Lovell students shine in testing: Kyle Fluty resigns as District #2 maintenance director

Strong academic test scores, new efforts to improve student achievement and a successful fall sports season highlighted the November meeting of the Big Horn County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees Monday evening. Administrators shared encouraging results from state assessments while outlining programs designed to build on those successes and address areas needing improvement.

Superintendent William Hiser was excited to announce that Lovell students scored above Wyoming averages on the ACT and in several categories of the spring WY-TOPP assessments, with eighth graders posting especially strong results in mathematics, English language arts and science, according to reports presented to the District No. 2 Board in November.

Lovell High School’s 2026 ACT composite average was 20.6, 1.7 points above the statewide average of 18.9. The school exceeded the state in all four tested subjects: reading, 22.1 to 19.9; English, 20.6 to 17.9; science, 21.7 to 19.4; and mathematics, 19.1 to 18.9.

The results continue an upward trend at the high school. Lovell’s composite average has climbed from 19.1 in 2023 to 19.9 in 2024, 20.3 in 2025 and 20.6 this year. District officials described the current senior class as academically strong throughout its school years.

The eighth-grade WY-TOPP results were another highlight. Seventy-five percent of Lovell eighth graders scored proficient or advanced in mathematics, compared with 54% statewide. In English language arts, 71% reached those levels, compared with 61% across Wyoming. In science, the comparison was 61% to 48%.

Mathematics was a particular strength throughout the district. In third grade, 76% of students were proficient or advanced, compared with 61% statewide. Lovell’s mathematics proficiency rates equaled or exceeded state rates in every tested grade. Science results were also above state averages in fourth, eighth and 10th grades.

English language arts was a more mixed picture. Eighth- and 10th-grade students exceeded state proficiency rates, while students in grades three through seven and nine finished slightly below state averages.

Despite those academic successes, Hiser was careful to point out that the state’s overall school performance ratings reveal areas where improvement is still needed. Lovell Middle School and Lovell High School both received ratings of Meeting Expectations for the 2025-26 school year. For middle school, that marked five consecutive years at that level. Lovell Elementary School was rated Partially Meeting Expectations for the second consecutive year, although Hiser emphasized that the school was very close to reaching the Meeting Expectations level.

Hiser explained that school ratings include more than proficiency scores. Student growth from year to year and progress among struggling learners also figure into the results. Those measures have been particularly challenging at the elementary level, although officials said the school was close to the threshold for Meeting Expectations.

Middle school focuses on literacy

Lovell Middle School principal Lydia McCracken said the school showed improvement on five of its seven tested assessments and has set a goal of 80% student proficiency across all subjects.

A major part of that effort is strengthening literacy in every classroom. “Literacy affects every subject that we teach in our school,” McCracken said. The school has brought in Stephanie Anderson, a literacy specialist with 27 years of experience, to work monthly with a team of eight teachers. The group is examining grade-level expectations, vocabulary instruction and ways to help students who are behind.

The school has also introduced Bulldog Time, a period built into the school day for targeted academic help and enrichment. Student groups change according to their needs, while Reading Horizons provides more intensive assistance for students with substantial reading gaps. Teachers are also identifying the most essential standards to guide their instruction.

Students receiving enrichment are putting their skills to work on projects that include designing Bulldog merchandise, developing a school mural and planning playground improvements. The projects involve surveys, budgeting and contact with local businesses.

McCracken also introduced a new student behavior tracking program developed by staff member Lucas Grant with the help of AI-assisted coding. Grant emphasized that the finished software does not itself use AI. “It uses our intranet, not the internet,” he said, explaining that student information stays on the district’s internal network rather than being sent to an outside cloud service.

Teachers can record behavior concerns, review suggested interventions and track whether those strategies help. The program also emphasizes positive recognition, allowing staff to acknowledge students and communicate accomplishments to parents. That feature grew out of student feedback calling for more recognition of good behavior.

Student life and 

district updates

The Lovell High School student body president Gabe Buchholz gave the board an enthusiastic account of homecoming, clubs and fall sports, including the volleyball team’s second consecutive state championship. The team finished with a 27-1 record. The president also recognized the football team’s playoff appearance and achievements in cross country and golf.

He emphasized that sports with smaller crowds deserve attention, too, because they give students “who don’t really like to be in the spotlight” a chance “to perform and compete.” He also reported on National Honor Society’s induction and highway cleanup and an FFA-sponsored food and household supplies drive.

The district also submitted its annual accreditation evidence to the state October 29. Preliminary findings are expected by March 1, and the district has been selected for state monitoring of assessment administration this school year.

Other administrative reports described work beyond the classroom. Technology director Denise Harrison said the district is moving to a new cybersecurity monitoring system expected to save approximately $10,000 annually while improving protection against ransomware and other threats. The transition is expected to be substantially complete by December 1.

The District No. 2 Board also approved several personnel changes during the meeting. The board accepted the resignations of Tiffany Scheeler, preschool paraprofessional; Sandy Hendershot, special education paraprofessional; and Kyle Fluty, district maintenance director. Fluty will return to Powell School District to be their maintenance director.

The board also approved the hiring of Hendershot as an intervention teacher at Lovell Elementary School, Cheyenne Clark as a special education paraprofessional and Maddie Collins as a preschool paraprofessional.

BOCES coordinator Danielle Weber reported that Lovell Rec and BOCES welcomed approximately 275 children to its downtown Halloween event, up about 15% from last year. Plans are also underway to bring an e-scooter safety course to Lovell Middle School during a Flex Friday this spring.

Together, the reports portrayed a district celebrating strong academic and extracurricular accomplishments while putting new systems in place to help more students succeed.