• Cooperation with other districts and state agencies desired

A large part of the most recent meeting for the Lincoln County School District #2 Board of Trustees included a presentation that followed up on a letter sent to the district by a delegation seeking a different approach to device usage. In their regularly scheduled meeting held on July 8, the group noted steady downward trends in test scores as soon as devices are introduced into schools. The data referred to social media and other external factors. In addition, the delegation pointed out with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), students are offloading their learning to these options.

“They are outsourcing their creativity and identity to these algorithms,” they said. “Critical thinking and deep learning are not efficient, flashy or expensive, they are done by small and simple efforts, achieved over time.”

Superintendent Matt Erickson replied to the presentation by offering up that LCSD#2 can’t do it alone. He referred to the usage of 1-to-1 policy in the district which is one electronic device for every student which they can take back and forth from home and school.

“I think where we really need to start with, not excusing this board or this district, is at the legislative level,” he said. “I believe at this point we would be putting our kids at a huge disadvantage if we went away from 1 to 1 at this time. All of the state testing is through electronic means, so we’ve got to unite and try and get something done at the legislative level and the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE )before it can truly help our kids here in [LCSD#2].

Board members questioned whether this was a discussion at the state level and Erickson responded that while he believes there is, it is only been superficial.

Board member Lynn Call offered to pose the question at the state level with the other districts to gauge interest from the Wyoming School Board Association. He added that he will report back.

“Our world is techy,” added Chairman Darnell Simpson. “It’s not going away. There are a lot of negatives but it’s kind of a [line] we have to dance on and our kids are at the front of it.”

“I believe we can do something, but the seven members of this board and the administration of the district can’t make a lot of progress without the legislature and the WDE,” Erickson concluded.

The LCSD#2 Board is expected to plan for public meetings in Etna, the district office and Cokeville in early November to gauge the public’s interest in the direction of a new district policy.

The full meeting is available for viewing at LCSD2.ORG.

Board Notes:

JC Inskeep reported to the board that they have concluded the fiscal year with everything reconciled but also pointed out an increase in money spent on food services.

“Food services were at $1.3 million which is the most we’ve allocated,” he said. “The costs of good is much higher. We served less meals but because of the costs of the goods, we’re up $50,000.”