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State of Wyoming )

County of Sweetwater ) November 11, 2014

School District No. Two )

The Board of Trustees of School District No. Two, in the County of Sweetwater and the State of

Wyoming, met in regular session on November 11, 2014 at the Truman Elementary School

Media Center, Green River, Wyoming pursuant to notice and due call given each member of the

Board of Trustees of said District. Steve Core, Chairman of the Board and a member thereof

called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members of the Board were present:

Steve Core

Ann Rudoff

Cristy Magagna

John Malone

Sherie Smith

Brenda Roosa

Brad Cutler

Others present were: Donna Little-Kaumo, Jamie Christensen, Mike Moody, Greg Figenser, Cody

Greenwald, Alan Demaret, Doug Hamel, Sheryl Wilson, Tom Wilson, Julie Milligan, Dayna Givens,

Oscar Barton, Hillary Walrath, Joe Hamel, Moriah Howard, Darren Howard, Sandy Bowling, Anne Marie

Covey, Lu Kasper, Linda Martin, Michelle Cordova, Denise Shears, Melanie Litz, Laurie Moody, Dan

Larose, Ralph Obray, AJ Nathan, Steve Boyd, Darren Heslep, Stacey Court, Tamara Noble, Josie Givens,

Chris Givens, Pete Brandjord, Mike DeCoria, Brandon Blair, Desiree Pampuch, Robin Steiss, Jason Fuss

and Mary Flom.

1. OPENING ITEMS

1.01 Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Steve Core at 7:00 p.m.

1.02 Roll Call/Pledge of Allegiance

2. VISITORS, DELEGATIONS, CORRESPONDENCE

2.01 Public Comment

None were taken.

2.02 Recognition of American Education Week (Little-Kaumo)

Superintendent Little-Kaumo read the Proclamation for American Education Week that was

signed by Chairman Core.

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2.03 Presentation of Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Teacher of the Year

(Little-Kaumo)

Chairman Core stated that it is always a great pleasure to recognize some of the District’s

professionals and this is the best of the best.

Superintendent Little-Kaumo would like to introduce Desiree Pampuch who is Sweetwater

County School District No. 2’s Teacher of the Year and currently serves at Monroe Intermediate

School teaching our special education students and serving some of our most precious students.

The District is very proud of Pampuch’s work and thanks Pampuch for her service. The District

would like to present Pampuch with this plaque for being the Teacher of the Year for 2014-2015.

2.04 Recognition of Student Teacher at Jackson Elementary School (Fuss)

Jason Fuss, Human Resources Director, introduced Melanie Litz and Denise Shears from

Jackson Elementary School. Litz is one of 3 student teachers in the District this Fall, as the bulk

of the student teachers will be coming in for the Spring semester with the University of

Wyoming. Fuss stated that Litz has been doing a great job and that he is proud of her.

Litz stated that it has been going amazing and she thanks every one of the Board members for

this great opportunity. Litz has such great leaders to look up too and it is just a great community

of people that she has looked up too and would like to thank everyone all very much.

Chairman Core asked Litz where she was from, which Litz responded that she is from Green

River and has grown up here most of her life.

Denise Shears commented that Litz will be one of the staff members one of these years.

Fuss thanked Shears for being an awesome mentor teacher.

2.05 Recognition of Michelle Cordova (Christensen)

Assistant Superintendent Christensen introduced and gives his heartfelt thanks to Michelle

Cordova, who is a nurse here at Green River High School. About 2 years ago Assistant

Superintendent Christensen asked Cordova to attend a meeting over in Rock Springs at the

County Health Group who were really looking at some information on a project; Cordova just

got swallowed up by the project that turned out to be called Life R U Ready that happened on

October 21, 2014. Cordova is a representative on the District’s Wellness Committee and

Cordova has done the research so that the program would align with the standards as part of the

7th

and 8th

grade Wellness Day. Our Transportation and Lincoln Middle School Staff also did

some of the informational issues as well. Assistant Superintendent Christensen has to tell

everyone that Cordova took a real leadership role in this project. Cordova not only was driving

back and forth to meetings, but Cordova also went to Gillette, Wyoming on her own to

investigate this program and to bring back some information. Assistant Superintendent

Christensen cannot speak highly enough of the Michelle Cordova’s that “we” have in this

District that step out beyond what their roles typically. Here Cordova is a high school Wellness

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committee representative and Cordova took on this project to benefit every 7th

and 8th

grade at

Lincoln Middle School. Thank you Michelle Cordova, from the bottom of his heart and

Assistant Superintendent Christensen knows that when they have the program next year the

District will again appreciate your efforts.

2.06 Recognition of All State Cross Country Participant (Boyd)

Steve Boyd, Green River High School Boys and Girls Cross Country Head Coach presented

Josie Givens, who is a Junior at Green River High School. Givens is Boyd’s first girl All State

cross county runner and Givens is also the 1st All State Girl in 15 years. Givens had a great

season and is just a wonderful young lady. Boyd has Givens in his history classes too and is

noted that she is a hard worker. Boyd has done some research and GRHS has had 4 girls who

have placed in 3rd

place at the State cross county meet and nobody has ever placed higher so

Givens joins a pretty elite group and had a historic season. Boyd will be glad to have Givens

back next year and now they are gearing up for indoor track.

2.05 “Gimme A Break” Presentation and Drawing (Little-Kaumo)

Superintendent Little-Kaumo stated that the presentation will be given in December because Lu

Kasper and Superintendent Little-Kaumo had a little bit of a challenge coordinating a schedule

so Superintendent Little-Kaumo is going to be there this Friday, November 14th

. Superintendent

Little-Kaumo does have a special request, and that is that Superintendent Little-Kaumo has been

a little bit bogged down with construction issues, so the idea is to spend the whole day observing

in the classrooms, so if Kasper could order no discipline issues and no parent meetings maybe

Superintendent Little-Kaumo’s dream will come true. So that experience will be highlighted in

December, so there will be 2 experiences highlighted.

Tara Taliaferro, K-2 teacher at Granger Elementary School, is November’s “Gimme A Break”

Recipient. Alan Demaret, Special Services Director, will be taking this position over for a day.

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

3.01 Approval of Agenda

Brenda Roosa moved, seconded by Ann Rudoff to approve the agenda. Motion carried

unanimously.

Chairman Core stated that there was an amendment to the Agenda and 11.01 – Executive

Session, as it is on the agenda bus it wasn’t advertised and it is for potential litigation and 8.01

which is a Request to Go to Bid for the Purchase of Weight Room Equipment for Green River

High School.

Brad Cutler moved, seconded by Brenda Roosa to approve the amended agenda with the addition

of 11.01 Executive Session and 8.01 Approval to Purchase Weight Room Equipment for Green

River High School. Motion carried unanimously.

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All of those in favor of the amended agenda please signify with an “Aye”, motion carried

unanimously.

4. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 4.01 through 4.07

4.01 Approval of Consent Agenda Items 4.01 through 4.07

Sherie Smith moved, seconded by Cristy Magagna to approve the consent agenda items 4.01

through 4.07. Motion carried unanimously.

5. DISTRICT GOALS AND LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES

5.01 Update on Granger Meet and Greet held on November 5, 2014

Chairman Core stated that the Board was out there last Wednesday and there was 2 parents, a

couple of kids from out there and spent about 20 to 25 minutes and just visited and had cookies

and it was nice. Chairman Core is hoping that the Board can continue to do those types of

things.

