Dollars and teachers

School facilities and projects were a serious concern of the Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD#2) Board of Trustees at the April 18 meeting, with the funding for facilities being described as “dire” by superintendent Jim Copeland.

The district will have to reapply for funding for HEM school’s heating, ventilation and cooling system upgrade, estimated to be a $3.2 million project. Cutbacks to state facilities funding is blamed on issues surrounding coal and mineral leases, with the board saying that funding for facilities has gone from $300 annually million in prior budgets, to $80 million in the 2017-2018 budget.

Copeland also warned the board that in two or three years, there be no emergency facilities funds for schools in the state of Wyoming.

The board also said that it had accepted bids for the Saratoga Elementary School (SES) playground renovation project. The project is intended to correct drainage issues with the existing playground that cause water to pool on the floor of the school when it rains. The playground would also be resurfaced. The board voted to award the contract to 71 Construction of Rawlins, whose bid of $135,535 was the lowest bid submitted.

Copeland announced that a local group had asked the board if it would donate a lot behind SES to the ExCel preschool for the construction of a new preschool building. Copeland said the group had told him that the town of Saratoga had land that the preschool could consider, but that land was not close to SES or the Platte Valley Community Center (PVCC), and that land near the school would be preferable. He also said the preschool cannot build on the land its temporary buildings currently occupy, which is owned by the Roman Catholic Church. Copeland brought the issue before the board so its members would have time to think about the donation and discuss it later.

The board was also notified that the PVCC’s lease on its building will be expiring next year and will require action in the future.

The trustees voted to offer contracts for three positions for the upcoming year at Saratoga Middle/High School (SMHS), one for a guidance counselor, and two others for a math teacher position and a science teacher’s position. The board also voted to offer activity or extra duty contracts to four employees, three in Saratoga and one at HEM.

Across the district, the board voted to accept the retirement or resignation of four teachers.

The board voted to approve a new position for the school district for a board certified behavioral analyst. This position is fully funded by special education funding and will not impact the district’s budget, the board said.

The next meeting of the CCSD#2 board of trustees will be at 4 p.m., May 16, at Elk Mountain Elementary School.