ROCK SPRINGS – The leadership of Sweetwater County School District No. 1 continued its transformation Monday night as newly elected board members Neil Kourbelas and Randall Wendling took their seats on the board.

The change started earlier this year after Kelly McGovern was hired as the new SWCSD No. 1 Superintendent. In November, Wendling and Kourbelas were voted on the board as long-time board members Justin Spicer and Robert Ramsey did not seek re-election.

Since taking the lead, McGovern has said several times her focus is on the students of the district and continuing to work towards improving student success. Both new school board members echoed McGovern’s vision.

Wendling told Sweetwater NOW he is very glad to be on the board and thanked the community for all their support and belief in him to elect him to the board. Wendling said he will continue to work on making sure the students of SWCSD No. 1 have the best educational opportunities provided to them.

As he said in several of the political forums, Kourbelas again said he views the school board as being the highest calling  of any of the local elected offices and also thanked the voters for their support. He said it is an honor for him to be on the board and he will continue to work on building and improving education opportunities for the children of this community.

Also elected back to the board was Emma Waldner. She told the board she recently attended the annual Wyoming School Board Association meetings. She spoke about the two featured speakers and how there was a theme about school boards and school districts working with parents and the public to better local education. Waldner said there has to be a trust between the board and the parents of the district and if the public feels like she is not trustworthy they should tell her that and explain why so she can better represent the constituents.

Waldner also spoke about the recent accreditation process and how she was able to spend a considerable amount of time with them in Wamsutter. She said the accreditation officials told her with McGovern as the Superintendent and Wanda Maloney as Curriculum Director, this district is on the verge of being one of the best districts, not only in Wyoming, but nationwide.

Finally, there was a re-organization of the board. Brady Baldwin was chosen as the new Chairman of the Board. Lenny Hay is the new Vice-Chairman, Gordon Max Mickelson was named Clerk while Joyce Corcoran was approved as Treasurer.