Competitive salaries remain a goal for BHCSD#2

While reviewing the school district’s financial reports at the April 15 monthly Lovell School Board meeting, business manager Lane Black-Partridge seemed hopeful that both the health insurance and the property/liability insurance policies that are up for renewal will drastically drop since the five-year anniversary of the hailstorm damage has passed.
Partridge and Superintendent Doug Hazen also made amendments to the ESSER-III grant to make a plan for the remaining funds, and those were approved by the state.
“Our thought process was, ‘How can we leverage these funds we have for existing needs?’” Hazen said. “Of course, in hopes of getting some savings in the long run, but also address some of the existing needs right now.”
“At the May 13 school board meeting, I will be presenting the preliminary budget for next year,” Partridge said. “It has been interesting with staffing and wants, to see what a struggle it is to compete with our surrounding districts when they have so much more funding and what it takes to stay competitive when you look at what we have to work with versus what other districts have.”
To clarify, Hazen added, “It’s no other district’s fault, but when she is saying how hard it is for us to compete with our neighboring districts for salaries, it really is a struggle for us.”
Hazen and Partridge reported that the annual budget for Big Horn County School District No. 2 next year will be roughly $12.6 million. They compared that to the $21.6 million of BHCSD#1 and the $32 million in Powell.
“BHCSD#1 has virtual students that necessitates more resources, but there are a lot of moving parts that you can fit into that extra $9 million that we can’t,” Hazen continued. “In brick-and-mortar students, between Rocky and Burlington, they have less kids on-site than we do; they just have the 500 in virtual school.
“When we talk to our staff, it is hard to compete at the same level of salary. Staff members will say, ‘Why can’t we have this or that position?’ Well, we can either be competitive with wages or we can have more people, but to do both when we are funded so far below them, it is very hard for us.”
Other business
The following students were recognized: Paige Thomas, LHS Student of the Month; Ada Bucholz, CTE Student of the Month; Kelvin Robertson, LMS Student of the Month; Parker Anderson, All-State basketball; Owen Walker, All-State basketball; Jarrett Allen, All-State Wyoming Academic Challenge; Riley Laffin, American Legion Oratorical State Champion.
Josey Allen was selected as the School District Teacher of the Year and highlighted for his innovative teaching methods and commitment to professional development.
LHS principal Craig Lundberg provided an administrative report on the events and achievements happening at the high school as the monthly focus. He updated the board on several CTE courses and new courses that will be offered next year: Graphic Design II, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Choir, Personal Finances, Business Publishing, Heavy Equipment Safety and Operation/CDL course.
A new language arts curriculum was proposed for Lovell High School, and Aryn Tippetts gave the curriculum report, giving information about vertical alignment work, upcoming stakeholders meetings for the consolidated grant and spring testing schedules.
The school board found themselves compliant with the Board Calendar of Leadership Governance Section 4-Budget/Finance.
Student Council representative Cassie Heindl provided a summary of the following events at Lovell High School: State FFA, State WAC, Cutest Dog Contest, Seussical the Musical, Student Council election parameters/rules and the choir/band music festival.
Hazen gave an update about the facilities, technology, food service, Lovell Rec, BOCES, telehealth, transportation, ESSER, Personnel and the K-3 Reading Plan Approval.
In old business, the board approved and passed Policy IHBG homeschooling, Policy CBB recruitment of Superintendent, Policy CBD Superintendent’s contract, Policy CBG Superintendent’s Professional Development Opportunities, LMS Science Curriculum Adoption, Policy CBI Evaluation of Superintendent, Policy CCB Lines of Responsibilities and Authority and Staff Relations, Policy CFA District Administrator and School Principal/Building Administrator.
Lacee Davila was nominated as 2024 Friend of the School.
The board broke into an executive session at 8:27 p.m. and resumed the regular meeting at 9:09 p.m.
The following resignations were accepted: Brittany Krantz, LMS custodian; Catherine Leithead, LHS paraprofessional; Chris Edwards, LHS head girls basketball coach; Teri Winland, LES teacher; Stacy O’Tremba, LES teacher.
Taylor Webster was approved as the LMS library paraprofessional and Dymon Hall as the LMS custodian.
Natalie Collins and Angie Hitz were also approved as high school volleyball assistant coaches.
The next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 13.