Worland school board approves pool bid

WORLAND – The Washakie County School District No. 1s board meeting Monday night, awarded the bids for the pool remedy project.

According to Business Manager Charlie Cauffman, discussion on the project started back in April after it was brought to the board’s attention that a differential settlement had occurred. A differential settlement commonly occurs after a type of non-uniform movement of the underlying soils. This can cause cracks in the foundation, exterior cladding and interior finishes. Additionally, with a pier and beam foundation system, each individual pier may settle at a different rate, which is different than the settlement that would occur to a slab foundation.

Repairs to this settlement usually include installing helical piers or by leveling the slab.

These repairs would need to be done to Worland Aquatic Center’s locker rooms, as well as their mechanical room.

Cauffman explained that they would be making repairs to the mechanical room first, then the ladies locker room and then the men’s locker room.

The board received two bids, the one discussed from Goliath Tech out of Utah, was the lowest bidder.

“We have gone back, we have done reference checks on them,” Cauffman told the board. “This firm has done previous work at the Thermopolis hospital.”

The bid placed the mechanical room at $117,800. The women’s locker room’s bid is $193,800. The men’s locker room bid is $121,600.

“Overall, working with our architects, they are comfortable with everything they’ve seen from this firm, and their previous experience,” Cauffman said.

“In our preliminary discussions, we’ve talked about being able to stay open the entire time. There is a slight hiccup if they need to turn off any electricity. But we’re trying to prevent that from happening,” he added. “We’re trying to do this with little disruption as possible.”

The district hopes to start repairs in the middle of October.

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business Monday night:

•The board also approved the third reading of the students and staff sexual harassment policy.

•Superintendent David Nicholas spoke on the topic of standardized testing, stating that Worland had scored the best in some states.

“The standardized piece, there’s no other way for us to see how the classes are doing other than these tools,” Nicholas told the board.

“We’re still discerning our most recent score. There is no accountability last year because of [COVID-19]. Yet Worland ignored that and scored very well.”

•The board also approved a motion to replace one of the school buses.

•The board discussed searching for a new health insurance plan for the staff.

“In talking with our employees,” Cauffman said. “I’ve found one common thread. That the coverage is inadequate and that the deductibles are too high, and that they have general trouble with what we’re doing. We need to look at what’s best for the schools. One of the ways we can do that is going out to bid for the new health insurance company or plan.

“It’s a pretty significant change, but looking at the health care market as it is, it’s always good to go out and look and see what our options are, and really try to look for what’s best for our employees and trying to help them and their needs.”

“I really love doing this,” said David Tommerup, vice chairman of the board. “It’s been a while since we’ve done this. About four years.”

•Cauffman was appointed as the pool board representative.

•Cauffman also brought to the board’s attention the need to replace the audio enhancements and the phone systems in each school.

•Shilo Christman was approved as the Worland Middle School special education teacher.

•Jackie Urban was approved as the South Side cook.

•Alyssa McDonald was approved as the para educator at South Side.

•Sawyer Lyman was approved as the eighth grade assistant girls basketball coach.

•Brooklyn Sweet was approved as the seventh grade assistant girls basketball coach.