GOSHEN COUNTY – The regular Tuesday, June 10 board meeting of the Goshen County school board of trustees was called to order by chairwoman Lena Moeller at 6:34 p.m. 

In attendance were fellow board members Val Sharp, Chris Alexander, Wade Phipps, Kate Steinbock, Tony Goulart, Dylan Hager, Kelly Strampe and Sarah Chaires. District employees Ryan Kramer, Marcy Cates and Loreen Fritzler were also present. Kevin Derby appeared via Zoom. 

Moeller addressed the audience and apologized for the meeting’s late start.

“Good evening. I apologize. It’s 6:34 p.m. Our executive ran a little bit late, so my apologies to everyone for waiting. We are actually going to continue our executive towards the end of the meeting so that we don’t keep everyone waiting,” Moeller explained. 

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the board approved the evening’s agenda. Chaires motioned to accept the agenda and Strampe seconded the motion. The motion was carried by vote.

Moving on to item three, the board recognized Cheryl Trimble of the Compass Academy as the district teacher of the year. Trimble provided a brief explanation of the program for the board and members of the audience.

Trimble explained the Compass Academy offers services to the 18- to 21-year-old population who might need some extra support skills. She explained student EJ Haas had nominated her for the award.

Moeller asked Kramer to clarify how a teacher of the year is selected in the district.

“What we do is, we have a nomination process in which teacher of the year is nominated and we kind of did it a little differently this year because we had found through the interview process that it was kind of almost like a job interview whereas most of our teachers who are nominated many of the times feel talking about themselves in that capacity, even though they do such a wonderful job, it was a real struggle to kind of promote themselves,” Kramer explained. “The way that we changed that is we had nominations available to those in the community and we put that on Facebook and social media. After that nomination was received, then we asked if that teacher would be interested in pursuing the process because once they are Goshen County Teacher of the Year, they are entered into the pool for Wyoming Teacher of the Year.”

Kramer went on to explain the teacher’s administrator and a student from the school were asked to write recommendation letters. Kramer explained Haas was the student who recommended Trimble.

“EJ [Haas] was the student who wrote his nomination letter and did a wonderful job talking about why Cheryl [Trimble] was certainly deserving of teacher of the year,” Kramer said. 

Moving on, under item four, information and proposals, the board first heard committee reports from the board members.

Reporting for the district policy committee, Sharp noted the committee meeting was lengthy and several policies appear on the agenda.

“We have eight policies that are coming up for a second reading,” Sharp reported. “They are in the [board] packet.”

Sharp noted the committee meeting was long and Moeller noted the work was appreciated.

Alexander reported for the District Activity Advisory Council (DAAC).

“We went over the sportsman’s summit and they’re going to be bringing up that is grade 9 through 12. They will hold it at the college it’ll be on August 22, I believe. That’s the plan anyway. We’re going to have a keynote speaker, some breakout sessions,” Alexander said, noting more information would be coming to the board once the plan is in stone. 

Alexander also noted the committee had gone over the Southeast Schools handbook for review, discussed a plan for the weight room and certain activities the students miss academic time for. 

Under item 4.2, the board heard principal reports on Aimsweb and STAR data, beginning with Torrington High School (THS) Principal, Alan Van Tilburg.

“For the sake of time, I just want to focus on our proficiency rates from fall to spring for both reading and math. If you take a look at our reading numbers for ninth grade, tenth grade, 11th and 12th grade, you’ll see nice growth throughout the year,” Van Tilburg said. “Our ninth graders kind of flattened out a little bit but the other thing I want to focus on and I’ll get into this a little bit, is the numbers not tested. We worked really hard our testing culture. My first test that I went through was STAR at THS I discovered that especially with the senior class, we played a game of hide and seek with me so trying to get them to do testing was tough.”

Van Tilburg continued on for a brief moment before Lingle-Fort Laramie Principal, Cory Gilchriest spoke to the board, in agreement with Van Tilburg’s struggles. 

