Back to school in Basin Aug. 18

Basin schools are back in action Monday, Aug. 18. 

Laura Irwin Elementary Principal Katie Seeley reported enrollment is similar to last year, with a full kindergarten class. New hires will include preschool teacher Sarah Hing, third-grade teacher Sarah Bell and “one of our own, homegrown” Randi Lynn Noble, who has become a special education teacher after years as a paraeducator. 

“We’re so excited to have all three of them; they will be great editions to our team,” Seeley said. 

At Riverside Middle High School, Latin will be added to the high school curriculum. New teachers are Aleah Russell -- CTE Ag; Ira Mickelson -- middle school social studies and wrestling coach; Dana Romriell—high school special ed; Megan Kestner – grades 3-12 art, and  Rick Wheeler -- CTE woods

“Super excited about the new staff that we have coming in and the staff we have already. We always tend to do a very good job, it’s a pretty professional group of people and they take pride in what they do,” RMHS principal Matt Jensen said. 

POLICY CHANGES

Both LIE and RMHS will see changes to their cell phone policies this school year, essentially requiring lower grade levels to keep their phones in their backpacks while upper grade levels may bring their phones to class but must check them in at the door. 

“We held meetings all last year, so I feel like everybody is kind of on the same page with just trying to reduce the amount of cell phones in schools,” Jensen said. 

Big Horn County School Dist. No 4’s board of trustees opened a 45-day comment period on their proposed concealed carry rule change on July 8 in response to Wyoming’s new law removing gun-free school zones, which will not come to an end before the start of the school year. A copy of the proposal is available at bgh4.org under “Governing Firearms.” 

Business manager Trevor Whitaker suggested that lunch costs may go up this year, pending school board approval. 

ATHLETICS

Construction on the new athletics field is not yet completed, with football expected to continue at the Ninth Street location for this season. Concession stands, bathrooms, updates to the track shed and a new football scoreboard are expected to be installed. Jensen, as the middle school athletic director, hoped that by spring, Riverside would be able to host a middle school track meet at the new location near the school. 

Jensen will take over as head football coach this year, with Cash Duncan to take over his former assistant coach position. Laura Godfrey will move up to head middle school volleyball coach, with Kerri DeFord to fill the assistant role. 

BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS

Today, Thursday, Aug. 14, Security State Bank and DFS will provide school supplies to anyone who needs them at LIE’s open house from noon to 2 p.m. and RMHS’s from noon to 1 p.m. 

The Booster Clubs’ golf outing will also take place soon, with details to be determined. 

“I think we’re very excited to get going on the new school year,” Seeley said.