LUSK – “Why would you reconfigure if you weren’t looking to save money or increase opportunities?” This was one of the questions Superintendent George Mirich posed for the board and members of the public during the Jan. 25 work session of the Niobrara County School District. There were no action items on the agenda but several visitors and hot button items made for a packed meeting.

Mirich presented a reconfiguration proposal in the very earliest stages of the meeting. This reconfiguration is largely budget-driven. As districts continue to review ways to cut out the potential required 6.4% from their budgets, Niobrara is looking at the possibility of a single teacher for each discipline currently offered between the high school and middle school. 

These staffing changes will create a situation where almost every teacher would be traveling between the two buildings. Currently, five teachers, three core and two special, host classes in each building, but this would significantly increase if the district is forced to lay off teachers.

This scenario is combined with looking to use the space more efficiently. The district has prompted Mirich to begin exploring the option of moving seventh and eighth grade into the high school building, while sixth grade would become an elementary class. 

The PowerPoint presentation and images Mirich reviewed showed potential changes to all three levels of the high school to create separation for middle school and high school students. This includes remodeling for another girl’s physical education locker room and repurposing of various classrooms. It also reviewed the current teacher schedules at the high school and a very rough schedule for merging the middle school and high school schedules, bell schedules, lunches and passing periods.

As Mirich stated, “If there are significant budget cuts, the reconfiguration may not be a choice but the only option for staff.” Board members Candy Dooper and Sheila Boldon said they would need more information, including financial impacts and expenditures, to even come close to making a decision. Several board members spoke out in opposition to the idea of reconfiguring but also agreed that more information was needed. 

The board also emphasized the need to collect public opinion and bring parents along through this process. It was decided that a public forum will be held prior to the next board work session on Feb. 22. At this time, information will be presented and members of the public will be encouraged to ask questions and voice concerns and opinions. 

The conversations surround the potential reconfiguration overlapped with that of the state foundation budget cuts that the district will be facing in the next fiscal year. The final numbers will not be in to the district until March 31, so the district must be prepared for anything. Given the growth of the Wyoming Virtual Academy (WYVA), the district now sits at 22% of enrollment from “brick and mortar” building-based students and the other 78% are WYVA students. This takes the district to a needed budget of $17 million and receiving $16.1 million with the state-mandated budget cuts, with each portion taking a percentage hit, respectively. Ultimately, this means that more of the bricks’ cuts will come in the form of staff cuts since fixed costs are just that.

Mirich asked if the board would like to consider offering early retirement options to staff who are within a year or two of full retirement, and the board agreed that they would like to see number packages for these options.

In addition to the budgetary directives, the district is looking at several pieces of legislation that will directly impact Niobrara County. This year, the legislature is again considering eliminating gun-free zones for concealed carry licensees, except in courtrooms. There is also a bill pending to move early childhood development from the Department of Health to the Department of Education. The district appeared to remain neutral on the movement of ECD. There are many items to consider regarding this move, which would potentially include oversight of districts toward the existing programs, potentially resulting in major program changes, including funding, objectives and operational and program goals. 

The last few old business items rounding out the meeting were the bids for the high school alarm system redesign, the high school security project, the potential to lease a building for a community daycare facility and the strategic plan goals review. Three firms were interviewed for the task. The board asked that Mirich come back to them with a recommendation for an action item at the next meeting.

The district is ready to request bids for phase one of the project, which will include the restructuring of all the entryways at both the high school and the administrative offices. It also includes upgrading the network support for potential security system improvements.

Members of the community of Manville, including parents of students, were present to request the district change the late bus drop-off point to the old Manville school. Currently, the schoolyard serves as the pick-up and drop-off area for the regular bus route. However, the late bus continues to drop students off near the highway at Jack Kettler park. This is a serious safety concern since there is not adequate lighting or supervision at this spot. The district agreed to move the location to the old school five years ago and the town has made sure there is a well-lit area and video surveillance for safety. The board agreed to respond in writing to the concerns and address this issue.