SCSD#2 Board Honors Students

New Virtual Learning Teacher Steve Mayhue

Two students, Luke Lawson and Wayne Murdock, where recognized for their achievement as National Merit Scholarship semi-finalist at Monday night’s Sheridan County School District #2 board meeting.

National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school students enter the Merit program every year. Of these, only 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores qualify for as either Commended Students or Semifinalists.

Around 16,000 students qualify as semifinalists. Semifinalists must advance to the finals by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements.

“This is a really big deal,” Mitch Craft said in introducing Lawson and Murdock. “It is a wonderful honor and it is due to a lot of hard work by these students.”

Don Julian, coach, introduced the Girls Gold team that took the Wyoming State Golf Championships.

Mike Carnes reported that SCSD#2 was named the #1 School in Wyoming by US News and World Report. The magazine has named District #2 as the top school in Wyoming in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021.

Carnes said that Sheridan County District #2 students take their education seriously, and that there is a lot of parental involvement with the students.

The board room was packed, nearly everyone wore a mask, and about 40 community people were in attendance, many were again protesting the schools mask mandate.

One parent wondered why kids who are tested before school and test negative have to wear a mask? Another speaker mentioned that a one-size fits all plan may not be the best plan.

There were several community members that spoke in defense of wearing masks, including Katie Sawyer, a medical professional from Sheridan, who had this to say,

Another medical professional, Dave Schultz, Sheridan anesthesiologist said he wore a mask when doing his job to protect the patient, and that children are protecting each other by wearing masks.

A little humor was added when one parent said her young girl liked the masks so she could make faces at the boys and they couldn’t see.

Superintendent Stults gave a Covid 19 update, saying that Sheridan County is still in the red zone and that the school will continue the mask mandate at this time.

On October 19 there will be a dedication of the John C. Schiffer School and an open house.

New teacher Steve Mayhue gave a report on virtual learning, and they way the school is improving on the virtual learning program.

The board then discussed the petition that was presented to the board asking for their resignation, and the board voted to deny the petition and all the board members spoke out saying they would not resign their positions on the board.

Trustee Ed Fessler spoke at length, here is a portion of his talk.

He added that the petition was called for, asking for 1000 signatures, but when it was presented to the board there were only 180 signatures on the petition. He said this is American, and he applauded those who brought their concerns before the board.

The board adjourned into executive session at 8 p.m.