ROCK SPRINGS – After the Sweetwater County School District No. 1 Board met in a Saturday workshop, questions were being asked at the board meeting on Monday.

Sweetwater Education Association President Kathy Sisemore questioned the board on the way the meeting was advertised. She said she looked for it where it usually is placed in the legal notices but could not find it. Board Chairman Justin Spicer asked Executive Secretary Tonette West about how they advertise. He clarified with West where they are placed and that they only have to advertise it once.

“I diligently look for them,” Sisemore said. “If I, who diligently look for them, can’t find them how are other people going to?”

Later in the meeting during the board reports, Spicer thanked Sisemore for her diligence in making sure the board is transparent. He said the board has had issues in the past and they are working to be fully transparent. He said they are working to be transparent in every aspect including financial, curriculum and other issues facing the district.

This was not the only concern Sisemore raised. She explained to the board the way the consent agenda is set up does not allow for people to bring issues to the board. Acceptance of the consent agenda is placed before public comment.

Sisemore said if the SEA or general public have issues they cannot voice their opinions before the board approves it.

Spicer said they are continually working on the agenda and will continue to work on the consent agenda to better understand issues the SEA or public may have.

Consent Agenda

Speaking of the consent agenda, two items were pulled out for discussion before the board took action on the items.

The first was a change to the school attendance policy. Human Resource Director Kelly McGovern told the board the changes were to clean up language, especially when new students sign up. She said the changes also make it more flexible for parents who want their child to go to a school outside the area.

Board Member Max Mickelson asked McGovern what they do when there is a homeless circumstance which is not addressed in policies.

“We know the best place for a child is to be in school,” McGovern said.

She said they would enroll a student and then look at each individual circumstance. She added that enrolling a student also opens up resources to the child and family.

The policy was unanimously approved.

The second item was the district’s technology plan. The plan was asked to be pulled out for discussion, but due to the absence of Technology Director Chase Hafner the item was tabled until the December meeting.

While other discussions were taking place, Sisemore gave District legal representative George Lemich a report from Hafner. Lemich interrupted the board to present the report because it has to be in place by the middle of November and that would not be possible otherwise since the board’s next meeting is in December.

After putting the plan on the table earlier, the board had to again remove the plan from the table. Lemich spoke on the changes to the policy this year. Board member Bob Ramsey summed it up best when he basically asked Lemich if there were any changes made to the policy other then just the dollar amount. Lemich agreed there was not.

Once off the table, the board unanimously approved the technology plan.