School board declines to advance 'Seven Habits' book‑study and training after questions about cost and overlap

Sheridan County School District #3 trustees discussed a life‑skills proposal from the district's Life Skills Committee but declined to advance either the proposed Seven Habits book‑study purchase or a related professional development contract, citing unanswered questions about cost, curricular overlap and implementation.

The committee had recommended a lower‑cost, year‑long Seven Habits book study (a pathway intended to flow into the Leader in Me program if the board later chose a full adoption). At a staff presentation, board members and staff discussed how the book study would be staged across grade bands (K–3, 4–6 and 7–12), how it might be incorporated into existing class time or the ACES schedule, and whether existing programs such as Sources of Strength would be duplicated or supplanted.

A trustee raising budget concerns said, "Between 45 and $60,000 is what I seen for the initial setup," referring to the district's research on a full Leader in Me rollout. A staff member responding on logistics said the committee's recommendation is to purchase books for a book study at a much lower cost (roughly $5,000–$6,000 estimated for student books) and that a one‑day professional development session with the vendor was quoted in the meeting at about $4,000 for an in‑person session or potentially less if delivered online.

Board members also noted that the district currently uses the Sources of Strength program for life‑skills instruction; Sources of Strength requires at least one staff member to be fully trained to lead the program, and with Mrs. Elling Rod's upcoming retirement the district faces trainer capacity and continuity questions. Trustees debated whether the Seven Habits approach would be duplicative or complementary to Sources of Strength; staff described the Seven Habits option as leaning more toward executive‑function and job‑skills development that could complement existing culture work.

When the chair called for a motion to approve the book‑study purchase and the related PD contract, no trustee moved the item. The proposed book study therefore did not advance and the separate agenda item to approve a contract for a PD day with the vendor likewise failed for lack of a motion. The chair instructed that, absent action, the district would remain on its existing path and staff should continue refining logistics and cost estimates for future consideration.

The board did not set a specific follow‑up date for the item; trustees directed staff to return with clearer cost comparisons, implementation plans for grade bands and an explanation of how a new program would interact with Sources of Strength.

The discussion took place during the regular board meeting; no formal purchase or contract was approved on the Seven Habits/Leader in Me proposal.