“I won’t just say ditto, but ditto. I mean, we’re struggling with a lot of the same stuff,” Gilchriest said. “If you look at our data, one of the things that we’re struggling with, when I talk to you in the winter about, our test-taking culture and dug into that and I’ll talk about that here in a little bit.”

Kramer provided reports for Southeast High School Principal, Tim Williams and Matt Dailey of LaGrange schools in their absence. Reports continued for each of the remaining schools, Trail Elementary and Platte River School before Kramer provided the district data. 

Under item 5.1, the board opened the floor for public comment where there were no participants.

“This might be against the rules and if it is somebody can tell me but would the board be willing to make a motion, if it requires a motion, to switch the order of our board discussion and superintendent’s report?” Moeller asked. “The only reason being [Torrington Police] Chief [Matt] Johnson has sat here for now for almost two hours and I feel really bad having him do that just to sit through another report. Would the board mind if we switch those two agenda items? Keep in mind there’s no action being taken on either agenda item.”

A formal motion to switch the order of items 6, superintendent’s report, including 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3, with item 7, board discussion, including item 7.1 by Goulart which was seconded by Steinbock. The motion carried by vote and the agenda was amended to reflect the change in order.

The board moved on to item seven, board discussion regarding conceal and carry, item 7.1.

Prior to Torrington Chief of Police, Matt Johnson, presenting a report to the meeting regarding the new law, Kramer opened the discussion.

“I’m just going to give a little bit of background related to new legislation that was recently passed that will go into effect July 1, which requires us – well, it has us having a discussion regarding concealed carry,” Kramer began. “Concealed carry legislation currently that will go into effect July 1, will allow individuals with a conceal carry permit to take the firearm and the concealed carry responsibility into schools and other areas that have been kind of zones in which those were not allowed. So, it really requires us to take a look at the possibility of then creating a – it’s called a policy but, in this case, it is a rule. There are different requirements for rulemaking as opposed to a policy. Policies require two readings. A rule requires a 45-day period in which we illustrate an intent to vote on a rule.”

Kramer further noted he had set up a timeline for the 45-day period. 

“I laid out the timeline for that, which would be a discussion for the board on the proposed firearms policy that was part of your [board] packet here and then also sent to board members individually earlier in the month,” Kramer said. “Then, also a policy, this is a policy that would be going onto the policy committee or what reviewed by the board is our visitors to school, which is kind of related to concealed carry. In this process of rulemaking, what has come across is that the, as school boards have the ability to set specific rules around concealed carry in regard to training for employees or volunteers.”

“When you look at the CKA firearms policy, this is what would be considered a draft and then rules for requirements for training for current employees or future employees and volunteers and what those expectations for training. We’re building that out. We took the Wyoming School Board Association shared a model policy and then left a number of areas blank where working with local law enforcement was a requirement to take a look at what trainings might be appropriate to the individual district,” Kramer said. “Fortunately for us in Goshen County, chief Johnson was willing to partner with us as I shared with him the policy framework and asked him to kind of outline what would be some appropriate training language that we would add to a policy in which, he as a law enforcement official, would recommend or feel comfortable with.” 

Kramer noted he didn’t want to insert any language into how Johnson would present the information to the board and he turned the floor over to Johnson. 

“For purposes of the board, we’re not taking any action tonight,” Moeller explained as Johnson approached the podium. “This is just informational. The 45-day period, that Mr. Kramer mentioned, that allows us to receive public feedback. That’s not tonight. We will set specific dates and manners in which the public can give us feedback. The only piece, if I understand the legislation correctly, is that the board takes action on is whether or not we require additional training of the employees and/or volunteers. There are individuals that are encompassed within that definition. I just want to make sure that that’s really clear,” Moeller said, thanking Johnson for assistance. 

