School board approves multi-year admin contracts

At the November 14 Hot Springs County School District #1 board meeting. Trustees Marshall Keller and Jennifer Axtell were not present. At the beginning of the meeting, Trustee Clay VanAntwerp made a motion to add to the agenda the extension of the superintendent’s and other contracts. Trustee Bethany Webber voted against the additions to the agenda.

Later in the meeting, after the executive session, Trustee VanAntwerp made a motion to extend Elementary Principal Nichole Ciz’s contract through 2027. During discussion Trustee Bethany Webber said the reason she was voting no during the meeting was “I don’t like continuing multi-year contracts,” and that “I don’t like the timing of the voting due to the fact we do have two board members gone tonight as well as two more joining the board next month…. as well as it wasn’t on the agenda. I do not like the fact it was not on the agenda so that more people could have come and if they had something to say, they could have been here and said something if they were concerned about the multi-year contracts and the timing.” 

The board in separate motions also voted and passed the approval to extend RWE Principal Nichole Ciz’s contract through 2027, Business Manager Jessica Benefiel’s contract through 2027, High School Principal Catelyn Deromedi’s contract through 2027, and to extend Superintendent Dustin Hunt’s contract through 2030. Trustees present voted in favor of these motions, with the exception of Webber who voted against on all.

During the celebrations portion, Principal Catelyn Deromedi recognized student Dell Dukes, who received a letter from WHSA Commissioner Trevor Wilson. Duke received a good sportsmanship award for his performance during the football contest with Kemmerer vs. HSC on September 20. 

During staff recognition, Ciciley Basse recognized Alexis Garrison for earning her infant toddler credential and doing 20 hours for it. She also received a stipend of $1,000 to continue with her class.

Additionally, Basse submitted her resignation as the day care facility director. Her last day will be on December 20.

Austin Slagle gave the Student Trustee report and discussed a variety of subjects which include the National Honor Society induction ceremony to be on December 3 in the commons area. Students held a blood draw and dontated18 units, which included five new donors. The donations will go to those affected by hurricane Helene. Students also did a service project, which included Christmas card donations to the Senior Citizens Center. The robotics team had its first scrimmage in early November. They will have a home scrimmage on November 23 at the armory. Cross-country had a successful year with boys placing third at the 2A State Championship. The football team fell short of the playoffs. Girls and boys’ basketball are ramping up. Speech and debate have a big team with over 20 kids on the roster with a variety of tournaments coming up soon. 

Middle school special education teachers Anne Benboe and Jessica Carswell gave a special services department presentation. In the past five years, the leadership has been held by four different directors. They said this “created a huge challenge for us knowing where to go.” The average years of experience of special ed teachers is about 2.5 years. Those licensed for special ed in 2023-2024 were about 56%, this year itbis down to 33%. We lost 67% related service providers and now 50% of those services have transitioned from in person to virtual services. They are looking to build bridges for their staff and students and increase their connection, communication, and collaboration. Additionally, they are pursuing to go “beyond baby steps” in achieving their academic and teaching goals. They also discussed addressing accommodations for the students to help them in their learning experiences and partnering with families in providing support to their students.

Chairman Sherman Skelton opened the meeting for public comments. Jeffrey VanAntwerp, son of Clay VanAntwerp, spoke a tribute about his father and became emotional while speaking. The board allowed additional time for Jeffrey to speak after the timer went off. He said, “He’s the world’s greatest school board member.” Trustee Clay VanAntwerp was not reelected to the board in the recent general election. 

Becky Martinez, joined with her sons Alec and Cameron, spoke about how the school district provided a significant experience for her and her family, as a teacher and as a parent and as a wife. She spoke of the board’s sacrifices as “monumental.” Becky recognized that though her husband Joe is not going to continue to be on the school board, he is not far away.

There were no further public comments.

Trustee Clay VanAntwerp spoke to the board about how “it was an honor to serve the students in this great community,” for the past 16 years. He described the sacrifice his family made while he served as trustee. He recognized the classified and certified staff and the students of the school district as well. He said regarding the “salty school board” that they are “legends in their own time.” 

He added that they had some “rough months,” as a school board and that it “might be tough not to run me over in the parking lot” but continued and said, “those are the times I am most proud of all of you because it would have been easier to just give in…but we didn’t do that.” Clay said to the oncoming board members, “I wish you well.”

Trustee Joe Martinez, who served for the past 12 years, spoke to the board saying “it was an incredible privilege to work alongside each of you.” He recognized the staff and students and their hard work. Martinez began his services as a trustee in 2009 and said that he learned much in his time served. Martinez noted the steady improvement in the academics of all the students, added to that the students’ ACT scores. He spoke of the stories of the students who overcame obstacles and discovered their passions and “they achieved more than they ever thought possible…those are the moments that matter the most to me.” Martinez recognized his family for their patience, encouragement and love as he served.

 Business manager Jessica Benefiel gave the financial report and said that in 2025 the high school reroofing project will begin and the financial reflects this. The project is partially funded by the state. The bids will be awarded in January for this project and the project should be completed in August 2025 before the students return to school. The board voted and passed the approval to accept the bills and financial statements. 

In new business, via Zoom, the board received a clean audit presentation. The auditor presented three different reports. The first is over the financial statements and their opinions of them. The second report was about the district’s enterprise fund. The third was about compliance. The board voted and passed the approval to accept the audit.

In a policy discussion, the board went over the issue of gun free zones versus concealed carry on school property. Vice Chair Nichole Weyer mentioned the desire or possibility of having each local district make their own choices. Also, they discussed how the national discussion is still in play and state legislators also play a role. They also discussed the matter of employees conceal carrying and how it increases the liability factor. 

Later, Vice Chair Nichole Weyer discussed with the board and Cassie Hetzel about Solution Tree as valuable because they provide training to teachers, such as special education. Hetzel said “they’re experts in the field” and added that this training can help with teacher retention. Trustee Martinez added that Solution Tree is a “library” where they can look for something specific as a resource.