5.02 Reminder of Legislative Dinner on November 17, 2014 at the Central

Administration Building at 6:30PM

Chairman Core stated that there is a legislative dinner scheduled for next Monday at Central

Office and if members are planning on going to let Superintendent Little-Kaumo know.

5.03 Reminder of WSBA Fall Conference and Delegate Assembly on November

19th

- 21st, 2014 in Casper, Wyoming.

The Wyoming School Board Association annual delegate assembly is being held on November

19th

– 21st and Chairman Core apologizes that he will not be able to go; but he will go if he needs

to go but it sound like somebody from this District needs to stand up and tell the delegates at the

assembly that they need to have a “do pass” recommendation on the ECA issue instead of a “no

recommendation.” Chairman Core is hoping this can happen, and he understands that Brenda

Roosa stated that she would stand up and tell them that. Chairman Core would recommend that,

if he was going to be there he would stand up and say that they would need everyone in the

assembly that are delegates to stand up and then he’d say if there is anyone in here that fells that

their district doesn’t deserve an ECA, you can sit down. None of them of course are going to sit

down, and then say ok with this vote, it is a “do pass” recommendation.

6. PERSONNEL

6.01 Consider Approval of Certified Sick Leave Bank Request (Fuss)

Jason Fuss, Human Resources Director, asked the Board to approve the certified sick leave bank

committee recommendation of denying a sick leave bank request for fourteen (14.00) additional

sick leave days from the certified sick leave bank.

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John Malone moved, seconded by Brenda Roosa to approve the certified sick leave bank request.

Motion was defeated.

6.02 Consider Approval of Certified Resignation (Fuss)

Jason Fuss, Human Resources Director, stated that it is the recommendation to the Board to

approve the resignation of Dana Vercimak.

Sherie Smith moved, seconded by Brenda Roosa to approve the resignation letter of Dana

Vercimak dated November 10th

, 2014. Motion carried unanimously.

7. CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT

7.01 Consider WyTECC Conference Request for $2,000 (Magagna)

Cristy Magagna, asked the Board for $2,000 for the 4th

annual WyTECC conference. This is the

same request that the Board has seen in the past with one change; as it will still be the $1,500

towards teacher scholarships, which is 20 teachers at the $50 early bird fee; but the extra $500

would be towards the cost of the expenses for speakers. The costs would be for airfares, meals,

motels or any of those expenses that are incurred. BOCES picks up the actual cost of bringing

those speakers, which is $10,000 worth. Just a side note, Western Wyoming Community

College and School District #1 have already approved their portion of this as well.

Chairman Core asked Magagna when the conference is being held which Magagna responded

that it will be May 1st and May 2

nd at Rock Springs High School. This will be a similar schedule

to what it has been in the past.

Brenda Roosa moved, seconded by Brad Cutler to approve $2,000 from Board Discretionary

Funds for the WyTECC conference. Motion carried unanimously.

7.02 Hear Presentation on Truman Elementary School (Figenser)

Greg Figenser, Principal of Truman Elementary, stated that it is his pleasure to have been here

the past 2 months, Figenser has learned a lot and continues to learn a lot on a daily basis. One of

the things that Figenser finds the most amazing about Truman Elementary is the care and the

love for the kids that are here. Figenser shared with the Board a couple of slides that concerned

him and the Board as well. As the staff looked through the Spring PAWS data, and that is the

data that Figenser will be focusing on tonight, because this is the stuff that is going to end up in

the paper and this is what is going to be looked at. When the staff looked at these numbers, they

know that these numbers aren’t where they need to be, 54% in 3rd

grade reading is not good

enough and our kids deserve more and our teachers are doing the job that they need to in order to

be successful but Figenser thinks what has happened in this building is the lack of a unified

direction. This is not pinpointed on any one person, but what “we” have is a group of teachers

that are so passionate that they have found what they can do in the time that they have the kids

and they don’t have some of things to say “you know what this is something that ‘we’ can all get

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behind and pull for”. Figenser believes that in time and over the next 3 years Figenser would

like to paint kind of a picture for you of what Figenser wants to do with the staff here so that

there is a unified direction, so that “we” know where we are going to be and “we” will know

when we get there. 3rd

Grade Paws scores for Math were 45% and that score is not going to

work and “we” know that. 4th

Grade PAWS Reading is at 51% and for Math it is at 47%; which

is the first time that Figenser has looked at the data for Truman Elementary that Math has

actually been lower than Reading, so what does that mean. The Science scores are at 37% for 4th

grade, so we can stack those up here.

The 3 year plan is as follows:

1) We will exceed the state average on PAWS in reading and math in year 1;

2) We will exceed the District average on PAWS in reading and math in year 2;

3) Our averages will be a minimum of 80% proficient or advanced in reading and math

as measured by PAWS in year 3;

4) In the 3rd

year, we will reduce the number of students that are in core replacement by

50%.

One of the things that Figenser has found that has kind of led Figenser to this piece was that last

year there were 91 students that were in core replacement, which is a Tier 2 or 3 intervention and

for teachers “we” know what that means. What that means is that a lot of the kids aren’t in the

regular education classroom as they are in a replacement program that is not tied specifically to

the standards in a lot of cases. So what “we” are seeing here is the students who are out of the

classrooms and in another location and are getting the support that “we” have defined that they

need, but out of those students only 44% of those were on an Individual Education Plan (IEP).

So “we” have to flip what we are doing for those kids and intervene differently before they are

even placed in a core replacement, so that is what “we” are going to do and that will be for over

the next 3 years and also change some of the instructional patterns to help these kids with the 3

big targets.

If “you” haven’t seen the movie “Fury” and Figenser would recommend it as it will get your

blood pumping. So how will we get there? Through Furious Determine and Teamwork. “We’

have to know exactly what we are going to do and we have to work as a team. No teacher will

be isolated anymore. No teacher can be just in a little pod. “Our” team is the entire school from

Kindergarten to 4th

Grade and every single person that touches a child has to be involved with

this. So everyone will tie their instruction to District curriculum maps and Truman Elementary is

in the process of making sure that “our” math curriculum and the targets that a person will see

posted in every classroom every day are tied to the curriculum mapping that is done by the

District. 80-80 Baby is a term that is a philosophy that 80% of your kids need to be 80% or

above on every assessment “you” give because it is really difficult to get 100%; as “we’ve” seen

No Child Left Behind and we didn’t quite make that. So 80-80 means that 80% of our kids, will

achieve 80% or above on every assessment. So that 20%, “we” then pull them aside, “we” will

remediate, retest and get them over the hump and move on. The 80-80 baby was designed by

David Asselmeier, from right here at Truman Elementary, because 80-80 baby just gives it a

little bit more punch. “We will backfill gaps in student reading skills using specific reading

instruction tied to the needs of the individual student and every child will have an Individual

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Learning Plan based on their needs in the next 3 years. So when the staff was looking at the

NWEA data, part of the process was looking at and knowing how to use that information to

impact the instruction for the betterment of the children that we serve because Figenser believes

that this is the ultimate service industry. So “we” need to make sure that “we” have the students

at the center of every decision that is made. “We” are going to accelerate or remediate students

based on their individual needs; what children need “we” are going to provide and in no way is

Figenser saying that “we” haven’t done that, but “we” haven’t done that as a system and “we”

haven’t done that together and all of us at the table talking about what these kids need and then

breaking down into the little PLC’s and saying this is what “our” kids need and this is how “we”

are going to attack this problem.

