Sheridan County School District #3 Prepares to Open

By Cynthia Vannoy

       There was a special District 3 school board meeting  on  July 22 to discuss the safe  reopening of school for the 20-21 season.

       All members were present, Amy Bohlman, chairman; Sam Olson,  Treasurer; Wade Betz, Clerk; Misty Moore Stoll, Trustee; and Barry Bauer, vice-chairman.  Charles Auzqui, Superintendent, Jolene Poppenga, Administrative; and Greg Rohrer, business manager, and food service manager, were also in attendance.

        School is slated to open on August 10 for the teachers and staff, and August 18 for the students.  Guidelines are being implemented for the safety of staff and students during the Covid 19 pandemic. As the Covid 19 concerns are always changing, the school must be flexible in it’s teaching styles, which will include classroom learning and virtual learning for students who cannot attend school in the classroom.

       Charles Auzqui presented the board with the ‘face-coverings’ that will be required for students and staff when riding the bus, moving in the halls between classrooms, and anywhere 6 foot distancing may not be possible.  “We will follow the local health officers guidelines.” Auzqui stated.

“Small schools, such as Clearmont, have the advantage here.”  Auzqui said. “The K-12 requirements say that there can be no more than 50 students per classroom, Clearmont will not put 50 students in a classroom anyway.”

       Recesses will resume as usual, and due to recesses being out of doors, students will not be required to wear masks when at recess.

       As of now, Clearmont will open classrooms for students, but will incorporate virtual leaning, where at-home students can sign in on a computer and interact with the teachers as necessary.  However, Auzqui said, this can be a strain on teachers, and they have to protect the health of the  teachers as well. “We can provide virtual learning, but we are concerned with teacher burnout.” 

       According to the Wyoming Distant Learning guide, remote education within the resident district is described as classes delivered by a teacher in a physical classroom, with students present, while also providing simultaneous remote instruction to home-bound students.  In reality, almost teaching two classes as once.  

       Should there be an outbreak of Covid, students can be taught via on-line learning only until the outbreak is over.  He said that Sheridan CPR teachers and Dr. Hunter of Sheridan will offer staff and student training to help with any health problems that might occur. 

       Auzqui stressed that teachers must be flexible, and right now there is a lot of uncertainty.  Misty Moore Stoll expressed the concern that the school ‘can’t be all things to all people, we can’t accommodate everyone.”  There were concerns expressed that too many parents might not want their children to return to class, and some members wondered how many exceptions could be made for students.

       Bauer suggested that the district take small steps, and not ‘overthink’ the problem but deal with problems as they come, but we have to have guidelines.

       Auzqui said that if the students are registered in the district, the school is obligated to teach them and have to budget in the cost. 

       “We did do a survey of parents in the district, and majority want their children to return to the classrooms this fall.”  He added. He added that the attendance for this year will be approximately the same as last year, “Give or take one or two students.” Clearmont normally has attendance of around 100 students. “But,” Auzqui said,  “Everyone has a choice of how to school their children, they can choose to sent them to the classroom or home school.”

       In other matters, the board discussed the fact the Arvada Elementary School does not have any students this fall, and Samantha Grubb, Arvada K-12 teacher, will be transferred to Clearmont to teach there.

       Auzqui is planning another meeting with the parents before school starts, and he advised parents to register students virtually.  He also commended the board on the open and honest discussion during this uncertain time.