Two longtime Rocky Mountain educators retire

School board reviews graduation data, recognizes staff and approves new activities

The Big Horn County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees met on February 12 in Burlington, covering a range of topics including staff recognitions, graduation trends, artificial intelligence training and new student opportunities.

The meeting included two notable resignations. Rocky Mountain High School counselor Tim Jones and Rocky Mountain Elementary teacher Christy Banks are both retiring after long careers in the district. The board accepted their resignations with appreciation for their long careers. Jones has served as a counselor at Rocky Mountain High School since the 2000-01 school year, while Banks has taught at Rocky Mountain Elementary (and Cowley Elementary) since 1995.

Staff and student recognitions

Several staff members from across the district were recognized for their work. Rocky Mountain Elementary honored speech pathologist Dani Wilson as Staff Member of the Month, citing her dedication to students and willingness to step in wherever needed.

At Rocky Mountain Middle/High School, head cook Tammy Adey was recognized for creating a welcoming environment and expanding programs like Second Chance Breakfast.

Burlington Elementary recognized Cheryl Haslam for her leadership as part of the Wyoming Teacher Mentor Corps and her impact mentoring fellow teachers.

Students were also recognized for achievements in athletics, speech and debate and music. Highlights included Rocky Mountain swimmer William Fuller qualifying for multiple state events and All-State honors for RMHS musician Alex Walker.

Student achievement

The school board got a glimpse of the hard work seniors have been doing. In its third year, graduates are required to complete a senior project, and one student each from Burlington and Rocky Mountain was selected to present.

BHS senior Dalley Bassett shared a presentation titled “Groovin’ with the Grannies,” highlighting her volunteer work at the Care Center. She ran Bingo, helped color and cut out door decorations and spent time visiting with residents.

RMHS senior Madalyn McCollam presented “ACL Reconstruction with Suturing,” which focused on her experience working with a doctor to learn suturing techniques and the details of ACL repair. She demonstrated a working knowledge, as much as possible without formal medical training, of the process and the reasoning behind each step.

RMES Principal Eric Honeyman highlighted the school’s annual 100 Days of School celebration.

“Students celebrate by dressing like they’re 100 years old, and some classes even marked the 101st day,” he said. “You’ll also hear one of the most popular phrases echoing through the halls: ‘we only have 75 more days!’ - mainly from the fifth graders.”

Curriculum Director Ryan Boettcher presented updated graduation data showing consistently strong performance in Burlington and more fluctuation at Rocky Mountain in recent years. Over the past five years, Rocky Mountain schools have averaged a graduation rate of 89.7 percent, while Burlington schools have averaged about 93 percent. The current statewide average is roughly 83 percent.

District training on AI

Boettcher also reported that district staff are receiving ongoing training on the effective use of artificial intelligence tools in the classroom. He told trustees that the focus has been not only on understanding AI but also on setting expectations for appropriate student use.

“We continue to bring in folks to help our teachers not only understand the use of AI but also what is acceptable use of AI in our schools,” Boettcher said. “AI is a powerful tool and can help accelerate many things, including learning, if used responsibly. We will continue to work to keep our teachers up to date in this area.”

Legislative updates

Superintendent Matthew Davidson also provided a legislative update, noting that education funding and expectations remain key topics during the current state budget session. He said the most serious concerns include recalibration, class sizes and funding for staff insurance and school operations, adding that he is following legislative developments closely.

One of the more noteworthy discussions centered on expanding extracurricular opportunities. The board approved the addition of a clay shooting club at Rocky Mountain High School. The program will operate independently, with facilities provided by the Lovell Rod and Gun Club and funding primarily through families and fundraising. School resource officer Shane Brost will oversee the program.

The next regular school board meeting will be on March 12 at the district office in Cowley.