medications in use. Minor language changes were also applied to the policy.

Superintendent David Nicholas was given his award as the Wyoming Association of School Administrators (WASA) 2021 Superintendent of the Year. WASA Secretary Kevin Mitchell presented the award after COVID-19 delays did not allow for the award to be given to Nicholas since he was named the Superintendent of the year in April of 2020.

James Stamatakos was approved as the new WCSD No. 1 business manager; he is set to replace long-time Business Manager Jack Stott at the end of February 2021.

The board approved the option to refinance the bonds from the Worland Aquatic Center (WAC) in June once they are available to do so. Stott said to the board that they would owe about $4.8 million in June, and refinancing the bonds may help save the taxpayers money in Washakie County if they get a better option.

Destiny Davis was approved as a fifth-year graduate.

Mark Mortimer was approved as the seventh-grade boys’ basketball coach and Jeremiah Dobson was approved to move into the head coaching position for the seventh-grade team.

The following coaches were rehired for their positions after the fall season: Michael Montgomery was approved as the head coach for seventh-grade football with Zack Lempka as an assistant, Matthew Mueller was approved as the eighth-grade football head coach with Jeremiah Dobson as an assistant.

Charity Glanz was approved as the seventh grade volleyball head coach with Kari Keller as an assistant, Karsyn Maya was approved as the eighth-grade head coach with Vanessa Caballero as an assistant.

Tim Warren was approved as the middle school cross country head coach with Rachel Cruz as an assistant.

Patrick Sweeney was approved as the head coach for the Worland High School football team, Josh Garcia, Ryan Utterback, Willie Wright and Kaden McElhinny were approved as assistants.

Brittany Miller was approved as the head coach for volleyball, Taylor Sweeney and Katherine Stuckey were approved as assistants.

Tanya Kienlen was approved as the head coach of the cross-country team with Brenna Abel as the assistant.

Mike Blissett was approved as the head coach for girls swimming with Danielle Warren as an assistant.

Ben Hofmann was approved as the head coach for golf.

Two resignations for retirement were approved for Lori Feather and Pat Anderson effective at the end of their contract year.

The board approved to hold meetings the fourth Monday of every month at 7 p.m. for 2021.

The board approved Jan. 4, 2021, as the date for the board’s retreat.