Staffing issues top school board discussion

At the Laramie County School District No. 2 board meeting Monday evening in Albin, the members heaviest load was renewing contracts and replacing staff.

The board approved the recommendations for contract renewal of Rob Bryant, director of business operations, Brent Bacon, director of special services, LeAnn Smith, Albin Elementary School principal, Jerry Burkett, Burns Elementary School principal, Laurie Bahl, Carpenter Elementary School principal, Sue Stevens, Pine Bluffs Elementary School principal, Jerry Becking, Burns High School principal, and Todd Sweeter, Pine Bluffs High School principal.

The board accepted retirement notices from Ann Binning and Robert Cochran and the resignations of David Roberts and Allen Merrill.

“We are always sad to see people move on, but appreciate their work while they are here,” board chair Esther Davison said.

Three new hire requests approved by the board included Sean Patterson for head junior high track coach, Charles Jackson for Cortney Rutherford for para-educator, and Donna Peters for Albin elementary secretary.

The board approved the request to advertise for a secondary instructional facilitator, one and a half special education instructors, a half time fourth grade teacher, and an English language arts instructor.

Bryant reviewed the financial report with the board and said the district was pretty close to where it was last year; 74.4 percent received revenue compared with 73.8 percent in 2012, 59 percent of the budget had been expended compared to 60.6 percent in 2012.

“Enrollment was at 920 March 1, up one from Feb. 1, down 18 from the start of the year, and enrollment was at 917 today,” Bryant said.

In other business, board member Jack Bomhoff said Richard Bastian asked him if the board would help him remove a building from the Burns FFA farm site. “The building is unsafe,” said Bomhoff. “Richard said he would be willing to work out a 99 year lease with the school so they could put up a better building and use the site.”

Board member Jeff Kirkbride wanted to commend the bands from Pine Bluffs and Burns for coming together and supporting both schools’ basketball teams at regionals and state.

“They made the trip to Sheridan and Tongue River, and that is no small effort,” Kirkbride said. “And the band members and teachers came together and played at state and sounded great. Our band was the best. We keep trying to achieve some sense of district and this went a long way towards that.” Kirkbride was also glad to see administration at the games supporting the teams.

The next board meeting will be Monday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at the Burns High School.