If anyone has seen the Blue Angels, everything that they do is precision, it is focused, is devoted

and is going back and analyzing their data and refining and reforming or whatever they need to

because if they mess up they die. Well “we” can’t afford to leave a child behind because in a lot

of ways “we” could damage them for life, “we’ve” got to be better. So the development of the

PLC is going to drive instruction in the data and the understanding in each and every grade level

and then “we” are going to talk across grade levels because that is one thing that is not happening

here. “We” are not talking across grade levels and Figenser has asked every grade level teacher

and they have said that they really don’t know what the teachers are doing in the other grade

levels and that cannot happen. “We” are going to differentiate instruction and the integration of

the subjects as Figenser feels that “we” are missing some of these pieces and this work is starting

now. Figenser just got back from NWEA training today that was focused on using data and

focused on differentiated instruction so that we have a better understanding of the common core

in dealing with every single child. Truman Elementary is going to train using data to positively

impact instruction so that everything that “we” do is going to positively impact the child. “We”

have to remember to celebrate our successes along the way because if “we” don’t celebrate “we”

are going to fall down and say “we” have to get back up so “we” have to be there for each other

and “we” have to celebrate the successes and “we” have to recognize the input of all of our

parents in our community in the success that “we” are going to have, because “we” are no longer

going to be at the bottom. “We” are going to raise this school to new heights. One of the first

slides in this present was “Oh the places that we will go”; that is exactly the truth because the sky

is the limit and “we” don’t know what that limit is so “we” can go as far and as high as “we”

want.

So Truman Elementary is “coming together is the beginning; keeping together is progress and

working together is success” (quote by Henry Ford) “We” are coming together now and

Figenser is not saying that the staff hasn’t been together, but coming together under new

leadership is tough and “they” are trying to figure out how crazy this guy actually is and Figenser

doesn’t want them to know that they haven’t seen all of my insanity yet, so Figenser has to get

them together before springing that one on them! In keeping together with progress “we” need

to make sure that “we” are staying together and that “we” all have the eye on the ball; where are

“we” going to get these kids, what are “we” doing with them today, and then working together

for success because if “we” work together as a team and as a system, “our” success is going to be

evident for everyone.

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7.03 Hear Presentation from Hillary Walrath with Trout Unlimited (S. Wilson)

Sheryl Wilson, Curriculum Director and Principal of McKinnon Elementary, introduced Hilary

Walrath with Trout Unlimited and last spring the students and teachers at McKinnon Elementary

had the opportunity to be a part of a field study on the cutthroat trout and their migration patterns

up the Henry’s Fork, so McKinnon Elementary has partnered with Hillary Walrath and Trout

Unlimited and Wyoming Game and Fish to teach the students about that process and Walrath is

here tonight to explain a little bit about this.

Walrath stated that she is going to cover the Adopt A Trout Program tonight which is a program

that Trout Unlimited developed about 7 years ago. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department

came to Trout Unlimited saying that they needed to have a movement study done on the

cutthroat trout up in the Greyvant River, but they didn’t have the personnel or the funds to do

such a study. So Trout Unlimited came up with a kind of cool educational program where they

organized the funds to get radio transmitters and implant them in the fish and track them

throughout the year and gives the movement data that the Wyoming Game and Fish were

looking for so that they can better manage that system. Trout Unlimited also partners with a

local school in the area and let the kids adopt a fish; so they bring the movement data that has

been collected to the kids and they each get assigned their own fish and they get to track it

throughout the year. About once a month, Trout Unlimited visits the students to cover different

fishery related topics and the students get to track their fish throughout the area and just kind of

get a look at the rivers that are in their back yards; which is real on the ground science work.

Wyoming Game and Fish approached Walrath last year with a project to better understand what

the cutthroat trout were doing in the Henry’s Fork; which is the river that goes through

McKinnon, Wyoming. All of last Spring Walrath did a fundraiser and got the funds together this

summer and the kids kicked the program off in October with a field day. So the kids came down

to the Anderson Ranch just by the river that runs right by their school, which is literally in their

backyards and the students got to see what all is involved with this program and getting the

students excited. The students got to watch a fish surgery where the actual transmitter was

implanted. The staff knocked the fish out and put the radio transmitter in , which is about the

size of a battery, and the 14 students got to watch the surgery and then the fish recovers slowly in

some water and the students got to watch it swim away. The next station that was done was the

telemetry station which is how the fish is tracked and then from the receiver you can pick up the

fish’s signal and mark their location with a GPS. So Walrath went around with little transmitters

and the kids broke up into groups and they each got to try out the transmitter. Another station

was put on by the Wyoming Game and Fish and they came down and in order to get the fish the

Wyoming Game and Fish have to electro shock the fish and so an electro shock demonstration

was given to the students and there were a couple of other different types of fish were shocked

besides the cutthroat trout so that could look at the different fish ID’s. The final station was a

macro-vertebrate station that is about the different bugs in the river and the students got to key

out all of the different bugs that were in the river.

Now Walrath will be keeping track of the fish in the river throughout the year, getting those

locations and getting it back to the students. So next month the students will be adopting their

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fish which is done by a raffle wherein the students can draw a fish out of a bucket and have a

little picture and it is really fun. Then Walrath will be working with the students to learn Google

Earth and map on it and then the fish will be tracked throughout the year wherein the students

will be developing their own hypotheses on where the fish is going to go and see if it follows

their plan. Every month Walrath will have a different presentation on subjects like a fish life

cycle, habitation and riparian areas, an obstacle course that is really fun for the students as they

get to see all of the different obstacles that a fish goes through to spawn and they also get to write

a report on a travel of their choice in North America. So it is a really cool project for the

different grades. At the end of the year and after the students have done all of the science work,

the students will do a conservation project such as planting willows as it is a really easy project

for students to do as they just plant the willow stakes and then they can watch the fruits of their

labor and know that they had a part in the conservation of the fish in that area.

John Malone and Chairman Core both said that it was very fascinating and Walrath stated that

Trout Unlimited has these types’ projects all over the State. Right now there are projects going

on in Sheridan, Baggs, Evanston, Laramie, Pinedale, and Jackson.

7.04 Hear Presentation on AdvancED Visit (Christensen)

Assistant Superintendent Christensen stated that he is really proud to present on behalf of all of

our administrators, teachers, students and Central Office staff for preparing for this accreditation

visit that occurred October 26th

through October 30th

. The bottom line is that on the 30th

of

October on the exit visit, the District was awarded full accreditation. Assistant Superintendent

Christensen is very proud of the work that was done as it just gave you a lot of pride in telling

the AdvancED people the type of work that is going on and then going out into the classroom

and seeing it happening and that is really a testament to our administrators leadership that they

all have given to the teachers and their work and the commitment and buy in that the

administrators have with the support in the District. Also, Assistant Superintendent Christensen

would like to thank Mary Flom individually because Flom did the artifacts and gathered all of

the information over the last 2 years and made it very accessible for the AdvancED folks when

they came in and made it very easy for them, and Assistant Superintendent Christensen really

appreciated all of the hard work.

