SCSD#3 Board of Trustees has Full Agenda on Wed

Due to the inclement weather, the SCSD#3 Board of Trustees meeting was held virtually on Wednesday, Dec 14, with a full agenda.

The board held the election, with Amy Vineyard being voted in again as chairman; Wade Betz as vice-chair; Chris Schock as treasurer, and Trinity Lewis as clerk. The board also approved the 2023-24 and the 2024-25 calendars. Schock was elected to be BOCES representative.

After a zoom meeting during the earlier work session, the board discussed hiring Joe Dvorak and Associates to facilitate the schools strategic planning process. It was decided that since Dvorak is in Sheridan he might be easier to keep in touch with than the WSBA representative. Trinity Lewis, trustee, was in favor of Dvorak.

Lewis also felt that a strategic plan was a good idea for the schools. It lays out exactly what they want to accomplish.

The board approved to hire Lacey Olsen as the part-time clerk at the school, and to hire Justin Hansen as the assistance high school basketball coach.

In the maintenance report, Chairman Amy Vineyard asked what was being done to keep the pipes in the elementary room from freezing during Christmas break.

Superintendent Chase Christensen said he visited with Jay Buhr, maintenance man, and that they plan to turn up the heat during the break, they have redone some of the ceiling titles to allow more air flow, and they plan to keep checking on the room during the break.

Trustee Chris Schock asked about the Arvada School, and Christensen said the school had been winterized so there should be no issues with that, and Schock wondered if someone could check it once a week or so. The board will discuss the issue.

Business Manager Greg Rohrer said that the budget is doing well so far this year, he also reported that the new tables for the multi-purpose room will be here this week.

The board also discussed leaving the board meetings in the multi-purpose room so that there is enough room for community members, but Trustee Betz said felt that since Covid was over, the board members could be moved closer together, making it easier for everyone to hear the meeting. There was also discussion about streaming the board meetings on Facebook, but no decision was made.

Christensen talked about the upcoming board retreat:

He also mentioned the summer picnic, which Clearmont will host.

Policies on sick leave and personal leave were discussed.

In the superintendent report Christensen said he and Rohrer had an opportunity to speak to the legislators in Sheridan. He added that the work Senator Kinskey is doing now, and his chairmanship on the appropriations committee will help what they want to accomplish at Arvada-Clearmont School.

In early November Christensen said he had attended the Wyoming Association of Secondary School Principals conference. It was an opportunity to network with elementary principals.

Cell phone use among students was discussed, and the board will meet with teachers and the student council to determine a policy regarding cell phones during school.

A bulk fuel station for the school was another order of business, and they will talk to the town and hire an engineer to move in that direction.