School board approves addendum to superintendent contract

At the September Hot Springs County School District #1 (HSCSD#1) Board of Trustee meeting, after reconvening from executive session, Trustee Joe Martinez said, “Mr. Chair, I move to approve an addendum to the superintendent contract that states: superintendent may perform outside contract and or consulting work for educational firms, provided that work is not for Hot Springs County School District Number One, and his outside work does not interfere with his duties to Hot Springs County School District Number One. Superintendents outside of work shall not be construed to grant superintendent leave in addition to that granted to him by his contract or by Hot Springs County School District Number One policies. The Board of Trustees shall have fiscal authority to approve or reject professional development contracts for Hot Springs County School District #1.”

Trustee Nicole Weyer seconded the motion. During the discussion Trustee Clay Van Antwerp said, “Mr. Chair, I would just like to point out that, per legal counsel, we did not have a problem, but that we chose to do this just as a clarification piece, just to make it more clear about the process, the policy. I just want to point that out.”

Chairman Sherman Skelton asked, “Any other discussion?”

Appointed Trustee Marshall Keller added, “Yes, Mr. Chair, as we went through that [policy], we reviewed the superintendent with his conduct… Anyways, in regards to that [policy, it] was pretty stringent itself. In this[it] doesn’t violate that, but I understand some people may look at it that way, but the contract does not violate the current policy for conduct.”

Superintendent Dustin Hunt, whose annual HSCSD salary is $167,411 according to information released by the district in March of 2024, has been serving as a consultant for Solution Tree prior to the passed addendum to his contract.

The board welcomed Austin Slagle as the new student trustee for this school year. Slagle gave an update on various events.

Former Trustee Will Ferrell spoke to the board about his recent resignation. Ferrell said, “First of all, I would just like to say that my time on the board was great. My resignation comes from policy, BCB, my wife put in for the head coach job. In doing so, it kind of pushed me out, and I was not planning on running again. So it was just a change of about three months of service on the board. That being said, she’s passionate about the game and I am passionate about the program and I wanted to make sure she had that opportunity. And so it was my choice to step down. She was very excited and glad to have that position.… Other than that, my time on the board was very good. For one, this board and this school district, the administration, and all the teachers, I know for a fact that the time was well spent, and what we went through, kids are the most important, when you come in this room and come to the school building. I will never change my mind about that. And I never will say that anybody involved in this district is doing anything but the best they think they can do for kids. So kudos for that. And it was great to be a part of that for the time that it was. And like I said, there were always challenges, but my memories will always be fond… the good outweighs the bad… I wish you all great luck in keeping the faith, I guess, and keep going strong, because you guys have done a great job. And it’s all for the right reasons. Thank you.”

High School Principal Catelyn Deromedi informed the board about a new school policy about the use of cell phones at the school. She said, “This year, it is expected that cell phones will not be seen. Students may have their cell phones, but they should not be seen at all. We know that as educators, it’s very, very important that it is our job on a day-to-day basis to make sure that students are learning. And we know that cell phones are a big distraction from the learning process.” 

Deromedi added, “The primary goal for us is to just reduce the number of distractions and improve focus on academic tasks. So with that, we asked students that at any point in the day, in the classroom, the phone is not sitting out to where it can be seen at all. If they’re walking down the hallway, it should not be in their hand at all. In addition to that, last year we would allow students to have their cell phones during lunch time, whereas we do have a majority of our students leave for lunch. The freshmen stay on campus for lunch during their first semester, and second semester. They get to leave for lunch if they pass all their classes in the first semester. 

Deromedi continued and said, “And I know for a fact that our staff has noticed a huge difference at lunchtime. Kids can not have their cell phones out at lunchtime any time between 8:20 a.m. in the morning when that second bell rings for class to start and 3:50 p.m. in the afternoon, and our students are talking at lunchtime. They’re interacting with one another. They actually, like, look over at us at the staff table and like, oh, they catch us looking at them because they’re not looking at a cell phone. They’re talking with each other. They’re engaging with each other. And so that’s just one major positive that we’ve seen from this is that students are interacting with one another. Not only at lunchtime, but in the hallways as well as in the classrooms. 

Deromedi also said, “And the only way that this happens is that all the staff are on board with this. We came together at the end of the year last year, and then we came together at the beginning of the school year this year and all came to that agreement that we are going to hold tight to this. And we obviously need to use the first day of school to teach this. It’s a change for everybody. But now the students know, if I see your cell phone, it is going directly to the office for the remainder of the day. The staff do not mess with your cell phone…it’s actually gone really well. I think the staff has seen fewer issues with cell phones. I’ve seen not many cell phones get brought to the office. And it’s just been a really positive shift. And ultimately, I think at the end of the day, it really does make a huge difference in students’ mental health and well-being as well.”

Principal Deromedi also discussed with the school board about how they not only need to have academic expectations for their students but also social expectations for them. Deromedi and their staff determined three items they expect of all the high school students. She said they include, “self-advocacy, seeking those opportunities to learn more and to have a reteach opportunity and really, finding that for themselves instead of us constantly asking them to do that. So self-advocacy, respect both peers and staff, as well as being prepared for class .... they will be getting feedback from each of their teachers with regard to their child’s self-advocacy, respect and preparedness.”

