The Lincoln County School #2 Board of Trustees met in their regularly scheduled meeting on May 13, 2026 with a few of the following discussions and actions.

Financial Report

Business Manager, JC Inskeep addressed the board and noted that as the school year and fiscal year are drawing to a close that the numbers for the budget are “dead center on track.”

Drug Testing Procedure

The board has had multiple discussions about the current method of drug test procedure in the district over the past several months. The conversations began after a parent addressed the board in the public comments section that raised questions about the specimen gathering procedure. On May 13, Mr. Jason Horsley presented the board with data regarding some potential options to change the procedure which centered on a saliva-based collection rather than a urine-based test.

The current tests cost approximately $17 per unit and then an additional $25 lab verification fee on those that test positive. The saliva test is a $45 cost per unit with a $65 lab verification fee. A halogen-saliva test has a cost of $38 with a $27 lab confirmation fee.

Last year, Star Valley High School conducted 100 drug tests at a cost of between $1,800-$1,900.  To run the same amount of tests with a new method would double the costs to an estimated $3,962.

Mr. Horsley noted that there are pros and cons to each method. For example, the urine-based test can test for drugs for a longer period of time while the saliva tests detect drugs in the system for “1-3 days”. He also said that there is not necessarily a need to eliminate the urine test but that the saliva test could be the routine method with a follow-up of a urine test if necessary.

The board will discuss the matter further in future meetings.

Enrollment

Superintendent Matt Erickson reported that enrollment in the district is down 11 students overall in the last month and down 58 students in the last calendar year. He further noted that the district is down 170 students since May of 2023 which he noted equates to roughly $4 million in state funding.

Mr. Tim Teichert asked if there was an outlook as to the incoming projection of enrollment. Erickson responded that Afton and Thayne Elementary schools were solid with Osmond Elementary numbers having solid classes in 4th and 6th grade. “Other grades are on a downward trend,” he said. “Birth rates are down nationwide.”

School Board Elections

Chairman Simpson highlighted that the timeline for the upcoming school board elections is approaching and that LCSD #2 will have four open positions. The filing period for those positions begins on August 5 and runs through August 24. The open positions are will be Area 1, currently held by Tim Teichert, Area 2, currently held by Lynn Call, Area 5, currently held by Dave Jenkins and an At-Large position currently held by Connie Day. The Area 1 position will be for two years while the other three are four-year positions.

Facilities Update

Mr. Warren Hicks reported to the board that there are several bids up for consideration including asphalt and slurry coating for parking lots, concrete and sidewalk drains, a sidewalk down to the track by the scoreboard at SVHS, concrete work at Cokeville Elementary and Cokeville High School, a lighting project at CHS and landscaping at Swift Creek High School.

Mr. Hicks reported that this school year has seen an increase in help desk tickets, “the biggest I’ve seen,” and he estimated hat this is largely due to preventative maintenance. He also reported that the increase was consistent across all buildings and not specific to any one location.

Public Comments

Freshman students from Cokeville High School addressed the board and read letters of appreciation from previous graduates who had experienced trips to Washington D.C. Those letters noted the impact it had on them with the Holocaust Museum being noted several times. The students then addressed the board stating there have been “17 classes have made the trip and we are excited to go in two years. We know the D.C. trip will not be possible without support. We want to personally thank you for supporting our freshman dinner fundraiser.”

In terms of action items, bids were approved including a bus salvage bid for those vehicles that have aged out due to Wyoming policy. Superintendent Erickson pointed out that buses age out at 17 years or 240,000 miles. He also recommended the donation of busses to the American Classical Academy-Alpine school through communication with Dr. Oliver.