School board reviews reduction policy

At each monthly meeting of the Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2) Board of Trustees, board members are asked to review or approve changes to the many policies that govern how the district operates. 

During their December 17 meeting, the board discussed Policy GCPA, which directs the school district in how to handle reduction in professional staff work force and the status of continuing contract teachers. The policy was first adopted in April 2002 and last reviewed in February 2017.

“This is not a pleasant one,” said Chairman James Sewell. “Again, this is just a review of policy.”

According to CCSD2 Superintendent Jim Copeland, it had been proposed by the Wyoming School Board Association (WSBA) and their legal counsel, Tracy Copenhaver, that all school districts review their policies in regards to reduction of workforce as the Wyoming Legislature looks at places to make cuts.

“A written policy on reduction in force typically is implemented when continuing contract teachers are involved. Legally, you first try to address any reductions in personnel using initial teachers before you hit continuing teachers,” said Copeland. “I’m not really expecting that we’d get to this, I guess we don’t know yet, but it’s good to review this every so often.”

Earlier in the meeting, Copeland had informed the Board of Trustees that if school districts across the state were required to cut 10 percent from their budgets, it would result in a statewide loss of 1,700 certified positions. 

Policy GCPA, which can be found at crb2.org, reads that, should the school district experience a reduction in workforce either due to a decrease in enrollment or a change in financial condition, the Board of Trustees will attempt to accomplish “the required reduction through natural attrition or voluntary early retirement that occurs prior to March 15”. 

The policy goes on to read “After determining which positions are to be eliminated, termination of continuing contract teachers will be made based upon the continuing contract teacher’s seniority date, and the teacher’s certification and endorsements as exist at the time notice of termination is given” and adds that teachers with a lesser seniority date are “subject to termination prior to those with earlier seniority dates”.

During the review of the policy, Boardmember Joe Gaspari asked if there was a way for the district to move from retaining teachers with the longest contract in favor of keeping “the best teachers.” Gaspari noted that there were likely legal issues in regards to including that in the policy. In discission it appeared to be suggested by Copenhaver.

“In a perfect world, that would be great, but that can be difficult at times because ‘who’s the best’ and how do you define that? You can look at a sheet and say ‘This person’s been here the longest’. That’s very simple,” said Bill MacPherson, legal counsel for the school district. “When you start defining who’s the best or any type of criteria, that can be very difficult.”

MacPherson added that going on a merit based system to determine which teachers to retain when facing a reduction in staff could “open a can of worms.”

Another review of the policy is expected for the January meeting by which time MacPherson would contact Copenhaver for clarification.

The next meeting of the Carbon County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees will be at 5 p.m. on January 18 at the Platte Valley Community Center in Saratoga.