In the Superintendent report, Dustin Hunt said, “We’re excited to host two new student teachers from the University of Wyoming here in the spring semester. We’ll have those in PE and health.” In October, the superintendent evaluation is coming up. November the board decides on the superintendent’s contract.   

Prior to the executive session and during the second and final reading about policy discussions, Appointed Trustee Marshall Keller had a question about policy GBEA about staff ethics. Keller read the policy and said, “Employees of the district will not engage in or have financial interest in any activity that raises a reasonable question of conflict of interest. Is there a more definite, stronger definition of what reasonable is or and more defined? …Being a lawyer, ‘reasonable,’ you’re not sure how that can be interpreted?”

Chairman Skelton asked the school’s attorney Scott Kolpitcke to respond about the interpretation of ‘reasonable.’ Kolpitcke replied, “I would tend to agree it might be an opportunity to flesh that out in more detail before you approve it, because that is really open to different interpretations. And I think you might want to take some time to try to define that more clearly, just so everyone knows what the standard is, that you’re expecting people to live by.”

The board voted and passed the approval to pull the policy GBEA from the others for further review on how to define “reasonable.” They will come back for a third reading with changes.

Regarding Esser funds, the board voted and approved grant funds allocated from 2021 to be issued as a work stabilization payment for the amount of $2,450 per eligible employee. 

Vice Chair Nicole Weyer added, “I’m very excited about this. I think that it’s a huge benefit to our staff to be thanked for all that they do and all the extra hard work that they put in to ensure that our students are learning. And I think that this will be a nice little bonus, especially as Christmas is coming up. I’m really excited about that.”

Trustee Joe Martinez also said, “I just want to say that also the district has looked at various ways over the years to ensure that those Esser 2 or Esser 3 funds are spent to benefit students in the best way possible. And it’s not always with the amount of money that was given. It’s not always feasible just to spend on the classroom specifically. There have been things that have been spent, purchased over the course of the years to benefit students in the classroom and this also benefits students in the classroom because it helps with employee retention.”

Chairman Skelton added, “This board has always tried to do the most that we could do.”

Vice Chair Weyer added, “I know sometimes we take a lot of heat for teacher salaries, which is an issue across the country. And, I would love to see those be much higher. But if you notice, in the past, we’ve tried to do this a number of times. And, I hope that people remember that as salaries come up that we have tried to give bonuses, especially in the last few years.”

Regarding that the Wyoming state legislature has utilized public funds for private education, Chairman Skelton said, “I think that it’s only prudent that we require evidence of proficiency in student learning for students outside of the district that are participating in athletics. Those students would have to demonstrate the same proficiency that every other public school student has, or needs to do in order to demonstrate eligibility. And if they can’t demonstrate eligibility, potentially they’re taking the spot away from the student that does. So I think it’s only prudent to look into that possibility.”

Trustee Martinez added, “It is going to be the parents’ responsibility to provide documents, provide information to the athletic department to show that the student is passing their classes essentially.”

Chairman Skelton and the board discussed books for students and the process of parents reading those books. There is a review system and processes for parents to challenge a book that they feel might be inappropriate. They also discussed if school should only have books that are related to academics or an academic focus?

Chairman Skelton said, “There was a great discussion about the value, for a student, to be able to read for entertainment and how that has stimulated, in a lot of kids, a love for reading, the desire to read.”

Superintendent Hunt added, “We had a number of students that have been some of our top students that left our school district. I had a conversation with one family and his parents’ rule was you can stay up as long as you like, as long as you’re reading, knowing full well that their children are going to fall asleep when they get tired or whatever. But over the course of that time, the amount that they read, they received like presidential scholarships because their knowledge was so deep from doing all that reading.”

Regarding students who received a copy of the US Constitution from Moms for Liberty, Chairman Skelton said they were reviewed by a committee to be handed out. However, they had QR codes that led to other literature.

Dustin Hunt said, “I appreciated that discussion that certainly that we don’t want the constitutions in the hands of our students, but part of that body’s role is to make sure that is just the Constitution, with no interpretation, then parents can have those discussions with their children about how their family would interpret that. I really appreciate the parent perspective there.”

The board also discussed how the teachers and students use the first period of the day as part of the Pathways Program, where they explore the different kinds of things that they’re passionate about. 

Regarding legislation, Vice Chair Weyer discussed that she spoke with US Representative Harriet Hageman about the possibility of the closure of the federal Department of Education. According to Weyer, Hageman said that education would go back to the states to manage. Weyer expressed concerns about funding for special education and food for students and others with special needs. Weyer also said she didn’t see the state of Wyoming funding the district if federal funding would be lost.

Regarding discussion about the parental rights bill, Superintendent Dustin Hunt said there is “vagueness” in its language regarding abuse, reporting and the ability to ask questions.

Hunt then added, “Maybe a resolution could come from this board to WSB that could help both parents and educators might be some clarity.”