New school year starts Tuesday; includes early release, no masks

WORLAND – After an extended summer due to a calendar change Worland area schools are heading back to school this Tuesday, Sept. 7, in a completely different environment from a year ago.

This year’s school is set to start as close to normal as possible, as masks are optional for students and staff, as well as temperatures not being taken upon entry.

The only thing that is not changed this year is the quarantine process that is set forth by the state.

On Aug. 23, Governor Mark Gordon announced that if everyone involved in a COVID-19 outbreak is wearing masks then nobody needs to quarantine but need to self-monitor, and if a student/teacher tests positive and is wearing a mask then those not wearing masks will need to quarantine and those wearing masks will not need to quarantine.

If someone tests positive and is not wearing a mask then mask status does not matter for those identified as close contacts.

The incentive for quarantine this year is that vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact, but are recommended to receive a test three to five days after exposure. Those exposed outside of school who are identified as a close contact and are not vaccinated are also required to quarantine.

EARLY RELEASE

New this year will be an early release district-wide. This decision was made by the board back in April, with elementary schools released at 2 p.m., middle and high school students will be released at 2:15 p.m.

During the Washakie County School District (WCSD) No. 1 Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, Aug. 23, WCSD No. 1 Curriculum Director/Grants Manager Jody Rakness said that she was informed by transportation director Aaron Newell that he had received funding for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) eRate program.

Newell made the request in June, and with the funding the district will be able to place WIFI onto school buses to allow students to do homework on the bus. Rakness said that with the upgrade, should the district go online, then they would be able to place buses around the area where students may not have access to internet in order to do homework.

One of the biggest changes coming district-wide will be a large influx of new teachers to the district. With 13 retirements coupled with staff moving away from the district there are 19 new teachers in the district and approximately 30 new staff total. One of those new but familiar faces includes Brian Gunderson as the new principal at South Side Elementary.

Another new feature coming soon in the district will include a walk-up window at Worland Middle School to mirror what is in place at Worland High School. This allow the initial door to be unlocked at the Middle School, with ID needed to be provided at the second door before entry being granted into the full building.

During the WCSD No. 1 Board of Trustees meeting, principals said that summer school numbers were encouraging and that after initial calculations student enrollment numbers appear to be up at multiple schools but those numbers will not be official until school has started.

The board recently approved a final reading to change policy 2.24 which deals with limited open forum. The change that was made is to enforce the idea that if one group can meet then all groups can meet as long as they do not interrupt learning.

West Side Principal Bruce Miller said that the garden at West Side has been able to provide food for around 60 families over the summer, along with snacks for students in summer school.

Back to school night is tonight (Thursday) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at each of the elementary schools and the middle school. The high school is hosting a back to school day today in lieu of a back to school night.