District One board passes controversial hugging policy

Big Horn County School District #1 held their regular board meeting on Wednesday, July 17. During the meeting, the board passed on second reading a Professional Boundary Policy that prohibits staff from giving students a hug, regardless of the student’s age.

There was a great deal of discussion about the policy. Holly Michaels gave an example of a teacher she is acquainted with that gives her elementary students a hug every day as they leave the classroom.

“She hugs them and tells them something positive about themselves every day. It might be the only hug some kids get,” Michaels said.

Joseph Bassett asked if the hug “is more important than her losing her job because someone complained?” He also stated that this policy is designed to “protect teachers and students equally. Good hugs or bad hugs, we can’t police that, unfortunately, and this is where we are at.”

When asked for a vote, Bassett, Don Hatch and Craig Jones voted for the new policy, while Jared Boardmen and Micheals voted against it. David Banks and Hiedi Christensen were excused from the meeting.

Superintendent Matt Davidson stated that it will be good to have this policy in place at the beginning of the year. The policy has not been through the Policy Committee yet but will be sent to them for review in September.

A new salary schedule for secretaries was approved, separating it from other support staff. The schedule allows for a differentiation of responsibilities and compensation for a head and assistant secretary in applicable situations.

Financial reports from District Business Manager Richard Parker took a major portion of the meeting. He gave an end-of-year financial report, as well as information during the budget hearing. Valuations in both Big Horn County and Park County are down. This affects the amount of money received by the district from the counties.

Parker reported that the state has increased the allocation for salaries and utilities for the coming school year, and that will be a help to keep the district’s budget healthy as the enrollment numbers have been down in the brick-and-mortar schools. However, enrollment has increased in Connections Academy, and that will also help.

Food Services is always supplemented by the district, but to help with those expenses Parker recommended a student lunch price increase of 5¢ and adult price of 10¢. The board unanimously approved the recommendation. The board commended Parker for his dedication and thorough research for the financial reports given.  

Resignations were accepted from two secondary teachers from Connections Academy: Kelli Simpson and Aubrey Scheiner. Transfers were approved in the Burlington Schools for Karen Henderson from part-time to full-time library aid and Dodge Clark from part-time extended day paraprofessional to part-time Title One paraprofessional.

The list of recommended new personnel was approved with Ethan Thiel as the extended day paraprofessional (complementing his PreK hours) at Burlington Elementary, Lacey Bassett as a Rocky Mountain kindergarten teacher and Chris Sessions as a Cowley route bus driver.

In other business, Dory Cauffman was named the District Classified Staff Member of the Year by a unanimous vote.

The superintendent evaluation will be completed in August. The board completed their book study and commented on the connections to their own lives. Handbooks for the coming year were approved.  Superintendent Davidson reported that they are close to filling all vacant staff positions for the 2024-25 school year.

Prior to the official board meeting, the Big Horn County School District #1 Recreation Board meeting was held. Members of that board are Hatch, Bassett, Micheals and Boardman. As the financial institution for Byron, Burlington, Cowley, Deaver and Frannie recreation districts, the School District #1 Recreation Board will distribute the money for each recreation district based on the student count at the end of the year from each community.