Trustees to study distance education policy; disposition of school properties

(Lander) – Lander school trustees Friday morning discussed how the district should handle requests from students wanting attend a “virtual” high school but still participate in local school activities, such as band and/or athletics.

“We need a procedure to deal with these requests,” said interim Superintendent Dr. Kathy Hitt, noting that the potential impact on the district could be huge. “It is time for a discussion to occur.”

She said a major stumbling block to approving such requests is that the local district would have no input as to the curriculum provided to the student, “but we would be held liable for the student’s test scores and any special needs the student may have.”

Hitt indicated the district currently offers two virtual programs students have access to at the high school building–Odysseyware and Virtual High School. She said many students use the two programs. “We have an obligation to do what is best for the kids, for those in our buildings and especially in any distance education program,” she said.

In a related conversation, trustees also discussed the number of home-schooled students in the district and what curriculum programs they follow. District administration will prepare further information for the board on both topics and report back.

In other discussion from Friday’s breakfast work session:

• Hitt informed the board that planning for the reconfiguration of Lander Schools has entered its next phase with formation of a steering committee and sub committees to address implementation issues. Hitt said the steering committee has met twice and has established four sub committees to review staffing, curriculum and instruction, facilities and interventions. She said both certified and classified staff plus a parent from each school building would participate in the process and as soon as the committees are filled, the work on implementing grade level school campuses would begin. She said the board and public would receive regular updates on the progress.

• Trustees chairman Bruce Palmer proposed a steering committee be created to begin the process of hiring a permanent schools superintendent. Palmer said issues that need to be determined before an actual search is launched include a determination of what qualities a candidate should possess in addition to professional qualifications. Further advice will be sought from the Wyoming School Boards Association and the topic will be addressed again at the board’s Sept. 21^st regular meeting.

• Faced with requests to purchase school property in Jeffrey City and the possible sale of school land for a new rodeo grounds in Lander, school trustees Friday asked administrators to prepare an accounting of all of the district’s holdings and facilities before any formal decisions are made.  The topic could be the subject for a future listening session.

• Hitt said the Lander schools would be provided with a coach from the Wyoming Department of Education to help administrators address several issues, including the change in district leadership with an interim superintendent and student performance issues. Hitt noted that two schools in the district did not meet Annual Yearly Progress benchmarks, so the WDE Coach would assist the district in the school improvement process.

• Trustee Teresa Nirider, a public health nurse, said that all children attending school in Lander, and across the state of Wyoming, are required to have certain vaccinations within 30 days of the start of school. Nirider said that under state law, those students who do not have all of their inoculations could be withheld from attending school. Hitt said a reminder would be sent to parents with specific information on what vaccinations are required.

• In personnel action at Friday’s meeting, the following staff members were hired: Peggy Bartlett and Charlie Gillman as bus drivers, Jennifer O’Connor as a part time paraprofessional and Kim Garrett, a paraprofessional, both at South Elementary and Keith Gibson, a Special Education paraprofessional for North Elementary.

The next regular meeting of the Lander school trustees will be Tuesday, Sept. 21^st.