“It’s my pleasure to help in any way that I can,” Johnson began. “Keeping kids safe is pretty much the most important thing we do and thank you for adjusting the agenda. There’s really a lot that goes into this and I guess I want to make it clear that I’m really not in a position of authority with this. It’s just recommendations that I’ve made based on experience and perspective that I have from a few years of doing this so that’s really what I have to offer. I think the first thing that I would want to touch on is that the statute lays out some pretty clear delineations,” Johnson explained. “The two that really strike me as important as you look at how you might want to implement a policy or a rule – first that there’s a differentiation between members of the public that are visiting at a school with a concealed carry permit and staff members or however else volunteers, folks who would be described as having an affiliation with the school. For me, the way I look at that and evaluate that I have 17 folks who I have the pleasure of serving and who serve our community every day and every one of those folks carries a firearm as part of their duties, so, I sleep well at night feeling like the folks I’m personally and professionally liable for are well trained and competent in their skills with a firearm. That was kind of the mindset that I took with this.”

“So, one of the things that we talked about is that of course, there’s no vote tonight. There’s also another opportunity in July for public comment for us to hear that will also have other opportunities for comment, whether they be written comments. One of the pieces that comes out is a notice or intent which is kind of deceiving because really what the notice or intent of adopting a rule is your vote. What you’re giving the public is saying here’s what we might be doing in August and giving that and posting that in the newspaper and saying these are the dates because it’s going to be the July board meeting that we would and here public comment. We can also make changes to any of these items of this language also in that process but what we would want to put out there is the generalization of potential rules that would be in place and then at the August board meeting the board will take action on that potential rule,” Kramer explained. 

Asking for any additional board member questions or comments, Kramer noted in relation to visitors to schools, a policy had been added and it has not been changed. He reiterated nothing had been altered in the existing visitors’ policy. 

“One of the things that I think is important to kind of just take a look at and have knowledge of is relating to non-employees or non-volunteers, still being able with the concealed carry permit bring firearms into the school, as a visitor at any point in time,” Kramer said. “That visitors’ policy covers school time. We don’t have a policy related to after school events, extracurricular activities or those types of things. Again, which upon a concealed carry permit can take their firearm into an extracurricular activity.”

Hager asked if there was any language in the rule which would make the owners of a concealed carry permit public knowledge. 

“The only thing that actually within that policy relates to employees or volunteers and going through the training and their requirement for, if you fall into that category, then going through that specific training,” Kramer explained. “So, there is nothing there that that regarding notification.”

“By outlining the specifics to the training, there is then knowledge that we are going to then be working in conjunction with the Torrington Police Department through that training process. So, chief Johnson would have knowledge of who would be going through that training process upon adoption of the specific rules. If there were any decision to not go with any rules at all, there would be no knowledge of or ability for us to know if any employee had a concealed carry as that is permanent basis completely separate from the school district,” Kramer continued.

There was a short discussion regarding insurance surrounding the concealed carry permit where Cates noted nothing would change. Goulart asked about the costs of the training.

“Do we have a figure yet on cost?” Goulart asked Johnson. “And number two, are we going to place the obligation on the staff to go through this training are we not responsible for taking care of that cost and not putting that burden on the staff members?”

“The line that I have taken on this is, if we are needed to help make sure our schools are safe, we will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I have some very confident trainers that do dedicate to this,” Johnson said. “I’m not overburdened in cash so, please don’t take that as I have an excess money problem, I don’t. But if cost is an issue, we will find a benefit and we will make it work.”

Moving on to item six, Kramer provided the superintendent’s report which included updates on the current 2024-2025 school year student enrollment numbers; an update on district staffing and current vacancies and information on supplemental student accident insurance for 2025-2026, items 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3.

Under item eight, the board moved on to the consent agenda items 8.1 through 8.14.

Goulart requested to pull item 8.10, the approval of a purchase exceeding $5,000 to renew licensing with Trebron for Linewize Monitor and Classwize in the amount of $7,684, the board approved the remainder of the items.

