The LCSD#2 Board of Trustees met in their regularly schedule meeting on August 12. Tim Teichert, Lynn Call, Chairman Darnell Simpson, Connie Day and Jake Long were in attendance. Members Jed Johnson and Dave Jenkins were absent with previous engagements.

School Board Filing Period Closes August 24 –

Superintendent Matt Erickson reminded the public that the district is seeking great candidates to come and serve on the school board. The candidate filing period is now currently open. Erickson reminded any prospective candidates that the deadline to file is at 4 p.m. on August 24.

Areas up for election are Area 1, currently held by Tim Teichert. This is a two-year term. Area 2 is open for a four-year term. This position is currently being held by Lynn Call. Area 5 is open for a four-year term and is currently being held by Dave Jenkins. An At-Large position is also up for election which is currently being held by Connie Day. The vote for new school board members will take place as part of the General Election in November.

Financial Report – 

JC Inskeep delivered the monthly financial report and made several notes including a “positive cache” for food services and the increasing costs of technology. Mr. Inskeep also reported that the discussion of the new funding model and its impact on different districts will be something to monitor through the school year.

“Lincoln 2 is at a minus of $400,000 for activities,” he stated. “We will be taking new funding and fill that difference. In the capacity of student enrollment and activities, they have a larger portion of funds. The first part of fixing this will be that $400K. We may have to come back and see how this is weighted for students, distance and activities.”

Superintendent Erickson emphasized a few details of the efforts to solve what has turned into an activities funding shortage.

“We appreciate some legislators wanting to fix this,” he said. “It certainly only brings us up to the level where we have been. Some districts are big winners here and I feel there is inequity. We subsidize in this district and this “fix” later this month is to get us back to where we were June 30. It doesn’t address what the Supreme Court has asked them to do.”

Mr. Inskeep added that LCSD#2 is down 16% when it comes to activities while the district in Hot Springs County (Thermopolis) is up 22%. “It’s all over the place,” he noted.

Software Security – 

Mr. Kyle Weber presented to the board how a program called Securely helps the district in various ways.

“This is software for monitoring student behavior and wellness,” he explained. “The state provides the program. When going go a website, a content filter will block sites.”

Other aspects of the program are titled Filter, Aware, Classroom and Home.

“This flags inappropriate sites and AI content as well, Weber added. “In the case of bullying, the principal gets an e-mail,  and then it goes to counselors. It can allow them to address incidents before they get bigger.”

“The Home [aspect] can let parents be involved. They can see what the kids are doing but they can restrict access and schedule their time.”

Homeschooling credits – 

Superintendent Erickson explained a new policy from a new law from the last legislative session. Homeschool students who receive funds from 21-2-902 are classified as ESA students. This is only permissible if the district elects to be an ESA service provider.

“LCSD#2 is choosing not to be a savings account service provider,” Erickson said. “So, it is illegal for anyone to take the $7,000 from the state for homeschooling and then enroll with us.”

Changes in drug testing procedure – 

The district has decided to make changes to their drug testing procedure upon examining the issue after some concerns were brought up by a concerned parent. The main issue centered around a urine-based test or a saliva-based test.

“Changes will go to the swab testing for the most part,” Erickson said. “The waiver has been updated as well as procedures.”

Erickson also noted that the testing will not be limited to just an oral swab.

“In some cases a urine test will still be used,” he said. “In those cases on the randomizer in the case of a female student they will have the option to use the oral swab and delay the urine testing. We appreciate out stakeholders who advocate for positive change.”

WASA Meetings – 

Mr. Call reported on the Wyoming Association of School Boards meeting he recently attended. He noted that Brian Farmer, the executive director, reported that WASA has assisted other districts for hiring new superintendents. Mr. Farmer said that the pool seems to be shrinking. Mr. Call suggested that preliminary groundwork for succession planning be considered.

“We’re not wanting [Superintendent Erickson] to go anywhere but it’s prudent to discuss what would we do if it became necessary. We ought to be starting to look within. Talk about a plan to replace our superintendent. We need to devise some kind of procedure if that means to possibly train and look at some leadership inside the district.”

Social Media – 

Chairman Simpson added some thoughts on being proactive as a district with social media.

“As a district we know some things are not true,” he noted. “For the most part our board has stayed out of that muck. In the future maybe our district should have some statement. We are aware, here is our policy; so the public understands there is a process in place.”

The full meeting and minutes are available online at lcsd2.org.