School district interested in possible sports facility

Bethany Lange, Herald Reporter
Posted 6/28/17

School board to help with feasibility study for sports facility

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School district interested in possible sports facility

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EVANSTON — The Uinta County School District No. 1 board discussed several topics, including an idea to build a sports facility in Evanston, at the June 20 meeting. 

The board next heard about a possible new sports facility. Thomas said the Evanston Sports Facility Group would like to see if a new community sports facility for field sports is feasible, and has asked UCSD No. 1 to partner with them to do a feasibility study. The city and county have also been asked to help.

The price tag for the facility could be in the $4 million range.

Superintendent Ryan Thomas noted that this type of facility, similar to one Park City has, could allow Evanston to host a volleyball tournament, and trustee Jenny Welling said UCSD No. 1 has one of the only teams in the state that cannot practice on fields before games. Assistant superintendent Doug Rigby also said that hosting tournaments can bring quite a lot of revenue. 

Board treasurer Kay Fackrell cautioned that everyone likely wants the school district to put it together, and if the county gets involved, it is likely to focus on rodeo and ice skating. 

Thomas suggested that UCSD No. 1 can give $1,000 or $1,500 toward the study. He added that, like Fackrell, he’s also been involved in the conversation since 1985, and he said he is excited to see this step. 

The board later approved a partial contribution to the community feasibility study, not to exceed $1,500. 

CFO John Williams gave the board a preliminary overview of the 2017-2018 budget. Before diving in, though, he commented that any policy allowing staff to conceal carry in schools would reduce the pool for liability insurance providers. 

UCSD No. 1 will receive an estimated $948,000 tax shortfall grant from the state this year (last year’s was about $732,000). Williams said Ryckman Creek and Merit Energy are not paying the expected amounts. 

Overall, the school district receives 25 mills from the special district tax and six mills from the county, but the assessed valuation in the county has dropped. 

Williams also said that UCSD No. 1 offers some services that bring in funds. 

“We’re starting to become a little bit of an industry on court ordered placed kids, and those numbers are starting to go up,” he said. 

Green River currently owes about $55,000 from the last three years for students placed in YAHA; other school districts are sending $52,000. South Summit School District (in Utah) also pays the bills for a few families living near Bear River Lodge, although only one family is left. Another grant in arrears is the E-Rate grant, which should bring in $245,000 by July. 

As far as special education goes, Williams said some people did not use the insurance the school district expected, but there have been $195,000 in contracts and some unanticipated high-cost students coming in. The curriculum budget also increased because of textbooks that arrived this year and need to be paid for, and the bus leases will cost $1,087,000. 

The school district is also facing program cuts.

In response to a question from Fackrell, Williams said the state will pay $1.8 million total this year, and the audit department will heavily scrutinize transportation. Teton Science School trips, for instance, might not be funded in the future because they are not part of the normal day. 

Thomas then said the Evanston Middle School parent and bus drop-offs are in progress, but the roofers could not yet access the roof. 

“We received a new building because of the roof,” Thomas said wryly, “and it may be the last thing that’s finished.” 

He noted that a gas company recently broke an 8-inch water line when it cut into 4th Street. Thomas said the street is owned by the city, but the school district had just paid to have the street redone. 

Jaraun Dennis shared a technology update with the board, starting by saying he hopes the school district can do live feeds of meetings by the July 19 meeting. 

He then talked about how schools have to prepare students for jobs that don’t yet exist, as the world is rapidly changing, including with workspaces and workstyles and a greater emphasis on technology.

“In the next five to 10 years, you will go to a fast food restaurant and not interact with a person,” Dennis said. 

He said that soft skills and the infusion of technology into learning are invaluable, such as through the Chromebook initiative.

Budget-wise, the total technology budget is $550,500. 

He finished by saying UCSD No. 1 is being recognized in Wyoming and around the U.S. 

The school board gave special recognition to this year’s Special Olympics team, which coach Ryan Berger said hosted the area games this year (comparable to regionals). Students Parker Merritt and Kaden Fry will also participate in the national conference in Indianapolis, on behalf of Wyoming, and Wyoming will get to have a couple of teams at the Nationals, which will include Tanner Spatig and Kaden Fry on a five-man basketball team. Berger said that, if they win, they will get to go to Italy for Worlds. 

“High fives, hugs and smiles — that’s what it’s all about,” Berger said. 

Merritt attended the meeting as well and briefly spoke about how much he appreciates and loves his friends, family and teachers. 

The board approved contracts for a school psychologist and an elementary teacher. UCSD No. 1 is still looking to hire two special education teachers and a math teacher. 

Trustees then approved the annual operating agreement with Evanston Parks and Recreation Department and reappointed Josh Welling to the board. EPRD director Jay Dee Nielsen noted that the City of Evanston has approved $150,000 to redo the failing pump room, and the Rec Center is making renovations and planning to look at the pool soon (which is outdated and will soon be a liability). 

Before stepping away from the podium, he said the EPRD board just accepted Dr. Will Atkinson’s resignation after 23 years of service, so that seat will be open. 

The board approved several other action items, voting to excess several technology items (there will be a public purchasing day for some items); purchase $387,400 of software license renewals and other technology items for the upcoming school year; renew an Internet use agreement to comply with the Child Internet Protection Act and the E-Rate funding compliance; levy.02 percent of a mill for Region V BOCES; approve modifications to the food service procurement policy, which was changed by the Wyoming Department of Education; and renew the $15,300 AVID contract for both middle schools, the high school and district director training. 

The board also authorized the school district to pursue the best price for natural gas (a precursor to possibly switching to Summit Energy for Evanston High School).

During the round table, Doug Rigby said the secondary principals would like to change one of the parent-teacher conferences a couple of weeks earlier for better intervention. The board will make a decision in early August.

The board then adjourned at 9:02 p.m. after a little more than two hours.