School board discusses food service plans

The Hot Springs County School Board met March 15 to discuss new food service plans for students, sportsmanship initiatives and student contracts.

School business manager Colleen Anderson and Cindy Wallingford, food service director, shared information regarding their plans for food services for the 2016-17 school year. Their plan included controlling labor costs through modification of employee schedules and through food cooperative evaluation as well as customizing the menu based on age levels. The goals of this plan are to reduce food and labor costs per meal, increase participation and reduce the annual subsidy to $70,000.

Trustee Clay Van Antwerp asked how labor costs had anything to do with school menu changes. He also asked about making meals from scratch rather than serving pre-packaged meals to students.

Chairman Tobi Johansen said that he was most concerned about serving healthy meals for students. While Superintendent Dustin Hunt said he wants to plan a meeting with all food service staff to better develop a collaborative process and discuss ideas for improving participation levels and meals. Hunt also noted that there could possibly be a decrease in participation levels if new menus are implemented.

Johansen started a conversation concerning a sportsmanship initiative that would define what the school district expects regarding sportsmanship. The head coaches and activities department compiled information regarding a vision/mission statement. The staff is working with students to explain what it means to be a Bobcat at the high school. A speaker has been scheduled to talk with both parents and coaches in the fall about how to better support students. Johansen said he would like to plan a place prior to the board retreat so that it can be included in goal development.

A student contract was moved by Vice-Chairman Melissa Johnson and seconded by Van Antwerp. The student contract is with Northwest Wyoming Board of Cooperative Educational Services for March 7 through June 2 in the amount of $38,156.88. It includes several services including tuition and special transportation. Related services include recreational therapy, APE, school nurse, recreational therapy and an extended school year. Other items in the contract include school social work, parent counseling, psychological training, 1:1 Aide and behavior/specialist transition.

Visitors and public comment included visits from Jacky Wright, board member of the Hot Springs County Greater Learning Foundation, who shared that the final presentation for HSCGLF will be March 25. She also shared the Governor's Award the HSCGLF was given earlier this year.

Ralph Witters Elementary music teacher Mary McGillivray also presented information regarding student work displayed in the boardroom. She also invited board members to attend the high school play at the end of March.

Sergeant Jerimie Kraushaar and Becky Mortimore, program manager at Hot Springs County Tobacco Prevention, presented information regarding a campaign on marijuana usage in this area. They asked the school district to share the mailing addresses for students in the district to send postcards to inform parents of the issue. This education campaign would target grades 6-12. A grant would pay for the postcards and postage. The district decided they will print the labels for the postcards.

The high school speech and debate team also attended the meeting to share their experiences and explain how being on the speech and debate team has affected their lives. Johansen asked if the team had concerns that the program is being eliminated. Team members expressed their concerns based on decreased budgeting. They also did not feel they are receiving the same recognition as other activities. Board members noted that all activities' budgets were reviewed and decreased. It was also noted that speech and debate is an activity that does not lend itself to having fans who can attend and watch events.

Several individuals were also recognized for monthly celebrations. Kelli Bloedel was recognized as the March Staff Member of the Month. Brock Merrill was recognized as the March Teacher of the Month. Jacob Strenger was recognized as the April Teacher of the Month. Tyler Cornwell and Eric Herold were recognized for earning the National Football Foundation - Wyoming Chapter - Scholar Athlete Awards. The High School Boys and Girls basketball coaches and Boys JV basketball team were recognized for earning the WHSAA Good Sportsmanship Award. Brandon Deromedi shared the WHSAA Winter Sports Academic awards including Outstanding received by girls' basketball (3.61 GPA) and cheer (3.51 GPA) and Distinguished received by boys' basketball (3.35 GPA) and wrestling (3.12 GPA).