Masks optional for Worland school year

WORLAND – Masks again were at the center of attention as the Washakie County School District (WCSD) No. 1 Board of Trustees held a discussion on whether or not masks should be enforced during the upcoming school year.

The discussion came after a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation that students should be wearing masks when in school this upcoming year.

During the special board meeting July 29, WCSD No. 1 Superintendent David Nicholas emphasized from the start that masks would not be a requirement this upcoming year, but those wishing to wear one will be able.

Board members said that they had been approached by some parents who said they would take their children online if masks were going to be a requirement again.

Nicholas said that since the state’s health orders regarding schools have expired that the decision is currently made at a local level, and he said that in recent talks with Washakie County Health Officer Dr. Amber Moss she believes the county is at a level where masks should not be required in schools.

Washakie County experienced an influx in cases two weeks ago that has since dropped back down to just a couple active.

WCSD No. 1 had no masks during the last week of school to end the 2020-21 school year, and has not has them as a requirement during summer school.

Nicholas said that he believes he, the board and local health have enough experience to make a decision regarding masks at any point in the year, but he believes regardless of what level of infection the county is at that the district plans to keep masks as an option for the entire year.

Nicholas said that one thing however that is out of his control is quarantines. Quarantines still must be followed by guidelines and could see students out of the classroom for up to two weeks.

BLEACHER DISCUSSION

The board was presented with two different options of bleachers to replace the current bleachers in the Worland High School gymnasium. The board was presented with both the option of wood or plastic bleachers.

The current decades old bleachers are set to be replaced as part of a master facility plan to improve the high school since it was built in 1965.

The bleachers would remove the bottom row of bleachers which would allow for more space in the gym, more locations for handicap access to watch the games and more space for teams to sit.

The bleachers would be able to be automatically pulled out and pushed in with a remote, and any wiring for the bleachers would be sourced out locally for hire.

The plastic bleachers while likely being less durable than wood bleachers, would allow for a design to be placed on them and easier to clean for the school.

In the proposed set up for the bleachers the teams would instead sit in chairs on the floor and would report to a proposed scorer’s table. Although it is yet to be determined if the board will pursue a scorer’s table as they are unsure where the table would be stored so that it is not broken during practice or a regular school day.

If the board were to install a scorer’s table, the LED panels would potentially allow for advertisement on the front of the table.

The difference in cost for the bleachers would be approximately $3,000 but the overall cost for the project is expected to be around $300,000 in major maintenance funding as opposed to the originally estimates of $450,000 to $500,000.

The bleachers would be installed right after basketball season, and the floor in the gym would likely be re-done soon after.

No vote was taken on the bleachers, but a vote is expected at the regular August board meeting, Aug. 23.

OTHER BUSINESS

Heather Rollema was approved as the k-12 counselor.

Sawyer Lyman was approved as an assistant seventh-grade volleyball coach, Willie Wright was approved as an assistant middle school football coach, Mark Mortimer was approved as an assistant eighth-grade football coach and John Burns was hired as an assistant high school football coach.

Reynaldo Yahir Rodriguez was approved as a late 2021 graduate.