Strom and Ferbrache recognized at District 2 school board meeting

Third-grade teacher Jodi Strom was honored as the 2024-25 Teacher of the Year at the Big Horn County School District No. 2 board meeting held on Monday, April 14.

“Mrs. Strom is a powerful educator,” LES principal Christopher Jensen said to the board. “Walking through her classroom, you will always see students being challenged and provided with opportunities to think critically about the content.

“She incorporates technology into her classroom in fun and engaging ways and shows such genuine care for each of her students.”

He also noted that, when problems arise, Strom doesn’t shy away from them, and noted how she is willing to have hard conversations with students and set goals and expectations for their progress and hold them accountable.

“A teacher’s job is not easy and comes with so many different stresses,” he said. “Through all of those situations she is able to find the positivity and humor in the hard things that happen.”

Jensen also praised her work ethic outside of the classroom by serving on the districts AI committee, technology support staff, adult leadership team, mentor teacher and spending personal time to create meaningful 3D printed trophies and signature boards for student accomplishments.

“I am very grateful to honor someone who dedicates so much of her time to making sure other people feel a sense of worth and accomplishment through the trophies she creates with a plaque of her own,” Jensen said.

Superintendent Doug Hazen also praised Strom, saying, “Along with really strong classroom instruction and being a leader in the school, she does a lot behind the scenes that nobody knows or sees and is a huge asset to the district in so many ways. I am really happy to see her recognized with this award, and it is well deserved.”

FRIEND OF THE SCHOOL

North Big Horn Hospital Physician’s Assistant Ken Ferbrache was nominated and selected to be honored as the 2025 Friend of the School.

“This is another person that I feel is well deserving of this recognition, and the board was really excited to nominate him,” Hazen said. “For many years, he has come in and provided the puberty lessons at the elementary school, which is a thankless job.

“He has helped out on the sidelines for football games and other sporting events for medical issues, and any time he’s in the stands, he is willing to come and help out if there’s a situation. He has been in the community a long time and has always supported Lovell schools.”

MONTHLY FOCUS & REPORTS

After approving the consent agenda and minutes from the March 10 meeting, high school, principal Craig Lundberg gave a brief overview of the graduation rate calculations and changes that are coming that will alter the district’s rate penalizations, such as students exiting to homeschool, those participating in ESA programs, GED equivalencies and students on the Job Corp/Alternative pathways.

“In the past, if a family came to the high school and said they were going to home school their student, it would count against our graduation rate,” Lundberg said. “That will not be the case anymore.”

Lane Partridge-Black gave a brief report on the financial state of last year’s food service program, and LMS principal William Hiser reported on the enrollment, attendance, Tier 2 intervention and enrichment, student life and next year’s focus for the middle school.

Lucas Grant also updated the board on school support dog Zeke and his continued training, primarily at the middle school.

The student council report included the overview of the Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraising week and the activities and money raised for that cause.

In the superintendent’s report, under the food service update, it was stated that the school’s garden spot is well underway, and the tilling, fertilizing and seedling planting was completed and the sprinkling system and fence is in the process of being finished.

BUSINESS AND RECOGNITIONS

The board approved motions to pass on second and final reading changes to Policy DJ-R referring to purchasing procedures and Policy EHAB on artificial intelligence.

In new business, the board, on the first of three readings, passed Policy EJ/E.1000 on sex designated facilities stating that restrooms are to be used based on biological gender and, on the first of two readings, approved Policy DJE on bidding procedures.

Linnea Olsen was recognized as the LMS student of the month, Jaxon Pluhar as LHS student of the month and Cecilia Collins as LHS CTE student of the month.

Members of the 3A boys state championship basketball team, gold medal winners from FCCLA, Alana Thackeray as master advisor and Hugh Carpenter as newly elected FCCLA officer were all highlighted.

After breaking into an executive session at 8:12 p.m., the regular school board meeting resumed at 8:54 p.m., and motions were made to accept the resignations of Kari Angell as head dance coach and Todd Wilder as district maintenance director.

For new hires, Addison Howard was approved as an LES teacher, Paige Culwell as LHS/LMS FACS teacher and William Hiser as superintendent, while Steven Durtsche was assigned as a seventh-grade football coach.

Certified staff contracts and special service contracts were presented for the 2025-26 school year, and all board members were in favor and approved as the meeting came to a close at 9:03 p.m.

The next monthly board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 12, at 7 p.m.