When the AdvancEd team came in to the District they visited with 318 people from different

stakeholder areas and they accomplished 182 observations that is equal to over 60 plus hours in

the classroom.

Stakeholders Interviewed Number

Superintendent 1

Central Office Staff 8

Board of Trustees 7

Principals/Administrators 15

Instructional Staff 74

Support Staff including paras 24

Students 157

Parents 32

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TOTAL 318

When the team went in to the classrooms, they were looking at several domains with one

example being Teaching and Learning Impact. The team examined student performance results,

instructional quality, learner and family engagement, support services for student learning,

curriculum quality and efficacy, and college and career readiness. As far as Sweetwater County

School District No. 2 vs. the National averages in those scores, the District came out very strong.

Assistant Superintendent Christensen would like to say that when a person looks at equitable

learning, high expectations, support learning and well-managed learning environment really fits

with what the District has been working on as far as a District focus over the last year and is

really proud of the improvement that has been seen in these areas. As far as digital learning

environment, what the team was looking at was; do the students have the digital technology in

their hands using it and even looking overall nationwide, the score is low, but the District does

have some work to do. What was sort of funny was that in their workroom the team sat next to

over 500 iPads that were getting ready to be deployed so the District is getting there.

Domains External Review IEQ Score

AE Network Average

Equitable Learning Environment 2.83 2.68

High Expectations Environment 2.90 2.81

Supportive Learning Environment 3.20 3.05

Active Learning Environment 3.06 2.95

Progress Monitoring and Feedback 2.92 2.76

Well-Managed Learning Environment 3.22 3.11

Digital Learning Environment 1.31 1.88

Chairman Core commented that on that same note, he thought that it is important that the

leadership that Assistant Superintendent Christensen provided in instructing the Board when they

went in to their meeting, that it was important to let the team know that we are a little bit behind

in technology and these scores help the District down the road.

Assistant Superintendent Christensen commented that he can’t help and think, how proud it

made all of us to talk about our District and never once during that visit did it feel like “you”

were telling somebody something that wasn’t true. Absolutely what “we” are talking about is

what “we” are living every day so it speaks volumes about our District.

The team really saw a couple of themes throughout the District and they were:

1) Commitment to providing opportunities to develop the whole child (business to

activities, fine arts programs, etc.)

2) Focused system-wide priorities (i.e. student engagement); because this time it was a

system-wide accreditation process rather school by school and again when the team

came in and talked to Central Office on Monday before they went out to the

classrooms on Tuesday that is what the team saw.

3) Time on task- Instructional time is valued; Assistant Superintendent Christensen

noted that “our” teachers and administrators just do a wonderful job of trying to kick

the hurdles out of the way to make sure that there is instruction going on.

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4) Strong loyalty to district goals. One of the things that the team kept coming back to

was that the team saw the logic in what “we” call the thru-line. That this ties back to

our District goals way back to the mission and the team kept commenting on that and

again it was evident.

Leadership Capacity really talked about the stability of “you” folks as Board members and also

the building leaderships as well as the stakeholder engagement from visiting with our parents.

The theme for leadership was that at both the system and school level support learning as the

primary focus of the system. “Learning for All” is the District’s mission statement.

Resource utilization, with this domain it showed that the District had a really strong usage of the

resources district-wide and whether it be curriculum, special education or the support areas of

food service and transportation and all how these areas combine thru the thru-line. Facilities are

well-maintained, clean and attractive. Food service meets the needs of the students in a variety

of ways. Again when the District gets marked down under the area of resources, it is really all

about getting up to speed with the technology piece. The District is close on this area and there

are some great things happening. Assistant Superintendent Christensen talked to Greg

Farnsworth, Technology Supervisor, last week and visited about what an advisory team might

look like.

Conclusions are the items that were looked at in coming up with the Index of Education Quality

(IEQ). When you look at the District’s score against the average score nationwide, the District

scored above the average in the overall score, teaching and learning impact, and leadership

capacity. Again the District stated that we can work on the resource utilization area and in fact

one of the improvement priorities was to work on the technology piece.

Domains External Review IEQ Score AE Network Average

Overall Score 286.59 282.79

Teaching and Learning Impact 278.57 274.14

Leadership Capacity 304.17 296.08

Resource Utilization 281.25 286.32

Also when you look at our District and the National/State Average, it made us kind of proud as a

District as “we” looked at the numbers, because these are numbers that came from the business

that happened last year.

IEQ SW2 National Average State Average

Index of Educational Quality (Overall Score)

285.59 282.79 255

Teaching and Learning Impact 278.57 274.14 251

Leadership Capacity 304.17 296.08 258

Resource Utilization/Technology 281.25 286.32 261

But again in closing, if you look at the numbers, something that the District can really be proud

of, there isn’t anyone in here that doesn’t think that school improvement stops the minutes the

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AdvancED team walks out the door. This is an ongoing thing and “we” are all trying to improve

individually and Assistant Superintendent Christensen is very proud of all of us. The bottom line

is that Sweetwater County School District #2 is fully accredited and please pass along to all of

the District staff that it was really nice work that was done for the visit and Assistant

Superintendent Christensen knows that there is going to be some corrective things that will need

to be done as far as action plans, but please tell all of your folks and again Mary Flom thank you

as well as the Central Office folks for coming together.

8. BID REQUEST ITEMS

8.01 Request to Go to Bid for the Purchase of Weight Room Equipment for Green

River High School (Christensen)

Assistant Superintendent Christensen asked the Board for their approval to go to bid for the

purchase of weight room equipment for Green River High School as year 1 as already been used

and year 2 and year 3 were each for $30,000 and would like to combine those two years and get

the equipment purchased. This amount is not to exceed $60,000.

Brenda Roosa moved, seconded by Cristy Magagna to approve the purchase of weight room

equipment at Green River High School and combining year 2 and 3 into year 2 in an amount not

to exceed $60,000. Motion carried unanimously.

9. OTHER BUSINESS

9.01 Consider Approval of Audited Financial Statement for 2013-2014

(Brandjord)

Pete Brandjord, Business Manager, introduced Brandon Blair from DeCoria, Maichel and

Teague auditors who performed this year’s District Audit. Michael DeCoria is also in the

audience tonight. Blair is going to present the audit tonight and DeCoria are going to leave

tonight after questions as they are going to do South Pass twice tonight.

Blair stated that he is the associate partner of DeCoria, Maichel and Teague, and he stated that

one of the things that the company has done is that with Blair being promoted to associate

partner enable “us” to do more things as a firm, where we can rotate who is the primary partner

on an engagement. DeCoria is traditionally the primary partner on this engagement, wherein

now Blair is that person and DeCoria gets to be sort of in the background and gets to be a

concurring partner, which allows a second sort of eyes that is removed from the process, so that

DeCoria could say what about this guys, did this get overlooked or is it something different than

what DeCoria might have expected so this helps the overall process. This process combined

with the fact that the District has great staff who are extremely knowledgeable, and the Board

has had the auditors tell “you” this before, and in all the areas that the firm works in every area

that is looked at when the audits are being done, there is always somebody who is very

knowledgeable and does a great job from top to bottom.

