District passes new concealed carry requirements

Debates current coaching policy 

After receiving no public comment over two 45-day periods, Big Horn County School District No. 4’s Board of Trustees unanimously passed a rule change requiring staff and volunteers choosing to concealed carry on school grounds to submit to training requirements at their Tuesday, Oct. 14 meeting. 

The decision comes following the Wyoming state legislature’s removal of gun-free school zones in July. 

THIRD COACH CONTENTION

While the concealed carry rule change sailed through, the proposal that the volleyball team add a third coach sparked a 40-minute discussion amongst the board. 

Current school policy requires 30 players to add a third coach on extracurriculars. Volleyball had 23 players this year. The request for a third coach came following an inability to attend freshman tournaments scheduled at the same time as JV and varsity this season. 

“My recommendation is not to amend the policy,” Superintendent Keith Campbell said. 

Given only a few remaining weeks on the volleyball season, the timing for hiring a coach would be futile regardless. Campbell predicted that the problem may continue into basketball season with the same number of girls, so the board could address the issue at that point. 

“I think we need to stick with, regardless, not looking at sports and looking at the policy,” said vice chair Greg Gloy, standing in for chair Heath Hopkin.

Business manager Trevor Whitaker reported that in budgeting, he has found that two coaches is average for districts of Riverside’s size. Principal, athletic director and football coach Matt Jensen weighed in that 30 is a high requirement for single-sex sports, with only 32 girls total in the high school. 

“Maybe the criteria should not be numbers, but whether or not there’s the ability to have three separate teams,” suggested board member Kristen Schlattmann, noting that team sizes and playing times available vary by sport. Gloy added that the request for a third coach has come up several times over his tenure on the school board. 

“I’m worried that you’ll get an argument if you have a third coach for 22 kids, what happens in that third-grade classroom when they don’t have two people teaching 22 kids?” Campbell said. 

A roll call vote to open the policy for amendment resulted in four nos. With Hopkin and board member Linda Osmond absent, it was added as a later discussion item. Campbell suggested three board members join a subcommittee to gather information from the community to inform the full board, which will be formed later on. 

STUDENT TABLETS AND COMPUTERS BANNED

The school board amended their student use of electronic devices policy to prevent students from using their personal tablets and computers at school, recommended by the school’s principals and technology coordinator for security reasons. Some students expressed concern to Jensen. 

“It primarily effects seniors that are in dual and concurrent enrollment classes…,” Jensen said. “I also wanted to make sure that they knew that if there are things that they need for their college classes, we as a school need to make sure that we are providing them for them.”

For example, the Microsoft suite required for Northwest College classes is not available on the school’s Chromebooks. Jensen suggested the school may have to invest in upgraded computers for those classes, with a cost estimate to be presented at a later date. 

Until computers can be provided, the school will make exceptions as needed for students. 

OTHER NEWS 

The final day of the Scholastic Book Fair is today, Thursday, Oct. 23 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cash purchases will be coinless, rounded to the nearest dollar. Card and eWallet payments are also accepted. 

The school board accepted a $7,040 low bid from Crafted Consulting out of Red Lodge for their new strategic plan. 

The board accepted the resignation of head middle school volleyball coach Laura Godfrey. 

An amendment to the district’s inventories policy passed, outlining in greater detail how inventory will be done in accordance with state recommendations. The board also accepted a change to their time distribution records for federal programs, twice a year rather than annually. A procurement policy amendment and lunch charge amendment will be brought back to the board pending changes from Whitaker.

Special education monitoring is underway at Laura Irwin Elementary with a visit from the state planned Nov. 4-6 to result in a recommendation for the school. 

The school will finish the brickwork on Gibbs Field’s entrance following issues with the contractor.