LUSK – The monthly work session of the Niobrara County School District school board was called to order by Chairman Joel Richardson. The agenda was approved with an amendment adding item F to approve the assistant volleyball coach. 

Superintendent George Mirich explained the recording system that was present in the meeting room stating all recordings will be transcribed and then erased unless there is a reason for them to be kept. The recordings will be kept on during open meetings and then turned off during executive session. At this time the recordings are done on a CD.

Visitors

Vice-Chair Katie Kruse reviewed the visitor policy. This policy states the board shall schedule and may set limits for individual speakers. Those requesting time during the board meeting will be recognized by the chairman and may make objective comments on operations. They will not allow complaints about any personnel and there is one that must be heard in executive session. They requested that any members of the public wishing to speak regarding personnel state now so they could be moved into executive session.

Of visitors present, Kyra Coffman stated her concerns were personnel related.

Rachel Manning was given the floor as a scheduled visitor. Manning was present to discuss the school’s mask policy in response to COVID-19 health guidelines as required by state mandates. 

Manning read a lengthy prepared statement which included concerns about the mental and physical health of school children, a review of sections of the Wyoming constitution regarding personal health decisions and information released regarding the efficacy of cloth face masks. Manning stated several times her concerns were not personal attack on any board members but she felt, as an individual seeking change at the state level, she also had a moral obligation to seek change at the local level. Manning asked several questions of the board and Richardson stated some of those questions would be answered during old business discussion of the health guidelines.

Dr. Joleen Falkenburg, county health officer, also addressed some of Manning’s concerns. Falkenburg reiterated she is in full support of Mr. Mirich and the district’s plan. She agrees the district is working in the best interest of the students’ health and the school staying open. She also reminded the public the district is within its rights to take a stricter view of guidelines than she mandates. 

The discussion at this point is not revolving around if a student will get COVID, since that is inevitable, but rather where the district’s greatest liability is. She encouraged the district to follow its protocols and let public health do any tracing or restricting per the public health protocols in the event of a positive case within the schools. 

There was discussion of a change in the school’s plan or the possibility of a county-wide variance to exclude Niobrara County from any masking guidelines. Falkenburg said, even if a county-wide variance was granted, it would not extend to the schools and therefore would defeat the purpose of a blanket variance. While Falkenburg agrees with all of Manning’s points, it comes down to a liability perspective. 

Teachers are the vulnerable population based on disease epidemiology and are the ones that need to be diligent about masks and hand washing. Falkenburg also reminded those present that, while cloth masks are not entirely effective, data does show the use of masks reduced the inoculation rate – meaning that someone is likely to be less ill if they have been masking.

Falkenburg said she believes COVID is not going to go away any time soon, especially if it isn’t allowed to transmit. It must be treated much the same way districts have dealt with influenza in the past, a disease that has proven more fatal than COVID in children. Her office does not have the testing resources to test every child for negative testing to return to school. 

The tests are not reliable enough to justify this process either, she said. Her fear with surveillance testing is that it will only get the schools shut down. At this time Falkenburg only has 35 rapid tests and is trying to save them for scenarios in which a positive test will change treatment options  

As Falkenburg stated, “At the end of the day, we are going through all of this for a virus that is not likely to kill the children. The positive test in Niobrara County last week wasn’t even sick but was forced to test by her work.”

Mirich presented the public health orders to Manning. He reminded those present the reopen plan the district had submitted in August was the minimal accepted and, while they could attempt to change it, it would not be approved. Following a conversation with the State Department of Education, Mirich was told that, should the new plan not be approved, funding would be pulled from the district. 

Variances have been filed on behalf of the district for activities. The district will also be offering surveillance testing to 25% of staff every two weeks for the next eight weeks. Falkenburg disagrees with this, saying she’s concerned it will lead to flipping positives that will send the district down a shutdown pathway. The testing is not mandatory and only offered as a courtesy to staff.

The next visitor to address the board was Kyra Coffman. Coffman’s statements specifically concerned Stuart Larson and Larson requested that all statements and information be kept in open session. This request was granted. Coffman raised concerns about Larson’s handling of unsupervised kids at the football game on Friday night. Coffman expressed the opinion that it isn’t necessary to threaten young children with being kicked out of the game if they don’t comply with sitting down and watching the game. It was her understanding several kids were told they couldn’t be playing with balls and running around “on his watch.” Kids need to be allowed to play and if they are not being disrespectful or dangerous, then leave them alone, Coffman said.