13

The audit went very well as the Board would expect, and when Blair says “audits”; there is the

financial statement audit and then there is also what is called a single audit that is related to the

federal awards. While these audits are done in conjunction, they are two separate opinions.

There was no disagreement with management, there were no difficulties encountered, there were

no material audit adjustments in terms of there being a misstatement or error, but there was a

significant adjusted difference that was actually related to a timing issue between the previous

year and the current year and that has been cleaned up; so it had a small affect on the prior year

and an effect on the current year at the end of the year as it works its way through and it only

affected the government and district-wide statements. District-wide statements is a combination

of 3 different financial statements which are; district-wide, another statement that focuses on the

governmental activities and current focus and then there is another statement on the business

proprietary statement such as food service and child care which get broken down. As the Board

looks at the table of contents and there are all of these different pages, it is because there are

multiple layers for the audit.

The Report of Independent Auditor paperwork states that management is responsible for the

preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements. The auditor’s responsibility is to

conduct the audit in accordance to professional standards and those standards require that the

auditors consider internal controls to assess risks; what are the areas that the auditor’s need to

focus their attention on and it is a risk based approach in terms of the audit. The auditors do not

audit internal controls, but if something comes up as a concern or an issue, the Board will be

made aware of it and report on those.

This is a clean and unqualified audit in that the financial statements are presented fairly in all

material respects.

Blair wanted to note that there is an emphasis of matter because there is a new GASB Statement

No. 65 and some items that were previously reported as assets and liabilities are changed based

on what their definitions are and they are either deferred inflows and outflows or just outflows

and inflows. This had an impact on the District actually in relation to the previous year, not

2013-2014 but 2012-2013, when the District issued some bonds the District had approximately

$150,000 in bond issuance costs and under the older standards those bond issuance costs get

recorded as an asset and amortized or reduced over the life of the bonds. Under the new standard

they are no longer an asset it is recorded as an expense when they are incurred. So, that had a

$150,000 impact that had to be restated to the old financial statements.

What is not in here, but it is in the notes, is that there is a new standard, GASB Standard No. 68,

that deals with pensions and the pension accounting. The fact that next fiscal year, the District’s

June 30, 2015 statement, the District will have a proportionate share of the Wyoming Retirement

System net pension liability. The District’s proportionate share of that net pension liability will

be reported directly on the financial statement. This is a very big standard and this has been in

the works now for the past 2 years. The auditors have come down and put on a training here in

Green River that Pete Brandjord has graciously helped put on, the is a training for all of their

governmental clients and also open it up to other governmental agencies and business managers

from other school districts, cities and counties as a way to just make sure that “we” are all up to

14

date and keeping informed of any new things that are coming out. This standard is one that the

auditors have been discussing for 2 years now; and it is now. So the District will actually get

issued a report issued by the Wyoming Retirement System and their auditors will provide the

District with the number, so the District really doesn’t have to do a whole lot, but it will affect

the financial statements.

The auditors do address the fact that they do conduct a single audit relating to federal awards;

which is one of 3 reports that the auditors provide and everything else in the document is the

District’s because they are the District’s financial statements, the Districts supplemental

information, the District’s management discussion and analysis. The auditors did a system of

preparation but they are not ours.

On page 48, this is the report that the auditors have that discuss internal controls and if there are

deficiencies of certain magnitude’s and those are material weakness. A material weakness is a

deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control, such that there is a reasonable

possibility that a material misstatement of the entity’s financial statement will not be prevented,

or detected and corrected, on a timely basis. What could cause a material misstatement, which

generally is just an error that happens, it slipped through the cracks, somebody didn’t catch it

with the controls that are currently in place, it could be fraud, which is another reason that a

misstatement could occur. While the Board doesn’t want to be sitting in your chairs and Blair

doesn’t want to be standing up here saying hey guess what “we” identified some fraud, which

“we” haven’t, but he just wanted to keep you on the edges of your seats. But that is not why the

auditors are here, if that fraud had occurred and was a cause of a material mistake, clearly that is

something that the auditors would need to identify and it would be reported and presented. If

there is anything that causes the auditors some concern, the Board would be made aware of it.

There isn’t anything like that. Blair just wanted the Board to be aware that yes a fraud could

cause a material weakness but that is not the purpose for the audit. A significant deficiency is a

deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control that is less severe than a material

weakness, yet important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance.

With that said, there were no material weaknesses, but there was 1 significant deficiency and it is

the same deficiency that the auditors have presented in the past. On page 54 of the audit which is

the Schedule of Findings and Questions Costs. There are 3 sections to this:

1) Summary of Auditor’s Results – This is an unqualified opinion on the basic financial

statements of the District. The audit of the financial statements disclosed a significant

deficiency in internal control over financial reporting. The significant deficiency in

internal control over financial reporting was not considered to be a material

weakness. The audit disclosed no compliance findings material to the financial

statements of the District.

2) Federal Awards – The audit identified no significant deficiencies for internal control

over major programs. The audit identified no material weaknesses for internal

control over major programs. Anytime a District expends over $500,000 in Federal

money, there has to be a single audit. The auditors identified 2 major programs, but

they do not audit every program that receives Federal dollars. The auditors use tools

15

and guidance and standards to determine which program the auditors will go on to

test. This year in the current year the Child Nutrition Cluster and the Title II-A

Teacher Quality where the programs that were tested. So no significant deficiencies,

no material weaknesses and it is a clean unqualified opinion and no compliance

findings. A very good job in terms of the Federal awards.

3) The significant deficiency is the District’s small staff size, which the Board is aware

of. The District has great staff but there is just not enough staff to have a complete

segregation of duties. The auditors want to make sure that the Board is aware of it

and that is why it is reported. There is nothing that the auditors would suggested in

the way of a recommendation or improving of what the District has as the auditors

believe that there is great controls in place, because they can only report the negative

things which there aren’t any.

Chairman Core stated that he was sorry that he wasn’t able to attend the exit interview but Brad

Cutler was there for that. Blair stated that that wasn’t a problem and that every year the auditors

go through the same thing and the auditors learn a little bit more each year. Chairman Core

asked Blair what was audited this year that wasn’t audited last year. Blair responded that in

summary the answer would be no, the District had the same major funds that the District had a

year ago, so the auditors would have looked at the same major funds; but while we check

individual selections so what the auditors test might be different from year to year and also how

the auditors go about those selections might be different, how the audit is conducted has not

changed. There is not a significant change in management or staff so the only area that actually

changed is the timing difference between last year and this year related to some capital outlay

expenditures in the major maintenance area and how that was being accounted for. The

District’s records are always kept on a cash basis throughout the year and then the District has to

do a modified accrual on the funds statements, so cash didn’t go out but the District incurred a

liability because the work was done after the year end. The District captured that it was an

expenditure and a liability on the fund statements, but what happened was that there comes a

reconciliation between the funds statements, those capital outlays are recorded as expenditures

on the governmental funds statement, but on the district-wide financial statements they are

capital assets; that becomes a reconciling item. In the major maintenance funds only, those items

did not get captured and there is a change on how that is going to be accounted for so that

doesn’t come up again and it has been talked about on how it is going to be done next year so

that it is not an issue. Pete Brandjord and Chris Dean have collectively said that this is how they

are going to do this next year to resolve this issue.

