ROCK SPRINGS – Two parents voiced concerns on the substitute teaching issues and a decision made after a Rock Springs English teacher was dismissed.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Kristi Young addressed the board about a recent situation involving her child at Rock Springs High School. She explained to the board students had just finished a novel in her English class when the classroom teacher, Blair Einfeldt, was dismissed.

Young continued by explaining the decision was made to re-teach the same book that they had just finished instead of moving on to something else. Young’s child approached her about the issue and Young explained she has taught her children they should try to resolve the issue first.

The students did exactly that and went to school and told the school students were going out of their minds with boredom. Young said nothing was done and so she then approached the school and the board.

She thanked board members Max Mikkelsen, Neil Kourbelas and Superintendent Kelly McGovern for contacting her. She said everyone was nice and very polite but still nothing changed.

This week, Young said they will finish up the book and worksheets for the second time.

The second issue Young brought up was the substitute teacher issue. Instead of long-term substitutes, the district has moved to short-term substitutes to save money. Young questioned how students could learn when they have five different teachers in a week.

Young stressed this inconsistency is hurting student. She informed the board that one teacher wants them to do something different and the next day students are getting in trouble because the teacher that day does not agree. She said students are very confused on what to do and what not to do.

Not only did she speak about the high school, she said her fifth-grade child is also suffering due to the lack of substitutes. She said recently her child’s class was split up and sent to the other fifth-grade classrooms because they could not find a substitute.

Lacee Petek also addressed the board on the same issue. She also contacted the school and thanked Kourbelas and McGovern for responding to her. Things are tight financially at the district and while Petek said she understands that, she added she also believes there are solutions to the problem. In closing, Petek said she is concerned about the students.