It was requested this item be added to the agenda under old business for further discussion.

Reports

Business Manager Stuart Larson did not have any reports regarding the regular financials at this time. If anyone has questions about the specific funding or grants with the district they can contact the office 

Superintendent George Mirich stated the modified expulsion policy that had been agreed on went into effect on Sept. 28 at 8 am. The consolidated grant for the 2020-2021 school year was approved and the district will be receiving that funding. This includes the Title 1, 2, 4 and general expenditures. the 6B and School 10-03A are still out for approval. The high school fire alarm system replacement has been given approval to move forward with the bid process. The hope is that everything can be in place for an upgrade to the system next summer. Fall WY-TOPP is on the schedule and for many of the children this will be the first data collection since last winter or fall. 

Board member Candy Dooper gave an update from a legislative phone call she participated in. It was mostly regarding budgets and funding and the dismal outlook for the state. It is important for communities to begin speaking out now about the inability of school districts to sustain a 10% cut in funding. 

Randy Rose stated he has been so proud of the staff and kids over the last few weeks. There was a lot of stress and many things going on, but they are all doing so well. Loren Heth thanked the community for their support of the district and the students during all of the homecoming activities and at the games. It was so great for the kids to see and it was a great week for normalcy. Richardson gave a shoutout to the staff for all of the homecoming week activities and the pep rally.

The consent agenda was approved as presented.

Action Items

At 7:09 the board moved to go into executive session to discuss personnel following a five-minute break.

Open session resumed and the board approved the hiring of a Wyoming Virtual Academy SpEd teacher, two WYVA speech pathologists for 1.5 FTE’s, WYVA SpEd registrar, JD Wasserburger as the assistant wrestling coach and Cora Fitzgerald as the assistant volleyball coach. They also accepted Julie Bukowski’s resignation as custodian.

Old Business

Superintendent Mirich reviewed the state health orders and reopen plan as previously stated. For the most part during the day at the school the reopen plan is being followed, outside of that no one is following them. 

Mirich noted two issues with the current situation 1) there are rules and they don’t mean anything because no one is following them and they aren’t being enforced and 2) if there is an outbreak and the state department of health becomes involved, they will want seating charts and expectations for who has been following guidelines and the documentation to back up the districts claims of compliance. 

Mirich was seeking input from the board on these issues and some direction. He also conveyed a conversation he had with the state office, that essentially came down to a rock and a hard place for the district. If the variance is approved, the district will be shuffled to tier three, which is online classes indefinitely. If it isn’t approved with the changes, the district was threatened that funding will be pulled. 

Following lengthy discussion, the board stance was the reopen plan will stay as is. Several board members said their highest priority is keeping the schools open and students attending in person. If correction of staff and students is necessary, it will be done politely and professionally. 

A request for variance of the guideline and plan has been submitted regarding activities. The board took the stance strict enforcement with community members for compliance outside of the school day would not be occurring. Masks would be recommended at all activities and it is up to the public whether they choose to follow or not.

Policies requested for review including homeschool participation in activities regarding academic eligibility and reporting of grades. They also requested that the late resignation policy go to the policy committee.

Budget and recalibration were discussed. The governor has asked districts to examine making budget cuts of 10% across the board for next school year. The recalibration discussion which determines the rates that districts are reimbursed for expenses is going to be painful for those that rely heavily on virtual schooling. The state will be re-examining how much a school should receive in major maintenance for those students who are not actually in the building.

Supervision of children attending activities like volleyball and football games was discussion. Larson sought clarification on the extent of and how expensive the supervision needs to be for children at games.

Following extensive discussion it as decided that lights will be on down at the baseball field on the east side of the area. Children will be encouraged to play at the baseball field during games if they are not actively watching the game with their parents. This area will be supervised by a combination of administrators and volunteers. Randy Rose volunteered to “take watch” at the next few home games. It is hoped this will alleviate some of the dangerous and nuisance activities that children are engaging in.

Mirich stated that while it may be a point of frustration, the fact remains that supervision must be supplied when an activity is occurring on the school grounds.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly attributed the quote 'Kids need to be allowed to play and if they are not being disrespectful or dangerous, then leave them alone,' to Stuart Larson, when it should have been attributed to Kyra Coffman. We regret the error.