School Board Commends Staff for COVID Reaction

The halls are dark and empty with the exception of the few staff assigned to work the building, but education is still taking place, for students and staff.

On April 13, the Cheyenne County School District No.1 Board of Education publicly commended staff for its service to the district's children and education goals.

The school board held its first virtual board meeting with Zoom.

During the meeting, Superintendent Jay Ehler said the District is feeding about 280 students per day.

“Everybody is able to eat for free, even those who are not free and reduced,” Ehler said.

Later in the meeting, he added that the District is changing the lunch program to distributing lunches twice per week. Each lunch sack will have multiple lunches. He said the reason for the change is to reduce social closeness in relation to Gov. Pete Ricketts' 21-day order to maintain social distancing.

He said many of the district staff have assumed duties not normally part of their responsibilities.

“I think the board should be proud. The support staff have been amazing,” he said.

He added the maintenance staff is catching up on projects, in some instances “caught up for the first time in a couple years.” He credits the staff for committing “above and beyond” what is expected.

During the discussion on the bills payable, the school board was updated on an effort to install cameras in the school busses. Ehler said the cameras are to “keep kids accountable,” and security in case anything should happen on a bus. March bills amounted to almost $1.3 million. The District has received 59.77 percent of its tax revenue; $4.14 million of the $6.935 million budgeted.

The board also acknowledged the Winter Academic All-State Award Winners. The award winners are Speech: Sophie Price and Julia Siqueira; Girls Basketball: Jaylee Shaw and Kendra Nesbitt; Wrestling: Julian Maytorena; and Boys Basketball: Wyatt Heckenlively and Treyson Johnstone.

The board also approved Ehler's contract as superintendent for the 2020-2021 school year, and teaching contracts for Karah Babst and Morgan Meier. Babst is expected to teach fourth grade and Meier may be teaching math.

The board also approved classified pay through May 22. The board had previously approved pay through April 10. Ehlers said he anticipates all of the staff will come back to work when the schools open for students.