Lovell adds alternative school, virtual academy and work-based internship

Hires new LHS principal, LMS / LHS FACS teacher

The Lovell school board covered a wide range of business Monday night, April 13, from honoring student and staff achievements, including the state champion boys basketball team, to discussing career readiness efforts, policy updates, staffing decisions and facilities improvements.

A recurring theme throughout the April 13 meeting was preparing students for life beyond graduation while continuing to address the district’s day-to-day needs.

Among the most notable updates was news that the district’s alternative school plan has been approved by the state. Superintendent William Hiser said the model will operate as a school within a school, housed inside Lovell High School. He also reported that BGH2 Virtual Academy received approval, giving the district another option for serving students with different educational needs.

Internship program

The board also heard a presentation on a proposed internship program for Lovell High School seniors that district leaders hope to launch next year.

LHS Principal Craig Lundberg said the program would provide “a work-based learning internship” focused on hands-on experience.

“We’re pretty excited about this opportunity,” he said.

LHS Counselor Tawnya Teter said many students are making career decisions with limited exposure. “They’re making their whole career on short little pieces,” she said. “I really wish that we could get more kids out there -- see what a job is really like before they’re going off to college.”

Unlike traditional job shadowing, students would work directly in career fields during part of the school day.

“A job shadow is they go and sit and watch,” Lundberg said. “What we’re asking … is that they’re actually kind of employed in what they’re interested in.”

Teter said the program also addresses what employers consistently report.

“They want our kids to come to work on time, come to work every day and be a good employee,” she said.

The district plans to begin with a small group of seniors next year.

“We want our kids to go to work and be good employees and open doors for more kids,” Lundberg said.

Lundberg and Teter made a similar presentation on the Work-Based Learning Internship Program to members of the Lovell Area Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s general membership luncheon on Monday, April 20, saying they are looking right now for business partners to pair with students for the internships starting this fall. They said participating businesses will get early access to potential employees, while students will be able to “test the waters” for a potential career.

The meeting also included several recognitions. Lovell Middle School student Mason Kitchen and Lovell High School student Jacob Thomas were named students of the month. Lundberg also recognized all-state dancers and cheerleaders, Madison Hecker as 3A Dance Coach of the Year and Shane Durtsche as 3A Boys Basketball Coach of the Year. Durtsche was also recognized along with the state championship boys basketball team and its all-conference and all-state players. In addition, MacKenzie Jameson was honored as the 2026 Friend of the School, and Natalie Logan was recognized as the district’s Teacher of the Year.

Middle school report

LMS counselor Lucas Grant presented the middle school report, highlighting both academic initiatives and a wide range of student activities.

Grant told the board that staff are beginning to explore how artificial intelligence can support instruction, sharing tools that can help generate lesson materials, provide feedback and adapt to student needs. He said the goal is to “save hours of work” for teachers while allowing them to focus more on individual students.

He also pointed to strong student participation in activities, noting that a large percentage of middle school students are involved in track this spring, along with continued engagement in programs such as Flex Friday career exploration, where community members visit to share information about their professions.

LHS Student Body President Charlotte Bair gave the student council report, noting the music department’s participation at the state basketball tournament, where the show choir performed the national anthem and the band played during the championship game. She also highlighted the spring performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, strong FFA participation at state competition and the upcoming prom, which is themed “A Night in Gotham.” Bair also recognized Celeste Lindsay and Matthew Newman as MileSplit Performers of the Week for track and field.

In his superintendent’s report, Hiser said the technology and curriculum departments are preparing for spring WY-TOPP testing and getting PowerSchool ready for class registration for the 2026-27 school year. He said Lovell Recreation and BOCES are also preparing summer programming. Registration is now open for the girls high school fast-pitch travel softball team, and BOCES continues to focus on scholarship opportunities and community enrichment offerings.

Facilities director Kyle Fluty reported that his department is preparing for upcoming track meets, maintaining generators and moving ahead with summer building projects. The district has accepted a bid to refinish the gym floors at both Lovell High School and Lovell Middle School this summer.

Trustees also approved first readings of several policies tied to new state laws, including personal data privacy and security, time distribution records for federal programs and student use of cell phones, smart devices and other electronic equipment. The cell phone policy leaves the details of device use to individual buildings through their handbooks and procedures, subject to board approval.

The board also approved personnel changes. Trustees accepted the resignations of Shay Kite from food service and Adrienne Mangus as a special education paraprofessional. They also approved the transfer of Lindsay Lindsay from the elementary school to serve as the new middle and high school FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences) teacher, and the hiring of Cynthia Porter as the new Lovell High School principal.