Chairman Core then asked Blair if the auditors had spent any time with payroll, which Blair

responded that the auditors always spend time with payroll. Chairman Core stated that the

payroll area is where you can have some issues. Blair said that payroll is where there can be an

issue, but one of the things that is important though, is what Blair has read, is that the financial

statements are fairly stated in all material respects. Would it be likely that the auditors would

find a $500 error or a $5,000 error, not unless it was the luck of the draw of what is selected.

The auditors only test the bigger ones, the big dollars, and then the auditors sample for below.

So the auditors might find something, nothing was found this year and if the auditors had found

something the auditors certainly would have addressed that, but no there is nothing.

16

Ann Rudoff moved, seconded by Cristy Magagna to approve the 2013-2014 Financial Statement

Audit as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

9.02 Consider Approval of Medical Flexible Spending Account Amendment

(Brandjord)

Pete Brandjord, Business Manager, stated that this is a housekeeping entry as the District has a

section under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 125(i) that allows employees to take a

pre-tax deduction for qualifying medical expenses under the Affordable Care Act that was

capped at $2,500 and this year the amount is $ 2,550. This is a benefit not only to the employee

but also for the District as the District saves $6.20 in payroll taxes for every $100.

Chairman Core commented that it is interesting that the Federal Government is giving an

inflation adjustment. Send that to the State Legislature!

Sherie Smith moved, seconded by Brad Cutler to approve the Medical Flexible Spending

Account Amendment as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

9.03 Consider Approval of the Revision to Policy GBEB (Wellness Policy) – 2nd

Reading (Fuss/Christensen)

Jason Fuss, Human Resources Director, stated at the previous Board meeting the Board asked

Fuss to do some homework regarding the vendors. Linda Martin, Food Service Supervisor, has

done quite a bit of homework and in Fuss’s interview with Martin and Nancy Eklund, Fuss

would like to point out a couple of things. On page 89 in the Board books, the piece that is

removed from the policy talks about vending machine guidelines, and the piece that is removed

talks about healthy snack 24 hours a day, the additional part talks about if food is going to be

sold beyond water and the healthy snacks as stated in the USDA guidelines in the vending

machines, then the hourly restrictions need to be placed on the machines which is midnight to

3:00PM. If you want to continue to vend the water and healthy snacks, then those restrictions

aren’t there. Chairman Core at your request to call Coca-Cola, Pepsi and the other vendors;

Martin has already done that as well as the vendors know as well that the federal regulations are

coming down the pike and the vendors have heard quite a bit about the changes from our District

as well as other folks. This is what Fuss would like to report to the Board in consideration of the

2nd

reading.

Chairman Core commented that he is glad to hear that.

Ann Rudoff moved, seconded by John Malone to approve on 2nd

reading Policy GBEB

(Wellness Policy). Motion carried unanimously.

17

9.04 Hear Update on Recent External Cost Adjustment Work (Little-

Kaumo/Brandjord)

Pete Brandjord, Business Manager, gave a PowerPoint presentation reviewing the External Cost

Adjustment effort by the Coalition. The information is as follows:

Reason for the Initiative:

o “Wyoming’s school finance system is comprised of different components

(i.e., prototypical schools) and resources within those components (e.g.,

teachers, administrators, non-personnel items) to deliver “the basket” of

educational services specified by the Wyoming Legislature. Funding

provided to school districts is tied directly to those components and

resources, as directed by the Wyoming Supreme Court, must reflect their

costs.”

In order for the components and resources that comprise the Model to remain

cost-based, the Wyoming Supreme Court directed the Legislature to make

inflationary adjustments: “…without such adjustments, legislative inaction

appears inevitable, and, ultimately, funding of education will be below cost in

contravention of the constitution.” So the educational basket is no longer a cost

based adjustment for inflation adjustment. The ECA is a cost based external

adjustment.

The ECA has not been properly implemented since the 2009-2010 school year.

The estimate of the lost of funding for our District is approximately 5 million

dollars. This underfunding has negatively affected the District’s ability to provide

a quality education to our students.

The Coalition was formed during the Spring of 2014, with 6 other districts at that

time, and outreach to local legislators started during that time. The local

legislators have been very supportive.

o The Coalition has met twice with the Governor on the issue with a

favorable response.

o The Coalition was able to gain a spot on the agenda for the Joint

Education Committee (JEC) meeting on October 23rd

. If a person would

contract this the JEC committee meeting from last year where they were

not going to allow anybody to give public comment or testimony, let alone

a spot on the agenda, so progress has been made in that area. The

committee voted 10 to 3 in favor of the consultant’s ECA

recommendation, which was forwarded to the Joint Appropriations

Committee (JAC) for consideration on October 30th

. The 10 to 3 vote was

interesting to because the 2 co-chairpersons as one of them had a proxy

from another person that wasn’t there, so basically everybody voted

against the leadership, which was pretty spectacular.

18

JEC’s recommendation for an inflation adjustment by the

consultant;

Professional staff: 2.7%,

Non-professional staff: 2.375%

Educational materials: 2.18%

Energy: -0.9%

o The JAC meeting on October 30th

was held for the sole purpose of

considering an ECA and to forward a recommended ECA to the

Legislature for the session convening on January 13th

, 2015. After

considerable testimony, public comment, debate, motions and amended

motions the JAC passed the following ECA with a vote of 6 to 5.

JAC’s recommendation for an inflation adjustment

Professional staff: 0%

Non-professional staff: 2.375%

Educational materials: 2.18%

Energy: 0%

o The JAC did retain the 6 million dollar appropriation for the non

cumulative 1% one-time adjustment that was passed in the biennium

budget. So that would be in addition to this, but this was their

recommendation.

o Again the JAC did not use the broad base index to determine inflation.

o Despite the JAC’s action on their recommended ECA, we are in a much

better position than last year at this time when the JAC halved the JEC’s

recommendation to 1.0%. We sincerely appreciate the support of Rep.

Freeman on the JEC and Sen. Hastert on the JAC for maintaining the

purchasing power of Wyoming schools.

o New committee assignments will be made later this month that could

affect the JAC recommendation going forward. The JAC meets again on

November 17th

and for a full week on December 15th

through December

19th

. The JEC’s last meetings of the year will be on December 10th

and

11th

.

o The Coalition currently has nine member districts with several more

expressing an interest in joining the cause.

Brad Cutler commented that it will be a full agenda this year for our legislative people, and “we”

need to make sure that “we” get on the agenda and have a voice and that it is not rushed through.

The coalition has put so much work into this; they need to make sure that they have a voice.

19

Chairman Core stated that he didn’t know what to say, teachers, administrators, school board

members the time is now and you have to speak up, you have got to send letters, and you have to

write to your legislators. Chairman Core knows that our local legislators support what “we” are

trying to do, but this is it and the time is now because Chairman Core is ready to take the next

step, that is where he is at.

Brandjord stated that it is great having the actions of the various School Boards and Brandjord

knows that there will be a discussion at the Wyoming School Board Association meeting.

Unfortunately it is only a handful of Superintendents and Business Managers that show up at

these meetings and possible a few board members, but Brandjord thinks that there are 48 school

district, 7,800 teachers and that is where it needs to come from.

