Laramie County SD2 board approves consent agenda, personnel hires and accepts financial report; student data security gets first reading

The Laramie County School District #2 Board of Trustees on Feb. 10 approved the consent agenda, confirmed new hires and resignations, accepted the district financial report and conducted a first reading of policy EHA, the student data security policy. The board also voted to move into an executive session for personnel and legal matters.

The actions affect routine business and near-term budgeting. Misty, the district business manager, told trustees that district enrollment stood at 1,029 students as of Feb. 1 and was unchanged at the time of her report. She said average daily membership (ADM) is down about 30.6 students (about 2.9 percent) year-over-year and that the district had received 63.2 percent of its budgeted revenues to date compared with 74.7 percent at the same point last year.

Misty said local tax receipts appear higher this year: the January county tax payment was about 77 percent larger than last year, and year-over-year tax collections are up roughly 18 percent. She told the board she plans to revise the district’s WDE 100 funding estimate this month and again in March if necessary; the final WDE 100 must be filed by March 31. Misty said the district has received a foundation payment of $261,000 and that changes in the tax estimate could flip the district from an entitlement district to one required to reimburse (recapture) state funds depending on final numbers.

On personnel, the board approved a list of hires and acknowledged resignations and a retirement. The motion to approve personnel (pending required certification and background checks) listed hires including Callie Stewart (indoor track assistant coach), Sandra Utter (substitute paraprofessional), Jessica Smith (substitute paraprofessional) and Sally Slater (substitute teacher). The board acknowledged the resignation of Jorge Garcia (Burns High School boys track coach) and volunteer changes; it also accepted notice that Deb (surname reported variously in the record) will retire at the end of the year after long service at Pine Bluffs Elementary.

The consent agenda passed after a board member recused himself from voting on a warrant (identified in the record as warrant 84260) because it was payable to his business. The board accepted the financial report after a motion and second; no roll-call tallies were provided in the public record.

The board moved approval of policy EHA, Student Data Security, on first reading after a motion by Board member Michael and a second; the policy will return for a second reading at the next regular meeting. Trustees then voted to go into executive session for personnel and legal reasons; the motion to enter executive session was moved and seconded and carried.

Information items presented to the board during the meeting included a facilities and safety update (including confirmation that landlines are available in schools as a backup and that facilities staff were conducting routine building spraying) and notification of audit closure notices from outside auditors. The board chair and presenters highlighted that the audit closure notices reflect the district’s compliance processes.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved. One board member recused on warrant 84260 (recusal disclosed during the meeting). - Financial report (acceptance): approved (moved by Billy; seconded by Kendra as recorded). - Policy EHA (Student Data Security), first reading: approved (moved by Michael; seconded by Julianne); will return for second reading at next meeting. - Personnel approvals (hires, transfers, resignations; pending certification/background checks): approved (moved by Julie Ham; seconded by Kendra as recorded). - Motion to enter executive session for personnel and legal matters: approved (moved by Michael; seconded by Jared as recorded).

The board scheduled upcoming meetings and noted routine district business; no final policy adoptions or budget appropriations were decided beyond the accepted financial report. The board adjourned after the scheduled items and reports were completed.