Teacherage project gets new funding amid uncertainty

Hot Springs County School District No. 1 Business Manager Jessica Benefiel detailed her plan to change the funding source for the construction of the district’s teacherage project during the board meeting Nov. 14.

Benefiel stated that Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) money is currently funding the project’s $1.2 million cost, but due to conflicting information she is not sure about using it for this purpose anymore.

Benefiel said that she was previously advised by two Wyoming Department of Education officers that Thermopolis’ intentions with the grant money fell within the stipulations for its use, but due to changes with the ESSER funds this year, that may not be the case.

Her suggestion to the board was to switch the source to the district’s depreciation reserve. Benefiel said that this fund was opened in 2020 to keep excess funds earned that year and contains $2 million.

She wrote in a statement regarding this decision, “This will allow us to stay within our original budget of $1.2 million and ensure there are no additional stipulations added later on in the project that could jeopardize our on-time and on-budget completion.”

Not wanting to undermine the WDE, she said, “WDE is short staffed, and I just want to make sure that we can follow all the compliance guidelines within a timely manner and within that budget, because the whole point of the way that we’re doing it, using our expertise and allowing our CTE classes to participate in that is really important to us. I want to make sure that we take the route that ensures things go the way we planned.”

The board approved using the depreciation fund for the $1.2 million teacherage project.

Contract

extensions

The following contract extensions were approved:

•Superintendent Dustin Hunt, extended through 2029.

•Middle School Principal Breez Daniels, extended through 2026.

•High School Principal Catelyn Deromedi, extended through 2026.

All three extensions were approved with a 4-1 vote, with Bethany Weber being the only board member in opposition each time.

Policy

The following policies were reviewed with no changes:

Policy EBAA, Notification of Pesticide Application on or within School Buildings

Policy EBAB, Hazardous Materials

Policy EBAB-R, Written Hazard Communication Program

Policy EBB, First Aid and Safety Procedures

Policy EBBA, Prevention of Disease/Infection Transmission

Policy EBBB, Accident reports

The following policies were approved for revision on first reading:

Policy EA, Support Service Goals – Added the goal, “To provide high quality daycare services for district staff.”

Policy EAA, Evaluation of Support Services – Altered language for clarity.

Policy EB, Safety Program – Minor wording changes.

Policy EBA, Building and Grounds Inspections – Replacing “Maintenance/Transportation Supervisor” as a responsible party with “Facilities & Transportation Directors.”

OTHER BUSINESS

In other business:

•A student request was approved.

•Board member Nichole Weyer was recognized as the 2023 Honoree of Wyoming Women of Influence in the Education category.