Alternative solution found for automotive program

WORLAND – After the January board meeting, the Washakie County School District (WCSD) No. 1 Board of Trustees was faced with a difficult decision regarding the future of the Worland High School automotive program. The district found a solution by partnering with local businesses to help keep the automotive program intact to help students work toward Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification.

The problem first arose when long-time automotive teacher Michael Sapp was approved for retirement in January and the program faced being shut down due to looming budget cuts.

Superintendent David Nicholas presented the board and led discussion with two options to either partner with both Diesel Pickup Specialists (DPS) and Wyoming Sugar Company (WSC) for $51,000 or to hire a new full-time Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher which would cost the district approximately $75,000.

Discussion began with what would happen with the partnership scenario, which would include one off-site period with students learning at the company rather than in the classroom dependent on which level the student was in.

Regarding student involvement, WCSD No. 1 Curriculum Director/Grants Manager Jody Rakness said that in the past they have put students through part of the certification from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in order for students to attend the off-site courses.

The staff involved at DPS would need to get Professional Industry Career (PIC) certified in order to teach the students, the district has already worked with WSC in the past regarding PIC certification to be involved with the automotive program.

Nicholas and board member Terri Logan discussed the possibility of advertising and bringing in a CTE teacher to teach full-time at the school and the impact it would have, as Logan believed that was the best course of action to keep the program running.

Board members Brett Argeris and Jonathon Hake both talked about the impact that the contract would have on the program and if they could guarantee that DPS would be able to maintain course toward ASE certification for students. Rakness said that there would be a contract in place to ensure that they are meeting standards.

Hake also believes that with a contract with DPS may give some students more of a goal to strive toward working in an industry setting and may lift some of them up to reach ASE certification.

Board member Don Bryant said that he believed the contract with DPS was a great option and would be the best option for this year. Board member Duane Whitlock said that eventually they are going to have to do something and he felt this was a good option to “kick the can down the road” for now and maybe look toward a teacher in the future again if funding improves.

The board voted 4-1 to approve the contract with Logan being the only vote opposed.

The contract with DPS and WSC is for $51,000 for one year, and the cost of the contract will be able to be covered with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) II Funds which Nicholas said may be used in a broader scope to cover what is defined as a loss of education due to COVID-19.

Nicholas said that the funding may also be used for an additional contract year, but with this contract the contract may not be renewed for the 2022-23 school year, he said he is unsure if the ESSER II funding would be able to be used at that time as they are set to expire in Sept. 2023.

Later in the meeting, Nicholas and Rakness discussed with the board that ESSER I comprised of approximately $500,000 from Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stimulus (CARES) funding, the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEERS) fund and another fund from the governor.

Nicholas said that ESSER II may be used to help cover contracts that are being used online and items related to technology, but the funds cannot be used to fix a structural deficit in the district.

“For the first time … I think the attrition pieces that we have right now are going to take care of us using these ESSER dollars for a year, we will be OK,” Nicholas said. “For the first time I am comfortable telling you that.”

Nicholas said that with these ESSER funds coming in that the depreciation fund may be inflated and they may need to transfer more into the fund and possibly redesign the fund to include capital outlet.

The board discussed a request from students that was brought up in January to change one of the district’s designated days off to Martin Luther King Jr. Day every year. The board acknowledged that the students did an excellent presentation, and they appreciated the students taking the appropriate actions to make sure their voices were heard.

The board decided that it would be best if they did not enact the change for the 2021-22 school year as they already approved a calendar.

The board said they would plan to enact the change in the 2022-23 school year, and asked Nicholas to retain the agenda item in “Old Business” until that time so that it may remain fresh in the board’s memory.

Worland High School Principal Wade Sanford reported to the board that the graduation rate for 2019 was 88.99% which is nearing the district’s goal of 90%. He and Rakness said that the graduation rate is a lagging factor and that is why the reported rate is from 2019.

The board approved board policy 2.13 regarding medication in schools on third and final reading.

The district administrators were approved to retain their current positions.

Jacqueline Ledley was approved as a part-time para educator at South Side.

Courtney Burky had her resignation approved for the end of the school year.

Candace Whitlock was approved as a part-time practice coach for middle school swimming.

Don Bryant and Terri Logan were appointed to the Hall of Fame committee.

Sanford reported that discussions are ongoing regarding prom and he would likely have more information next month regarding the status of the event currently set for April 10.

East Side Principal Chris Peterson reported that they were able to raise over $19,000 for books through their annual fundraiser.

South Side Principal Kenneth Dietz reported that they completed their food drive in February, and they are nearing the school’s reading goal.

West Side Principal Bruce Miller reported that the community was able to help raise $10,000 to help with their outdoor classroom.

The board discussed policies 2.27-2.30 with no recommended changes coming to those policies regarding gang-related activity, student sexual harassment, retention or families in transition. Policies 2.27 and 2.28 were last changed in 1997, and 2.29 and 2.30 were amended in the last two years.

The board approved a special meeting time of 6 p.m. for their March meeting to hold a budget workshop, and a special April 12 meeting to be held dependent on budget requests from the state if a reduction in force is needed.

The board entered into an executive session regarding personnel for 40 minutes.