Ten Sleep performed well in WYTOPP, less so on ACT

Ten Sleep School Principal Robert Griffin shared Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress test results from the 2022-2023 spring semester during the Washakie County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees on Monday, Nov. 13.

All students in grade levels three through 10 take this summative assessment each year in English language arts (ELA) and math. Students in grades four, eight and 10 are tested in science.

Results included:

•73% of Ten Sleep students tested as proficient or advanced in ELA, compared to 74% last year.

•65% scored proficient or advanced in math, compared to 57% last year.

•67% scored proficient or advanced in science, a large increase from 59% last year but still short of the peak of 79% reached in 2021.

For more in-depth figures and to learn about the educational plan at Ten Sleep School, you can view the document from the Board Docs link on the school’s homepage.

Griffin also noted a significant drop in ACT scores. Ten Sleep students who took the test this spring had an average score four points lower than those students who took it the prior year. He stated that a potential cause for this was students who did not plan to pursue a secondary education not placing value on their test results.

NEW SCHOOL UPDATE

Superintendent Annie Griffin reported that many structural pieces of the new school have been erected, saying “lots of steel has gone up.” She also noted that concrete pours were underway on the second floor of the building, bricks are being laid, gas lines have been installed and the location for the new athletic field has been graded.

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

Superintendent Griffin shared that last week, the school had the Washakie County Sheriff’s Department bring a drug dog into the school for the first time. There were no signals, and Griffin stated that the district would continue to bring a drug dog through the school “a few times throughout the year to ensure the safety of our students and staff.”

The district has expanded its search to fill a maintenance/transportation position, making a post on Workforce Services site. In the meantime, Griffin credits employees Ernie Beckley and Dan Snyder with helping to “fill in the gaps.”

The school will have a new secretary very soon, as there were eight applicants for the position at the time of the meeting. A single candidate will be selected and presented to the board for approval during the December meeting to replace Janet Collen, when she retires.

POLICY

The following policies were approved on first reading:

1.29 Procurement – Procedures for the school district to obtain goods and services.

5.07 Reporting Student Progress – Student progress is reported via report cards and mid-term progress reports.

5.10 Honor Roll – Washakie County School District No. 2 publishes the names of students who achieve “A” and “B” honor roll.

5.11 Honor Time – “Honor Time” is free time earned by “A” honor roll students to be used however they like. Administration must be notified when a student plans to use their honor time.

5.13 Student Withdrawal Procedure – Policy on the procedure for a student to withdraw from school.

The following policy was approved for removal:

5.14 Use of Telephone – this policy was deemed to be outdated as cell phones have become more a part of people’s lives.

The following policies were altered and approved:

6.04 Classes – Moved the responsible party for approving a graduation speaker from the school board to the principal.

7.08 Travel Meals – Rather than individualized values for each meal, food allowance on trips is set at $25 for one meal or $30 per day.

New policies approved on first reading:

2.27 Public Records Requests – The school district will provide information from its records upon request, but there are associated costs.

5.51 Emergency Administration of Stock Opiate Antagonist – The school district stores and may administer stock opiate antagonists in case of emergencies. Staff are to be trained in recognizing and treating an opioid overdose.

The following policy was approved on second reading:

5.52 Virtual Education – Procedure and criteria for the school district to enter temporary virtual education.

OTHER

The $25 staff Christmas gifts were approved, a total expense of $1,200.