Chairman Core commented that he thinks the Green River Education Association needs to get a

position statement that “we” can help them with and tell their members that they have to write to

their legislators. If “you” want a raise and want to get that cost adjustment for inflation that

“you” haven’t had for 4 years, “we” have got to fight this. “We” were able to get rid of some of

these people, some of them didn’t make it through the election, but a lot of them did. So GREA

and the WEA and the WSBA, “we” need to fight this because the Supreme Court has spoken,

and Chairman Core is not a lawyer, but it seems pretty clear to him. Chairman Core encourages

people to keep battling.

Superintendent Little-Kaumo commented that this topic actually did come up at GREA’s

meeting last night. Chairman Core stated that he thinks that “we” can help them with this

extremely important issue.

Brandjord stated that Representative Freeman was at the GREA meeting and Senator Hastert

came in by phone call.

Brad Cutler asked if lobbyist people are turned in to this and are they aware of what is going on

and are there lobbying efforts going on, which Superintendent Little-Kaumo responded that the

lobbying efforts are school board members which are WSBA.

Chairman Core stated that WSBA has taken a neutral stance, which can change next week at the

delegates assembly, which Sherie Smith and John Malone are the Districts voting members, they

have to get them riled up and say enough is enough. Chairman Core said there needs to be a “do

pass” recommendation on this. Chairman Core knows that there are 2 different issues but the 1

issue wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t caused by the other issue but to Chairman Core they are the

same. The 57 million dollars that is back paid, we would be there if “they” had taken care of the

issue.

Superintendent Little-Kaumo would just like to add a comment because she knows that there are

a lot of educators in this room, it is disrespectful to not give the professional staff any increase.

As Superintendent, Little-Kaumo knows that the people who make the most difference in

educating our children are the ones standing in front of the classroom every day in and day out,

planning lessons, grading papers, reporting to individuals and “we” have demonstrated that

tonight with people talking about things like a playground or access for our kids, and enhancing

20

their experiences and to think that that particular group doesn’t have any inflation happening

when they go to Wal-Mart as opposed to the non-professionals is ridiculous and it is time to take

a stand and Superintendent Little-Kaumo is proud that this District is in the coalition and

working hard, but “we” need help. “They” think Superintendent Little-Kaumo is cute down

there at the Legislature but there are only a handful of us. Chairman Core asked Superintendent

Little-Kaumo who thought she was cute, which Superintendent Little-Kaumo responded that the

legislators say that to her, they ask where that cute little blond is.

Brandjord stated that the recommendation for professional staff was based on the opinion of the

consultant and it was on the advice of 1 person and not 48 school districts.

9.05 Hear Update on District Facilities (Hamel)

Doug Hamel, Facilities Manager, said he would start with the good news and then follow up with

the other news. The fire marshal has given approved for the Monroe Intermediate School

modular’s to be used (so AJ Nathan, Principal of Monroe Intermediate School), maintenance has

been moving some stuff in and sometime in the near future Hamel thinks that Nathan will be

able to move out there. Nathan responded that he’s ready.

At the pool, Siemen’s is on site for work on replacing the fire alarm and they started yesterday

and Hamel talked to them this afternoon and the representative is still thinking optimistically the

end of the week that they will be done. So Hamel is thinking that that is when the District should

be able to occupy the swimming pool, sometime next week.

Chairman Core stated that Monday is his goal as he has had parents call him about Monday and

if it doesn’t happen on Monday he is going to get a recall. Hamel can say that before Monday is

his goal but he has had a few goals that haven’t worked out so well. The fire alarm system is

being replaced, optimistically the representative thinks that he will be done by the end of the

week, which means that the District can get the fire marshal here so that the District can get his

approval and then there is another meeting that needs to take place with Groathouse and then

we’re ready to go.

Chairman Core stated that if the representative can get it done before Monday he can be the first

one to jump in to the pool. Hamel said that he will let him know.

Brad Cutler asked if the high school students would be able to use that pool soon, which Hamel

stated that optimistically it will be next week.

Chairman Core stated that there is an Olympic thing going on next week.

Ann Rudoff has some questions about this because if somebody comes in, or whomever comes

in and give the District the occupancy certificate; which Hamel responded would be the fire

marshal. So Mr. Fire Marshall comes in and sometimes his schedule won’t match “our”

schedule, so Hamel and Chairman Core are saying Monday, what about getting all of the items

moved into the pool. The pool just doesn’t open, just because there is water in the pool doesn’t

21

mean that we open. Hamel responded that that is right and the occupancy permit does start that

process. Rudoff then stated that you guys need to back off on the Monday statement.

Chairman Core stated that the Olympic thing is going to take place in “this” pool as there is no

equipment that needs to be moved in, just a guy in there talking about swimming. What do we

need to have the equipment for at the pool for this presentation?

Ann Rudoff stated that she begs to differ with Chairman Core after years of swimming

experience. It takes more than just opening that pool to make that pool safe.

Chairman Core asked Mike Moody if we can open do the Olympic thing at the pool if the

occupancy is given by Monday. Moody responded that as of right now the pools water

chemicals are not balanced and until the pool staff can actually get some of those chemicals

ordered and on site, the water chemicals are not balanced.

Ann Rudoff commented then that that is a “no.” Moody stated that we have the tubes, supplies

and things like that for the staff but we have no chemicals at this time. Chairman Core asked

why, which Rudoff responded that the chemicals just aren’t here. Moody thinks that this is a

transition period and he doesn’t want to speak for Hamel, but Hamel said that once the District

gets that permit it starts that process.

Brad Cutler then stated that the materials can’t be ordered and “we’ can’t be proactive and get

these things ordered until the District gets the OK.

Hamel commented that he is really does not understand what isn’t here, because this is the first

that Moody has told Hamel about this.

Ann Rudoff’s other question besides the chemicals is what happened to that 39 page punch list,

are those all done, and can “we” put people in to that facility if that punch list isn’t complete.

Hamel stated that the District can and that is the meeting that Hamel was referring to earlier

about meeting between the District and Groathouse to finalize that their schedule is going to

revolve around the District’s schedule. Rudoff asked Hamel then that Groathouse would work

evenings while nobody is in there, which Hamel responded in the affirmative. Rudoff

commented that that her other question is, and she doesn’t mean to put Hamel on the spot, as she

doesn’t know who else to ask so she’ll just toss it up in the air, there are several entities that are

chomping at the bit, besides Chairman Core, to jump into the pool. So how is the District going

to transition that, because the minute that Hamel says “we” have occupancy doesn’t just mean

for the aspect of the chemicals in the pool aren’t correct or aren’t here; how do “we”

communicate to the USA Swim Team, the middle school swim team, the 4th

and 5th

grade learn

to swim program and on and on and on. How is the District going to communicate with them

that there is a process that has to take place before everybody goes and uses that pool.

Chairman Core commented that he assumes that Mike Moody has that under control. Hamel

responded that the plan and how all of that happens is going to take place through a lot of

communication as “we” transition from one pool to another pool. So that is what Rudoff is

trying to say to Chairman Core, just because the District gets occupancy, it doesn’t mean that

22

people are diving in that pool 24 hours later. It can’t happen in a 24 hour period, it is too large of

a facility.

Chairman Core responded that it most certainly can, because if the District gets this thing done

Monday, it gives us 8 days for this Olympic event correct as it is the 22nd

of November.