A motion was made by Chaires to approve the consent agenda with the exception of item 8.10, which was seconded and the motion to approve carried by vote. 

After a brief discussion, item 8.10, approval of a purchase exceeding $5,000 to renew licensing with Trebron for Linewize Monitor and Classwize in the amount of $7,684, was approved by vote.

Moving on to old business item 9.1, the board approved the proposed revisions to district policy 2421, line and staff communication, as presented; 9.2, the proposed revisions to district policy 3520, purchasing, as presented on second and final reading; 9.3, proposed revisions to district policy 6173, homebound instruction, as presented on second and final reading and 9.4, proposed revisions to district policy 4330, medical leave bank, as presented on first reading.

Next, under new business, the board moved on to item 10.1, approval of superintendent’s salary for the 2025-2026 school year

Moeller turned the meeting over to Chaires at 8:41 p.m. and she appeared via Zoom thereafter.

Under item 10.2, the board voted to offer an employment agreement to Whitney George as a district social worker for the 2025-2026 school year. They also voted to approve item 10.3, maintaining district eligibility provision status for the 2025-2026 school year.

Also approved were items 10.4, an approval to purchase Microsoft licensing from SHI from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 in the amount of $42,912.62; 10.5, granting approval to purchase the renewal of PowerSchool software; 10.6, the renewal of Ninjio Prodigy; item 10.7, contracting for residential student placement services for 2025-2026; 10.8, contracting for autism and behavior consulting services for the 2025-2026 school year; 10.9, contracting for deaf and hard of hearing services for the 2025-2026 school year; 10.10, contracting with Goshen County Construction for LaGrange kitchen renovations; 10.11, renewing the district property liability and vehicle insurance premium for 2025-2026; 10.12,  an inter-governmental agreement for the school resource officers; 10.13, the authorization for district business manager to pay fiscal year-end bills; 10.14, the approval of revisions to district policy 3641, use of school district vehicles after school late busing, as presented on first reading; 10.15, the revisions to district policy 4240, classified staff leaves and absences as presented on first reading; 10.16, revisions to district policy 4150, certified and professional staff leaves of absences, as presented on first reading; 10.17, revisions to district policy 5112.20, home schooling and re-titled to “participation and access guidelines for home-based, private school and education savings account (ESA) students as presented on first reading; 10.18, the proposed new district policy 4306, anti-nepotism, as presented on first reading; 10.19, contracting with Franklin Covey for professional development; 10.20, contracting with The Writing Revolution for professional development services; 10.21, contracting with Zearn for License renewal and 10.22, the purchase of Study Synch Novel sets.

Goulart motioned to table item 10.23, contracting with Renaissance for license renewal until a representative from the company could come before the board to ensure the curriculum is compliant with House Bill 147, which was seconded by Alexander. 

Kramer noted if the board were to request a representative from each of the businesses the district works with, he needed to know in advance. After a discussion, the chairman called for a vote to table the motion and the board voted three in favor and six opposed. Chaires then entertained a vote for the current motion on the table to approve contracting with Renaissance for license renewal where the board voted in favor of the contract renewal. 

Item 10.24, purchasing of Lexis Learning Systems licenses; 10.25, purchasing math curriculum materials; 10.26, contracting for district professional development services and 10.27, offering an employment agreement to Andrea Wunibald as a district occupational therapist for the 2025-2026 school year were also approved by the board.

Next, the board moved on to item 11, board topics for discussion where the board discussed a work session evaluation and continuing the superintendent’s evaluation, which was scheduled after the meeting, at another time. Kramer noted he would send out a poll for the evaluation meeting to determine when it should be held.

Under item 12, the board it was noted the next regular board meeting of the board will be on Wednesday, July 16 at 6 p.m. in conjunction with the annual budget hearing. 

The meeting was adjourned well into the 10 p.m. hour.