School District Two ready for 2024-25 school year

The Big Horn County School District No. 2 board met on August 12 in preparation for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

Superintendent Doug Hazen focused on the Beginning of the Year Plan, detailing changes that will be taking place that have veered from schedules in the past.

“We’re going to try to do kind of a curriculum audit,” Hazen reported. “We have identified that we have all kinds of programs that people want and use, and we pay for this for two people, and this for three people, and this for somebody else, and we don’t think our staff totally realizes all of those things that we have.

“We want to get a better sense of how many are actually using things because, like anything, we can nickel and dime ourselves to death. Truth be told, that money that pays for all the subscriptions is the same money that’s competing for staff salaries and everything else, generally speaking, if it’s coming out of general fund.”

Hazen introduced new Lovell Elementary School principal Christopher Jensen and Special Education Director/Consolidated Grant Coordinator Elisha Summers.

“I am just really excited to be here,” Jensen said. “I will get my schedule figured out, but I am really excited about the staff.”

He also touched on the teacher induction program for teachers new to the district, substitute teacher training, the Mentor Teacher Program and New Curriculum Implementation to help ensure all teachers throughout the schools are set up for success.

The board found itself in compliance in August Leadership Governance Activities and also reviewed the calendar and made no changes for the year.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

For facilities, it was reported that the mow curb and paving has been completed on the track, and surface preparations for the runways should have started on the 12th of August. 

Carpeting, tile, fixtures and partitions are being installed and looking ready for the year along with the new HVAC at the middle school.

The Summer Food Service Program has come to an end, and Hazen noted the amount of work that has gone into it and how beneficial it was to the district and community.

Lovell Recreation and BOCES reported on their summer activities and programs and the success they have had and upcoming programs for the new school year that can be found on their website.

The bus driver shortage is forcing a new plan to be worked on to cover all six routes currently with fewer full-time drivers hired.

Hazen reported that the district’s pre-school numbers are currently in the mid-20s and that he would have official numbers after the beginning of school.

The board approved the special service contracts for the 2024-25 school year and accepted resignations of Lindsay Lindsay as head indoor track coach and Robin Baxendale as elementary computer lab paraprofessional.

Quinton Hecker was hired as the LMS head wrestling coach.

The meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m., and the next scheduled board meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m.