Rudoff stated that “we” can’t guarantee that “we” can have occupancy by Monday though.

Rudoff doesn’t mean to put Hamel on the spot because you can’t make that crystal ball. Hamel

responded that he doesn’t see in unforeseeable problems right now, which Rudoff commented

that the pool was to open in October, which Hamel responded that yes “we” were.

Chairman Core responded that his glass is ½ full, which Rudoff responded that she has spent

more time around a pool that “you” have so my glass is ½ empty! Rudoff stated that it has to be

safe, “we” can’t do it half you know what; “we” can’t do it half way because if the District is

going to be giving this facility to the community of what we have been promising, then it has to

be 100% ready to go.

Hamel commented that this occupancy permit will start a lot of communication that will start to

take place on how to “we” get from where “we” are now, to where “we” want to be no matter

how that happens.

The Monroe Intermediate School and Expedition projects, and there was an owner to architect

meeting held today with Hogan Construction and Hogan gave “us” the second proposed schedule

and it looks a little bit worse than the first one that was given and it does through up a lot of

concern but Hogan is working on it.

Chairman Core asked Hamel if he needs any help, which Hamel responded that he thinks there

are some things that are in the works and is probably not the schedule that the District would like

to see.

Chairman Core then asked Hamel where the District is at on Wilson Elementary which Hamel

responded that the design is 65% complete next week and it’s moving forward.

Brenda Roosa asked Hamel about Expedition Academy, which Hamel responded that the

schedule that Hogan Construction gave the District, was for both projects. Today Hogan

Construction is a month further down the road from the December 16th

schedule date, so it’s now

January 16th

.

10. BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS

10.01 Board and Superintendent Comments

Brenda Roosa: Roosa commented that the luncheon at Thoman Ranch School was wonderful

and thank you so much for the invitation and the roads were even half way decent coming home.

What a great school out there.

23

John Malone: Malone commented that the Thoman Ranch lunch and today’s Veterans program

at Lincoln Middle School where Malone would guess there was about 100 vacant seats in the

auditorium was great; the older that Malone gets the more everything means. They asked the

World War II veterans to stand up today and last year they asked the same question and about a

dozen stood up and today when they asked the question, only about 2 or 3 stood up. World War

II veterans are dying in the United States at a rate of 1,000 per day and “we” are not immune to

that and those kids, teachers, band and so forth put on just a wonderful program today. Malone

thinks that if anything stays with those kids it will be a program like today.

Ann Rudoff: Rudoff commented that she never has the opportunity to go to the Veteran’s

program because of teaching, but Rudoff knows that John Lee has for years sent out invites and

Rudoff commends him for all of the effort that he puts in and all of the signs that everyone sees.

Rudoff had the opportunity a few years ago to walk on the beaches of Normandy and as Rudoff

is an Army brat, it was pretty powerful. So those of you, and Rudoff won’t ask you to stand, but

those of you who are veterans, thank you for your service and she commends you all.

Cristy Magagna: Magagna just wanted to say that it has been a great 8 years and she has

definitely enjoyed it and this is definitely not a goodbye because now, and Magagna hates to use

this phrase but it is it true, now she can be just a parent and she has a 1st grader at Harrison and a

kid on the way that she is sure will join our schools at some point. So Magagna will be back

when the District talks boundaries as that might affect her and the calendar. Chairman Core said

that we’ll put you on those two too; because now Magagna can look at these things from a

different point of view. So this is definitely not goodbye and Magagna knows that technology

could use some help and then the early childhood piece is still her passion and she will still be

around for the Child Development Center and working with the District.

Brad Cutler: Cutler would like to thank Cristy Magagna for the great job that she has done and

“we” will miss you. Thank you for those of you who flew flags today, as Cutler drove out of the

driveway he realized that he had forgot to put a flag up and felt bad about it. This community

celebrates this particular holiday in a nice way and he appreciates that. Great experiences with

accreditation and the audit processes and it left him with really good feelings about this District.

Sherie Smith: You always make me last, which Chairman Core commented that next month

he’ll move her down there and he won’t be Chairman next month, so whoever is doing that can

make that decision! Chairman Core commented that he hopes that isn’t the worst decision he

made to Smith over the years, which Smith commented that it’s not! Smith commented that the

luncheon at Thoman Ranch was awesome and of course Smith thinks of the 6 years that she has

been on the Board, she has missed 2 of them and they are just so good. Smith stated that she

went up and talked to Rex Wardell, the little kid that has been out there all of these years at

Thoman Ranch and Smith has just watched him grow. Smith asked Wardell to just stand up, and

he is just way up here, and Smith told him that that was just so rude to be so much taller than

her! Wardell is so excited to be coming in to Green River for school next year at the high

school. Smith has loved driving down Monroe and seeing all of those signs on the fences and

then driving down Uinta and see all of the signs. Smith used to be involved in the Veteran’s

Program when she talked at Monroe Intermediate School and there are so many more signs and it

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is wonderful and it warms your heart, that we have so many wonderful people working to

preserve our freedom.

Superintendent Little-Kaumo: Superintendent Little-Kaumo would like to thank our District

team on the recent accreditation visit, as it really does take a village to do that work that we do

and everybody played a strong part it having that be a successful review and she appreciates the

efforts there. AJ Nathan, Principal of Monroe Intermediate School and Steven Lake, Assistant

Principal of Monroe Intermediate School please thank your entire staff for their work today on

the Veteran’s Day celebration. Also thank you Ralph Obray, Principal of Expedition Academy,

for your staff and students for helping providing of meal or support for those folks afterwards.

The Business Department and your whole team, your audits are always good and favorable, and

that is due to the fact that we have a strong team in that department. Other than that we’ve had a

great week so far and God speed to you all and keep working hard.

Steve Core: Core commented that he would just like to thank Pete Brandjord and his staff for

the audit too and Core thinks that it is awesome. Assistant Superintendent Jamie Christensen,

Core thinks that he cannot give you enough credit for the accreditation work that you did and

Core knows that you have a lot of help but you kind of ramrodded that whole thing and Core

appreciates that; the same thing for the Veteran’s Day program. Core would also like to

welcome Robin Steiss, who is our new school board member and Steiss will join us for the

December meeting.

The final thing that Chairman Core gets to do is give Cristy Magagna a gift for her 8 years of

service to this District and he might even give you a hug! Eight years of doing this is a lot of

work, as Steiss is going to find this out, and let’s now just show up at all of the Board meetings

all of the time! But congratulations and thank you for your service and we look forward to you

continuing at the Child Development Center, as you have been a big part of that, and Core was

glad to hear that you are going to continue on with your work on the CDC Board. We will

appoint someone from Green River at the Board meeting month.

Superintendent Little-Kaumo also thanked Magagna for her years of service.

11. Executive Session

11.01 Possible Litigation

Sherie Smith moved, seconded by Brenda Roosa to go in to executive session to discuss potential

litigation at 8:30PM. Chairman Core does not anticipate any motions or decisions after this, but

you never know.

Ann Rudoff moved, seconded by Brenda Roosa to come out of executive session at 9:10PM.

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12. ADJOURNMENT

12.01 Adjourn

Steve Core, Chairperson ____________________________

Sherie G. Smith, Clerk ____________________________