Goal: Have kids in school

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
While the structure and layout of public education in Weston County School District No. 1 will most likely look different than what everyone remembers from the pre-COVID-19 pandemic, Superintendent Brad LaCroix said the goal is to have students back on campus.
According to the Smart Start guidance document from the Wyoming Department of Education dated July 1, school districts across the state will be required to have three different plans submitted to the department for approval before the 2020-21 school year. 
“Tier 1 is where we want to be. In this plan, we will be as close to normal as possible with whatever requirements the state may issue. It could be masks, it could be gloves, or it could be small groups. Those kinds of things,” LaCroix said. “That is our No. 1 goal, to try to get back to in-person education. In this plan, we are not only worried about education but the whole child, whether it is the social or emotion piece. That is where we want to be.” 
Included in the Smart Start document is a letter to the state from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow. She states that educators, students, parents and the communities must expect change in public education systems. 
“During the 2019-2020 school year, precious instructional time was lost and all of us faltered as we adapted to learning packets and remote instruction. We know better now. Technology will be an integral part of every school’s “tiered” approach to school operations and education delivery. Using technology to meet the needs of learners and “pivot” to a different tier takes time and training for students, educators, parents and students.” 
Secondly, Balow said that schools must take responsibility because it is likely that new health and safety protocols will be in place for some time, potentially forever. 
According to LaCroix, the Tier 2 plan will address more of these potential health and safety protocols, with plans for small groups and potential mixed delivery education. 
“This plan will be for if the health officials say we can not be in large groups at any building, whether it is 250 or 500 in a school,” LaCroix said. 
The Smart Start framework lays out requirements, recommendations and considerations outlined by state health officials and education stakeholders. These items, Balow said in her letter, will hopefully ensure that schools not only open for the 2020-21 school year but also that the quality of education Wyomingites have come to expect continues throughout the school year. 
“The working group placed the bulk of decision-making in the hands of the communities – health officials, school boards, educators, parents and even students. Communities know best how to address their unique challenges. Wyoming schools should prepare to quickly and efficiently adapt school operations in response to their challenges,” Balow said in the letter. 
Tier 3, which each district must also prepare for, is the one that no one wants to use, according to LaCroix. Tier 3 is the plan for complete closure of schools and remote learning. 
“We have to have a better way to do the online stuff than how we ended the school year. The district will make plans with better ways of delivering the education that is maybe more ‘user friendly’,” LaCroix said. “We hope we don’t have to go back to that. Everyone worked hard, and I applaud everyone involved. But in my opinion, that is not what any of us signed up for and I don’t think we do it well. … If that is what people wanted, they would have done online schooling before that.” 
Currently, LaCroix said, staff is working together to develop the plans for each tier. There are still questions about transportation, lunch, large-group assembly areas and classes such as physical education and choir, he said. 
As for the future of funding, particularly positions such as custodians and lunch staff, LaCroix said, those pieces will have to be analyzed once more is known about how schools will operate. 
“My thought is we are going to have to have those facilities ready, but if we are shut down for six to eight months, then things could look considerably different and people may lose their jobs,” LaCroix said. “Another big question is extracurricular activities. … Those continue to be evaluated. I think they are important for the kids, or we wouldn’t do them to begin with.” 
LaCroix said that the district will do everything possible to work with students and parents on any particular needs and concerns. The district will provide any safety items, including masks and gloves, that students need. Parents will more than likely be responsible for checking their child’s temperature before school and keeping them home if they appear ill. 
“We are working on thinking out loud and thinking ahead. We may have a situation where we can’t use buses, and we have to encourage parents to transport as many as possible,” LaCroix said.
Any patrons with questions or concerns are encouraged to email LaCroix at lacroixb@wcsd1.org or give the district office a call at 746-4451. 
School is currently scheduled to begin Aug. 28. LaCroix said the district will do everything possible to keep students, parents and staff informed as plans develop. 
“We hope to have some draft plans available by mid-July. I would like both the board and staff to see those before we roll them out to the public,” LaCroix said. “We are trying to get information out as quickly as possible and to redo our webpage so it is more user friendly.