Laramie County School District #2 board moves grading overhaul to first reading, approves bus lease and several contracts

Laramie County School District #2 trustees met in regular session and, after extended discussion, moved a revised K–12 grading policy to first reading while approving several fiscal and contracting items including a lease-to-purchase for four school buses.

The board moved the grading policy (IKA) and associated secondary grading procedure (IKA-R) to first reading after Tracy, a district committee member responsible for drafting the revisions, described consolidating language, replacing program-specific names with a broader “alternative learning courses” label and switching from "years" to credit-based requirements. “The main reason is to remove anything that skews the grade,” Tracy said, arguing the change limits factors such as attendance or participation from distorting academic scores and stresses clearer standards for what a 4, 3, 2 or 1 means.

Why it matters: trustees and parents asked how the 4–3–2–1 elementary scale will translate to percentage-based grading used in junior high and high school. Tandy, speaking as a parent, urged clearer parent training and teacher calibration so students and families understand how standards-based marks map to percentages. The board signaled it can return the policy for further readings if substantial public comment arises before final adoption.

On finance and operations, Thomas (district finance staff) told trustees the district had received 80.8% of budgeted revenues for fiscal year 2026 and had expended or encumbered about 90% of its budgeted expenditures. The board accepted the financial report and approved an engagement letter for Leo Riley and Company to perform the fiscal-year audit.

In transportation, trustees approved a lease and option-to-purchase with Bighorn Federal Savings Bank for four buses. Thomas presented the package—principal $626,572; interest $63,188.38; total $689,760.38—saying Bighorn offered the lowest interest rate at 4.95%. He explained a recent state policy change will require districts to purchase buses rather than lease in the long term, so the district structured the transaction to manage cash flow and reimbursement timing.

Other actions approved included renewing special services contracts (including Bridal Learning Center and Clover Therapy Services) for 2026–27, awarding a site-improvement construction bid at Burns High School to JTL Group Inc. (dba Knife River), approving additional leave for employees who work 200 or more days, and approving multiple personnel hires pending certification. A parent raised concerns that Clover Therapy did not provide adequate services for her child; a board member voiced she could not approve the renewal, but the motion carried.

What’s next: the grading policy (IKA) will proceed to the board’s regular meeting for first reading and public comment; trustees said further public input could prompt additional readings. The bus purchase and construction projects move forward under the approved motions.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the consent agenda, accepted the financial report, engaged Leo Riley and Company for auditing services, approved the Bighorn bus lease and option-to-purchase, renewed special services contracts, approved the Burns High School site improvement bid, authorized additional leave for 200+ day employees and approved hires and resignations as presented. The transcript records voice votes; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting text.